Decorative tiles in lower level. I forgot to put a ruler up for scale. The tiles are from Motawi Tileworks. Wood frames will be put up around the tile boundary.
Thursday, April 04, 2013
Tiles
Tiles
Decorative tiles in lower level. I forgot to put a ruler up for scale. The tiles are from Motawi Tileworks. Wood frames will be put up around the tile boundary.
Decorative tiles in lower level. I forgot to put a ruler up for scale. The tiles are from Motawi Tileworks. Wood frames will be put up around the tile boundary.
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Renovation Photos Plus Special Guest Appearance
Renovation
Tile in new toilet room.
Decorative tiles on columns.
Close-up of tiles.
Ephemera From a Junk Drawer
VHS tape with instructions for our 20 year old alarm system.
No idea what this small thing is.
Head of a file drawer rod.
I found a full bag of these things.
Old accession and de-accession list.
Directions to library staff.
Guest Appearance
There were five Lee Goldberg books on the New Shelf.
Tile in new toilet room.
Decorative tiles on columns.
Close-up of tiles.
Ephemera From a Junk Drawer
VHS tape with instructions for our 20 year old alarm system.
No idea what this small thing is.
Head of a file drawer rod.
I found a full bag of these things.
Old accession and de-accession list.
Directions to library staff.
Guest Appearance
There were five Lee Goldberg books on the New Shelf.
Monday, April 01, 2013
One of Those Knitting Books With Nice Photos
NonFiction
French Girl Accessories: modern designs for a beautiful life edited by Ann Budd. That subtitle is ambitious.
How to Be Interesting (In 10 Simple Steps) by Jessica Hagy. "Combining fresh and pithy life lessons, often just a sentence or two, with deceptively simple diagrams and graphs, this inspiring guide shows you how to lead a richer life."
Fiction
Ratlines by Stuart Neville. I read some gushing reviews. Irish cop in 1963 investigates murder of a German and finds that many Nazis were granted asylum after the war.
Mr. Monk Gets Even by Lee Goldberg. Monk is still nuts but now has a girlfriend.
Corpse on the Court by Simon Brett. English mystery.
Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd. English mystery.
The Colony by A.J. Colucci. Horror novel with ants taking over Manhattan using their "razor-sharp claws that pierce skin like paper and stinging venom that liquefies their prey."
Last Shepherd by Martin Etchart. Arizona kid wants to go to college. His dad wants him to run the sheep ranch. Dad dies and kid travels to Basque country of France to settle the ranch interitance.
French Girl Accessories: modern designs for a beautiful life edited by Ann Budd. That subtitle is ambitious.
How to Be Interesting (In 10 Simple Steps) by Jessica Hagy. "Combining fresh and pithy life lessons, often just a sentence or two, with deceptively simple diagrams and graphs, this inspiring guide shows you how to lead a richer life."
Fiction
Ratlines by Stuart Neville. I read some gushing reviews. Irish cop in 1963 investigates murder of a German and finds that many Nazis were granted asylum after the war.
Mr. Monk Gets Even by Lee Goldberg. Monk is still nuts but now has a girlfriend.
Corpse on the Court by Simon Brett. English mystery.
Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd. English mystery.
The Colony by A.J. Colucci. Horror novel with ants taking over Manhattan using their "razor-sharp claws that pierce skin like paper and stinging venom that liquefies their prey."
Last Shepherd by Martin Etchart. Arizona kid wants to go to college. His dad wants him to run the sheep ranch. Dad dies and kid travels to Basque country of France to settle the ranch interitance.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Fiction Stack With Two NonFic
Made-Up Stories
Cherry Cola Book Club by Ashton Lee. I read something about this on some blog and figured people would read it. The public library in small town Cherico, MS is threatened with closure. Unless the library can increase it's circulation the City will spend the library's money on a business park.
Child's Child by Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell). I've read a lot of nice reviews about Rendell's novels but have not yet read one. Rendell has short hair in her author photo.
Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer. Shoot-em up. Meltzer has no hair. He shaved his head bald. Meltzer still has eyebrows but they are slim.
Tin Horse by Janice Steinberg. Steinberg is originally from Wisconsin and has curly hair.
A Cold Lonely Place by Sarah J. Henry. Henry's first book, Learning to Swim, won an Anthony Award. I tried reading Learning but either I couldn't get into it or had a stack of stuff to read and had to bail because Learning was overdue. Henry's hair is not curly but does look kinda wavy. She went to school in Ontario.
A Deniable Death by Gerald Seymour. I always like Seymour's thrillers. I recently read some disparaging comment Seymour's work is run-of-the-mill. I disagree. I think Seymour does a good job mixing current politics and events with interesting characters. Seymour must be in his eighties now. Let me check. Nope, he's only 71.
Little Elvises by Tomothy Hallinan. Los Angeles burglar Junior Bender has become a private investigator for crooks. Hallinan has hair on both the top and front of his head. The photo is too grainy to see what time his wristwatch says. He was nominated for Edgar and Macavity Awards.
Death in the Floating City by Tasha Alexander. Alexander's work circs here in Lake Mills. Alexander spoke to me once and did not tell me to take a hike so you know she is a tolerant person. Her author photo is new and credited to her husband, That English Guy.
Night Ranger by Alex Berenson. The tree on the cover photo suggests the African plains. Yep. Some guy is tasked to find kidnapped Americans in East Africa. Hey, Berenson has curly hair, too.
Cold City by F. Paul Wilson. Wilson is a physician in New Jersey (I think it's New Jersey) and no author photo. The Repairman Jack series (this is an entry) was touted by gun-nerds. Gun-nerds are famed for writing to authors and complaining about errors regarding gun models, calibers, capacity, technical details, metal finishes, anachronisms, and pretty much any dang thing you can think of.
Things People Did Not Make Up
Ubuntu Unleashed: 2013 by Matthew Helmke. My brother sent an old laptop to Boy #1 with Ubuntu loaded onto it. Boy #1 wants to learn how to do stuff but I'm pretty certain he just wants to do games. I need to find him a good programming tutorial and will likely take this home to try out.
The First Muslim: the story of Muhammed by Lesley Hazleton. Hazleton's author photo is tightly cropped.
Audiobook on CD
Heart of Texas: volume 1: Lonesome Cowboy: Texas Two-Step by Debbie Macomber. 10 CD at 12.1666 hours.
Cherry Cola Book Club by Ashton Lee. I read something about this on some blog and figured people would read it. The public library in small town Cherico, MS is threatened with closure. Unless the library can increase it's circulation the City will spend the library's money on a business park.
Child's Child by Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell). I've read a lot of nice reviews about Rendell's novels but have not yet read one. Rendell has short hair in her author photo.
Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer. Shoot-em up. Meltzer has no hair. He shaved his head bald. Meltzer still has eyebrows but they are slim.
Tin Horse by Janice Steinberg. Steinberg is originally from Wisconsin and has curly hair.
A Cold Lonely Place by Sarah J. Henry. Henry's first book, Learning to Swim, won an Anthony Award. I tried reading Learning but either I couldn't get into it or had a stack of stuff to read and had to bail because Learning was overdue. Henry's hair is not curly but does look kinda wavy. She went to school in Ontario.
A Deniable Death by Gerald Seymour. I always like Seymour's thrillers. I recently read some disparaging comment Seymour's work is run-of-the-mill. I disagree. I think Seymour does a good job mixing current politics and events with interesting characters. Seymour must be in his eighties now. Let me check. Nope, he's only 71.
Little Elvises by Tomothy Hallinan. Los Angeles burglar Junior Bender has become a private investigator for crooks. Hallinan has hair on both the top and front of his head. The photo is too grainy to see what time his wristwatch says. He was nominated for Edgar and Macavity Awards.
Death in the Floating City by Tasha Alexander. Alexander's work circs here in Lake Mills. Alexander spoke to me once and did not tell me to take a hike so you know she is a tolerant person. Her author photo is new and credited to her husband, That English Guy.
Night Ranger by Alex Berenson. The tree on the cover photo suggests the African plains. Yep. Some guy is tasked to find kidnapped Americans in East Africa. Hey, Berenson has curly hair, too.
Cold City by F. Paul Wilson. Wilson is a physician in New Jersey (I think it's New Jersey) and no author photo. The Repairman Jack series (this is an entry) was touted by gun-nerds. Gun-nerds are famed for writing to authors and complaining about errors regarding gun models, calibers, capacity, technical details, metal finishes, anachronisms, and pretty much any dang thing you can think of.
Things People Did Not Make Up
Ubuntu Unleashed: 2013 by Matthew Helmke. My brother sent an old laptop to Boy #1 with Ubuntu loaded onto it. Boy #1 wants to learn how to do stuff but I'm pretty certain he just wants to do games. I need to find him a good programming tutorial and will likely take this home to try out.
The First Muslim: the story of Muhammed by Lesley Hazleton. Hazleton's author photo is tightly cropped.
Audiobook on CD
Heart of Texas: volume 1: Lonesome Cowboy: Texas Two-Step by Debbie Macomber. 10 CD at 12.1666 hours.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Because You Love the Reno Photos
Renovation
New balustrades have been added to the stairs to fill the overwide gaps between the original balustrades.
Old stairway has been re-carpeted.
New chairs.
Boxes for new chairs were delivered earlier today.
New kid oak chairs.
New adult oak chairs. These are a darker stain.
New balustrades have been added to the stairs to fill the overwide gaps between the original balustrades.
Old stairway has been re-carpeted.
New chairs.
Boxes for new chairs were delivered earlier today.
New kid oak chairs.
New adult oak chairs. These are a darker stain.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
More Renovation Progress
Renovation
The main floor is looking very nice now that most ofthe new carpet is installed and all the paint is finished.
New balustrades to add to stairs.
The balustrades on top are the new charcoal color.
The main floor is looking very nice now that most ofthe new carpet is installed and all the paint is finished.
New balustrades to add to stairs.
The balustrades on top are the new charcoal color.
Monday, March 25, 2013
World Atlas of Roman Carpet
Carpet
New carpeting being installed today on the main floor.
NonFiction
World Atlas of Musical Instruments by Bozhidar Abrashev and Vladimir Gadjev. We had an older, similar book that was kinda dingy with black and white photos. This one is new with great color photos.
Fiction (Release date for tomorrow, March 26th)
Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear.maisie Dobbs investigates the death of an Indian woman in 1933 London.
Killer Honeymoon by G.A. McKevett. Now that plus-sized P.I. Savannah Reid has finally walked down the aisle, she's ready for aromantic island getaway with new husband Dirk Coulter...but finding a dead body on the beach can be a real killjoy.
Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout. I read some references to this recently, maybe in the Sunday newspaper. Speaking of the newspaper, the delivery person for the Madison paper seems incapable of getting the paper onto the porch. The paper usually lands in the snowy yard or on the snow and up against the far side of the porch.
Death of Yesterday by M.C. Beaton. Cover painting has a bicycle on the side of a rural road. Maybe the newspaper carrier in this novel ditched his bike to go fishing on the background stream.
Let the Dead Sleep by Heather Graham. Some sort of mystery or something. Maybe I would know what the novel is about because maybe a review was in the Sunday paper. But, since I did not want to traipse across the snow for the paper before church yesterday morning, and was busy the rest of the day, I did not find out.
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. A brilliantly moving account of a boy standing at the door of his young manhood, trying to understand a world [or newspaper delivery] that seems to be falling apart around him.
DVD
Roman Holiday starring Gregory OPeck and Audrey Hepburn. Peck and Hepburn tool around Rome on a scooter stopping to drink espresso and complain about newspaper delivery back home.
A New Kind of Love starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Romantic comedy.
New carpeting being installed today on the main floor.
NonFiction
World Atlas of Musical Instruments by Bozhidar Abrashev and Vladimir Gadjev. We had an older, similar book that was kinda dingy with black and white photos. This one is new with great color photos.
Fiction (Release date for tomorrow, March 26th)
Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear.maisie Dobbs investigates the death of an Indian woman in 1933 London.
Killer Honeymoon by G.A. McKevett. Now that plus-sized P.I. Savannah Reid has finally walked down the aisle, she's ready for aromantic island getaway with new husband Dirk Coulter...but finding a dead body on the beach can be a real killjoy.
Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout. I read some references to this recently, maybe in the Sunday newspaper. Speaking of the newspaper, the delivery person for the Madison paper seems incapable of getting the paper onto the porch. The paper usually lands in the snowy yard or on the snow and up against the far side of the porch.
Death of Yesterday by M.C. Beaton. Cover painting has a bicycle on the side of a rural road. Maybe the newspaper carrier in this novel ditched his bike to go fishing on the background stream.
Let the Dead Sleep by Heather Graham. Some sort of mystery or something. Maybe I would know what the novel is about because maybe a review was in the Sunday paper. But, since I did not want to traipse across the snow for the paper before church yesterday morning, and was busy the rest of the day, I did not find out.
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. A brilliantly moving account of a boy standing at the door of his young manhood, trying to understand a world [or newspaper delivery] that seems to be falling apart around him.
DVD
Roman Holiday starring Gregory OPeck and Audrey Hepburn. Peck and Hepburn tool around Rome on a scooter stopping to drink espresso and complain about newspaper delivery back home.
A New Kind of Love starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Romantic comedy.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Is Laukkanen A Finnish Name?
It Looks Finnish With All the K's and N's and a U
Criminal Enterprise by Owen Laukkanen. The cover stinks. I usually ignore all cover jacket blurbs except this has one by Kirkus. Kirkus is stingy about giving good reviews but had this, "Fans of crime thrillers shouldn’t miss this one or anything else with Laukkanen’s name on the cover. The writing is so crisp, the pages almost want to turn themselves. He’s a terrific storyteller."
I Saw The Movie
The Looking Glass War by Jon Le Carre. 8 CDs at 9 hours. 1965 and a novice spy is sent into the Eastern Bloc to find missiles. The flick was released in 1969 and was pretty decent. I cannot recall if I watched the flick on video or TV. There is a scene in the film where the lackadaisical spy is being pushed by Anthony Hopkins's character to take things seriously. Hopkins starts a fistfight with the spy get the guy to defend himself and escape.
Three in One
Eclipse Bay Collection: Eclipse Bay, Dawn in Eclipse Bay, Summer in Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz. 15 CDs at 18 hours. This will check out.
Fiction
Six Years by Harlan Coben. Looks like Harlan Coben made sure to shave his head the morning of his author photo.
Family Pictures by Jane Green. Stay on your digital camera forever and never seem to get uploaded.
You & I, Me & You by Mary Janice Davidson. I did not want to use those ampersands in the title but I did anyway. I am very adventurous.
Criminal Enterprise by Owen Laukkanen. The cover stinks. I usually ignore all cover jacket blurbs except this has one by Kirkus. Kirkus is stingy about giving good reviews but had this, "Fans of crime thrillers shouldn’t miss this one or anything else with Laukkanen’s name on the cover. The writing is so crisp, the pages almost want to turn themselves. He’s a terrific storyteller."
I Saw The Movie
The Looking Glass War by Jon Le Carre. 8 CDs at 9 hours. 1965 and a novice spy is sent into the Eastern Bloc to find missiles. The flick was released in 1969 and was pretty decent. I cannot recall if I watched the flick on video or TV. There is a scene in the film where the lackadaisical spy is being pushed by Anthony Hopkins's character to take things seriously. Hopkins starts a fistfight with the spy get the guy to defend himself and escape.
Three in One
Eclipse Bay Collection: Eclipse Bay, Dawn in Eclipse Bay, Summer in Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz. 15 CDs at 18 hours. This will check out.
Fiction
Six Years by Harlan Coben. Looks like Harlan Coben made sure to shave his head the morning of his author photo.
Family Pictures by Jane Green. Stay on your digital camera forever and never seem to get uploaded.
You & I, Me & You by Mary Janice Davidson. I did not want to use those ampersands in the title but I did anyway. I am very adventurous.
Photos
Renovation
Lights are being shifted
New door frame for door to conceal the bookdrop and tool supply area. The new door will have an etched glass window to let in light. I think. The door window will be something translucent.
Railings by front door were sanded down and glue applied for new tops.
New tops getting installed on railings.
Tops are on, joined, and sanded smooth.
The painters have continued down the stairwell and into the lower level.
Lights are being shifted
New door frame for door to conceal the bookdrop and tool supply area. The new door will have an etched glass window to let in light. I think. The door window will be something translucent.
Railings by front door were sanded down and glue applied for new tops.
New tops getting installed on railings.
Tops are on, joined, and sanded smooth.
The painters have continued down the stairwell and into the lower level.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Renovation: New Carpeting
New Carpeting
We are getting carpet squares for easy replacement of spills and stains.
Old stairway.
Boxes of carpet squares.
Old stairway.
Installation in Library Hall.
Rolled carpet is for the stairs and landings.
Regular stairway.
We are getting carpet squares for easy replacement of spills and stains.
Old stairway.
Boxes of carpet squares.
Old stairway.
Installation in Library Hall.
Rolled carpet is for the stairs and landings.
Regular stairway.
Stuff. Nonsense. No Relation.
Ugh. More Large Print. Let's get through this quickly.
BridegroomWore Plaid by Grace Burrowes. Agenda 21 by Glenn Beck with Harriet Parke. A Time For War by Michael Savage. Summerset Abbey by T.J. Brown. Finding Home by Lois Greiman. Out of Warranty by Haywood Smith. The Importance of Being Wicked by Victoria Alexander. Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin. Love Is A Canoe by Ben Schrank. Truth In Advertising by John Kenney.
Audiobooks on CD
Vatican Diaries by John Thavis. 10 CDs at 13 hours. Journalist who worked 25 years in Vatican writes book about the Vatican and Vatican daily life, Vatican scandals, Vatican history and tradition, Vatican personalities, and various Vaticaneers. Vatican Vatican Vatican.
Triumph of Caesar by Steven Saylor (no relation). 7 CDs at 8 hours. Saylor's (no relation) mystery novels set in Ancient Rome are always very good. Saylor's (no relation) main character, Gordianus, is a hired troubleshooter, an ancient P.I. Gordianus works for the snobby and wealthy patrician families and Saylor (no relation) often has Gordianus travel to different part so Italy and the Roman Empire while including real-life Roman figures into the plot. (no relation).
Alone on the Ice: the greatest survival story in the history of exploration by David Roberts. 10 CDs at 111.5 hours. In 1913 the greatest Douglas Mawson in history was a member of an Antarctic Exploration team. Mawson's greatest dog team in history fell into a crevasse and left Mawson dangling by the greatest sledge harness in history. On his crawl back to camp Mawson realized the greatest soles in the history of feet had "detached from the flesh beneath.
Cesar Milan's Short Guide to a Happy Dog by Ceasr Milan. 5 CDs at 5.5 hours. 98 short and happy lessons. I don't know if this audio title is narrated at a whisper.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Food, Firearms, Fiction
NonFiction
Gun Guys: a road trip by Dan Baum.
Fresh Off the Boat by Eddie Huang. 7 CDs at 8 hours. Immigrant kid in Florida "obsessed over football, fought all-American boys who called him a chink, partied like a gremlin, and sold drugs with his crew" then opened a restaurant in New York City and wrote a book called Fresh Off the Boat.
The Heavy by Dara-Lynn Weiss. 7 CDs at 7.816 hours. Weiss's seven-year-old daughter is obese. Weiss has "her own food and body issues." Weiss and daughter work to improve. Weiss has to constantly spell out her hyphenated first name to everyone.
Slim For Life by Jillian Michaels. 7 CDs at 7.8 hours. TV woman writes book. TV Woman reads book out loud into microphone. Fancy computer gadgets encode that recording onto thin plastic discs. Those discs are packaged and sold. LD Fargo Public Library buys a package of those discs. LD Fargo Library advertises the availability of those discs.
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy. 9 CDs at 10.966 hours. I've been reading a 1982 James Bond novel by John Gardner, Icebreaker. Icebreaker is set in Northern Finland during winter. I was in Finland in the summer of 1989.
Robert B. Parker's Ironhorse by Robert Knott. 6 CDs at 7.366 hours. Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are hired to guard a train with Mexican prisoners. Robbers arrive.
Gun Guys: a road trip by Dan Baum.
- Flyleaf version: Dan Baum is both a lifelong gun guy and a Jewish Democrat who grew up in suburban New Jersey feeling like a "child of a bitter divorce with allegiance to both parents." In Gun Guys he grabs his licensed concealed-carry handgun and hits the road to meet some of the 40 percent of Americans who own guns.
- Short version: Gun nerd takes a drive.
- Gerard version: Who the heck writes a nonfiction book and doesn't include any photos? He makes up for that absence with good notes, bib., and index.
Fresh Off the Boat by Eddie Huang. 7 CDs at 8 hours. Immigrant kid in Florida "obsessed over football, fought all-American boys who called him a chink, partied like a gremlin, and sold drugs with his crew" then opened a restaurant in New York City and wrote a book called Fresh Off the Boat.
The Heavy by Dara-Lynn Weiss. 7 CDs at 7.816 hours. Weiss's seven-year-old daughter is obese. Weiss has "her own food and body issues." Weiss and daughter work to improve. Weiss has to constantly spell out her hyphenated first name to everyone.
Slim For Life by Jillian Michaels. 7 CDs at 7.8 hours. TV woman writes book. TV Woman reads book out loud into microphone. Fancy computer gadgets encode that recording onto thin plastic discs. Those discs are packaged and sold. LD Fargo Public Library buys a package of those discs. LD Fargo Library advertises the availability of those discs.
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy. 9 CDs at 10.966 hours. I've been reading a 1982 James Bond novel by John Gardner, Icebreaker. Icebreaker is set in Northern Finland during winter. I was in Finland in the summer of 1989.
Robert B. Parker's Ironhorse by Robert Knott. 6 CDs at 7.366 hours. Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are hired to guard a train with Mexican prisoners. Robbers arrive.
Thursday, March 07, 2013
Four Books
Fiction
Children of Kings by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross. Science fiction.
House Girl by Tara Conklin. I think I once tied reading House Gun by Nadine Gordimer. That novel has a group of guys living together in South Africa. The protagonist's of the novel are dismayed when their son is accused of murder by using the "house gun" (kept for home defense) on someone. Dang, that came out in 1998.
House Girl is a dual story of 1852 slavery and a 2004 lawyer who tries to find a descendant.
Gotcha! by Fern Michaels. What a lousy cover. A photo of red autumn leaves and what seems to be a porch out-of-focus in the background. Heck, the title is small print and stuck in the lower right corner.
The Striker by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott. This is a typical Cussler cover with A BIG FIERY EXPLOSION. The co-author's name is printed in much, much smaller type.
Children of Kings by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross. Science fiction.
House Girl by Tara Conklin. I think I once tied reading House Gun by Nadine Gordimer. That novel has a group of guys living together in South Africa. The protagonist's of the novel are dismayed when their son is accused of murder by using the "house gun" (kept for home defense) on someone. Dang, that came out in 1998.
House Girl is a dual story of 1852 slavery and a 2004 lawyer who tries to find a descendant.
Gotcha! by Fern Michaels. What a lousy cover. A photo of red autumn leaves and what seems to be a porch out-of-focus in the background. Heck, the title is small print and stuck in the lower right corner.
The Striker by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott. This is a typical Cussler cover with A BIG FIERY EXPLOSION. The co-author's name is printed in much, much smaller type.
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Xtreme Berlin Training Thrones
DVD
Berlin 36 starring [Germans]. Fosbury flop free Jewish high jumper is harassed and harried by dirty, rotten, stinking, filfthy nazis to try and get her off the German Olympic team.
Game of Thrones: the complete second season starring The Great and Mighty Peter Dinklage and naked women (or so I've heard). Sneakiness and secrecy seal sword swinging associates.
Personal Training with Jackie: power circuit training starring [someone named Jackie]. Five different workouts.
Personal Training with Jackie: crunch-free xtreme abs starring [that same Jackie lady]. Standing and floor routines.
Berlin 36 starring [Germans]. Fosbury flop free Jewish high jumper is harassed and harried by dirty, rotten, stinking, filfthy nazis to try and get her off the German Olympic team.
Game of Thrones: the complete second season starring The Great and Mighty Peter Dinklage and naked women (or so I've heard). Sneakiness and secrecy seal sword swinging associates.
Personal Training with Jackie: power circuit training starring [someone named Jackie]. Five different workouts.
Personal Training with Jackie: crunch-free xtreme abs starring [that same Jackie lady]. Standing and floor routines.
Renovation Photos
Renovation Photos
Some updates.
Framing, HVAC, water line, electrical, and sewer line in new lower level toilet room. Doorway is to the right.
Water and sewer for new sink.
Drywall torn out for new camera wiring in lower level.
Bathroom drywall is done.
Some of the pendant lights in the reading room are being moved.
Paint is here and ready.
Some updates.
Framing, HVAC, water line, electrical, and sewer line in new lower level toilet room. Doorway is to the right.
Water and sewer for new sink.
Drywall torn out for new camera wiring in lower level.
Bathroom drywall is done.
Some of the pendant lights in the reading room are being moved.
Paint is here and ready.
Friday, March 01, 2013
Milwaukee Music, Swedish Serbs, South Dakota Sniper
Milwaukee Music
Power Ballads by Will Boast. I read this book and enjoyed it. Only one or two stories are actually set in Milwaukee. Short stories that revolve around a professional drummer in Chicago. The drummer loves jazz music but makes money by playing in various bands and playing on a big name tour. A neat look at working musicians.
Swedish Serbs
Easy Money by Jens Lapidus. One of the few members of the Nordic crime wave I have read. Well, listened to. I heard the audio version of this Stockholm crime drama and enjoyed it. A business student rises in the drug trade while ostensibly searching for his missing sister. A native Serbian is stuck in middle management of a Stockholm crime ring and does not mind the brutality. An Argentinian convicted for drug trafficking escapes prison with an eye for revenge.
South Dakota Sniper
Merciless by Lori Armstrong. Former Army sniper Mercy Gunderson is a newly hired FBI Special Agent assigned to Rapid City. Her job is boring and disappointing. I have not read this book but did enjoy talking with Lori Armstrong at Bouchercon in St. Louis.
Others
Burn Palace by Stephen Dobyns. Small town Rhode Island is newly haunted by supernatural or mysterious events. I read a good review. I think.
Shadow and the Crown by Patricia Bracewell. The cover image says Female protagonist in swords and knights romance. The flyleaf says Yeah, that guess is about right.
Robert's Rules of Order: newly revised: 11th edition by Henry M. Robert III. We needed a new one.
Power Ballads by Will Boast. I read this book and enjoyed it. Only one or two stories are actually set in Milwaukee. Short stories that revolve around a professional drummer in Chicago. The drummer loves jazz music but makes money by playing in various bands and playing on a big name tour. A neat look at working musicians.
Swedish Serbs
Easy Money by Jens Lapidus. One of the few members of the Nordic crime wave I have read. Well, listened to. I heard the audio version of this Stockholm crime drama and enjoyed it. A business student rises in the drug trade while ostensibly searching for his missing sister. A native Serbian is stuck in middle management of a Stockholm crime ring and does not mind the brutality. An Argentinian convicted for drug trafficking escapes prison with an eye for revenge.
South Dakota Sniper
Merciless by Lori Armstrong. Former Army sniper Mercy Gunderson is a newly hired FBI Special Agent assigned to Rapid City. Her job is boring and disappointing. I have not read this book but did enjoy talking with Lori Armstrong at Bouchercon in St. Louis.
Others
Burn Palace by Stephen Dobyns. Small town Rhode Island is newly haunted by supernatural or mysterious events. I read a good review. I think.
Shadow and the Crown by Patricia Bracewell. The cover image says Female protagonist in swords and knights romance. The flyleaf says Yeah, that guess is about right.
Robert's Rules of Order: newly revised: 11th edition by Henry M. Robert III. We needed a new one.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Wny Did I Order This?
Why Did I Order This?
Scaling Force: dynamic decision-making under threat of violence by Rory Miller and Lawrence A. Kane. Why did I order this? I'm sure I took someone's online recommendation but I cannot recall where. Maybe from that comic strip's (Unshelved) weekly recommendations. Let me see. Yeah, they did.
Anyway, the authors list six levels of force from presence to lethal. This looks pretty good.
Large Print
The Third Bullet by Stephen Hunter. Bob Lee Swagger solves the assassination of President Kennedy.
Magnificence by Lydia Millet. The fly leaf says a widow inherits a mansion with stuffed animals and meets "uniquely damaged humans". Let's lay on some thick sarcasm and say, "Oh, what an original idea. A widow moves and meets wacky people and they all heal each other."
Fiction
Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas. One of our romance paperbacks written by Kleypas has gone out 42 times.
Scaling Force: dynamic decision-making under threat of violence by Rory Miller and Lawrence A. Kane. Why did I order this? I'm sure I took someone's online recommendation but I cannot recall where. Maybe from that comic strip's (Unshelved) weekly recommendations. Let me see. Yeah, they did.
Anyway, the authors list six levels of force from presence to lethal. This looks pretty good.
Large Print
The Third Bullet by Stephen Hunter. Bob Lee Swagger solves the assassination of President Kennedy.
Magnificence by Lydia Millet. The fly leaf says a widow inherits a mansion with stuffed animals and meets "uniquely damaged humans". Let's lay on some thick sarcasm and say, "Oh, what an original idea. A widow moves and meets wacky people and they all heal each other."
Fiction
Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas. One of our romance paperbacks written by Kleypas has gone out 42 times.
Monday, February 25, 2013
I've Actually Read Three of These Authors
Ones I've Read
Benediction by Kent Haruf. He writes tales of rural life, old rancher dudes, and families with generational gaps. This novel has a guy with terminal cancer, a new pastor in town, and other stuff. The book is probably worth your time.
A Possible Life by Sebastian Faulks. I read Faulks's Birdsong and liked it. Birdsong was a World War One tale and well done. I have the movie version at home on DVD but that thing is three hours long and I'm not sure I want to tackle it.
Suspect by Robert Crais. Crais writes good thrillers and is best know for his series characters Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. This is the PTSD one with a PTSD Police Officer and a PTSD Army dog teaming up to fight PTSD and bad guys. I wonder if the dog dies in the end.
I've Never Read These People
Calculated in Death by J.D. Robb. Does Nora Roberts farm these out to ghost writers? Maybe she collaborates with ghost writers. I write this because she really cranks them out.
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. Picoult has curly hair.
Bad Blood by Dana Stabenow. I have a theory that Stabenow's whole career exists as a way to write off her trips to Alaska and all the National Parks as business expenses.
Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke. Ugh. Red velvet birthday cake. That's what I got every year at school. My mother would order one for me from through the Gustavus Adolphus cafeteria. Not that the cake was bad but it's not to my taste. Each year I'd eat some and put it in my dorm room mini-fridge where the cake would dry out. I'd cut off the dried bit and eat the inside and finally throw away the husk.
The Unofficial Guide: Disneyland 2013 by Bob Sehlinger, Seth Kubersky and Len Testa. Once again they neglected to hire Victor Gischler for this series.
Benediction by Kent Haruf. He writes tales of rural life, old rancher dudes, and families with generational gaps. This novel has a guy with terminal cancer, a new pastor in town, and other stuff. The book is probably worth your time.
A Possible Life by Sebastian Faulks. I read Faulks's Birdsong and liked it. Birdsong was a World War One tale and well done. I have the movie version at home on DVD but that thing is three hours long and I'm not sure I want to tackle it.
Suspect by Robert Crais. Crais writes good thrillers and is best know for his series characters Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. This is the PTSD one with a PTSD Police Officer and a PTSD Army dog teaming up to fight PTSD and bad guys. I wonder if the dog dies in the end.
I've Never Read These People
Calculated in Death by J.D. Robb. Does Nora Roberts farm these out to ghost writers? Maybe she collaborates with ghost writers. I write this because she really cranks them out.
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. Picoult has curly hair.
Bad Blood by Dana Stabenow. I have a theory that Stabenow's whole career exists as a way to write off her trips to Alaska and all the National Parks as business expenses.
Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke. Ugh. Red velvet birthday cake. That's what I got every year at school. My mother would order one for me from through the Gustavus Adolphus cafeteria. Not that the cake was bad but it's not to my taste. Each year I'd eat some and put it in my dorm room mini-fridge where the cake would dry out. I'd cut off the dried bit and eat the inside and finally throw away the husk.
The Unofficial Guide: Disneyland 2013 by Bob Sehlinger, Seth Kubersky and Len Testa. Once again they neglected to hire Victor Gischler for this series.
Be Saddened, Cheer Up, Go For A Walk
Be Saddened
Kill Anything That Moves: the real American war in Vietnam by Nick Turse. Policies set at the top of the chain of command resulted in widespread killings and murders of noncombatants on the ground. Including children.
Cheer Up
Monty Python's Flying Circus: all the bits: complete and annotated annotations by Luke Dempsey. Script of each television episode with annotations and screenshots. 880 pages of very heavy paper meaning this book will start to fall apart after 2-3 checkouts.
Go For A Walk
Ice Age Trail Atlas by the Ice Age Trail Alliance. "105 detailed color hiking maps". This is a reference copy. Do Not Steal The Maps! We have a photocopy machine you jackape.
Kill Anything That Moves: the real American war in Vietnam by Nick Turse. Policies set at the top of the chain of command resulted in widespread killings and murders of noncombatants on the ground. Including children.
Cheer Up
Monty Python's Flying Circus: all the bits: complete and annotated annotations by Luke Dempsey. Script of each television episode with annotations and screenshots. 880 pages of very heavy paper meaning this book will start to fall apart after 2-3 checkouts.
- "Accident Black Spot" is a regular sign on British roads.
- Richie Benaud, former Australian cricketer, was a longstanding Australian cricket commentator in the U.K. and around the cricketing world.
- The lawn mowers are both called "Betta-Cutta."
- Tooting is about 12 miles east of Hounslow.
- "My brain hurts" is a phrase still heard regularly in the U.K., and all because of this sketch.
- British people enjoy criticizing the French whenever possible, and one of the chief knocks is to question their personal hygiene.
- Yes. Yes. Yes. (a maniacal look in his eyes) Yes, yes Mr Phipps. I love seeing the customers when they come in to complain about some book being damaged, and ask to see the chief librarian and then...you should see their faces when the proud beast leaps from his tiny office, snatches the book from their hands and sinks his fangs into their soft er...(collects himself) Mr Phipps...Kong! You can be our next librarian - you're proud majestic and fierce enough...will you do it?
Go For A Walk
Ice Age Trail Atlas by the Ice Age Trail Alliance. "105 detailed color hiking maps". This is a reference copy. Do Not Steal The Maps! We have a photocopy machine you jackape.
Friday, February 22, 2013
First Poetry Postcards of the Ice Age Trail
Large Print
First Prophet by Kay Hooper. FBI psychics solve crime with psychic powers and predict what's on TV tonight.
Postcards from Cedar Key by Terri DuLong. A chocolatier knits the wool from her pet alpacas. Chocolatier reads mom's dead papers. Chocolatier meets English guy.
The Lawgiver by Herman Wouk. Something about Moses. The description on the back cover is confusing.
NonFiction
Ice Age Trail Companion Guide 2011 by Ice Age Trail Alliance. Guide to the 1,000 mile trail that winds around Wisconsin. We also bought a map binder that will go into reference.
Library's Least Popular YouTube Video
The least popular YouTube video the library has done with only 16 views. We have both of Kraushaar's poetry collections. I think poetry is often best when read aloud. But, a reader's interpretation, or misinterpretation, can vary so greatly from the author's intent. So, I asked Mark to share a reading with both of us reading the same poems.
First Prophet by Kay Hooper. FBI psychics solve crime with psychic powers and predict what's on TV tonight.
Postcards from Cedar Key by Terri DuLong. A chocolatier knits the wool from her pet alpacas. Chocolatier reads mom's dead papers. Chocolatier meets English guy.
The Lawgiver by Herman Wouk. Something about Moses. The description on the back cover is confusing.
NonFiction
Ice Age Trail Companion Guide 2011 by Ice Age Trail Alliance. Guide to the 1,000 mile trail that winds around Wisconsin. We also bought a map binder that will go into reference.
Library's Least Popular YouTube Video
The least popular YouTube video the library has done with only 16 views. We have both of Kraushaar's poetry collections. I think poetry is often best when read aloud. But, a reader's interpretation, or misinterpretation, can vary so greatly from the author's intent. So, I asked Mark to share a reading with both of us reading the same poems.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Lansdale Novella, Football, Spying On Hippies, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
Fiction
Dead Aim by Joe R. Lansdale. Lansdale is a Facebook posting maniac. He recently commentd that Amazon sold out on this new novella featuring a young Hap and Leonard. Hap and Leonard agree to guard a woman going through a divorce. Things go badly because everything Hap and Leonard do goes badly. Except screwing up and having bad luck. Hap and Leonard are great at screwing up and having bad luck.
Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson Literary Industries Amalgamated. Huh, look a that. Patterson is listed as the sole author.
NonFiction
Subversive: the FBI's war on student radicals and Reagan's rise to power by Seth Rosenfeld. 250,000 of FBI documents showing "surveillance, illegal breakins, infiltration, planted news stories, poison-pen letters, and secret detention lists" aimed at groups in Berkeley, CA.
How the SEC Became Goliath: the making of college football's most dominant conference by Ray Glier. Short version: the SEC spends tons of dough on recruiting and coaching and facilities and other conferences are jealous. I'll withhold commentary seeing as how the Big 10 lets anyone with a pulse join. The Big 10 just hasn't been the same since the University of Chicago dropped out.
Gods of Mischief: my undercover vendetta to take down the Vagos outlaw motorcycle gang by George Row. Guy in California desert town goes undercover for three years. Guy then goes into witness protection.
Underwater Dogs by Seth Casteel. Underwater photos of dogs jumping into water after tennis balls. No greyhounds.
Dead Aim by Joe R. Lansdale. Lansdale is a Facebook posting maniac. He recently commentd that Amazon sold out on this new novella featuring a young Hap and Leonard. Hap and Leonard agree to guard a woman going through a divorce. Things go badly because everything Hap and Leonard do goes badly. Except screwing up and having bad luck. Hap and Leonard are great at screwing up and having bad luck.
Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson Literary Industries Amalgamated. Huh, look a that. Patterson is listed as the sole author.
NonFiction
Subversive: the FBI's war on student radicals and Reagan's rise to power by Seth Rosenfeld. 250,000 of FBI documents showing "surveillance, illegal breakins, infiltration, planted news stories, poison-pen letters, and secret detention lists" aimed at groups in Berkeley, CA.
How the SEC Became Goliath: the making of college football's most dominant conference by Ray Glier. Short version: the SEC spends tons of dough on recruiting and coaching and facilities and other conferences are jealous. I'll withhold commentary seeing as how the Big 10 lets anyone with a pulse join. The Big 10 just hasn't been the same since the University of Chicago dropped out.
Gods of Mischief: my undercover vendetta to take down the Vagos outlaw motorcycle gang by George Row. Guy in California desert town goes undercover for three years. Guy then goes into witness protection.
Underwater Dogs by Seth Casteel. Underwater photos of dogs jumping into water after tennis balls. No greyhounds.
Monday, February 18, 2013
New Items by Old Authors
You've Heard of Them
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy. A painting for the cover. Binchy died in July of 2012. No information in the book is she wrote all of this, part of this, or if her name is now a corporate moniker. I took three tries to type moniker without a keystroke error. Monkier is a good word though.
Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner. Gardener is not dead. She has a well done author photo. The photo looks to edited with everything around her lit face blacked out. An appropriately dramatic presentation for a thriler novel.
Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman. Kellerman has a beard in his author photo. His photo follows the same style as Gardner's with Kellerman wearing black and having a dark grey, mottled background behind him. Maybe this is the new style.
Deadly Stakes by J.A. Jance. One of those AZ desert based novels rather than a Northwest US based novels. Jance lives by Tucson. Forgotten Weapons posted a match video from north of Tucson.
Hit Me by Lawrence Block. Block's photo looks new also. His is bright and cheery though. I suppose that fits with this bright and cheery series of a paid killer. I'm not sure if I read the novel preceding this one or not. The Baker and Taylor slip of paper in this book says the whole shipment was processed with pride by Judith Trail.
You've Never Heard of Him
Bark River Chronicles: stories from a Wisconsin watershed by Milton J. Bates. the Bark River begins northwest of Milwaukee and empties into Lake Koshkonong by Fort Atkinson. Milton details his many canoeing trips along the river. Amy Lutzke at Dwight Foster PL in Fort is listed in the acknowledgments. Milton writes "this is not a guidebook."
Large Print
Vintage Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball. What the heck does that mean?
The Road to Cardinal Valley by Earlene Fowler. It means I am a robot.
Invisible Murder by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnette Friis. A Danish robot.
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy. A painting for the cover. Binchy died in July of 2012. No information in the book is she wrote all of this, part of this, or if her name is now a corporate moniker. I took three tries to type moniker without a keystroke error. Monkier is a good word though.
Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner. Gardener is not dead. She has a well done author photo. The photo looks to edited with everything around her lit face blacked out. An appropriately dramatic presentation for a thriler novel.
Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman. Kellerman has a beard in his author photo. His photo follows the same style as Gardner's with Kellerman wearing black and having a dark grey, mottled background behind him. Maybe this is the new style.
Deadly Stakes by J.A. Jance. One of those AZ desert based novels rather than a Northwest US based novels. Jance lives by Tucson. Forgotten Weapons posted a match video from north of Tucson.
Hit Me by Lawrence Block. Block's photo looks new also. His is bright and cheery though. I suppose that fits with this bright and cheery series of a paid killer. I'm not sure if I read the novel preceding this one or not. The Baker and Taylor slip of paper in this book says the whole shipment was processed with pride by Judith Trail.
You've Never Heard of Him
Bark River Chronicles: stories from a Wisconsin watershed by Milton J. Bates. the Bark River begins northwest of Milwaukee and empties into Lake Koshkonong by Fort Atkinson. Milton details his many canoeing trips along the river. Amy Lutzke at Dwight Foster PL in Fort is listed in the acknowledgments. Milton writes "this is not a guidebook."
Large Print
Vintage Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball. What the heck does that mean?
The Road to Cardinal Valley by Earlene Fowler. It means I am a robot.
Invisible Murder by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnette Friis. A Danish robot.
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