Another Old Book: Falling Over Jinxed....

So, I said some time ago that I was going to revisit the old books shelf, and on it I found an old friend that I had forgotten about sometime in the last several years. I remember being mad about this book, which is all the more hilarious, since I’ve said before things about romance novels from this era. But, I do remember there were like three or four I was absolutely head over heels for for various reasons and this was one of them. Finding I still had a copy, inspite of several moves and one blow-out garage sale worth of boxes I’d forgotten at my mom’s house was like finding a forgotten $10 in a pair of pants you haven’t worn in years and were planning on getting rid of just as soon as you tried them on one last time. 

I’m not kidding.

This book I’m gushing over is very simply an early Harlequin Romance about a girl who works at a toy factory. She is, for all intents and purposes -- although not explicitly said -- an engineer and a chemist. She is, quite possibly, the most highly educated character I’d read about up until that point. And she was in a romance novel. Bowl me over with a feather.

Jinxed by Day LeClaire was one of those books that I read first during a really formative period in my life -- I was probably in my mid teens when I got it, who knows from where, since it certainly wasn't your book, Mrs. B. It showed a woman, a highly educated woman, falling in love and finding happiness being who she was -- and who she was was a lot like me back when. And still now, although not the engineer part, or the falling in love with my boss part.... ::shudders at the thought of falling in love with any of the bosses she’s had lo these many years:: Still, my mom wasn't kidding when she said she should have named me Grace because then I’d have some.

Anyway, I’m tightly holding on to my copy of the actual book published in 1990, while still looking for the two or three others that I remember were also part of that clutch of books I loved. I highly recommend it if you can get a copy of the original story. Not so much the weird manga reprint they did sometime in the middle of the last decade.

Much love,

Odd

Adventures of Normandillo: August

In August, Normand joined us on a trip to Point Lookout State park. Everything was fine until we passed a house we’d seen the previous year, and as luck would have it, their curious display was still there: Dopey and Tigger tied to posts on either side of the driveway as a warning to any other plushy that they were not welcomed there.

Needless to say, Normand was a little sensitive to the image (Poor little ‘dillo!).

(And for the sake of Normand and any sensitive readers, we are not including that photo.)

Point Lookout State Park is a beautiful stretch of historic woods and waterfront, containing the remains of a civil war prison camp. We've been going with friends for a few years now.

Normand took to camping like a fish to water, or a crab to chicken necks... more on that later....

He even found himself a perfect front row seat!

At the beach, Normand met some unusual new wildlife.

With a name like the "Cowkiller Ant,"
even Normand steered clear of this  1 1/2" long  wingless wasp!

Point Lookout State Park is on a peninsula where the Potomac empties into the Chesapeake Bay. We all enjoyed the view.

 Later, off of a dock in the small brackish marsh, Normand met some of the Maryland State crabs....

S' my chicken neck!! You let it go!!

You got a problem with me??

I am not coming over for dinners!!!

Figuring that the better part of valor was retreat, Normand joined us back at the campsite for a dinner that didn't bite back: hot dogs and s'mores.

So... are the marshmallows supposed to burn like that?

 And on the way home, we took a little side trip off the beaten track to see a piece of American history:

Until next time and the County Fair.....

A little Irreverent, but Always a Good Time

I know comics are a little out of our usual chatter, Mrs. B. And this is often NSFW, but I think I have a deep and abiding kinship with Jamie. Especially in this comic and I felt a need to share something that you, I'm sure, witnessed me doing on more than one occasion:

If you don't mind things occasionally getting risque, and sometimes they do, I definitely recommend Girls With Slingshots.

Election Night Jitters

Mrs. B,
I am entirely on edge waiting tonight, as so many people are, for the results of the election.

While I feel a lot like this kid:

I also know that what happens today is so very important to the next four years worth of life here in these United States.

So, while I'm biting my nails, I'm also happy to know that I was part of the process.

And tomorrow, it's over.

So, don't cry, Abby. It'll be over in the morning.

Tales of Normandillo: July, Part 2

So, we last left the story of our adventuresome 'dillo as we were taking our leave from the lovely wilds of the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain.

What followed were hours in the car with the Navidillo to lead the way:

Luckily, we have an intrepid little friend to help us navigate the wilds:

- Look! A Windmill Pylon!
- Where's Monty Python??

We go THEESE way!!
... I drive?

 We took a detour to show Normand my Alma Mater:

Nestling 'neath the purple shadows/ of the Adirondack hills/ Lies our noble alma mater,/ thoughts of whom our memory fills....

Herring Cole Hall -- Gorgeous and equally as scary to a wee 'dillo as to me.

Yes... the bookstore, where we're both at home.

 And then we were back on the road:

The original home of Life Savers is only a few miles away.

 But soon enough, we were finally there in the great lakes at the 1795 Acorn Inn:

Normand really loved the swanky digs.

 We spent the next day tooling around the area, looking at wineries and lakes.
 

This is a nifty stone in Canandaigua

We were all wondering where this road was....

I wonder where this road goes?

At the end of the day, though, Normand made a new friend: Ruby the Carfox.

Until next time. And Point Lookout State Park.

-OA