Thawing out... Almost

Greeting from a mostly thawed out Shaymless Aymless. Yes, it actually got to be above freezing for a WHOLE week (during the day). And there was even some sunshine. Whee! That cold, crunchy white stuff is all gone. But still nippy outside.

All those crazy people from around here, kept commenting on how "nice" it was going to be this weekend. Granted it was better than it has been for months, but still the HIGH was 50-ish (10-ish for you metric folks)!!! Which in my book is a cold winter day in good old California. *sigh* So instead of snow covered cornfields we have barren, yucky brown wanna be cornfields.

Okay enough about the weather. Got to do the whole court thing for the ticket from January. Not a bad outcome. Got a deferral (basically pay a court fee and promise to be good) and now have to be good (no moving violation) for one whole year (only have 361 days to do, not that I'm counting or anything).

Other than that, life here is fairly boring. Just hanging inside (where its warm) doing some knitting and ready and laundry.

What's up with all of you?

I Eat, I Breathe and now I Blog!

Sorry about the derth of blogs. So here the Reader's Digest version of my life since Mid-Sept and my arrival in glorious Bloominton, IN.

Started work in mid-September. Met a lot of people and some I still can't remember their name even though most people are required to wear name tags. My department is quietly rebelling and only our manager is wearing the name tag.
And very week more new hirers report to work . I can tell some big growing pains are starting to show up. Lots of people who don't know what to do and how to do whatever it is that they are supposed do to. Very must the "flow them in the pool and see if they can swim" going.

Still experience lots of culture shock.

1. No recycle bin at home! Don't these people know that resources are limited.
2. Fresh fruit just doesn't taste the same. No real flavor.
3. A lot of people haven't bought meat in the grocery store in year! They go out the kill it and keep it in their refrigerator. Without skinning it! *Shivers* I'm continuing with being a grocery store carnivore. Skin it and wrap it up in shrink wrap and I'll think about buying it.
4. There's a limit on squirrels. You can only kill and keep 8 squirrels a day. I don't even want one!
5. Ice on my car nearly every morning since mid October. *brrrrr*
6. Took up knitting since its an indoor activity and it so dam cold around that its wearable too.
7. Missing my book/blog friend! I keep saying I'll blog be then something else happens.
8. The adventure with the Indiana Highway patrol was exciting but I can't remember anything about due to migraine, migraine medication and Ambien. To keep the rest of the world safe, the Shaymless Aymless will no longer be taking Ambien. I apparently fall in the small catagory of people who sleep drive when on Ambien. Now I must find a new meds for the insomnia.
9. I've officially have gotten 3 people hooked on some of my favorites. So I'll have lots people gab about books and a support group 'gotta-have-that-book-now'.
   
10. I really miss warn sunlight. I think we had some sunlight was week and it was sooooo cold. Still below freezing.

Anyway.... I'm going to try to blog at lease once a week or so.

Also planning on going to RWA and hang out with some really cool bloggers. I still need to figure out rooming optiond.

Hanging Out with Anthea Lawson

I've been a bad bad blogger! Sorry I "disappeared" for a bit. The whole moving and starting work thing is taking some adjusting. *sigh*


Anywho...

I'm hanging out with Anthea Lawson, the fabulous new romance writing team of All He Desires over at DIK. Come by for some drinks and a lovely chat with Anthea and Lawson!







Other things...

The sweater was successfully assembled (and wow it really looks like a sweater). Worn it to work (and got lots of compliments, dunno if it was that I warned them ahead of time or not). Anyway, pictures of said sweater below. (I had to borrow a camera as I don't own one... maybe I'll get one... someday after I get that e-reader... A girl has to have her priorities in place)



Next knitting project (now nearly completed): Some cute lacy fingerless gloves! And currently reading Eye of the World by the late Robert Jordan *still upset that he died before he finished the series!* (which a challenge when one is knitting at the same time, the cookbook stand not working so well... must find a better book holding system).

Will check in again soonish...

Oops forgot all about the book club (BAD Shaymless Aymless BAD)... Anyway... how about the discussion for The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie at the end of this month (since that'll give me time to actually read it *ducks*? And we'll get LustyReader's book in December!

Busy Busy Busy... Kinda

Life continues in Indiana. It was "warm" all last week with of a high in the mid 60's (18-ish for you metric folks). That's NOT warm! *sigh* On the plus side, no ice on car ! On the down side, it rained for most of the week.

Haven't been online much or reading much (must read The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie *nervously checks calendar* *panics*). Instead I have been knitting and just completed my very first sweater, mostly - still need to assemble it. Pictures will be forthcoming once I actually assemble it. And as I have yet to figure out how to read (a bound book - e-books are easy since you can turn pages with a touch and don't have to keep them open, and now am seriously thinking about buying a e-reader since reading on the computer is a bit awkward) and knit at the same time, the reading hasn't been going well. And the TBR continues to grow!

Some review to be written... soon-ish... really...

A quick run down:

1. Meljean Brook's Demon Forged was excellent! (Can't believe what she did to poor Michael... wondering how CJ/KB will rescue him so that he can continue to "dust" their cabanas).
2. Nalini Singh's Blaze of Memory was fabulous. Nalini continues to please! Loved it. Of course I'll need to get an official copy when it get out on the 3rd of Nov. (still giggling over Rom and Jules's jealousy).
3. Anthea Lawson's All He Desires was good/okay (B-/C+ still trying to grade it). I'm thinking it was a mood thing since I read it after Demon Forged (which had the reading bar set really high and had me thinking of knife wielding, heart devouring heroines *sigh*). She's a new author with promise and her book will hit the stores in November (see here for an excerpt). Come by the Island next month (11-14) to chat with Anthea!
   

Now, back to my knitting... must make mittens for winter (which they tell me is just around the corner... I'm still making people laugh at my indignation about the weather). On the plus side knitting has made me some new friends at work. Now I'm teaching four people how to knit!

Life in Indiana

It's been a while since I last posted. So here's an update for all of you (just in case you were wondering what in the heck's been going on in my ever so exciting (not!) life).


First there was the misery that is the flu. I think I was probably one of the first to get it in my neck of the woods. I'm so lucky!

*sigh*

So with the help of my good friend Cindy, I was able to get back on my feet after a week of bed rest (so not fun and I didn't even want to read any of my books!).

Now everyone at work is blaming me for the flu that is spreading like wildfire throughout the building. *sigh* Of course they cannot blame the swine flu on me as I didn't have that particular strain (at least I don't think I did but don't know of sure as I did not go to the doctors).

I discovered that there is a branch of my bank in Indiana (yay!) but it was over an hour away (boo!). I went and deposited by first paycheck and relocation money. Got home and checked the mail and wouldn't you know it there was another check (yay! Money in is always good) in it! *sigh* Now am trying to decide whether or not to open a bank account in one of the local banks so that I can cash checks and use the ATM (for free!).

Woke up early over the weekend and thought I should do the grocery shopping while I still had the energy for it (this flu really sucked). It was a nice brisk morning. I got into my car, started it and discovered that it wasn't dew on the car but ice!

ICE!!!!! In October!!!! *pout*

It so doesn't do that where I came from (at least not until December or January). This whole weather thing sucks. I am not looking forward to "real" winter. Of course everyone around has been getting a great laugh at my whole indignant attitude toward this phenomenon.

Busy Busy Busy

The first week of work went well as did the first official weekend after starting work. Found another kindred spirit and we visited each others homes to ogle each others books. What fun! And tried an Indian place (not bad but not spicy enough). But wouldn't you know it as soon as I relaxed that evil thing called the "Migraine" struck and incapacitated me for three days. *ugh* I really hate them and still think decapitation would work but its just too permanent a solution to really be feasible. I suppose it was just too much change all at the same time.

Week two was topped off by a lovely surprise from my newest book buddy with a copy of Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs ((((bookbuddy)))). Which I promptly devoured as soon as the weekend started (and of course I read it all in one sitting). Then on Sunday I went and found the nearest Trader Joe's (about one hour and 15 minutes away). A bit far for everyday stuff but close enough that I can stock up on Nuts about Antioxidants trail mix monthly. *happy dance* So its off to week three.

The much anticipated (by me) Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre is out tomorrow. Now the big question is do I go out and buy it tomorrow and stare at it for the rest of the week as it sits next to the reading chair whispering my name (which also sounds a lot like that little voice telling me that ice cream doesn't have calories) or do I wait until Friday to swing by the bookstore? Oh the agony!

And to think I will have to do this next week as well since Demon Forged by Meljean Brook is out the 6th (another Tuesday). *sigh* (And not to mention Deep Kiss of Winter being out the following week then Queen of Song and Souls two weeks after that... nope not mentioning those books and none of those gotta haves in November either... nope no mention of Blaze of Memory here at all... none!)

Much will power will be involved these two weeks since I know once I open the little devils I'll have to read them all the way through. Perhaps is best that I not buy them until the weekend...

but what if they sell out!?

Well it's a college town and there are many bookstores...

and many more readers...

ARGH!!!

Must buy, then hide until the appropriate time...
must not open books until after work on Friday...
*squints eyes and crosses fingers*

And don't forget to come by on the 30th for the Shaymless Aymless Romance Book Club discussion. We will be discussing Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught!

First Day of Work

Had a successful first day of work! Didn't get to meet too many people since I spent most of it with the other six new hires. Had a quick little chat with the boss-type-person who promptly told me that I would be taking over some projects from a fellow co-worker "who sits here" (points at empty cube). So I'll be working closely with Mr/Ms Invisible for the next couple of days. I hope my communication skills are up to it. *g*

My cube-neighbors are funny (especially the one on the right-side) so I think working there will be fun. *crosses fingers* I wasn't able to connect with the one person I know so maybe I'll run into her later this week.

Still have one used copy of Lord of the Fading Lands and Lady of Light and Shadow to give away (just e-mail me your snail mail). And there is still time to enter to win a signed copy of Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre (details here).

Goodnight My Sweet Terraine

For those of you who have been following this blog know that my sweet furry baby, Terraine, was diagnosed with lyphoma earlier this month. She now has stopped eating and drinking so it's time to tell her goodnight and send her off the to the forever sleep.

I will miss her greatly, especially since I am moving cross country and into a whole new territory. It will be hard without my best furry friend. But in a way, perhaps this will help. A completely new environment than what I am used, one without the daily reminders of her sweet little purrs, guarding my towel as I took a bath, telling me off for taking a shower and her greeting me at the door with her eager little meow whether I was gone all day or just stepped out to take out the trash.

Night-Night my sweet baby. May we meet again soon.

Good News and Bad News

Good New:
For those of you who have been following this blog, you know that I have been out looking for work as its required so that I can have book money! Yes I work for books, a place to put all my books and the occasion meal.


I'm happy to say that I will be officially employed once more by Monday (have to look over the offer letter details and other paper work). And thus I will be relocating to Bloomington, Indiana. The home of IU (uh... I think they are the Hoosiers so uh... Go Hoosiers? I so suck at staying in touch with sports). So now I will need to determine how fast I can move and get settled so that I can start earning that lovely book money.

I gave in. I'm now on Twitter. Am ShaymlessAymles (damn Twitter wouldn't let me add another 's' and Aymless was already taken. *pout*)

Bad News:
My roommate, best furry friend, sanity and furry baby has cancer and doesn't have long to live. Currently she is on pain killers to help her eat but even then she is not eating much. So now I must look at euthanasia options. And probably within the next week. I'm not sure I want to put her through the stress of moving on top of what she's suffering now. Do I move her or let her go now? It's a hard decision.

We've been together nearly 13 years and countless ups and downs. She was a scrawny little kitten/cat (not quite a kitten and not yet full grown) when she wandered into my yard and life. After a couple of weeks of eating on my porch, she moved in and took over my bed and stole my heart. And there she stayed. She's been a great cat and friend. I will miss her greatly, my lovely furry purr ball, my little mountain lion, my Terraine.

Work Update

One rejection (the although you are impressive we have gone with another candidate who better fits our needs). Oh well.

One... dunno what to call it. I'm off to do the drug screen portion so it must be going well. Please keep you fingers cross because the alternative, frankly, sucks . I love my parents but have no desire to live with them again!!!!

New URL Address and an Update

Shaymless Aymless now coming to you from:

SHAYMLESSAYMLESS.BLOGSPOT.COM

It was an excellent book week. Scored three books.

Thanks to Joss Ware

Thanks to Julie James

Thanks to the folks over at My Favourite Books

Read three books. But also discovered a free e-book download site (thanks to Karen Marie Moning's author site here). See Suvudu here. Not that I have an e-book reader (yet). So books IN once again greater than books OUT. No wonder I keep adding bookcases.

Now that phone call about getting the job would be great... any minute now... REALLY... any minute now...

While I was gone...

I've survived my week of airports, airplanes and hotels mostly sane but very tired. After having slept most of the last day and half, I started to catch-up on the whole blog reading thing (had about 150 to catch up on!!! O_o).

Anyway... the update:
1. The interviews went well (I think) but now it's wait and wait and keeping those fingers crossed.

2. I hate airport and flying! Looking back at the last month, I realized I'd made SIX cross country flights. I have to JetBlue was the best out of the three carriers I flew on (Southwest and US Airways being the other two). And the stewardesses on US Airways are baggage nazis! Never seen so many airline representatives so concerned about carry-ons. Really my little 6-inch x 12-inch x 2-inch purse (which I use as a lumbar support) shouldn't count as an "extra carry-on"!

3. Dress up shoes suck! Now that my heels (the ones on my feet) are rubbed raw, I think I'll toss the shoes into the goodwill so that they can eat up someone else's feet.

4. Got 4 and 1/2 books read! Yeah!

5. LeeAnn gave me an award. See further down.

6. CL Wilson finally put up an excerpt for Queen of Song and Souls! Whee. Read excerpt here.


MY AWARD

LeeAnn gave me an award! As usually I'm speechless. I'm not so good at getting compliments since I usually don't think I'm all that good at the blogging-thing (or whatever it is I'm getting complimented on). So... THANKS LeeAnn

The Kreativ rules state that:
Once you receive this award you are to list seven of your favorite things and then nominate seven other blogs.

Some of my favorite things:

1. Burt's Bees lip balm. The original minty flavored one. I can 't get enough of it. I think I have 5 or 6 sticks of the stuff floating around my house and various purses.

2. Books. I don't think you can have enough. Though at this point I think my house is a fire hazard with all its various piles of books everywhere. I think it's time to get yet another book case. Just have to figure out which wall to cover up.

3. My Mac. The security blanket of all security blankets. Thank goodness its a laptop so that I can lug it everywhere I go!

4. Handmade soap. I've got to one of the world biggest sucker for handmade soap! Thank goodness for being short on money since it has made me have to choose between getting more soap or books. I think the soap drawer is now down to just one drawer and not the two or three it was before.

5. Teas. Can't get enough of them. I have at least 20 different blends currently hiding in my cupboard. Mostly herbal since I'm already high-strung I don't need anything else to make me hyper.

6. Fresh fruit especially berries. I love summer since that's when most of the fresh fruits and berries are the cheapest and I don't have scrape the bottom of the purse to feed this habit.

7. Pajamas. I think you should be allowed to wear them everywhere. They are soooo comfy and go so well with bedhead! *g*

And the nominees are...

Orannia of Walkabout
Mho Fho of Babbling About Books
Mandi of Smexy Books
Carolyn Crane of The Thrillionth Page
Nalini Singh
Ana and Thea, The Book Smugglers
Judge a Book by the Cover

Non-Voluntary Vacation Again

Yup, it's back to my non-voluntary vacation get again. The contract has been completed and I should get another payday in Mid-Feb so the money won't be as tight as it was before. There was a bit of a discussion about possibly returning to this contract in a couple of weeks. We'll just have wait and see. It will definitely require negotiating a new contract, but we'll deal with it when it comes up.

I have updated my resume and have tossed it out to all the usual headhunters and I have a couple of irons in the fire, hopefully one will get hot soon.





In the meanwhile, this means I will have an opportunity to try to put a dent in the TBR pile, get some exercise, give my aching wrist a chance to heal (carpal tunnel is really aggravating, so its the brace until it calms down again), maybe even go on a little real vacation. We will have to wait and see.

Update

Ack! and Ick!

This flu sucks and on top of that I got strep throat too! Haven't been this sick since I was 12! Had to miss lots of work so no money there (in fact it cost me since I had to cancel hotel reservations and had to pay for it anyway... non-refundable... grrr...). Didn't read much as I kept falling a sleep or making tea or running off to the bathroom. Hope to have another review out sometime this week.

Meme and Update

While I wasn't looking, that Alice-Mind tagged me with a book meme!

As I am hotel-bumming again, the nearest book is the phone book (LOL): Page 56, 5th entry is:
Executive Systems Group (address and phone number not included).
The nearest real book is the Wild Thing Anthology:
Then he held her there while the sensations went on and on, and finally began to ebb.
I think Wild Thing is way more interesting don't you? And to think the last time the dictionary was closest. Oh what excitement. Anyway... since I've done this meme before, I am not going to tag anyone.

As for the working bit, lets just say that it is a positive flow of income. Not terribly exciting or interesting, have spend the last week reviewing lots and lots of paperwork. For a place that has not yet produced any marketable product there does seem to be reams and reams of the stuff.

And as for the reading, didn't get much done as I was sidetracked by Band of Brothers thanks to Carrie Lofty and DIK and You Tube. *sigh* I heart Matthew Settle... aka Lt. Ronald Speirs.