Random Shit I Want To Mention

I've had a recent career shift which has changed my life. I'm working in a veterinary clinic. The money is shit but the job is awesome. It's the first time in a very long time that I've actually had a job that keeps me busy all day, makes me laugh most of the day and feel good at the end of the day.

So that's all a wonderful change from what my life had been the last few years.

**

Mollie and I have adjusted to Hawaii (I love living here) and are still adjusting to living as a blended family. For the most part it's pretty okay but living with another adult woman with her own set of mood swings is always a challenge. The funny thing is that I'm the adult woman in the house who acts the most rationally and the least emotionally. Now that's a huge switch up in my life.

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I'm taking a romance reading break. I'm reading the Hit Man series by Lawrence Block which I read a lifetime ago. I'm enjoying it and it's like sitting and watching TV while eating Cheetos. No real substance but you still enjoy it and feel rested and satisfied later.

**

My writer's block is unblocked. Somewhat.

There was something about Jane Litte admitting to being Jen Frederick that turned a switch in my head. I can't explain it but I was in my car and wrestling with my feelings and I suddenly had an idea that became a thunderbolt. And I started writing.

Of course I have to rewrite it all since I'm changing a huge part of it but still, I'm writing.

Happiness.

**

So Carolyn and I did free book giveaways on Amazon over the weekend and I have to say that it wasn't worth it at all. Smallest amount of downloads I've ever done with a free book and it was responsible (I think) for only one book sale.

So not worth it.

**

And Survivor is having an interesting season. They have some of the most unlikable players they've ever had and I'm not rooting for anyone. Except kind of, a little bit, one cute guy who won't go far. I'm still hooked but with so many unpleasant people, it's more an intellectual exercise than a true experience.

Reading, Writing and Rams

Wow. It has been an intense reading period as well as shows caught up on and life in Hawaii continuing to be different as anything.

Read The Finishing School Books by Gail Carriger:

Really fun books. They're steampunk, set in the Parasol Protectorate world but before them. There are some carry-over characters in the vampires and werewolves. What's fun is that our heroine is a teenage girl with a great sense of adventure, learning to be a lady and a spy (and possibly a killer) and it both sends up and celebrates the mores of the Victorian era.

Also, it sets up an interesting romance with a very inappropriate suitor that at the end of Book 3 threatens to rip out the readers heart.

I'm caught up with the Walking Dead

and its possibly the best show I've ever watched. I swear, if they kill off Daryl, I'll become a zombie and eat the producer's face.

Survivor started and so far the first two shows have eliminated my immediate favorite players. I don't find many of the players likeable this season so it's interesting.

Finally reading Patricia Briggs. Read Alpha & Omega and that was really amazing. Now reading Cry Wolf. Carolyn is going to get me to read her favorite series if it kills her.

And our washing machine is broken so we have to go to the laundromat to do the wash and yesterday saw a ram parked outside the building. Not a Dodge Ram. A ram.

I freaking love Hawaii.

Surviving Survivor

I don't usually write about my love for the TV show Survivor but I love it, I do. I've watched every season but one and although there have been some real snooze fests, it usually holds my interest in wonderful ways.

This season had the return of three players who had all played before but left the game for medical reasons.

This is Jonathan Penner.

Penner is possibly one of the best players to ever be in the game and he's worth watching.

Lisa. She might look familiar to you because she was a child star: Blair from The Facts of Life. Only two people have recognized her and that's Penner and Skupin, two of the returning players and older men. A few others in the same age group haven't and the younger players just think of her as the church lady.

I've been fascinated with this season because Penner is my favorite player, second only to Boston Rob. He's smart, conniving, athletic yet decent. He'll do whatever to stay alive except he hasn;t betrayed his word and he plays with dignity.

Lisa is also fascinating. She's in an alliance with one of the most banal players I've ever seen on the game: Abby She's loud, rude, insulting and thinks so highly of herself that it makes one afraid. Watching last night when things went bad for her, it was amazing to see her anger and petulance.

But last night had an amazing moment of Penner and Lisa talking (twice). The first time he was talking about her child stardom and he totally got in her head about her insecurities. I've never seen a man play a woman so well. That picture above is from that moment. He had Lisa in tears.

Later he asked her how in the story of this Survivor season how she wants to be remembered. A loyal person or a good player. She chose loyalty but thankfully her closest ally didn't (thank you Skupin for fucking over your alliance, they deserved it since they don't like you at all).

There are other players this season who are worth watching. Denise, a 41 year old sex therapist who's an amazing athlete and good at cutting through the bullshit. She's in tight with Malcolm who is the resident eye cansy as well as a super decent guy and good athlete.

Pete is a dark haired cutie who thinks he's the game mastermind but he's mostly hot air. I look forward to seeing him and Abby get voted off because quite frankly, they're mean and take up space. Abby is such a bad player that that in physical challenges the two other women, both twice her age make her look like an ass. I mean, they're ferocious. She sits on the sidelines and worries about her manicure.

In fact, they had to choose teams for a challenge and the two older women were chosen and Abby wasn't. Everybody knows a loser and she's a sterling example of one.

Anyway, I adore this show but this season has me breathless in anticipation for the next episode every week. I have a major love on the Penner, I really like Lisa and her game, I want to grow up and be Denise (or have some sex therapy with her)...

Just brilliant. Wednesday nights are my favorite night of the week for this reason alone.