Karen Chance Fans discussion
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Jax wrote: "We get plenty of these little guys passing through.they range from 5cm to 12cm in length - actually quite cute.
We appreciate their visits as they reduce the mosquito population! (as well as s..."
I don't know whether to be curious or a little freaked at the idea of one of those in my house. I suppose if they keep down the creepy crawlies, it's not a bad thing.
I don't see a lot of freaky insects at home. I get the odd spider, which I can live with, and quite a few moths in the summer, and some regular ole flies, but that's about it. I suppose there's got to be some compensation for a miserable climate!
Lannister wrote: "I suppose there's got to be some compensation for a miserable climate! "LOL - Trust me! There a MANY days when I would trade the climate for fewer creepy crawlies!
*Wonders what it would take to get into Alaska?*
I've thought about Alaska before; went up to Fairbanks in June to see my daughter and it snowed. Of course, the winters get down to -50 degrees F, so snow it June doesn't sound so odd. Still, it's beautiful up there. Maybe if it was just me I'd head up there and stay.
*melodramatic sigh*If only! :)
*mentally shakes out of it*
Duane! Been a while!
Where you been hidin'??
It seems all I do is work anymore. I swore I'd never get into coding again, but guess what. It seems to be all I do! At least it's on Linux boxes.I've been on GoodReads almost every day just to keep up with what is going on, but it seems I don't really have much to say anymore. On the bright side, I guess I can't piss people off that way.
Be happy.
Hey Duane! Long time no speak. :)I think you've been quiet cos you're pining for the next Dory book. I suppose the fangirling must get tiresome. :D
I'm glad you're still working on the side of the angels!
You and Jax can keep Alaska. I would die up there in those temps!
dc (Duane) wrote: "I don't really have much to say anymore. On the bright side, I guess I can't piss people off that way."LOL! So True...
Zeenat wrote: "LOL Gene got mad at me once cause I squished a bug. He called me a murderer. He's in the army..."
LMAO!!! What're they teaching them in the army these days...
@Jax - I am a bit of a wuss... so I prefer for someone else to do the killing... but i do not think anyone has an actual preference for someone's shoes. It's more a case of whatever's handy.
Hey, Lannister.Yeah, I am anticipating the next Dory book - it makes me wonder what will happen between her and LC now that she has been legitimized by being appointed to the Senate. Of course, what I liked about LC was that he didn't give a damn if she was legit or not - he wanted her and he didn't care what anyone thought about it.
Actually, though, I just reread the entire Jack Reacher series (took about two weeks with work and all) and I had forgotten how good they are. Of course, it makes me laugh when I thing of 5'8" Tom Cruise playing Jack Reacher in the movie; in the book JR is 6'5" and 250lbs of pure mean muscle. You would have thought that they could have gotten someone closer to the right size to play the part.
And yes, programming and scripting isn't so bad when it runs on Linux; still never thought I'd end up doing it again no matter the boxen involved!
Lannister wrote: "You and Jax can keep Alaska. I would die up there in those temps! "Actually, it gets so cold that all the cars/trucks have "engine warmers" on them to keep the blocks from freezing. All of the parking lots have electric outlets at every spot - it's not to keep your electric car charged up, but to plug in your "engine warmer" so your engine doesn't freeze while you're in shopping. Most of the home garages have heaters as well for the same reason. But then, many of the people just never turn the car off; they have a spare key or fob so they they lock/unlock the car with it running.
But you are correct, a place that cold would be hard to take. Still, I think it would be fun to spend a winter there just to find out if i could hack it or not.
Urgh, Alaska looks beautiful, and maybe in the summer it wouldn't be so bad, but I can't imagine having to live like that. About three years ago we had two crazily cold winters in a row, where the temperature went down to about -10C at night (that's about 14F). I think this is the coldest I've ever known in my life, and it lasted for about 3-4 weeks. I know I bitch about the climate in Scotland, but it's more that the weather's extremely changeable and it rains a lot. It doesn't usually get especially cold, at least not in the part where I am (it's usually only a couple of degrees below freezing at worst). I suppose it would be different in a country that's set up for extreme cold (you know, with engine warmers and the like) but when we had our crazy winter, there wasn't even enough grit for the roads! It was a nightmare.I suppose weather's all about what you're used to. If you're used to cold, you won't like extreme heat, and vice versa. I'm used to mild temps and rain! The Brits all go a bit mad when the sun comes out, because they know it won't last and they have to make the most of it!
I wish the next Dory book was coming out this year. :( Haven't read any Jack Reacher, though my old boss was a big fan of his, and tried to encourage me to read them. Must admit, I can't stand Tom Cruise, the effing weirdo! But putting 'pure mean muscle' and Tom Cruise in the same sentence does not compute!!! (not even on Linux LMAO!)
why can't I have more time AND energy? that would really solve my "I have too much to do problem"
Zeenat - when you figure out a way to do just that - let me know!!
I suggest hiding in bed until you figure it out. It works for me. :D
@Duane - Hey!!! Missed you :) And for some reason I did not see your messages when I made my last post *shakes head* Your talk of Jack Reacher makes me want to read the books. I haven't yet. In fact I did not know there were books. I just saw the movie and liked it, even though it was teeny tiny Tom Cruise, so I know I will love the books. Now you've gone and made my day (and possibly week).
I have 2 midterms down, and 3 to go. Although 1 is a take home that will be given after spring break. So I have 1 more week of studying hell, and then I'm done for a little bit.I am actually going crazy!!!
Good luck, Claire! (with the exams, that is. Not with going crazy.):D
Arushi wrote: "@Duane - Hey!!! Missed you :) And for some reason I did not see your messages when I made my last post *shakes head* Your talk of Jack Reacher makes me want to read the books. I haven't yet. In fa..."
Glad I made your day. The books are pretty good; you'll probably like them if you enjoy books in the thriller genre.
Now, it's off to work I go....
Oh dear, feeling fed up of UF. Think I've just overdosed!
I need Prosaic! Or at least something similar.I've been feeling oddly annoyed/irate with almost everything the past few days, and I have no idea why.
I'm sorry it's a little crazy, as usual. So I can't come on as much. I am a bit annoyed by it all, I think I took on too much, but I'll tell you about it all later. For now...I just found out I'm having a girl! WOOO HOOO! And here I swore it was an alien ;)
Congrats Zeenat!!! I am sure she will be totally awesome like her mom!! and all sorts of nice like her dad :D
That's so great!!! Congrats Zeenat!!I actually suffered an anaphylactic reaction to something on Thursday. Ridiculous rash all over my body, chills, feverish. I didn't sleep for more than 30 minutes at a time from Thursday night all the way to Sunday.
It's so bad my family actually had to pick me up from college and bring me home, so I can see doctors here in NJ and recover. I'm a little freaked because it means I'm missing a midterm and homework due and meeeeerrrrrrrrrrr.
Thanks guys!OMG Claire, that's scary. Do you have any idea what it is yet? I hope you feel better soon!
Okay, so seriously, I think I took on too much with writing, reading, and all that. I guess a lot of the ARCs I got assigned was before I was pregnant, and didn't anticipate the bone tiredness. On top of that I just got diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes which means I have to carefully meal plan 6 meals and prick myself 4 times a day. All scheduled out. It's complicated and time consuming. I read the last Hollows by 8 AM the day it came out AND JUST reviewed it. UGH.
Okay Rant over.
Claire - I really hope you get better soon.. and they figure out just what you're allergic to so this never ever happens again. Zeenat - ouch.. I dunno what would help... but maybe venting made you feel better.
Zeenat - Best brace yourself!My first pregnancy - well - I WAS a vegetarian (by choice), and as an insomniac - it was a little weird passing out at 9:30 every night - regardless of if I was actually in bed or not!
Though all-in-all I was very lucky, and was a happy preggy.
But over the next couple of months - expect for everything to get thrown out of whack!
My turn for a mini rant!What is up with all the publishers????
By all accounts - physical book sales are down (unless you're amazon), publishers don't seem happy with the introduction of self-publishing as it could potentially cost them money etc etc etc...
But when I log on to see if I can pre-order the next in series for July - Dec what do I find?
Well - I can pre-order - but only hardbacks (for series that previously didn't print HB) and Trade Paperbacks?
Um... Why??
The eBook was supposed to be the greener, more environmentally friendly, possibly cheaper option.
Instead - publishers are now just printing that many more different versions of the same freakin' book - and making me wait forever to get the one that actually matches the set I started!
And then trying to charge me the same price as a Hardback for a digital copy. This is JUST NOT COOL!
I could possibly understand the giant print size trade paperbacks for those with bad eye-sight, but again... eBooks!! So why is it that these are released along side the Hardbacks?
And what's up with deciding in the MIDDLE of a series, to suddenly start with Hardbacks?
I remember when there were only X number of Hardbacks printed - which is why they were pricey - they were LIMITED! and if you didn't get yours - too bad, you got the paperback.
But NOW I have to wait almost an entire YEAR from initial publication to get the version that matches my set.
Perhaps if publishers woke up and joined this century's market - they wouldn't be suffering the losses they are!
**HUFFS in annoyance**
@Zeenat:grats woman on the little Zeenat clone you are cooking.
Venting always makes me feel better ... even if it is just writing out what I am pissed about. lol
@Jax:
I didn't know what trade pb were ... I remember the copy of the Witching Hour I bought years ago was a wider pb I don't think the print was larger. Since I only buy e-books that thought of them being more annoys the hell out of me ... mainly because I am cheap and mainly because I think it is stupid as f---. That is no way to make people buy books, do they have morons in their marketing depts? I haven't (and don't plan on it) spent more than like 7.50 (before tax) for a book. I don't think it is worth it. I wait for my library to get a copy, which doesn't always happen since a ton of indie authors don't get bought and scanned in. Some publishers have deals with bookshare where when a pub date rolls around the books they are putting out go right to bs. At least that is what it seems like to me.
When I could still see and collected books I didn't much care what size/type they were and put them on the shelves in order of like and aesthetics. I had to put the colors into some sort of order.
I am glad I figured out how to get rid of my books finally. I didn't want to donate them to a thrift store or library and specifically wanted to donate them to the local VA hospital (don't ask because I have nfi why I thought that) my therapist used to work there and will take in a bag for me that I bring each appointment. That will free up 3 bins for me!
I was thinking to do something else with my pbs though after I thought about it. I had a military penpal and she goes home at the end of the month so I will be asking for another (or more) and think I will do the care package route now. (I had been just doing a letter a week before) I figured to stuff a pb in their with a note saying if they don't want it to pass it around. That led me to remembering this big box of pbs I have that were my papaw's that I got when he died back in like 96--he only read them once and the last time I saw them they were pristine. I don't think they have left the box. Reason that I didn't read them? They are all westerns....
Things pissing me off? I am pissed that I had been sick for the past month and am behind on stuff I do. I specifically got stuff so I would have something to do ... hard to explain. The 2 reviews I have due I am late on, mainly because I don't really like the first book at all and I won't do my reviews out of order even if I do like the 2nd book more. The pitfalls of doing reviews for the site ... I get to find some great indie/small time/beginning authors who have great stories ... then I get the ones where I would want to stab out my eyes if they still worked....
Another thing?! My f'ing blizzard of the month club newsletter didn't come with a coupon for a buy one get one free blizzard this month--and the blizzard of the month is one of my favorites!
Can we tell that I haven't touched my computer much at all in the past week?? I hate typing on my phone....
@Zeenat Thanks for the sympathy! I'm sorry you have to deal with that. Gestational diabetes is no fun. My cousin Margaret had it, but everything else went fine and as far as I know her system is back to normal after having the baby. So all will be well!@Arushi I'm going for a blood test tomorrow to see what's going on and what I might be allergic to.
Apparently my lungs are pushing out as much air as they should be, because the allergic reaction set off my asthma. Merp.
Diabetes is so not fun! I had it when I was in the hospital from the massive amount of steroids they had me on. It runs in my family and if you watch what you eat you won't miss too much.Shots are the devil btw. My dad has issues giving himself a shot. My mom says he acts like a baby and goes "ow ow ow" while he is doing it. Man can do it to anyone else, but not himself.
@Claire:
I can't imagine being allergic to something that produces a reaction. Hope you find out wth so you can avoid it! One of my sisters--because she had like 1 chicken pocx--gets hives if she gets in contact with someone who has chicken pox. Dunno how she handles it since she is a nurse now!
@Llaph It's a little bit scary, only because the reaction will probably get worse if I'm ever exposed to the allergen again. I'm worried about being the girl that has to tote an epi pen around with her or risk dying when someone messes up my food order =P
@Claire - that is a bit scary but i am sure it will be some obscure thing that you will be able to avoid easily, considering that this is the first time you've had this reaction. Plus carrying an epi pen is so much better than being sick. It sucks about the asthma though. It never just freaking rains... always has to pour. Feel better soon. @Zeenat - I have no clue about gestational diabetes but I will do research! meanwhile I just hope you stop feeling so tired :)
I think when an author becomes famous enough, publishers switch from paperback to hardcover, thinking they can make more money that way. Basically it's worth "the investment" for the publisher to be selling hardbacks. It's definitely annoying for the consumer. A lot of times author's don't even have a choice, like when it happened to IA with the KD books. GD isn't so bad... except when I crave a pizza or cupcakes... today I gave in and bought some cupcakes, adjusting my diet for the week. LOL It's hard!
*Huffs indignanty!*I'm really peeved with publishers in general right now!
I'm not saying we don't need them - we definitely do!
But they make me want to bang my head against a wall while pulling my hair out!!
Huh - random thought - publishers are JUST LIKE MY KIDS!
Wow! Sounds like everyone is having a rough time! Congrats on the girlie news Zeenat. Are you about half way through now? The tiredness is a killer. I've heard the GD goes away afterwards too but it's worth really being careful so things don't get more complicated.
@ Claire hope you're feeling better and have some idea of the cause. What a pain to miss your midterms if you have been working for them
@Jax I so much agree. Both Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs have gone h/b this year :( and as for the large for a paperbacks I would joyfully shred them! One of the great things about UF was you could buy books on release, not a year later when the anticipation has gone. It will mean I buy less and use libraries more.
Thanks for the support, everyone! I went to an emergency clinic today with my dad and sister because of excruciating pain in my head.Turns out, my Dad and sister have sinus infections, which I then caught from being exposed to the germ while the steroids were suppressing my immune system. AND I have homework due tomorrow!! GAH.
I'm so done with this year, and it's only March.
@Claire:Sinus infections are sooooo not fun. I hope it clears up super fast for you.
I love my dad. Thought I would share what he said tonight:
I bought a brush & shampoo for my dog off amazon and they finally came today. I had taken the brush with me to dinner and had set it on the table....
My dad picks it up and asks, :What's this, a sex toy?"
Seriously dad?
This is what I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/KONG-ZoomGroom-...
Zeenat, belated congratulations!! We'll look forward to the arrival of Zeenat Jnr! And she'll be here before Reap the Wind LOL!Sorry to everyone else who's feeling crappy/grumpy. I've been crazy busy all week and have had to avoid Goodreads cos I just hadn't the time. :( Roll on Friday, cos I am doing NOTHING this weekend. NOTHING! I might not even go out the house if it's raining. I'm eating, reading and sleeping and that's it!
Llaph, I think your dad has a wicked sense of humour LOL!
LMAO!!Thank you Llaph!
I needed that! :D
Claire: Hope you feel better soon!!
Has anyone here ever listened to the Night Vale podcast? After having the first five episodes on my MP3 player for four months, I finally started listening to them this week. Oh. My. God. Best podcast ever!! I literally cannot stop laughing at it. It's described as Twilight Zone meets Twin Peaks and it's so full of win that I'm kicking myself for not checking it out months ago!If you like crazy, surreal humour, listen to this. Immediately!
The main site is here: http://commonplacebooks.com/
You can listen to the Pilot here: http://nightvale.libsyn.com/1-pilot
@Claire - Apparently we're the best of friends, coz I am giving you company. Thankfully, only mild company, in the allergy dept. I've been learning how to cook Indian food and the instructor prefers using mustard oil, which we realized, I am allergic to. At least to the fumes... so i am all itchy and have a rash on all the skin that was basically exposed while cooking. Sigh. Now I just wanna sleep. I totally know what you feel like.
The worst part is that my eyelids feel like there are little pinpricks inside them.. ugh.
Arushi wrote: "@Claire - Apparently we're the best of friends, coz I am giving you company. Thankfully, only mild company, in the allergy dept. I've been learning how to cook Indian food and the instructor pref..."
Oh no! I am sooooo sorry. That's the worst. Take an oatmeal bath! Aveeno makes an awesome one (although I'm not sure what brands you have access to).
@Lannister I follow Nightvale on twitter but I've never listened to the podcasts. This is mainly because I don't even know what a podcast is, exactly, and I've never been interested in them before.
Claire, A podcast is kinda like a regularly scheduled radio show, where people talk about a particular topic, except it's made available on the web rather than on your TV/radio. The podcast itself comes in an audio file (usually MP3) and you download it onto your PC/phone/iPod or whatever and listen to it through your media player just like any music file. I tend to think of podcasts as audio only, but I think some people release videos too. I like audio only because I listen to them on my commute to work or when I'm doing housework. This is why I have no time for audio books. Too many podcasts!
There are lots of professionally produced podcasts by big media companies, but there are also tons where amateurs/fans get together, often via Skype, and talk about their favourite thing. It would be like a bunch of us getting together on Skype to talk about KC's books, recording and editing the chat, then putting it on the web. Every week! So, as you can guess, quality can vary enormously!! :P
Night Vale is definitely professionaly produced, both in terms of sound quality and content, and it's so effing awesome! The humour definitely isn't going to work for everyone (I can almost hear my mother going "This is stupid") but I think you'd know within 5 or 10 mins of listening to the pilot if it's going to work for you. Download it to your phone and try it next time you have 20mins to spare. I feel compelled to spread the word. Also, don't go near the dog park!! :D
Arushi,
Sorry for your woes. I'm fortunate enough not to be particularly allergic to anything, so don't know what to suggest. Maybe cucumber on your eyes? Or is that only for wrinkles? *rubbish at health advice*
Arushi wrote: "@Claire - Apparently we're the best of friends, coz I am giving you company. Thankfully, only mild company, in the allergy dept. I've been learning how to cook Indian food and the instructor pref..."
Why doesn't she use vegetable oil? Weird... a lot of people are allergic to mustard oil. It's not unusual. and the way it clears your nasals it's like WHOAH. lol
Lannister wrote: "Claire, A podcast is kinda like a regularly scheduled radio show, where people talk about a particular topic, except it's made available on the web rather than on your TV/radio. The podcast itself..."
Thank you for the explanation! I like Night Vale's tweets, so I can't imagine that I'd dislike the podcasts. It's just that I don't make a habit of listening to audio books or talk shows or radio shows...so I'm not sure when I'd listen.
For those who weren't enamored with the 50 Shades todo - here's a hilarious article written by Dave Barry
Karen Chance Fans
Books mentioned in this topic
The Lycan Hunter (other topics)Black Arts (other topics)
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YEA!
Too bad I have like 4 left.....