Bryce Moore's Blog, page 330

Book Review: The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time Book 12)

[image error] The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So here we are. Finally, after my long drawn-out re-read of the Wheel of Time series, I was able to read the new book. I have to admit, I was more than a little apprehensive going into the read. I mean, I know Brandon, and I trust his writing and skill, but no one's perfect. Everyone has a dud now and then--even when they're writing their own material. Finishing someone else's material? I could see many ways where that would go wrong...

Why I Like the Yankees

I'm a Yankees fan.

Get over it.

That said, I always feel the need to explain why I'm a Yankees fan--the need to distinguish myself from those front-runner-loving, money grubbing lemmings out there who are Yankees fans just because Yankees win a lot and have a lot of money. (Although better to be a Yankees fan for that reason than a Red Sox fan for that reason, I suppose.) In any case, I'm not one of Those Fans.

I lived in New York from the time I was two until I was ten or so. At that time, the ...

How to Tell You're Really Busy

For the second time in a week, you look at the time, realize it's almost evening, and you still haven't blogged. Sorry folks--life is still busy. Change is in the air, though. Fairly big change. Nothing life-altering (or writing-related), but still . . . Stay tuned.

Busy as All Get Out

Sorry, folks. It's been crazy around here. The good news is that projects are getting completed like crazy, both at work and in life. The bad news is that it affects my blogging a tad. :-) Still, without further ado, I'd like to announce:

We used our new wood stove for the first time last night, and it was a resounding success!

The blower works great, the fire burns slow and long, the heat is great--we put in two sticks today at 6:30, and they actually kept going until this evening at 5:30, whe...

Parent Teacher Conference

Yesterday DKC and I had our very first parent teacher conference. I'm happy to report it went glowingly. TRC is leaps and bounds ahead of the other students, apparently--he already has mastered everything Kindergarten has to offer him. I'm really happy with his teacher's approach to him--she's giving him more challenging work, pushing him to the same extent that she's pushing the other students. For example, the rest of the class is working on counting. TRC can already count to however high h...

Chimney: Done

The chimney retopping project is finished, I'm happy to report. I haven't been home to check and see how it looks finished, but I had been up to check on it periodically, and I'm confident that it looks good. The wood stove comes next week. In other news, I started ANOTHER house project today (because . . . why not?). While investigating where to put an outlet for the wood stove, we found that the original chimney (100+ years old) had simply been covered with tongue and groove wood siding. I ...

Good News on Insurance

Thanks all for your help with the insurance questions from last week. I'm happy to say that things all worked out. Basically, my work added home/car insurance coverage at a group discount with a national insurance company. After many phone calls and discussions, I'm getting the same car coverage for 35% less. My home insurance premium will go down by $20, but I'm getting 1.75 times the appraised value of my house covered, with guaranteed replacement costs covered and no cap. Much better cover...

Church Talk

I had the chance to speak in church again yesterday. Since I'm still the Ward Mission leader and all, it was on missionary work again. For those of you interested, I'm providing the full text of my talk (entitled "Accountability" behind the cut. For those of you not interested . . . you'll get nothing today. And like it!


Good morning, Brothers and Sisters. It's me—your friendly Ward Mission Leader, and that must mean you're in for another talk on missionary work. Before you start rolling your ...

Why Mickey is False Advertisement

Walt Disney never lived in an old farmhouse in the autumn--that's all I can say. Or if he did, he was a little off in the head. Hearing scratchings and gnawings at 9 at night is no way to make anyone a happy camper. What's so lovable about a mouse? I don't care if you stick pants on it and give it a girlfriend and a dog, the mouse still deserves nothing more than some D-Con or a quick snap to the neck from a mousetrap.

Can you tell I have mice in my walls again?

I'm grumpy--you don't want to ta...

Wanted: Insurance Advice

Any of you cool cats out there know anything about proper insurance coverage for a house? Because I'm looking at switching my insurance, and the new company says I'm really under-insured. I don't want to be under-insured, but I'm not sure I want to be over-insured, either. Right now I'm insured for about 1.06 times the appraised value of the house. New company says I should be more like 1.73 times the appraised value. That's a big difference, no? FYI, it's an old farmhouse--part of it from 18...