Happy Christmas to ME

After an unexpected Year End Bonus I decided to upgrade to the Nook HD.  Overall I really love it but like everything its not perfect.

So the PROS -
The profiles are wonderful.  Now Katy has profile, the "real" me has a profile, and my daughter has a child's profile.
The books and Apps I purchase from Barnes and Noble can be assigned to certain profiles.
Nothing I side load which is of course mainly Katy's stuff doesn't show up in the child profile.
The adult profiles need the password I created to get in but the child profile doesn't.
It does weigh less.
It charges faster.
And I think the battery works a bit longer but since my daughter keeps "borrowing" it while I'm busy doing something else I'm not completely sure on the battery life.

The CONS -
You can shelf from the search page.  So when side loading you have to search for it.  Find it.  Open it.  Then it shows up in recent and then you can shelf it.  This is a bit clunky and hope that will be approved in software updates.
When you close a book it takes you to the home page instead of back to the shelf so you can click on it and move it to another shelf or delete it.  You have to click on Library again and go back again to the shelf.  Again this seems a bit clunky but more livable then the first Con.
About 5 of my apps didn't work on the HD device.  One was my favorite solitaire and I haven't found a comparable one that will work on the HD and I used this app a lot.  Bejeweled 2 doesn't work on the HD but there is an HD version but it would need to be repurchased.  I have called BN and ask for some kind of credit to replace those apps.  They said today they would analyze my request and I should hear something within 4 days.  I'll try to post if I was successful or not.
When you change profiles it takes a minute for the device to catch up and the right things under the profile.

From my personal observation I think most of the cons are things that a software upgrade would probably fix all or most of my concerns.

RANDOM -
The biggest thing I notice was boy do I have a lot of books on my to be read pile.  As I made a purchase I would shelf it and move on to read and review.  But when it took the good part of one day to get everything back on their shelves wow.

So for fun here's Katy Beth shelves ---
Review  - this shelf is only used as a holding place for books that are finished and need to be reviewed.  From there they are either deleted, archived, or moved to a shelf for read books because I might want to read them again.  You know someday when I actually get all caught up.
Special/Holiday - This shelf is a secondary shelf.  Anything on this shelf is also on a primary shelf.  This shelf is where I'll place the books according to my 2013 reading Month Plan.  (Post coming soon)
Romance - Most of my purchases that don't fit on one of the other more specific shelves.
Magazine - These are for side-loaded magazines as the device has its own shelf for magazines purchased through BN.
Anthology -
Blushing Books - Books purchased through the Blushing Books stores or books I got through Bethany's Woodshed that are not available in the store.
Pink - These are books that are gotten as part of my membership to Bethany's Woodshed.  Why pink because I have a notebook with my to be read books listed and the divider they are behind is Pink.
DD Books - These are books that I got through my membership with Domestic Discipline membership.  I'm no longer a member but these were acquired during my membership.
Next - The next book in a series that needs to be read.
Series - Books that are part of a series but there is another book before them that needs to be read first.
Because It's Free - Books I got for free.  Some of course more interesting to other and because I didn't pay for them they aren't a top priority.
Read Series - Books read from a series not specify on another shelf.
Read Shadowlands
Read Lori/Lorelei
Read Incognito
Read Sean
Read Erotic - Books read not part of a series that fit the category
Read Vanilla/Blush - Books read not part of series that fit the category

December Reading Totals

So I decided a few months ago to keep track of how many books I read each month using the main Nook shelf it was stored on.  I decided that I would share the results of my reading list each month.  The totals this month were really high but I think part of the reason was that I had both the Silver and Dreamworks Advent reads and many of those were very short stories so I could get several read in one day.

So by Nook shelf --
It's Next - 4
Romance - 83
Anthology - 1
Blushing Books - 1

By Kindle Shelf --
Romance - 1


Total of shelves - 94

Why Witness is my favorite movie..

So the other day on Guilty Pleasures blog they asked about your three favorite movies and I said that Witness was my number one favorite and there was a story behind that.  So here is the story.  It was many years ago when I was turning 22.  I was still married to my ex-husband and he was taking me out for my birthday.  Dinner at Benegins and then off to the movies.  So we headed to the twin theaters (yes this was before the megaplex).  One theater had Witness and the other had some guy oriented action flick.  I don't even remember the name.  So my ex says we're going to the action flick.  I said but it's my birthday and I would really like to see Witness.  He was like no we are seeing the action flick.  I said no I'm seeing Witness it's my birthday I get to pick.  I'd been a good sport.  I'd watch him drink green beer so I thought I really should get to see the movie I want.  Finally, he said fine you can go see Witness but I'm going to the action flick.  That was my signal to give up and go to the action flick.  But something just clicked and suddenly I didn't want to give in.  Just this once I was not backing down.  I said fine that works for me and I did indeed go in and see Witness all by myself.  The funny thing is it probably had as much action as what he saw.

But that moment was the beginning of something inside me.  I did what I wanted.  I went in the theater all by myself.  The world did not stop spinning.  Life as we know it didn't cease to exist.  No one else in the theater had no idea that anything at all had happened.  But I learned that maybe, just maybe, I was worth enough to make my own choice and have my own opinion.  It was a very tiny spark but it was lit.

I'd like to say from that moment on I was strong and capable and began living my own life but sadly no it took a couple more years to finally claim my freedom and it took a lot of support from some really great friends but even at that moment I knew something was different.

A few years ago my oldest bought me a copy of Witness because he knew I really loved that movie.  So maybe later today I'll have to take time to relieve a birthday memory as I continue to embrace what is important to me.

Favorite Kid's Show

"What was one of your favorite television shows as a kid and why?"


My childhood home was different from most of my friends due to the factor that our TV was on almost all the time.  My mother loved to have the TV and it came on first thing in the morning and stayed on until the broadcast day ended.  Yes, kids there was a time when TV was not 24 hours.  We also only had ABC, NBC, CBS, and a local PBS station.  I remember the excitement when we got our first independent TV station.  Ironically, it was the start of this station that would lead to my husband and his family moving to Florida and of course later us meeting up and getting married.  


I don't exactly remember but I know when I was little Captain Kangaroo and Romper Room were two of my favorites.  I also watched Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood.  Sesame Street didn't come out until later.  A little bigger and I watched Electric Company.

My favorite stuff, that I really remember, was during my middle school and high school years and were the shows shown on the local independent station.  The first three that jumped into my mind as shows I regularly watched were Star Trek, Hogan's Heroes, and Big Valley.  I'm not sure why those three were the ones to appeal to me but it certainly shows my eclectic taste even then.  Now what I do find interesting is when I look at my favorite characters in this show they aren't necessary the main stars.  In Star Trek I liked Ensign Chekhov.  He was not a pretty boy, was somewhat more edgy, and who doesn't love an accent.  In Hogan's Heroes, I did like Colonial Hogan and I'm not sure why.  In Big Valley my hands down favorite was Nick Barkley.  The strong, stubborn, roughed, and rough brother.  He was very alpha (before I knew what that was mind you) and while he would do what ever he could to stop an enemy, he was very loyal and caring about people he considered friends or family.  And hey he was a cowboy too.

Of course in old films I also loved Humphrey Bogart and Hans Solo was my favorite Stars War character so I should have seen my love of strong alpha male characters coming.

Playing as A Child

"What kind of indoor and outdoor games did you play as a child?"


When I first saw this prompt I'm thinking oh that would be easy but then when I started thinking about it, it seemed a bit harder.  I mean in school we played the standard school yard stuff like tug-a-war and Red Rover in elementary school. And I really hated middle and high school where you were forced to play team sports for PE.    But I was taking this question more of as at home home voluntary kind of thing.  


So indoors - I liked board games.  Sometimes my mom played with me but I was just as likely to play by myself moving for two players.  I loved playing with my Barbie's at least through middle school.  And I loved to read.  Reading has been my passion for as long as I can remember.

Outdoors - Well I did mention that reading was my passion and I could be found reading outside usually hiding in the Brazilian Pepper Tree in our backyard as doing anything else.  I like to ride my bike and would ride for hours at a time.  I had a half built playhouse in the backyard (that is a story all by itself) and I would imagine all kinds of scenarios up in my head.  Sometimes I put myself in situations of my favorite TV shows where I would be a different character who interacted with my favorites.  Or I would make up my own stuff.  I really was by myself more than I was with others.

When I did play with others it was mostly boys.  My neighbor was lacking in girls.  And the few girls who  moved in didn't stay long and I could not stand how silly they seemed.  Seems I was in training to be the mom of 4 boys.  I was always the pal or one of the guys and by high school that was pretty frustrating but that's the way it was.  We usually rode bikes or played kick ball in my backyard.  Kick ball was the one team sport I seemed to be able to play without embarrassing myself, getting hurt, or pissing off my team mates.  

So there's my complicated answer to the simple question of childhood games.

Surprised to Know

"What is something that people might be surprised to know about you?"


Well I think the most obvious would be that I like to read romantic erotica and have a whole secret identity to support this habit.  I think the rest of the stuff would be pretty much common knowledge stuff that is used for party icebreakers.  Stuff like I'm a Florida native, I saw real snow for the first time at the age of 44 and I had to fly to Norway to do that, I have five kids, I homeschool, and other stuff like that.  I never ran wild in my youth. I didn't have a garage band.  Nothing exciting.

Okay, maybe something that people don't know is that when I was younger I wanted to grow up and mom and have six kids.  I also wanted to be a teacher.  At one time I considering going into the air force.   So how did that turn out.  I did grow up.  I have 5 living children and 1 that was born into heaven for a total of 6.  I ended up teaching my own children.  I gave up on the air force but I have a child who is considering it.  So maybe that's the most interesting thing about me is that the dreams of my childhood actually came pretty close to working out.

Personality Trait

Wow this one is a tuffy.  This is what happens when you let your 10 yo pull a prompt out of the jar and you have to take what she gives you.

"What personality trait of your has gotten you into the most trouble?"


I think that what gets me into the most trouble can often be a positive trait unless you take it too far and that is the trait of wanted to be a peacemaker.  Maybe a more negative name would be people pleaser.  I'm not talking about brown-nosing to get ahead or to make yourself look better in someone else's eyes though.  I'm talking about not wanting others to be upset, to see everyone happy, to have people come together, to not wanting someone else to be disappointed, and/or wanting to make things all okay for the other person.  This tendency leads to saying yes to things you should say no to and that is where I can get into trouble.  It's getting in the middle or trying to fix things so that the normal consequences might be blocked.  It can lead to feeling burned out and burdened.  It can leave me feeling like I'm always giving and not always receiving.  That sentence sounds selfish and self serving but that's not how it was meant.  (Or maybe this is just a example of what I'm trying to say.  I don't want someone to think I'm being selfish or putting myself ahead.)  I will have to be honest here and say that in last few years I've gotten better about taking a stand but it's also easy to fall back into old patterns of behavior as well.  I don't want to large and in charge because frankly that's not how I'm wired and maybe in trying to fix it, smooth it over, or get it done so everyone is happy that I end up taking on the position of being in charge and after a while I'm worn out from the effort.  The reaction to this is to sort of shut down and then not take care of anything even the stuff that is under my "job description".  Not sure of the answer but maybe thinking it through and being more self aware is a good first step.

Woman You Admire

Today's journal prompt is:

Write about a woman in your own family whom you admire.


Well I'm nos sure that grandma L is in my "family" or not but we adopted each other so I'm going to count it.  I married her grandson after her own advice not to.  Things ended badly but since continue to be a friend and mentor to me until the day she died.  She was the best great-grandmother to my son and was he caregiver until he was 4 years old and she was in her 80's.  When I started dating my husband I took him over to meet Gram she loved him immediately and even gave me advice on how to treat him right.  She was young when she lost her mother after the birth of her baby sister and the day she turned 14 the legal age at that time her father pulled her out of school to be the caregiver for her family.  She had only a few weeks more of school to graduate from grammar school and he still made her quit.  Despite this she continued to read and learn and was very literate on many subjects.  She married young and had three children right away.  She helped her husband run a diner in Brooklyn and was feisty enough even as a young wife to stand up to anyone.  She saw the lost of everything one day after her husband's gambling had gotten out of control.  And only the discovery of a fourth pregnancy gave her the courage to give him another chance.  He never made the same mistake again and they ended up opening up a diner on Long Island until they retired and moved to Florida.  When her daughter was widow with four young children she helped to raise them as well.  And when she found out everything I had been going through with my ex she said she wished she had known so she could have helped.  After I remarried she supported my husband's decision to adopt my son and even persuaded my ex to sign the paper and allow her grandson to have a safe and stable home.  When I got pregnant she offered to buy us a new crib because she knew my ex had pawned the old one.  We quick went and got one so she wouldn't feel obligated but she still showed up the next week with the crib mattress.  She never showed any difference in her love for my second born then she did for my first born despite the fact that the were not related by "blood".  That never mattered to her in the least.  Family was family and she considered me and mine family.  Her was sad to see her body failing and it wasn't until the very end that her mind also started to slip.  Thankfully, she didn't suffer for too long and her strength of character will always be an inspiration to me.

Once Piece of Advice

So today's journal prompt is:

If you could give one piece of advice only to your children or future generations what would you offer?

Create your own holiday traditions for your own immediate family.  You should not feel obligated to visit with anyone else or spend you holidays anywhere but in your own home.  Now if visiting is what you want to do or inviting others is you bag that's cool.  BUT it is what you decide you want for your family.  You should not have to feel like every holiday is a command visit.  If it's not where you want to be then don't be there.  I promise I won't get mad.  I love spending time with extended family and sometimes its great to share a holiday meal around the table with tons of relatives but there are other times when you yearn for something simpler.  I would just as soon know that I can see you and yours anytime it works for all of us then be obligated by a date on the calendar.  So that's it create your own guilt free holiday traditions for your household.  Love, MOM

Look What I Got For Christmas

After reading the Toys-R-Us Series and all those girls talking about enjoying their chocolate wine I committed to my hubby that I thought I would really like to give something like that a try.  So look what I found in my Christmas stocking. (We do Christmas at home on Christmas Eve so that Christmas Day can be spent with others.)

Now I can't wait for after church tonight to try it out.  And if I like the taste their website has a great recipe:

CHOCOVINE SUNDAE

2 oz ChocoVine
1 oz Whipped Cream Vodka
2 scoops vanilla ice-cream
1 splash of grenadine

Combine ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a sundae glass and top generously with whipped cream. Garnish with a drizzle of grenadine and a cherry, and serve with a chocolate straw.  

Looks yummy doesn't it.  

Hello

Decided to create  a safe place to vent, journal, and to post my Good Read reviews.  I have the Nook Simple Touch and as of yesterday now have the Kindle Touch that I won.  Very excited can't wait for it to arrive.  Here's a layout I did as a tribute to my Nook.