tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38514657662459780242012-01-28T16:09:14.823-05:00"...never in my lifetime" becomes realitysaraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.comBlogger2201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-27916260545295809062012-01-28T15:47:00.003-05:002012-01-28T16:09:14.985-05:00

This book was a difficult read. At first I thought it was just me, since I was trying to work on my own project at the same time I was reading this group selection for the month. Then I saw others in the group were having the same problem.The writing is slick, but it seemed the story wasn't going anywhere, plodding around in circles. Some in the group concluded Ms Ward was mirroring the

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-35451284973203513692012-01-27T15:37:00.004-05:002012-01-27T15:48:21.356-05:00

I should have read the book first. It's on my to-read list on Goodreads, at the bottom with a bunch of other books I can't seem to get around to. Books that are best sellers, but I don't know anybody personally reading them.I didn't expect it to become a movie so soon. I probably wouldn't have seen it, if not for Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, even though I knew from interviews they each spend

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-2064497107034908022012-01-24T16:13:00.002-05:002012-01-24T16:17:29.064-05:00

The scholarship, “NursingHomeAbuse.net's Awareness and Prevention Scholarship,” - the first of its kind - was created to financially assist US students committed to raising awareness and preventing nursing home abuse.Any student enrolled in an accredited online post-secondary institution is eligible to apply, however, this scholarship is particularly suited for students studying nursing, social

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-72419157490711861812012-01-10T19:51:00.000-05:002012-01-10T19:53:03.735-05:00

Moloka'i by Alan BrennertMy rating: 3 of 5 starsThe good thing about being a member of a book club is going out of your comfort zone and reading books you wouldn't have chosen. Some of my favorite authors I never knew about until I learned about them through a book club. And the other side of the coin is sometimes I feel obligated to read a genre I don't really like.I don't like historical

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-42324154181725134422012-01-09T14:31:00.003-05:002012-01-09T14:58:33.638-05:00

By Guest Blogger Melanie Bowen:For many, the start of a new year means new beginnings and new resolutions to undertake. To help improve quality of life, having tangible goals and putting your thoughts into words is crucial to crystallizing intent and helping ensure that you follow through with your dreams. Writing down a goal helps it become more concrete. For example, a familiar New Year's

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-44228860002663654672011-12-23T22:05:00.003-05:002011-12-23T22:14:01.809-05:00

I read the book months ago and reviewed it here. It was one of those books that grabbed me and wouldn't let go until I had read all three books in the trilogy. I like to read the book before I see the movie.Books usually allow you to use your imagination for the details of a person's appearance. Even though Stieg Larsson left little to the imagination in portraying Lisbeth Salander with her

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-58894871401761279212011-11-20T19:52:00.001-05:002011-11-20T19:54:23.325-05:00

I reached my goal in NaNoWriMo. No, I didn't complete writing 50,000 words in the month of November, 2011 and I won't get a certificate for winning the challenge. I did what I set out to do, which was to complete the novel I started in NaNo2009 and NaNo2010. I reached the end of the story, and I did it before my Thanksgiving company arrived, with a few days to spare.I will say that this time

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-91168587507361685792011-11-20T19:27:00.005-05:002011-11-20T19:33:21.274-05:00

Healing and Freedom through these Sacred Tone Masters by Jacqueline D. HarrisMy rating: 4 of 5 starsI first met "Jacqui" on an internet forum community called Afrochat. Since I am usually one of the older people on social networking sites, my young friends (30 - 50 year-olds) start thinking of me as "Wise." Sometimes they even ask for my advice. Anyway, Jacqueline did ask for my guidance on

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-57837723975988115842011-11-06T12:29:00.006-05:002011-11-06T12:46:31.890-05:00

The Megabus began serving "Raleigh/Durham" a few months ago. That's "Raleigh/Durham" in quotes because, quiet as it's kept, there is no city name Raleigh/Durham or even Raleigh-Durham. Raleigh-Durham is an airport. (Excuse my annoyance.)Anyway the stop for the Megabus around here is in Durham, at the Durham Station Transportation Center which was completed in 2009. It's the hub for Durham's

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-2278266362163113292011-10-30T07:53:00.002-04:002011-10-30T07:56:34.801-04:00

The Night Circus by Erin MorgensternMy rating: 4 of 5 starsThis was a book club selection for my "other" book club. I didn't want to read this book..."Not another circus book (groan)." I had read Water for Elephants a few months ago, and I didn't think I was ready for another story about elephants, tigers and trains. Besides, I wanted to introduce some of my "other" friends to black

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-143986193129741212011-10-24T18:38:00.003-04:002011-10-24T18:46:05.018-04:00

Yes, I will be doing the Nano-thing again this year. NaNoWriMo. (The National Novel Writing Month)I did it for the first time in 2009, churning out 7000 words. I thought that was pretty good for a first timer, considering that November is hard. The last two years we have done a cruise in November, and then there is Thanksgiving. Last November I wrote about 2000 more words on the same novel.

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-40626854731155026252011-09-26T19:44:00.002-04:002011-09-26T19:47:26.253-04:00

Sugar in a Shoebox by Joyce McFarlandMy rating: 3 of 5 starsI have known Joyce McFarland since our sons were good friends in middle school. She was always a person who could light up a room with her smiles and laughter. In her book Sugar in a Shoebox she tells stories of growing up poor in rural North Carolina in the 1950's. She was born three months prematurely to teenaged parents, then

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-4587572452357716582011-09-24T19:25:00.001-04:002011-09-24T19:27:14.088-04:00

My Soul to Take by Tananarive DueMy rating: 4 of 5 starsThe fourth book in Tananarive Due's African Immortals series takes us to the next generation of The Blood. Fana is the first child born to the blood of the Lalibela Colony of Immortals and must deal with the prophecy that she must join with another Blood Born of the Sanctus Cruor sect. The Sanctus Cruor sect had claimed the Blood was

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-15278451398034232922011-08-31T20:14:00.003-04:002011-08-31T20:22:14.843-04:00

The Marrow of Tradition by Charles W. Chesnutt My rating: 4 of 5 stars I consider myself fortunate to have gone to segregated schools in the Jim Crow South of the 1950's, thanks to teachers who taught us many of the things that were missing from the approved text books. The text books in the Virginia schools would have us believe that "slaves were happy and they sang a lot." And for 200

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-17671998716352147202011-08-26T20:06:00.003-04:002011-08-26T20:12:05.138-04:00

OK, Baby Boomers, we wrote the songs. Will you still love me tomorrow? Will you still need me when I'm 64? And then there's the one that hasn't been written yet: Will you still love me when I don't know who you are? Tinker decided one of my bookcases was falling down from overload. After he repaired it, he said I needed to get rid of some of the books to make space for the photo albums.

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-15102217034235062822011-08-17T19:56:00.002-04:002011-08-17T20:09:46.731-04:00

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones My rating: 4 of 5 stars A few lines from one of my favorite songs from the Temptations: Hey Mama, is it true what they say, that Papa never worked a day in his life? And Mama, bad talk going around town saying that Papa had three outside children and another wife. And that ain't right. That's what I always heard it called, "outside children." Tayari Jones' novel

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-18708811420089602232011-07-22T16:38:00.002-04:002011-07-22T16:44:40.630-04:00

It all started in February 2011 when I attended a Red Dress Affair sponsored by Duke Raleigh Hospital. The event featured a health fair, heart-healthy cooking demonstrations provided by Kroger, free advance lipid profile test provided by LipoScience, screenings by Duke Heart Center, healthy lunch, and presentations from Duke experts.As the youngest of seven siblings who have various forms of

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-45260909612011709632011-07-17T17:07:00.001-04:002011-07-17T17:08:57.825-04:00

State of Wonder by Ann PatchettMy rating: 5 of 5 starsAlthough my blog is called "Checking off the Bucket List," I don't have a list. I know when I do something extraordinary, I decide that was one. And there are some things I know will never be on my Bucket List. Going down the Amazon River is one. A few years ago, my husband and I cruised South America, starting at Valparaiso, Chile, around

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-63421303622682977942011-07-09T19:55:00.004-04:002011-07-09T20:02:23.194-04:00

The Movie "Larry Crowne" answers the question, "Can a man find happiness after he loses his job, his wife, his house, and can't afford to put gas in his SUV?" Of course he can, in Tom Hanks' latest movie, written, produced, and directed by Tom Hanks.The bigger question is, when did Tom Hanks become one of the old guys? He still looks good, but he's getting a little saggy under the eyes, and

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-2062000459811323852011-06-18T08:11:00.000-04:002011-06-18T08:12:52.578-04:00

Breathless by Dean KoontzMy rating: 3 of 5 starsI love the way Dean Koontz develops characters. There are the ones he gives endearing and quirky characteristics that you can love and identify with. And there are the creepy ones that make you afraid to check under the bed. He throws in a dog to make you feel safe and sure that nothing really bad is going to happen to the good people. And there

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-16754163605571468122011-06-13T13:22:00.004-04:002011-06-13T13:34:16.587-04:00

On Saturday I participated in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure, in Raleigh. I did the 5K recreational run. The day started out with temperatures in the 70's, and the air was muggy. It was a good day. The Five Kilometers (~3 miles) turned into 6 miles when we added the walk from the Lincolnville AME Church van to the buses provided at the RBC Center, plus the walk from the drop off at the

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-73389544394598571482011-06-09T15:08:00.003-04:002011-06-10T13:22:27.203-04:00

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg LarssonMy rating: 3 of 5 starsI finally finished the third and last installment of Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy. I finished the second book four months ago just before the big New York publisher's started the "Agency Pricing" agreement that keeps the price of e-books higher than paperback in many cases.I had bought the first two e-books in the

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-24518175748038670502011-06-04T19:09:00.002-04:002011-06-04T19:16:13.879-04:00

It all started when I decided to find out why I can't connect my Kindle to my home wireless network. Not that I need to. I'm retired and sit at my PC many hours every day. If I want to shop for books, I do it from my PC and send the ebooks to my Kindle via Whispernet. No muss no fuss.But you know how those things can nag you when they ought to work. I connected my Kobo reader with no problem

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-86909465699594447872011-05-17T10:29:00.003-04:002011-05-17T19:55:17.444-04:00

My current Work-in-Progress, which is a long way from completion, is in need of a name. The working title is Blaq-Kawfee.com (where friends are more than just faces on a screen.)Synopsis:BK is owned and operated by A1QTEE (Laura) who maintains a personal relationship with all the members of the site. Angelplaits (Angela) is QTEE's number one administrator to help keep forum topics current and

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-17626844605989388242011-05-12T14:37:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:30:22.100-04:00

Dear Friends and Family,I recently accepted the challenge to Inspire Hope by participating in the 2011 Komen NC Triangle Race for the Cure. This year marks the 15th Anniversary of the Race and I have committed to taking the 15th Anniversary Challenge to raise at least $300. This should be easy if only 15 of my friends and family will make a $20 donation, I will reach my goal. Won't you please

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-133978992894257622011-05-07T18:38:00.004-04:002011-05-07T18:46:59.799-04:00

More Than You Know by Rosalyn StoryMy rating: 4 of 5 starsAfter reading Rosalyn Story's Wading Home, I loved it so much that I had to read her first novel, More Than You Know. When I first saw the title, I started singing the old standard by that name, without knowing the song was a thread throughout the novel.It's a sweet, poignant love story of a nine-year-old boy who promised never to tell

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-86291602227328310862011-05-04T09:20:00.006-04:002011-05-04T09:31:36.450-04:00

JA Adams is author of Chameleon, Unfinished Business, and is excited about the re-release of Purple Haze. In Purple Haze, a car accident ends the lives of a young couple and no one suspects foul play until another body surfaces leading the people of Pineview, TX to believe a killer is in their midst. Twins, Landan and Janda Colquin try to uncover the identity of the killer as a complicated

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-43337852644430412932011-05-01T08:50:00.001-04:002011-05-01T08:54:15.601-04:00

For the Month of May, the Kindle version of Motherless Child - stories from a life for 99 cents.Imagine you gave a baby up for adoption forty years ago, and after years of trying to find her, she finds you. Now come the hard questions. She's healthy, beautiful, and successful, but she wants to know why you gave her away and why you didn't marry her father. And there is also the unspoken

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-53700311972132853092011-04-25T13:19:00.007-04:002011-04-25T13:31:25.270-04:00

We just returned from a two-week Southern Caribbean cruise. Since the itinerary included islands we had visited before except for one, we took the opportunity to visit the beach as many days as possible and work on our tans. The first port stop was St. Martin/St. Maarten where we took a taxi to Maho Beach, also known as "Airport Beach." It's adjacent to Princess Juliana International Airport,

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-44876715715548757822011-04-24T18:37:00.002-04:002011-04-24T18:43:57.131-04:00

The List by J.A. KonrathMy rating: 4 of 5 starsThis novel by J.A.Konrath was another 99 cent treasure I found by way of DailyCheapReads.com. It's available in paperback on Amazon via Amazon's CreateSpace publishing arm, and as a Kindle eBook.He tried for a few years to get it published traditionally, but it has become quite a hit as an eBook. "It's a technothriller about a group of ten people who

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-91323265862774918812011-04-23T23:37:00.001-04:002011-04-23T23:42:26.369-04:00

Wading Home: A Novel of New Orleans by Rosalyn StoryMy rating: 5 of 5 starsI first heard of this book through one of the blogs I read (I forget which). At the time, it seemed the book wasn’t getting the attention it deserved even after being on the Essence book list. The publisher offered a free PDF download from their website during Black History month. (Did somebody say free?) After I

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-27910277619736025302011-04-23T23:19:00.000-04:002011-04-23T23:20:08.887-04:00

Water for Elephants by Sara GruenMy rating: 5 of 5 starsThe movie opened earlier this month, but I like to read the book first. Especially since I had already downloaded it to my Kindle. I read an interview with the author, Sara Gruen, in which tells how she got caught up in telling a story about life in a circus during the Great Depression. She said she had never had much interest in circuses

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-30474833135884777832011-04-23T23:05:00.001-04:002011-04-23T23:07:50.330-04:00

Love, Honor, and Betray by Kimberla Lawson RobyMy rating: 2 of 5 starsI have read Kimberla Lawson Roby’s books before and I enjoyed her stories. I read this one because it was my book club's selection for April. The trouble with books in a series is you can be stuck with characters you don’t like for all the books to come until you decide you don’t care enough about any of them to read another

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-53926703211259424102011-04-06T11:24:00.004-04:002011-04-06T11:30:34.230-04:00

I luurrrve my Kindle. Did I say that before? It's great for traveling, since I don't have to pack 2 - 4 books for the trip.Sure I heard about apps for Kindle months ago, but they all looked rather clumsy. The Kindle keyboard is not something I want to use for any real typing.Enter Kindle Notepad. My first impression was, "What do I want this for?" The folks on the Kindlecorner Yahoo group

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-83029344879321301672011-03-26T21:13:00.000-04:002011-03-26T21:14:40.148-04:00

The Testament by John GrishamMy rating: 4 of 5 starsI always think of John Grisham as a lawyer who hates the practice of law so much that he would rather expose the sleaze-bags who practice law than be one. When I read one of his books, I always expect to read about the worst money-grubbing lawyer tactics.It was no surprise when I got a lot of that from The Testament. The swarm of lawyers

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-84496743116805715042011-03-21T09:53:00.003-04:002011-03-21T10:01:17.577-04:00

When I left the house suddenly yesterday afternoon, I told hubby I was going to buy another eReader. He looked at me like I had lost my mind. He just gave me a Kindle for my birthday in October.What had happened wuz...Borders Books is in bankruptcy, and the stores that are closing are selling everything down to the walls for a big discount. I had just read in the Kindlecorner yahoo group that

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-14941235453570901062011-03-17T16:17:00.001-04:002011-03-20T07:24:12.463-04:00

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel WilkersonMy rating: 5 of 5 starsI have one word to describe this book...Brilliant. It was my book club's selection for this month, and I feared that I wouldn't be able to finish the massive 640 pages before our club meeting. As it turns out, the 640 pages includes the Epilogue, notes on Methodology, the

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-67276576042412936312011-03-16T19:50:00.003-04:002011-03-16T19:54:39.124-04:00

I had two fillings replaced in my teeth last week. My dentist took great care in making sure my upper and lower teeth came together correctly. I did the bite on the carbon paper thing several times until I felt comfortable.On the way home, the Novocaine wore off. I bit my teeth together, and it was like an electric shock in my mouth. But if I bit firmly, there was no shock. I had other

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-77900862938122538772011-02-19T11:05:00.005-05:002011-02-19T11:16:40.483-05:00

Isabel Wilkerson, former national correspondent and bureau chief at The New York Times and the first black woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for journalism, was at UNC-Chapel Hill last night to discuss her new book, "The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration." This is not a book review, since I'm still reading the book...a massive 600 pages, part sociological study that

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-80018089698187498962011-02-16T17:40:00.002-05:002011-02-16T17:45:06.022-05:00

I like comic book superhero movies. Superman, Batman, Spider-man, Iron Man, I've enjoyed them all. I expected The Green Hornet to be another one of the rich playboy turned protector of the innocent and down-trodden, a la Robert Downey, Jr. in Iron Man.What I wasn't expecting was another stupid white guy movie. I should have checked the cast list before going off with Sweetie for our

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-82277495388785216942011-01-30T20:14:00.000-05:002011-01-30T20:23:56.679-05:00

Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleezza RiceMy rating: 3 of 5 starsIf want to read this book for answers to those nagging questions like:Where was the National Security Advisor on September 11, 2001? (I watched TV non-stop for days, and I never heard a statement from the NSA) You won't find it in this book.ORWhat was she thinking when no Weapons of Mass Destruction were found? You won't

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-73509210828603894072011-01-30T20:13:00.000-05:002011-01-30T20:14:29.236-05:00

Odd Thomas by Dean KoontzMy rating: 4 of 5 starsA Dean Koontz eBook for $5 sounded like a good deal, and one of my friends gave this book five stars. This is the first of four in the Odd Thomas series, so it seemed like a winner.First name "Odd," last name "Thomas." What kind of parents give a kid a name like that? We do find out. Odd Thomas sees dead people. He takes it on as his calling to

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-77420123768330060182011-01-09T16:51:00.005-05:002011-01-09T17:02:14.351-05:00

For a limited time only: Motherless Child - stories from a life for $2.99.Imagine you gave a baby up for adoption forty years ago, and after years of trying to find her, she finds you. Now come the hard questions. She's healthy, beautiful, and successful, but she wants to know why you gave her away and why you didn't marry her father. And there is also the unspoken question of "What kind of

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-70379405130281367392010-12-29T19:25:00.003-05:002010-12-29T19:33:33.820-05:00

I received a Kindle for my birthday in October, 2010, so I can't claim any real knowledge of how e-books are priced, except from what I have observed in about ten weeks.I have watched the prices of top sellers coming from the "traditional" publishers, i.e. the big houses that reside in New York, and the new releases appear to be $14.99, $12.99 for an e-book. Often that is not much less than the

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-27466639769143825092010-12-25T22:06:00.003-05:002010-12-27T07:14:13.673-05:00

Getting to Happy by Terry McMillanMy rating: 2 of 5 starsI read Getting to Happy because it's our Book Club selection for January. I suppose we chose it because we wanted to see if it would be another "watershed moment" for women to talk about. Ms. McMillan starts in her Author's Note with a reminder that the movie Waiting to Exhale was not the same as the book. My initial feeling was that maybe

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-63256176688860994032010-12-09T20:59:00.002-05:002010-12-09T21:04:29.477-05:00

Did I have a Christmas vest?One with a big tree on the back?I'm pretty sure I bought one,Or did I forget it on the rack?I remember looking through those sweatersBut I thought them way too much.I thought a vest would better suit me,better fit my style and such.I searched through all the closets,Couldn't find it anywhere.Even asked my dear Tinker,And all he did was stare.Yes, I remember when you

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-50904378675759181832010-12-08T19:19:00.001-05:002010-12-08T19:22:23.685-05:00

Crossing Oceans by Gina HolmesMy rating: 4 of 5 starsIt's a sad coincidence that I finished reading this book the same day that Elizabeth Edwards died. The heroine of this book had less time than Mrs Edwards to prepare. She had been diagnosed with cancer, and given less than a year to live. Jenny Lucas returned home to the father she had not spoken to in almost six years, and to the

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-44921712541547768842010-12-03T11:05:00.001-05:002010-12-03T11:08:12.972-05:00

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg LarssonMy rating: 4 of 5 starsI pay attention to what other people are reading. When my husband and I travel I take note of people reading in airports, on the pool deck on cruise ships, around the pool in Vegas. The last couple of years, Stieg Larsson's books have been everywhere. But I had the impression that those books were dark, violent, mysteries.

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-52663724240782199652010-11-27T11:55:00.004-05:002010-11-27T12:02:31.623-05:00

Thanksgiving is over, and we didn't travel this weekend. When we did travel on November 13, that was my first experience with the full body scan at RDU airport.Dear hubby had a hip replacement a couple of years ago, and he has gotten in the habit of requesting a "male assist" as soon as we get to the security checkpoint. He leaves me to keep up with his carry-on backpack and shoes while they

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-52768113318801257262010-11-21T22:15:00.000-05:002010-11-21T22:16:55.955-05:00

To Love A Stallion by Deborah Fletcher MelloMy rating: 4 of 5 starsI met Deborah Mello at a Black History Month event earlier this year. Several of us black authors were hawking our books. She bought mine, and I bought one of hers. When I asked which one she would recommend that I read first, she started talking about the Stallion brothers as if they were her own children. There was that look

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-35194891475016173632010-11-20T22:18:00.000-05:002010-11-20T22:19:15.897-05:00

Black Water Rising by Attica LockeMy rating: 4 of 5 starsSomehow I thought this book was a mystery. But the real mystery is Jay Porter...why he doesn't connect with his wife whom he loves, who loves him, and on whom he hangs his whole future.There is that mysterious rescue of a woman from drowning in the bayou; a young man gets beat up by union guys who supposedly support the strike; oil seepage

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-15638920148242777332010-11-05T20:14:00.003-04:002010-11-05T20:20:05.129-04:00

If anybody went to see "For Colored Girls" expecting to see Madea, they were sadly disappointed. I have to give Tyler Perry his "propers." He made millions giving (some) people what they want, now he's giving the people what he thinks they need. The credits for the movie list Tyler Perry as screen writer....based on the play by Ntozake Shange "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-74890272977962571592010-11-01T13:23:00.000-04:002010-11-01T13:25:10.846-04:00

The Help by Kathryn StockettMy rating: 3 of 5 starsWhen I first heard about this book, I felt some apprehension about reading it as I often do with books about black people, written by a white person. I tried to avoid it, but then the nice (white) ladies in my exercise class started buzzing about it, so I knew I had to read it. Then my book club made it our selection for November.I will say

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-67501255255460274432010-10-28T19:10:00.004-04:002010-10-28T19:14:40.692-04:00

It always warms my heart when I see the kindness of friends on the internet. People I never met in person will respond to a need from someone they know only through me. We saw an outpouring of help for our friends in New Orleans, just because they needed help. When I made an appeal for a kidney donor for a young man I never met, the response came from a friend of Rose's sister's daughter. (

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-46503094248458491092010-10-21T17:49:00.002-04:002010-10-21T17:54:56.703-04:00

Did you ever feel like you were overdue for something good to happen. It's been one of those years for me.Today was going to be my "Day Off." I had no appointments, so Sweetie and I planned to go to the State Fair. But Tuesday, I learned I had to take my sister to the Dentist. My 84-year-old sister and her 91-year-old husband moved to Raleigh to a retirement home earlier this year, largely

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-92228363090915464172010-10-14T20:45:00.000-04:002010-10-14T20:47:28.437-04:00

Second Chance At Happiness by Sherry McFarlandMy rating: 4 of 5 starsSherry McFarland tells a good story. It's a little bit "School Daze," a little bit "Why Did I Get Married,"... HBCU gets married. It kept me turning pages until the shocker in the middle of the book.The story took me back to a more carefree time in my life with an ensemble of characters I liked, even the flawed ones. I found

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-68564556125119633672010-10-06T21:32:00.006-04:002011-12-21T19:35:14.758-05:00

Happy Birthday to ME!!! I never thought I would live to see 65. Thank you Lord for all you've done for me!!As you see, I am wearing my Birthday Suit! Age has its privileges, and an old broad like me ought to be able to do anything she wants on her birthday.At the beginning of the year, I said I was going gray. It was my intention to be there in time for my new Driver License. In North

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-87803458507129110282010-10-02T09:34:00.003-04:002010-10-02T09:39:46.343-04:00

The year was 1986. (Mark Zuckerberg was two years old.) I was honored to be sent by my company to CADRE, the National ADR Users Group meeting. ADR was swallowed up by a bigger database company a few years later, but at the time, I considered myself the data bigot, the one in charge of relational database design. I had come up through the ranks as a programmer, my coding days were over, but I

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-85320017906463528602010-09-25T21:01:00.003-04:002010-09-25T21:07:52.304-04:00

It's an exciting time to be an author these days, especially if you're internet savvy. And if you are willing to take that leap, you can self-publish works that might be otherwise difficult to get into print.I enjoy short stories, but I don't remember the last time I read one before today. I used to subscribe to piles of magazines and read the stories in the New Yorker, or even Playboy (mee???)

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-4064070929481808482010-09-21T18:45:00.002-04:002010-12-09T21:07:33.819-05:00

Mother would have chastised meYou have to wait until you get homeBut, MOTHEEERRRR, sometimes it gets hot walking home from downtown(Since you won't let us ride in the back of the bus)That water might taste really goodWe don't drink thereBut the one at Blandford Park is fineIt doesn't have a signThe sign makes it bad?The sign says we're not worthyI certainly want to be worthyIf I had drunk from

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-11422329108354431292010-09-17T15:56:00.002-04:002010-09-17T15:59:40.553-04:00

It's the big one, Elizabeth. Sarah is having the big birthday this year. To celebrate, we're having a sale. You can purchase your autographed copy of Motherless Child - stories from a life for $14.00 now through the end of October, 2010, or while supplies last. From Amazon Seller, "saraphen" (that's me). Click here.

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-86714412404798102672010-09-08T19:13:00.001-04:002010-09-08T19:15:54.460-04:00

Joplin's Ghost by Tananarive DueMy rating: 5 of 5 starsI don't know why it took me so long to get around to reading this book. I was probably pouting about having to wait for another one of the Blood Brothers series, and nearly missed a national treasure.I loved this book!! The "Ghost" thing may have kept me away for a while. And maybe it did take me a few dozen pages to stop checking under

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-25948987400116470622010-09-02T20:04:00.003-04:002010-09-02T20:10:14.563-04:00

I say that at the risk of offending those who do. Let's just say, I'm beyond being helped. There was a time when I would buy the latest non-fiction best seller, which might likely be a self-help book. In my years of working, I enjoyed going to hear the motivational speakers, and I attended the motivational seminars. When I reached the point when I had a budget, I would make sure my staff went

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-76878840055190167212010-08-08T08:24:00.003-04:002010-08-08T08:27:29.307-04:00

My long-time internet friends have seen this for at least ten years. It's worth repeating from time to time.1. Remember where you came from.2. Don’t do something once that you don’t expect to do forever. (There’s no such thing as just this once.--As in, letting the 2-year-old sleep in your bed.---As in, caving in to the church-lady.----As in, trying something freaky!!>>OOPS!!)3. Don’t put your

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-29357587185465092292010-07-31T19:52:00.002-04:002010-07-31T19:57:47.491-04:00

Do you feel obligated to feed anyone who comes to visit you at your house? When you're not having a party, didn't invite them, but they just stopped by. Maybe they called first...people don't just drop in like they did in the Olden Days when I was a child. Do you feed them?When I was a child, people did just drop in. Mostly it would be Sunday afternoon, or just about any afternoon in the

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-16804359677872837372010-07-21T21:41:00.003-04:002010-07-21T21:55:51.613-04:00

It was no ordinary day. I got up, showered and dressed, and didn't have breakfast. I was fasting until my 9:30 doctor's appointment. I did have a big glass of water so my veins would perk up for all the blood work.After the annual physical and bloodwrok, I was feeling rather puny, and boogeyed on down to the nearest McCafe to try the latest new thing from Mickey Dee's...a banana-strawberry

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-40460874772589112052010-06-25T20:31:00.004-04:002010-06-26T08:27:44.309-04:00

When did AS HELL get to be the simile for all time?According to Bossip Alicia Keys was in Central Park this morning, looking as pregnant as hell???Gorgeous as hell? Hungry as hell? Hot as hell....that one I'll take. But cold as hell???This comes from published writers. I won't name names. Can somebody give me some better similes than hell?I thought Alicia looked radiant with her baby-bump.

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-21324216179360565692010-06-19T12:13:00.004-04:002010-06-19T12:17:10.705-04:00

I didn't have Dr. Seuss, or any other kid's books, but my Daddy read to me. By today's standards, you might call him a house-husband. He was a priest, and he was home with me during the day while Mother taught school. Daddy did the laundry, and cooked dinner during the week.I come from a reading family, so I would sit myself in Daddy's lap while he read the newspaper, and he would read to me.

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-60070437236758467722010-06-18T19:05:00.002-04:002010-06-18T19:09:38.234-04:00

Will Smith owned the slot for the summer blockbuster since "Independence Day" the summer of 1996. As long as he was the favorite goofy hero, he had the summer locked up. After he slid into the dark side with "I am Legend" and "Seven Pounds" he relinquished the summer.Now that spot belongs to his son Jaden, in "Karate Kid." My sons were big fans of the 1984 release of "Karate Kid." But this

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-87435479650953673042010-06-13T17:35:00.003-04:002010-06-13T17:50:26.365-04:00

Nothing but a potty break could pull me away in the last 100 pages.From Cape Town with Love, the third Tennyson Hardwick novel is the most suspenseful yet. I was all set to complain about the S&M episode (bondage is a real turn-off for me) but all of that fell by the wayside when it came down to the story, just as the previous two novels in the series got the sex out of the way fairly early in

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-82078446680050109702010-05-30T17:47:00.005-04:002010-05-30T18:05:56.866-04:00

That's my chair. My One Enormous Chair. You know the one, "Oh wouldn't it be loverly," chair. It kinda symbolizes how I like to read. I'm not always in that chair. Sometimes I'm in a pile of pillows on the bed, or on the sofa, or my new swoop chaise, or in a deck chair on a cruise...with a book, cosy and comfortable. When people have discussions about whether they like to read the book or

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-20344903134035179792010-05-14T21:31:00.002-04:002010-05-14T21:37:15.522-04:00

One "guy movie" deserves a "Chick flick." We saw Iron Man 2 last week, so this week it was my turn. Everybody loves Queen Latifah, even hubby who doesn't like rap. I didn't tell him until we were leaving the theater that Common is my favorite rap artist. The only rap CD I ever bought was "Be." Besides I like it when the authors of "Explicit Content" can get a PG rating for their movie.If you

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-6966898795939038052010-05-10T15:29:00.002-04:002010-05-10T15:40:27.869-04:00

This is my year to go on Medicare. You would think that since I'm the youngest of seven siblings, I might benefit from my older siblings' knowledge of Medicare, but no. Something changes every year, and each of my siblings has had a different set of circumstances going in. Some Federal employees, some veterans, various combinations of health or prescription requirements. I'm having to figure

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-17569966498740530612010-05-07T16:26:00.004-04:002010-05-07T16:34:56.680-04:00

Hammercy. I thought I had fallen into a testosterone pit. We went to the 12:30 showing. (After the 12:00, and before the 1:00, 1:30, 3:00, 3:30....) I think I was one of five women in the theater. First we had to see the previews of coming guy movies, "The A-Team," "Prince of Persia," "Robin Hood." Shrek got in there too, and next year's Spielberg movie. After all that action, the guys

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-54969135229140881342010-05-01T20:42:00.003-04:002010-05-01T21:05:10.715-04:00

We all know State governments are hurting for revenue these days. I can't blame them for looking for some Mother-Lode of unpaid taxes. Those of us who shop online know the major online retailers who don't also have a brick and mortar store somewhere usually let us off without charging sales taxes. Amazon is very likely the biggest fish out there. I have shopped on Amazon for over 10 years. (

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-28671104704529923252010-04-23T15:03:00.006-04:002010-04-23T18:05:07.213-04:00

This is a topic that most women can relate to. Especially black women. It has certainly been one of my life-long challenges to find a pair of jeans that will cover my butt and also fit my waistline. I don't do low-riders, and I don't work as a plumber.When I find a pair that fit, I usually try to buy more than one, same size, different color. That's another challenge. Then comes the issue of

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-69834091014560040122010-04-19T21:07:00.003-04:002010-04-19T21:15:12.595-04:00

I blogged before (here) about going to Labadee for the Beach Party on our Cruise. We went last week on the Celebrity Solstice, cruising the Caribbean. The final port was Labadee, Haiti.I decided I wouldn't feel guilty about being there, even knowing that just over the mountain, there are people still without a roof over their heads in Port-au-Prince. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships stop at

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-42373540780890317392010-03-17T15:58:00.007-04:002010-03-17T16:08:35.535-04:00

I got my first gray hair when I was in my thirties. It was one of those spirally kind of hairs that stuck out above my forehead. The solution was simple; pluck it out. There's an old wives tale that says if you pluck one gray hair, more will grow back in it's place. That same lonely one kept coming back for a while. It took a few years for more to sprout around my head in spotty clusters.

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-19441608597812542432010-03-13T21:27:00.005-05:002010-03-14T09:24:25.441-04:00

...So said Sally Field in her advertisement for Boniva. Now I'm saying the same thing in rejecting my current osteoporosis treatment.I blogged about my comparative analysis of osteo drugs in August 2008 after my second bone scan showed that I had osteopenia. I jokingly called it Oscar de la Peña. It's no joking matter anymore. I didn't choose Fosamax because of reflux concerns. Now we know

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-62165062399070840832010-03-07T17:42:00.003-05:002010-03-07T17:51:38.483-05:00

You can purchase my e-book half-price this week only! That's $4.00 for the digital version of Motherless Child - stories from a life. Click here.Don't have an e-reader? You can get a PC- or MAC-based one for free here

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-33585376482270609302010-02-20T15:58:00.003-05:002010-02-20T16:02:36.360-05:00

I learned early in life that Librarians are good people. A librarian saved me from my mean and evil second-grade teacher who happened to be her sister. Then she opened up the vault, what seemed like access to unlimited books.When I started promoting my book, I found suggestions from all kinds of sources. One smart blogger said to follow the advice of Willie Sutton the bank robber. When asked

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-48225598864239710132010-02-17T14:56:00.005-05:002010-02-17T15:04:53.301-05:00

I subscribe to a number of blogs, and a few that suggest blog topics on a weekly basis. This is the first one to catch my attention in a long time, not because of the typo, but because it sent me off down memory lane.When I moved back to the south in 1975, my first job was with the power company. I interviewed with about 10 other companies before the power company, and encountered the kind of

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-80470228968192674172010-02-11T15:40:00.001-05:002010-02-11T15:43:04.604-05:00

I bet Michelle knows the words:Lift Ev’ry Voice and Singby James Weldon JohnsonLift every voice and singTill earth and heaven ring,Ring with the harmonies of liberty.Let our rejoicing riseHigh as the list'ning skies;Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us;Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;Facing the rising

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-49416540619465024472010-02-08T19:45:00.003-05:002010-02-08T19:50:06.654-05:00

The doctor showed them the big yellow sign, meant to stop the staff in their tracks. This one said "Do Not Resuscitate." She asked my sister and brother-in-law if that was their desire. I thought they already had a "Living Will" but it turns out the attorney back home said to wait until they get to North Carolina, since the legalese would be different. But they responded, "Yes, that's what we

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-48306500980164744072010-02-04T21:52:00.003-05:002010-02-04T21:57:00.511-05:00

Is it insensitive to go on vacation when other people in the world are suffering? Is Hawaii OK when people in Port-au-Prince are living among the rubble of an earthquake. What about a day at the beach just 60 miles away from Port-au-Prince.My husband and I travel a lot. We cruise two or more times every year. We book next year's cruise while aboard this year's cruise, earning discounts and

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-63503040554745377102010-01-19T14:13:00.003-05:002010-01-19T14:42:52.887-05:00

The Hubbub over text driving is getting louder by the day. If you saw Oprah's show yesterday, you should be convinced to put down that cellphone while driving.I dug up this blog that I saved from Yahoo 360 before it went belly-up. It includes the comments. Fortunately some of the guilty parties are identified as "Yahoo-User" if they left Yahoo (deleted? and maybe returned later) I wonder how

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-24753935291008618842010-01-11T21:54:00.003-05:002010-01-11T22:00:28.082-05:00

This is one of the new reduced speed signs near the neighborhood elementary school. It reads:M T Th F 7:50 - 8:35 AM2:45 - 3:30 PM Wednesday 7:50 - 8:35 AM 1:45 - 2:30 PMEven driving at 25 mph, I could not read everything on that sign. And then at 8 AM, some mornings I have to think for another block to remember what day it is. (Some schools close early one day per week to save funds.) When

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-36250243223666371102010-01-10T18:29:00.001-05:002010-01-10T18:32:29.429-05:00

I haven't really been slacking. The New Year is zipping by really fast already. This is the year I file for Medicare and somebody has to remind me with junk mail at least twice a week. I don't really mind because my current (free) health plan with my former employer really sucks. I could use some help here before the old bod falls apart.I have started moderating comments. I hate that, but I

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-59051982355359650502009-12-28T20:04:00.003-05:002009-12-28T20:19:12.459-05:00

Once I get on a roll, I don't know when to stop. As long as I'm formatting my book for digital readers, I might as well cover the market. Sony has a new model competing with Amazon's Kindle. It's still a little to pricey for me, but my book will be there.The formatting took longer this time. As a self-published author, I had to go through Smashwords to get to the Sony reader. Once I passed

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-63338993283243027592009-12-12T15:21:00.003-05:002009-12-12T15:27:18.736-05:00

Amazon support came through with flying colors and my book is available for Kindle download. If you have a Kindle device, or if you want to get Kindle for PC (free beta download), or if a Kindle is on your Christmas wish list....any more if's I can think of?? Click here for the Kindle book.It's a win-win. The price is $7.99 vs. $17.99 for the paperback, and the author gets a bigger percentage

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-83810589114830824032009-12-10T15:19:00.003-05:002009-12-10T15:23:39.605-05:00

Amazon released its first digital reader in 2007 at a price of $399. Kindle 2 was released in February 2009, and the price was reduced to $259 in October 2009.As an avid reader, I rejected the idea of a digital reader at first. I like to curl up with a book, I like the heft of a book and the feel of the pages. But I find a gadget hard to resist. It's the price that has kept me away.As an

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-22624370933748657872009-12-03T10:46:00.002-05:002009-12-03T10:47:45.336-05:00

When we booked an excursion from our cruise ship for "Xunantunich & Marimba Lunch" I didn't know quite what to expect. I don't do detailed research prior to a Caribbean cruise. This was supposed to be a resting vacation. We had not been to Belize before, and a friend said we might like to see some Mayan ruins.The excursion description said to wear walking shoes, as there would be hiking uphill

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-57452229039873625822009-11-27T10:36:00.002-05:002009-11-27T10:40:18.014-05:00

"Grandma, have you been to North Dakota?""No, but I've been to South Dakota?""You've been to South Dakota?" Then turning to Grandpa,"Grandpa, have you been to North Dakota."Grandpa says, "Yes."Grandma interjects, "Grandpa has been to all fifty states."Youngun is surprised and impressed. "All fifty states? But have you been to Canada?""Yes""How about South America?""Yes""Europe?""Yes""Antarctica

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-25939287943308996382009-11-23T15:01:00.003-05:002009-11-23T15:05:23.274-05:00

We're going on a 7-day Caribbean cruise next week, and this is all I'm taking. One bag under 50 pounds. I'll also have a small backpack for carry-on...my meds, book, music, and one-quart ziploc bag with allowable liquids. The airlines forced us to do this when they started charging $25 to check a bag. Depending on our frequent-flyer status, we sometimes get by with no extra charges. We

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-60879807540991657002009-11-06T19:06:00.002-05:002009-11-06T19:11:00.177-05:00

It's been over three weeks since my surgery, and the pain in my right side is gone. The ovarian cyst on the left was not the cause, but the laparoscopy to remove the cyst provided a view of the problem on the left. The picture below is fuzzy because it was a stealth photo of a photo. Adding the legend made it more fuzzy. My daughter had suspected that I had adhesions that caused the pain.

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-79467216450648965062009-10-29T19:41:00.002-04:002009-10-29T19:44:56.861-04:00

I did it. I thought about it last year and the year before. This time I did it, but I'm going to stay anonymous. If you see a saraphen out there, it's not me....LOL.It's the National Novel Writing Month. I have pledged to write something during the month of November. The goal is pounding out 50,000 words by brute force, over the course of the month, and maybe a story will be in there worth

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-17698051034416631202009-10-28T20:06:00.002-04:002009-10-28T20:09:51.867-04:00

I went to see it at 1:00 today with my sons. Tinker says he'll wait to see it on DVD. I wanted the big screen experience. I never had the privilege of a live Michael concert, and I hoped this would give me a taste of what had missed while he was living. I knew this was rehearsal footage, but didn't know what to expect.First of all, Michael was very much in charge, vibrant, not at all sickly.

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-45943220885448691792009-10-15T21:12:00.003-04:002009-10-15T21:17:52.779-04:00

When my doctor came to see me Post-op, that was the first thing I said when I woke up. It was like I had been waiting all my life to make that dumb joke, and I finally had the opportunity. She was serious, "If you could play before." "How about playing tennis?"Two of my greatest regrets. I quit the piano when I was four years old. Or it was really my mother who couldn't stand my banging and

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-63831728498610936002009-10-07T15:45:00.002-04:002009-10-07T15:49:22.921-04:00

I had my Pre-OP meeting today. They do it by telephone. Rather strange, but it certainly was convenient. I've accompanied my brother for his last three pre-op appointments, so I knew what to expect. I had my shoe-box of meds all ready to tell them what I take. With my changing assortment of blood pressure medications, there was no way I would remember my dosage and the names of Benicar,

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3851465766245978024.post-41024153354446120862009-09-29T19:57:00.003-04:002009-09-29T20:10:23.165-04:00

Whoever said, “No News is good news,” must have had their head buried in the sand. Some things I want to know, and I want to know NOW. I have been silent on this blog for a few weeks now, waiting for resolution of a health issue. Waiting Sucks!When I started writing this blog, I called it “Aspiring Writer.” For about a year, I wrote mostly about the book I was writing and hoping to publish.

saraphenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901259134387926833noreply@blogger.com0