Cotillion by Georgette Heyer

Cotillion by Georgette Heyer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

How can you not like anything by Georgette Heyer? She is the "Queen" of historical romance fiction. This book did not disappoint. 


Cotillion was a fun book. You will figure out the interactions and motives of the characters. What you will not figure out until the end of the book was how just how all would be resolved. You'll love the conclusion.


This is the first book I have read on my Nook. It was perfect for this book...not too long. Also, I was traveling and it was easier to transport in e-book form.

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Smokin' Seventeen

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I do not know how she does it! Janet Evanovich keeps writing the "Plum" series and I keep laughing. They are really a fast read, but pure fun.  Explosive Eighteen is to be released November 22, 2011.  Two in one year...yea!
And....
One for the Money, the first of the series, will soon be a movie to be released in January, 2012. Katherine Heigl is to play Stephanie Plum. The latest addition to the cast is Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur in spite of rumors that Betty White or Cloris Leachman would get the part.


Other members of the cast:

Joe Morelli: Jason O’Mara
Ranger: Daniel Sunjata

Lula: Sherri Shepherd

Vinnie Plum: Patrick Fischler

Connie: Ana Reeder

What fun!  I'll keep reading the series as long as I keep laughing.  Too many authors keep writing until they books are stale and boring. 

I say quit while you're ahead.

Hopefully, Ms. Evanovich  will know when she's ahead!

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Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain! No. 34

ATC No. 34 of 50*

Oklahoma...my comfort State!  My mother was born in Keifer, moved to Okmulgee when she was five and then  later to Muskogee.  

Yes, that would be me
at six months
with my Grandmother.

We visited my Grandmother McLean and Mother's three sisters, Mavis, Betty and Mary Lou when they lived on 16th Street in Muskogee.  




What a grand time for a little girl of two or three.  My Aunt Mary Lou was 16 when I was born and I was the first grand child.  The house was a Craftsman two-story house.  

Unknown, Jim, Mavis, 
and Mary Lou

Betty's Glamour Shot

I loved going up and down the stairs.  I am sure I drove them nuts trying to make sure I didn't fall and bust my head.  




Mom and I would catch the Kansas City Southern Belle from Shreveport and get off at Poteau or Sallisaw.  Mavis and Horace (called Jim in the "real" world) would pick us up and take us to Muskogee. 

Conductor, Me and Freddie
with my Samsonite suitcase!

When I was in high school, I took the train by myself.  Betty, Freddy, Mac and Ellen picked me up in Sallisaw.  I always called my aunts and uncles by their first name only...no Aunt This or Uncle That...that was the way of my family.  

I fell in love with Oklahoma, the State and as a result, Oklahoma, the Broadway play, the movie and especially the music.  I would play my Oklahoma album for hours and knew every song.  


What wonderful memories!
Reading to my two cousins, Lillian and Patricia...I read everything they had until they went to sleep.  Nobody told me that all I had to do was read a couple books, tell them that was all and leave them to go to sleep!


Going to Mavis' apartment when Jim was in the Service.  He sent home some brass bells from Thailand.  I met Carolyn, a neighbor or maybe a daughter of a friend and my age.


Going to Mountain View with the same two cousins to visit their cousins on my their Dad's side of the family.   When they mowed a field, we found a baby rabbit.


Watching "As the World Turns" at Betty's and eating a meat loaf sandwich.  I have loved meat loaf sandwiches since then.  I was shy so I begged off going to church with them to meet some kids my age.


My Mom and Dad spending Christmas with Betty, Freddie, Mac, Ellen, and my triplet cousins, Lynne, Jane and Patty. My Dad brought our presents with him...Mom and I both got watches. I am not sure where mine is, but I have Mom's.

Oklahoma words by Oscar Hammerstein and music by Richard Rodgers

Brand new state, Brand new state, gonna treat you great! Gonna give you barley, carrots and pertaters, Pasture fer the cattle, Spinach and Termayters! Flowers on the prairie where the June bugs zoom, Plen'y of air and plen'y of room, Plen'y of room to swing a rope! Plen'y of heart and plen'y of hope! Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain, And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet When the wind comes right behind the rain. Oklahoma, ev'ry night my honey lamb and I Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk makin' lazy circles in the sky. We know we belong to the land And the land we belong to is grand! And when we say - Yeeow] A-yip-i-o-ee ay! We're only sayin' You're doin' fine, Oklahoma! Oklahoma - O.K.

*For "new to my blog" friends...on May 17, 2010, I visited Wisconsin.
 I can now say that I have been in, to or through all 50 United States.

 I am committed to make an Artist Trading Card "ATC" for each of

 the 50 States. 

One Special Night

Well, if you want to watch a "sappy" movie, this would be the one.  


Who could resist checking out a movie from the library that featured James Garner and Julie Andrews.  On top of that, a patron highly recommended it with the comment that it would make me smile...it did.  


However, before the smile came some rather unbelievable scenes that questioned my intelligence.  There were some redeeming scenes especially the happy ending.  I am always a sucker for a happy ending.  


It seemed to be engineered for TV.  There was a break every once in a while...maybe a commercial could be inserted.  I recommend you watch it if you want to "veg" for 90 minutes.

Stardust..a Movie

What entices actors like Robert deNiro and Michelle Pfeifer to make a "B" movie?  Money? Just something to do?  They financed it?  It is beyond me why either one of them chose to be involved with this movie. 

It was an okay, fantasy, escapist type of movie.  It was a based on a novel by Neil Gaiman. Believe me...nothing I would have paid money to see.  Maybe it was made especially for direct distribution to a Red Box. 

If I was Siskel or Ebert or David Edelstein (CBS Sunday Morning), I would give it a "thumbs down" ...or maybe I would never have watched it.  


However, it made do for night-watching when you were trying to stay await to watch the new Poirot on PBS.  


I did get caught up in the story and it met my criteria of a "happy ending".  So, if you are trying to stay awake for a late night show or just plain do not have anything else to do, this is a DVD to check out of your local library.  

It was a "Staff Pick" at mine.  I am going to find out whose "Staff Pick" it was when I go back to work on Thursday.  (Wow, I sound harsh, but I am not apologizing!)

God Bless America!

Happy 4th of July!

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free.
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
                      As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer:Lyrics from: c
God bless America, land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless america,
My home sweet home.

-- Irving Berlin

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

We made our annual trip with our friend, Ralph, to see the Arkansas Travelers play at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.  

Somehow Chuck could never take
the picture of me so I took it
myself..lucky I did..I got us all!

Great Seats!

We sat in the reserved seats behind the screen between 3rd base and home.  


It was a hot night.  We actually got a breeze so it was bearable, especially, with the beer, hot dogs and frozen lemonade.  We have been making this annual trip for about ten years.  

The Good Old Days at Ray Winder Field!

We started at Ray Winder Field which was nostalgic.  We are glad to be at Dickey-Stephens.  It is like fast forwarding to the 20th Century.


Now the best news...the Travelers won in the last of the 10th inning.  I tried to think back over the last ten years and decided this was the first time I have seen them win.  Exciting...actually jumped up and cheered...not only for the win, but because it was way past my bedtime.  I envisioned being out there for several more innings!!!

Yea Travs!