"Haunted Ground" by Erin Hart

Finished it a while ago but was delayed in getting this out. In the process I discovered my mother actually reads this blog. Hmmmm. Wasn't sure how I felt about that, but she is my mother so I guess I will let her continue.

Haunted Ground by Erin Hart


The paperback includes the tag line "The truth never rests in peace." Loved it.

Amazingly, I loved both main characters, the archaeologist and the pathologist; the location, Ireland; and historical twist to the murder or shall I say murders?

This copy included an excerpt of the author's next work which normally I skip, but I kept on reading and need to track the next installment down. After checking with Amazon, I discovered that book #2 is out, but #3 isn't out until 2010. Guess, I better slow my pace a bit. Thankfully, I just started tackling the next book group book, Kitchen Table Wisdom and the lengthy Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. The latter in anticipation of catching up with the series before the latest installment arrives.

The cold wet Irish setting was the perfect antidote to a warm summer day. I almost felt the need to go put on a sweater.

Yes, I wanted the archaeologist and pathologist to discover their mutual interest of each other sooner than a later much later book such as Anne Perry did with Hester and William Monk.

As a kid, I wanted to be an archaeologist, but soon discovered there was way too much science involved. Luckily, I can still read about them or watch them - can you say, " Indiana Jones"? The detail about digging was engrossing as was the research into the history of the region through records, songs, local lore, and books as they tried to discover who the head belonged to and why it was separated from its body.

I started this entry before I left for a road trip weekend to Wabasha, Pepin, and the Twin Cities. At a darling new & used bookstore in Wabasha, I found the next installment and grabbed it quickly. Still working on Kitchen Table Wisdom and Fiery Cross, but this one, Lake of Sorrows, will be moved quickly to the top of the read soon pile then starts the wait for next one in 2010.

Perfectionism: To get over it OR To get it back

How can I take a couple days off and still end up in the dog house? Don't know, but I can do it and did do it.

I know I'm human and need to get over my perfectionistic tendencies. At work, however, perfectionism is the rule of the day. Failure is not an option. I just failed. Twice. First on my day off, now on my first day back.

The first is not a great item, but it involved a member of the "Big Boys." Heaven forbid, even in this era of transparency and stakeholder involvement, you mess with the "Big Boys." If you are wondering, yes, there are "Big Girls" with the "Big Boys." I lump them together.

I need to take the advice I gave yesterday when called about my screw up, I need to take a chill pill.

Confess my sin.
Make atonement for my errors.
Pay the price for messing with the world.

Lord, forgive me for I have sinned.

"Framed in Lace" by Monica Ferris

My latest read is a cosy mystery. Not British this time but Minnesotan.

Framed in Lace by Monica Ferris

I obtained this 1999 paperback at a recent silent auction where it was a part of a Minnesota Mystery package. Yep, more to come, but this seemed the cosiest. This past weekend I was in great need of a comforting cosy mystery. Now, murder as cosy? comforting? Yes, to some one brought up on escaping to Agatha Christie, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, or Anne Perry; yes, comforting.

What surprised me was that I enjoyed the crafty slant. I am not a crafty person, I am a crafty-wannabe person. There are my materials purchased, half-started projects: chair-caning, quilting, knitting, cross-stitching, scrap-booking....

My husband is the natural at this in our family, a regular Martha Stewart. He can decorate cakes, sew quilts, cross-stitch everything from wall-hangings to ornaments to hand-towels, finish furniture, and cook magnificent one-of-a-kind meals.

Lucky for him I continue to keep him around as my Boy-toy so he can pursue all these arts and crafts.

Just done: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

At last night's book group, we discussed Michael Pollan's In defense of food: an eater's manifesto.

Overall, the group was positive with a little criticism. Book group is no fun without some criticising and our group usually does not have enough. We are a little too homogeneous, but with a couple new additions recently, we are a bit livelier.

Some found it too strident, "I felt like he was yelling at me all the time." This coming from a woman who already is trying "to do the right thing". She has a garden, breastfeeds, uses organic reusable diapers, and uses the farmer's market already.

Another felt that what he wanted was unattainable and unaffordable for most.

I pretty much sat there like a bump on a log during the fast-paced discussion. Didn't need to say much as several angles were being covered and discovered quite nicely without me.

Personally, I enjoyed the book, found it a bit repetitious, am trying to do some of what he wants already, and I will see if I can implement a bit more. Am not planning to give up my skim milk anytime soon, but I will rethink more of the low-fat & non-fat products I use.

This ties in nicely with my 1st Place for Health Bible study and living a healthier life. My main goal is to reduce processed foods even more and increase my fruits and veggies.

Productive Procrastination: What is it?

My personal discovery of productive procrastination was during college. When something was due: homework, papers, practice, I would find something else to do: clean my room, write a letter, do laundry. All were useful and needed things, just not what I was suppose to be doing at the moment.

I felt productive. Things got done. The "other" things were done eventually. I coined the term "productive procrastination" since I was doing something worthwhile (to me at least) but not what I should be doing.

Not to say, it is not called the same or something else by others, but in those pre-Google years, it was unique to me.

What is going to happen on this blog? Good question. I'll let you know when I find out - if I find out.