Bibliophile squee!

So, One Spirit is having a clearance sale, and I found five books that I want to order. One is $10.99, and the rest are $5.99 each. Pretty good in and of itself, but then two other promotions were applied that I didn't think would be because, after all, these books are on clearance. Promo #1 = buy two books, get a third for $1.99 -- applied. Promo #2 = spend $25 or more, get shipping for $2.49 -- applied. So my order, which originally would have been $113.80, is only $33.44.

I love book sales!

It's a girl!

We got ourselves another new baby -- a seven week old rottweiler girl. I think we've decided to call her Mairead after Dad's favorite Irish fiddle player.


Edit: Now with photo. It's blurry, but I think you get the idea. Here she is surveying her new home and Spanky (our cocker spaniel pup) from my lap.

Sometimes the monsters are real . . . .

3. Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton

The latest in the Anita Blake series, I finally got to sit down and read this one after being delayed by The Wreck. There's really not much to say about this that wouldn't count as a spoiler, so I'll just say Anita's limits -- metaphysically and romantically -- are pushed every which way but loose thanks to the return of Marmee Noir, the Mother of All Darkness. Some might complain about the lack of action, but the series has definitely become about intrigue. I for one like it.

Ouch!

If this "cold front" that's moving through the state today is making my legs ache like this, I have a horrible feeling that Spring with all its thunderstorms is going to be hell.

Yay.

What'd you do that for?

You know, it's very hard to poo-poo Valentine's Day when my parents give me a necklace from Montana Silversmiths.

I [heart] my little horseshoe.

In his eyes, I see our shadows

2. Bonobo Handshake by Vanessa Woods

This is a fascinating look into the lives of an ignored ape species that is just as closely related to humans as are chimpanzees. But where chimps are patriarchal, can be war-like and cannibalistic, and use sex as a weapon or punishment, bonobos are matriarchal, are peaceful and gentle, and use sex to reassure the frightened or to cement friendships. Woods also discusses the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (bonobos' only home in the wild) and makes striking comparisons of behavior between the apes and ourselves. While the title of this post is a statement made literally by the author, I also saw our figurative selves in the bonobos' eyes -- a side of ourselves that we need to express more often.

This book is at once hilarious and heartbreaking. It is a must-read.

English editor is also in my repertoire

In December, I received a request from a professor in Germany for a copy of my review. He is in the final stages of writing a book on stress ecology, and he wanted my review to help him better understand FA. Quite an honor in and of itself. We've exchanged a couple of emails since then discussing various aspects of the paper, and he has provided me with a couple of papers that I hadn't seen as well as giving me a sneak peek at the intro of his book.

So yesterday I got an email from him asking if I could proofread his 400 page book for English grammar (he is not a native English speaker). In return, he will mention me in his foreword, pay me $2500 US, and give me a free copy of the book.

*passes out*

Gone! Gone! Smeagol is FREEEEEEE!

Got home from rehab yesterday. Oh, what a relief it is!

Grand total = 7 months, 7 days. Seems like a lot longer.