Looks like Gustav is going to become dangerous!

My thoughts & prayers go out to everyone in his path. I hope he weakens in the next 36 hours, but it looks like it's more likely he'll become a Category 5 Hurricane. Please join me in thinking well of everyone who may need it in the days to come!

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
So far, this was the most scattered of the Philippa Gregory Tudor-themed historical novels I have read. This may, in part, be due to the fact that it is told from 3 different women's viewpoints, sometimes switching every few pages. Still, it was an enjoyable bit of "mind candy," and I don't regret spending my time reading it!


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Okay, look REALLY close

and you'll see two teeny-tiny tomatoes. See them? They're about 2 days old.I am inordinately proud of these tomatoes. I've taken upon myself to "encourage" tomato production on our single plant & have been going around rubbing the little flowers against each other (I don't know if that makes me a tomato "pimp", but it might), and it's working! Heck, I don't even like tomatoes...but my sweetie loves them, so it's a labor of love to make 'em grow & water them every day. If we wind up with more than he can eat, we can always share them with others. Or I can make tomato sauce if they get really out of control. I saw 2 buds today that were fat & closed ... I think they may be newborn tomatoes. Wish me luck!

Different, but good!

White Night by Jim Butcher

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was wonderful in that it tied up all kinds of loose ends from the previous books in the series! There was less focus on the immediate "whodunnit" element of the storyline, which made it very different from the previous books, and more on setting the stage for future books. I look forward to reading Small Favor when it's out in paperback! I'll just go put that on my holiday wishlist!


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Okay, ignore August 12th's post ... THIS is the best Dresden Files book yet!!

Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another brilliant offering from Jim Butcher. His character (and plot) development just keep getting richer and more complex. I am thoroughly enjoying Harry Dresden's adventures, and although I'd like to say more, any other details might potentially spoil it for folks who haven't read it yet!


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I'm back ... tired, but back!

After several days of staying up as late as 2 am ... and being back up at 7 am, for a collective 24 hours of sleep across 4 nights, I'm back from GenConIndy2008, which is the largest gaming convention in North America!

We ran a lot of games (This Game Sucks, Boy Meets Girl, and Supervillain University)...Played in a lot of games (Chicago Capers, Firefly Hero, Sky High, and Haunting House) ...
and wandered around the exhibit hall (full of computer games, board games, card games, role playing games, t-shirts, dice, costuming gear, foam weapons, art, and miniatures).
Suffice to say I had a great time with my friends & there were many moments I feared I do myself an injury in a fit of laughter. My face and abs were hurting from smiling & laughing so much! That being said, right now, I am also awfully tired and looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again. I did manage to conquer the sofa bed at the hotel & had some pretty restful sleep ... just not enough, given how much energy I expended. And I took a belly dancing class & made a potholder ... but as those are not typical GenCon activities, I'll leave those for a different post.

The best Dresden Files book yet!

Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
The problem with rating book 1 of a series with 4 stars is that it doesn't leave much room for improvement, which I really should have! In the Dresden Files series, Dead Beat is the best one I've read to date. My friend who is loaning me books 4-8 says that they just keep getting better, and he is right. Dresden is genuinely torn between sticking to his principles and using darker forces to do the right thing. Does the end really justify the means? Many familiar faces make appearances, and the subtle comic by-play doesn't disappoint!


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Let the games begin!

Later this week, I will be heading out to GenConIndy2008, the Mecca of All Things Gaming, with 2 of my friends. We'll have 4 days of gaming goodness, marked by dice-rolling, role-playing, and sleep deprivation. We'll be fueled mostly by caffeine and carbs, but I am trying to bring along some healthier snacks to keep the damage to a minimum. We'll be playing in games about half the time, and running games (mostly gems from Alleged Enterprises) the other half. Sleep may muscle in there somewhere. I'm also taking a class on the "spouse track"(non-gaming sessions intended for neglected spouses whose gamers (husbands mostly) have dragged them along): Belly Dancing! I mean why not?!