tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135447692011-08-27T22:10:56.844-07:00My thoughts on writing, reading, life, and everything else.Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.comBlogger1121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-45283307619239318892011-08-27T21:43:00.002-07:002011-08-27T22:10:56.863-07:00

I have had enough bad experiences with car mechanics that I now assume that whatever shop I take my SUV to for service is out to get me. Is that fair? Of course not. However, let's consider today's adventure: This afternoon, I take my rig in for an oil change because I'm leaving on a 1600-mile road trip - by myself - on Monday. The gentleman at the front desk tries to talk me into the "high

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-38313331738356347062011-07-16T09:44:00.003-07:002011-07-16T10:13:38.158-07:00

I first started running just after I got out of college. I wasn't athletic at all and the first few times out, just running a half mile kicked my butt. It took me several months to be able to run even two miles without sucking wind and feeling like I was going to collapse afterward.That was...er...let's just say quite some time ago. Since then, I have run intermittently. At one point, about 10

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-53780962637723661202011-06-27T15:57:00.003-07:002011-06-27T19:54:02.661-07:00

It's been awhile since I've spent time here, but the blogging bug has bitten again. I've made some changes to both my main blog (this one) and my book review blog, Book Snark (which is only somewhat snarky). Blogger has some nice new templates to play with.***Speaking of reading, I've got a couple more reviews to come. I've recently read "Unlocked" by Courtney Milan and "Exposure" by Therese

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-56765799044229195812010-04-29T20:11:00.006-07:002010-04-29T20:22:43.741-07:00

I've read a couple of pretty good books lately that I wanted to share."Silver Borne" by Patricia Briggs - I am a huge Patty Briggs fan. This is the fifth installment in the Mercy Thompson series, and I enjoyed it much more than the previous book. The book starts out slowly with several plots. It takes a while for the main plot to become clear, but I enjoyed the build-up. I'll post a better, more

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-35865777630604445352010-01-09T09:05:00.004-07:002010-01-09T09:24:45.686-07:00

I've finished Tainted and liked it enough to start Torn, the next book in the series. I'm not convinced of the heroine's rapid transformation from girl-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks to super-demon-hunter, but other than that the book was generally pretty good.I also picked up a copy of Blood Cross, the second book in the Jane Yellowrock series, by Faith Hunter.*****The residential

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-28597378493096795832010-01-01T12:32:00.006-07:002010-01-01T12:38:26.938-07:00

Publisher's Description from B&N: "When her little sister is brutalized, a vengeful Lily determines to exact her own justice. She succeeds at the cost of her own life, but as she lies dying, she is given a second chance. Lily can earn her way into Paradise by becoming an assassin for the forces of good. It's the job Lily believes she can really get into-but she doesn't realize that she may not be

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-15035970609707557742010-01-01T12:19:00.001-07:002010-01-01T12:21:13.518-07:00

There's nothing more to say...

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-55512362490809062962009-11-02T08:57:00.004-07:002010-01-01T12:21:52.186-07:00

Yesterday was the first day of Nanowrimo. Fortunately, it fell on a Sunday, which is also the day we have traditionally held our write-ins. Because of the size of our group, we are holding write-ins at the library this year instead of at a local coffee shop. The only down side is that the coffee cart in the lobby of the library is not open on Sundays. I'll have to plan ahead enough that I can

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-56800570319489261192009-04-01T07:17:00.002-07:002009-04-01T07:18:06.348-07:00

No, the contest isn't a joke. It's for real. Check it out:

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-38835445823012562212009-03-30T19:19:00.002-07:002009-04-01T07:30:35.550-07:00

I decided a while back to stop posting my workouts here. I have a log that I keep off-line to track progress, which is a better method for me.I did buy new running shoes tonight. I've needed them for a while, but the Saucony model I normally buy is rather expensive (really good motion control shoes which saw a $25 price increase this year) and is not carried locally. I have to order them. However

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-34907418973897550732009-02-17T21:07:00.003-07:002009-02-17T21:11:52.111-07:00

Location: The club again. It was 40 F out, but overcast and drizzling a mix of snow and rain.Mileage: 2 laps to warm up, then 26 minutes of continuous running at about a 12 min/mile pace. 2 laps to cool down. Total mileage was about 2.4 miles. Started out tired from last night, but at the end, even though my legs were tired, I could have continued running. Decided not to push it.Duration: A

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-25252659693435639482009-02-16T22:21:00.004-07:002009-02-16T22:26:45.190-07:00

Location: TKD schoolWhat we did: Conditioning night. Lots of jumping and running around; some good squats. Not much TKD.Duration: 1 hr----------Tomorrow, if the weather holds, I'm hiking up one of the local hills with a friend. (Weather holding means it's above 40 F outside).

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-5522171562076055662009-02-16T07:55:00.005-07:002009-02-16T22:25:09.174-07:00

Last night was my very first work-out on road to running the half marathon. Since I've found training logs to be motivational, I'll be using my blog to keep track of work-outs -- all my work-outs, not just the running ones.So:----------Work-Out #1Location: The local gym. It was 34 F outside, overcast, and damp. Not my ideal running weather.Mileage: A little over two miles. Warmed up w/2 laps. Ran

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-45134615310720804902009-02-15T15:36:00.000-07:002009-02-16T07:53:55.688-07:00

I've always done better at sticking to a work out plan when I'm training for a specific event. The last event I trained for was my second degree black belt test. I worked out pretty hard for six weeks, and although I did see some improvement in my cardiovascular fitness, I didn't see the numbers on the scale go down any.Right now, I'm the heaviest I've ever been (about 176 give or take, depending

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-47744897221663795502009-02-03T20:08:00.004-07:002009-02-16T08:25:15.620-07:00

The other night, I'm getting ready to leave my TKD school. It's about 7:45 p.m., and it's 5 F (if that) outside. I'm sitting in the lobby putting on my shoes when a six-year-old boy comes out of the locker room with his boots and his bag. He sits down and starts to put on his boots. He's wearing a t-shirt and jeans.I look at him and say, "[his name], don't you have a coat?"He says, "Oh yeah! It's

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-28933151886680533022008-11-05T09:02:00.003-07:002008-11-05T09:15:30.342-07:00

A few random thoughts:1. Nanowrimo is going well. I was at about 6200 words last night, only about 400 short of the minimum daily pace. But 400 words is easy to make up, and since I can't work out tonight (see item 3 below), I'll have plenty of time to devote to writing.2. Obama is the apparent President-elect. *sigh* I just hope that his unwise tax policies don't push the country too much

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-58248120923060590082008-11-01T08:18:00.003-07:002008-11-05T09:01:39.892-07:00

Nanowrimo 2008 officially started at midnight last night. I was up, but I was too tired to haul out the laptop and try to get even a few hundred words. Later this morning -- after I finish my coffee -- I'll be jumping into it. I've had a lot of good ideas for the plotting the last few days, and those have all been written down in my notebook. We'll see how it goes.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-8183985850527354952008-06-01T16:25:00.000-07:002008-06-18T16:26:22.321-07:00

Yes, again, I have been missing in action. Updates to come soon.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-82255397489973543302008-03-17T10:35:00.003-07:002008-03-17T10:49:28.310-07:00

I'm a quarter Irish (on my mom's side), but I've never felt the urge to go out and indulge as much as some other Irish folks I know. I've discovered that as I get older, I just don't recover from excessive alcohol intake as quickly as I used to. In college, it was a breeze. Party till 2:00 a.m., then get up and go to Greek (yes...Greek) at 9:00 a.m. Now, on the rare occasions that I drink enough

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-89195326237229576622008-01-31T08:41:00.001-07:002008-11-05T09:01:57.864-07:00

Thirteen search terms that led people to my blog:1. julie doe -- Not a surprise.2. copyright infringement -- I've blogged about this several times, so again not a surprise.3. rose desrochers -- Rose is one of my two favorite net psychos. I get a rather large spike in traffic when I blog about her.4. link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissist +"rose desrochers" -- I included this one because I

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-41133613654822990282008-01-25T16:44:00.000-07:002008-01-25T17:00:09.736-07:00

A couple of month's ago I discovered this e-book It's a retelling/re-imagining of the story of Cinderella. (I can't remember now just how I found it.) I've also read "Yellow Brick Roadkill" by Michelle Rowen, which found via a link on Lynn Viehl's blog. I thought was very imaginative and funny. Guess which story this is a retelling of...Both of these got me thinking, and I've started working a

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-27856299767923041862008-01-24T07:28:00.000-07:002008-01-25T07:37:20.838-07:00

Thirteen Injuries I’ve Gotten from Thirteen Years of Martial Arts 1. Broken bone in my hand – I blocked a round house kick with my hand. Big mistake, and the normal fight adrenalin didn’t mask the pain.2. Pulled hamstring – My opponent tried a single leg take down on me, and I hate, hate, hate being thrown, even onto mats. I tense up and fight the movement…and things like this happen.3. A black

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-34476792774195513032008-01-23T06:42:00.000-07:002008-01-23T07:34:07.004-07:00

(Warning: long post)This weekend, I watched a little direct-to-video horror movie called “Devour”. The opening sequence was done…well…carelessly enough that I immediately pulled out my trusty steno pad – the one I usually use when reading and reviewing books – and started taking notes.Our POV character is Jake, a college student played by Jensen Ackles (who really needs a new agent/manager/

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-54196799400006907902008-01-22T14:31:00.000-07:002008-01-22T16:34:41.048-07:00

So I was cruising around today looking for a good picture of an actor to go with tomorrow's post about a movie, and I discovered something really really creepy: real people slash fan fic.I've never gotten into either writing or reading fan fic. Writing it constitutes copyright infringement, and most of what I have read is poorly written. In fact, I've read exactly ONE piece of fanfiction that

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-41547374490051797192008-01-21T07:30:00.000-07:002008-01-23T10:02:40.994-07:00

Temperature sensor on my front porch: +2 FCar thermometer: -4 FRadio station DJ's: - 7 FMy dog: WTF? I'm not going out there.Arrgh!

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-54142990993760451272007-12-25T09:54:00.000-07:002008-01-23T09:55:05.032-07:00

Yeah, yeah. Here's the obligatory Merry Christmas post. Where's that clip art of a Christmas tree?

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-48103848632182894112007-12-01T11:57:00.000-07:002008-01-23T09:59:50.833-07:00

Well, I didn't make it to 50,000 words this year. In fact, I think I had fewer words this year than last year. I like the general idea that I was working on, but a couple of the story points need major reconstructive surgery. I'm going to put the book away for awhile -- at least until March when NaNoEdMo kicks off. Until then, I'm just going to work on a few short story ideas that have been

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-71110020235473061412007-11-08T22:12:00.000-07:002007-11-13T17:03:04.828-07:00

Thirteen places I’ve been on vacation:1. Seattle and Auburn, WA – Went with friends to visit (their) relatives and see a couple of concerts. Saw Gwen Stefani up close…then my ears rang for two days. Not kidding.2. Los Angeles – Visited a cousin. Got to sit on the patio at a Starbucks on Sepulveda, drinking coffee and watching planes landing at LAX every 20 seconds or so – right over the road. OK,

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-17533872777699900982007-11-07T09:41:00.001-07:002007-11-07T10:04:35.572-07:00

Just a brief post today. Last night, I managed about 2000 words on the Nano novel. That's 330 more than the required average daily pace of 1670 words, so I've made a slight dent in my word deficit. Yay!

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-77455602160144609792007-11-06T07:24:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:48:48.135-07:00

I'm supposed to be writing on my Nano project, but since I'm such an awesome procrastinator, I deceided to post a picture of my baby (aka Hound Dog) instead. Here he is in the park watching our other dog:

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-75755403808698633662007-11-05T15:30:00.000-07:002007-11-05T16:27:52.248-07:00

I got off to a slow start this year on Nanowrimo. I've had the cold from Hell for the last five days, and I found that I can't write on Sudafed (that's right, the real stuff -- not that pseudo-Sudafed that came out the real stuff was relocated to behind pharmacy counters, but that's a rant for another post). I had about 500 words before our first write-in on Sunday, but by the end of the day, I

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-36445442629739272372007-10-29T12:34:00.001-07:002007-10-29T13:06:42.263-07:00

I played around with posting images this morning, and I think I've fixed the problems with the simultaneous-image-and-text formatting. Unfortunately, I did two different things to two different posts. Hmm...The Hound Dog is underfoot at work with me today. He's been off his Diazepam (i.e. Valium) for a week now, and I think he needs to go back on it. Someone fired up a lawn mower (i.e. spawn of

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-36683493216532861302007-10-28T19:21:00.000-07:002007-10-29T07:33:22.410-07:00

So today was the Nano kickoff meeting. It was great seeing some familiar faces as well as some new ones.Unfortunately, it also means that the time has come for me to pick one of my several ideas and develop it enough over the next few days that I can start writing come November 1. Two of the ideas are relatively more complicated; the third has what I believe will be a simpler plot and it will be

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-26348756905393105002007-10-25T13:40:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:48:48.379-07:00

I'm currently reading "At The Edge" by Cait London. It's romantic suspense with a bit of the paranormal thrown in. The book recieved a decent review somehere on-line (sorry, my brain isn't recalling exactly where), and the local library had it. So I decided to try it. I'm half way though now, and jeez, it's been quite a slog through story-killing prose.Let me count the ways in which the writing

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-48448068214332061282007-10-24T20:24:00.000-07:002007-10-29T06:59:20.631-07:00

Yeah, I haven't updated the 2007 book list in ages. I plan to do it this weekend before Nano starts. But here's a mini-rundown of what I have read recently:"Don't Look Down" and "Agnes and the Hitman" by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer -- Loved both of these. Romantic comedy at it's finest. I'm even more of a Jennie Crusie fan girl after reading this two books."Heartsick" by Chelsea Cain -- An odd

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-131227744765209632007-10-16T06:34:00.000-07:002007-10-29T07:21:09.035-07:00

I've never been much of a fan of westerns -- either movies or books. But last night, I let a friend talk me into seeing "3:10 to Yuma". Russell Crowe was in it, and I think he's pretty damn sexy. So what the heck. If I hated it, I was only out eight bucks.Well, I loved it.The movie worked for me because it wasn't just horses and guns and stagecoach robberies. The core of the movie was the

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-62595683397925847212007-10-12T16:05:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:48:48.540-07:00

I just got an e-mail from the library. "Agnes and the Hitman" is back in and is waiting for me to pick it up. This is the second Jennifer Crusie/Bob Mayer book, I believe.I just recently finished "Don't Look Down" (the first one) and loved it -- although I need to re-read the last chapter because I'm still a bit confused about who was conspiring with whom.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-25805216588345773112007-10-09T16:38:00.000-07:002007-10-09T16:47:09.622-07:00

and as much as I'd like to blame someone -- or something -- else, it's been all my fault. I've let life get in the way of writing for a while now, but I'm hoping that after one more personal situation is cleared up, I'll have a good winter of writing ahead. My Muse has been lonely. She talks to me, but I haven't been able to respond.Not that I'm ready for winter.Or NaNoWriMo.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-36716402215218133292007-03-19T22:12:00.000-07:002007-03-19T22:16:17.445-07:00

It hit 72 F here today according to the thermometer in my car. It was balmy and beautiful. That says it all.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-84783526168786421172007-03-02T15:54:00.000-07:002007-03-02T15:58:24.738-07:00

As you can see, I've upgraded to Blogger Beta and made some other changes. I like this template better because it automatically adjusts the main column width to fit your browser window. I'll also be adding tags and playing with other features in the next few days.In the meantime, I've been tagged with a meme by Anni. I'll be wandering over there shortly to just what she got me into...

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1170863182258779632007-02-07T08:21:00.000-07:002007-02-07T08:49:39.803-07:00

It's been a slow morning here in the north. I'm at work, and it's quiet because two of my colleagues are at a training seminar. Outside my window, the trees are like skeletons in the thick fog that has blanketed the town this morning. I can't even see the traffic on the nearby street. My favorite radio station has chosen to play mostly slow melancholy music.*sigh*I tinkered with the blog last

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1170471019525139122007-02-02T19:44:00.000-07:002007-02-06T17:41:42.810-07:00

I've decided that I'm going to keep track of all the books I read in one year. It will be fun to pull up the list on January 1, 2008, and see where I've been literature-ly speaking. I’m going to link to this post in the sidebar (if I can figure out how to do that) and update this post as time goes on. To date, to the best of my memory, I have read the following books since January 1, 20071. “

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1170437143539481842007-02-01T22:20:00.000-07:002007-03-02T16:00:30.682-07:00

Thirteen plants you'll find in my backyard:1. Iris2. Pansies3. Tulips4. Peonies5. Russian almond6. Bee balm7. Oriental poppies8. Day lillies9. Lilacs10. Mint11. Wild rose12. Raspberries13. DandelionsGet the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1170274422557974492007-01-31T12:49:00.000-07:002007-10-29T07:45:26.265-07:00

Romance writers who write about guns should either a) know what they are talking about or b) ask someone knowledgeable to vet their writing. Otherwise knowledgeable readers will be treated to such silliness as this (From “Cry of the Wolf” by Karen Whiddon, Silhouette Nocturne, January 2007):[Heroine talking to hero about buying a gun] “I’d like you to help me choose the right one, if you don’t

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1169827524053947302007-01-26T09:00:00.000-07:002007-02-02T19:55:50.196-07:00

I guess I tagged myself with this one because I asked a question over at Lynn Viehl's blog this morning. So here goes:Contemporary, Historical, or Paranormal? Paranormal. I’ve only read two or three historicals, and I just can’t get into them. Butt-kicking, beastie-fighting heroines on the other hand…Hardback or Trade Paperback or Mass Market Paperback? Mass market. I can trade them in at the UBS

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1169829105857204472007-01-25T21:26:00.000-07:002007-03-02T16:03:29.937-07:00

Thirteen reasons I use to procrastinate at writing:1. The sun is out, and I can go for a run.2. House is on.3. My home office is cold (big windows + below zero weather = cold room)4. I just made a haul from the book store, and I have to read at least one chapter of one book.5. I know I can beat my last Bejeweled score if I just play a little longer.6. The toilet needs to be cleaned.7. My fingers

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1169131351424442172007-01-18T07:39:00.000-07:002007-03-02T16:05:47.566-07:00

Thirteen concerts I’ve been attended:1. Sting – He played at a relatively small indoor venue (only holds about 10,000 people, which is small for a Sting concert) near where I live; the man has a fantastic muscality, and I could have listened for hours.2. Chris Isaak – Saw him twice, once in the late 1980’s at the Marin County Fair (Marin County is north of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1169048662666310352007-01-17T08:39:00.000-07:002007-01-17T08:44:22.676-07:00

This is the most amazing dog-as-rescuer story I have ever read. I am continually amazed at the love and dedication that animals are capable of.[Found this link at Holly Lisle's blog.]

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1168818867174501572007-01-14T16:45:00.000-07:002007-01-14T16:54:27.183-07:00

Just a quick post tonight. I was cleaning out my bookshelves, drawers, and boxes of books that have accumulated over the years, and that got me thinking. I've posted before about books I don't like. But I haven't said much about books I do like. So here are some:By Lynn Viehl:"If Angels Burn""Private Demon""Dark Need"Tales of the Darkyn, vampire bad boys, and the women who can’t resist them.By

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1168618318910556622007-01-12T08:55:00.000-07:002007-01-12T12:10:00.413-07:00

I turned the Weather Channel on as soon as I got up this morning, hoping that the weatherman on last night's newscast was mistaken about the coming arctic front. Well, he was only a little wrong. It wasn't -8 F. It was only -3 F. Damn.My poor dog doesn't have thick coat (he's a hound/pointer mix), and he ran outside this morning, did his business, and was back inside in less than a minute. I know

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1168627431199959292007-01-11T23:34:00.000-07:002007-03-02T16:06:12.114-07:00

[Reposting because Blogger ate my post]In their own words, the Thursday Thirteen “is a blog meme with one purpose - to get to know bloggers better. Thirteen is the magic number - because Thursday Thirty is too many!” If you wish to participate, you can get more info at the Thursday Thirteen FAQ page. Scroll down to Meme Questions.So here is my first edition of this. Today’s list is thirteen

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1168375801850889852007-01-09T13:30:00.000-07:002007-01-09T13:50:01.966-07:00

I picked a bad week to start my new writing plan. In addition to working a full-time job, I am also teaching evening classes Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week. I got home last night around 9:00 p.m. and, after making dinner and taking the dog for a quick walk, I had absolutely no energy to write. I suspect that the same will happen tonight, so I'm going to count today's post against my 500

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1168295308760701432007-01-08T15:19:00.000-07:002007-01-12T12:17:12.726-07:00

A while back, a group of professional writers got together to write a really bad book . They submitted the book, called "Atlanta Nights", to PublishAmerica, and the bottom-feeding printer quickly slurped it up.Now it has happened again. PublishAnything has accepted "Crack of Death". Read all about it at the links provided.[ETA: "Crack of Death" now has a web site.]

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1168296165978019262007-01-07T22:35:00.000-07:002007-01-08T15:46:14.863-07:00

Lynn Viehl recently posted about work plans, and that got me thinking.I need a plan for 2007. My work is hectic, and I've discovered that I work better -- or rather, I get more done in less time -- when I am under a deadline. So I'm going to give myself some deadlines for this year:Daily: write 500 words of anythingMonthly: write and submit one short story to a decent market (no 4theluv markets).

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1167276155526645292006-12-27T20:05:00.000-07:002006-12-27T20:22:35.543-07:00

I got quite a good haul tonight from the UBS (used book store). This is the first time I've purchased one book from each of four different sections of the store. Tonight's treasure includes:"Touch of Evil" by C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp, Tor 2006 - A paranormal romance by authors I've enjoyed in the past. In fact, these two are the only Tor romance authors I've found who write consistently good

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1167064248200408822006-12-25T09:29:00.000-07:002006-12-25T09:30:48.220-07:00

Merry Christmas!

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1166662076283954212006-12-20T17:45:00.000-07:002006-12-20T17:47:56.296-07:00

I’ve been on a reading glut since NaNoWriMo ended (and no, I didn’t win – otherwise you’d be seeing the little winner icon over there in my sidebar.) I cleaned off my shelves and took the books I no longer wanted to the used book store, where I traded them for credit and/or other books.One of the books that I traded for was “The Ultimatum” by Susan Kearney. I’ve previously said that I won’t ever

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1159921469216975032006-10-03T17:16:00.000-07:002006-10-04T14:41:57.636-07:00

I used to read this blog rather regularly, but today I quit.In one of the comments on Ms. Genoese’s first post today, a poster mentioned not liking Susan Kearney’s “The Challenge” (Ms. Genoese is the editor who bought/handled this book for Tor.). I posted a response in agreement saying (and I’m paraphrasing here for reasons that will become clear below) that I thought Ms. Kearney was a good

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1159669318115825352006-09-30T19:20:00.000-07:002006-09-30T19:46:58.286-07:00

It’s been one hell of a busy week.I found out at a meeting on Monday afternoon that a project deadline had been moved up a week and that I had to have it done by Friday – as in yesterday. Grr.. That meant some long days, where I went in at 6:00 or 6:30 in the morning, stayed until 5:00 p.m., took a break, and then went back later in the evening.To make matters worse, I also had a training seminar

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1158960281148713992006-09-22T14:23:00.000-07:002006-09-23T08:40:30.653-07:00

I've set up an account at photobucket to hold my Yellowstone pictures. Let's see how well this works...Picture of a bison grazingBison and baby bisonWhat Park visitors like to call a "bison jamb" and, of course, a minute later.We also saw a moose and baby. I haven't cropped the picture, and the woman you see in it is standing on the shoulder of the road. That's how close these moose were to the

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1158818551454662682006-09-20T22:35:00.000-07:002006-09-20T23:02:31.466-07:00

So I'm browsing through the romance section of my local Wal-Mart Superstore the other night, and mindful of my monthly book budget, I grabbed a couple of series romances. I found out later that one of the two books -- "Silent Enemy" by Lois Richer -- was actually an inspirational romance. Not that you could tell that until you read the fine print on the back of the cover page.Hm.... Inspirational

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1158714714736491682006-09-19T17:55:00.001-07:002006-09-20T09:16:49.970-07:00

The trip to Yellowstone was a much-needed break for me. Youngest Sibling and I made a girls-only trip of it. The weather was much better this year – only a minor bit of rain one evening – than last year, when it snowed SIDEWAYS on us for most of a day and a half. Brrrr….. That trip, we spent a lot of time standing in the steam from the geysers and springs, so much so that I think one of my

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1157748451803480042006-09-08T13:46:00.000-07:002006-09-08T13:47:31.816-07:00

I just got back from vacation (and I left the Internet behind except for the occasional check of my e-mail). I have a seminar to attend for work this weekend, but I'll be back to blogging next week.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1156220931714605752006-08-21T23:25:00.000-07:002006-08-21T21:50:32.946-07:00

Another review is up.Check it out at Book Snark.Grade: C

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1156220633018435112006-08-21T23:20:00.000-07:002006-08-22T06:38:11.816-07:00

Some of the commenters on my Glass Houses thread apparently do not understand plagiarism and how plagiarism differs from copyright infringement.Generally, copyright infringement means using another person’s words without his/her permission (there are exceptions for fair use, of course). If the copyright holder gives a blogger permission to use the words, then the blogger can do so without

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1156170853107151782006-08-21T07:15:00.000-07:002006-08-21T07:34:57.976-07:00

So the weekend was a bit of a blur...We're remodeling our dining room, which once upon a time (long before we bought the house), was a sun porch. The guilty parties who turned it into a closed-in room used things like old 2x4's--and I mean real 2" and real 4" wood--chunks of glulams, and newspaper to infill the walls, and their ability to frame a square and plumb wall is not in doubt. They didn't

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1155858345598141332006-08-17T16:41:00.000-07:002006-08-17T16:52:29.956-07:00

One hears a lot as an aspiring writer about voice and letting the reader get to know characters through their dialogue. You don’t want your characters to sound alike, whether they are narrating (meaning first person from the character’s POV) or speaking. One book that impressed me greatly in this regard is “House of Sand and Fog”, by Andre Dubus III, published by Vintage Books, 1999."House of

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1155762971820472582006-08-16T13:48:00.000-07:002006-08-16T14:17:33.606-07:00

Several years ago, eight blocks of a main arterial street in my city were changed from a pot-hole-ridden undivided four-lane to a divided four lane with a beautifully landscaped median and new lighting. Great! I drive this street back and forth several times a day--to work and back, and I go home for lunch. Traffic moves better than ever.EXCEPT...Every other week, the common-sense-challenged

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1155680485825653932006-08-15T14:58:00.000-07:002006-08-15T15:29:40.630-07:00

The sad news today is that as after January 2007, Harlequin is terminating their Silhouette Bombshell line because of poor sales or as the announcement says, "Silhouette Bombshell has not been able find a broad-based readership".The Silhouette Bombshell line is my favorite of the series romance lines. I'm a romantic person at heart, but I find a lot of the romance sans mystery or action to be too

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1155602275931472822006-08-14T17:31:00.000-07:002006-08-15T08:14:58.513-07:00

I know that I talk a lot in my reviews about getting books from and returning books to a used book store. I do this--get and return books, that it--because like most of us, I don’t have a huge amount of money to spend each month on books. The library would be free, but they don’t carry what I want to read. Going to this store lets me to read each book for about ¼ of its cover price. Not bad.A

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1155575713292092012006-08-14T09:43:00.000-07:002006-08-21T13:40:57.110-07:00

Plagiarism is a hot word on the Internet these days. Just look at the recent Kaavya Viswanathan scandal and Cassandra Claire fanfic mini-storm. Plagiarism is a very real problem, and one that should be taken seriously.Let's look at the case of a certain blogger. Rose Desrochers has many posts on her website about supposed plagiarism on the 'Net. I'd actually call her rather rabid about "exposing"

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1155489062086822752006-08-13T10:08:00.000-07:002006-08-13T10:11:02.096-07:00

Yes, another day, another review. Check it out.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1155405959829553552006-08-12T11:00:00.000-07:002006-08-13T10:20:18.153-07:00

I've finally gotten a review of "Parallel Lies" posted at my other blog. Check it out.My TBR pile has also increased dramatically thanks to a giveaway I won at Lynn Viehl's blog. She blogs frequently, and if you are a writer, I highly recommend including her blog on your daily "must read" list.I've got a couple more reviews I'll try and get finished over the weekend, but no promises. Lots going

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1155428207039700242006-08-10T17:15:00.000-07:002006-08-13T16:53:44.266-07:00

I've got a review of "The Challenge" by Susan Kearney up at my other blog, Book Snark.More to come...

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1154990792789591752006-08-07T15:27:00.000-07:002006-08-07T15:46:32.886-07:00

Work has been kicking my butt lately, so I haven't had time to devote to the old blog.I'm really behind on book reviews right now. I may do some shorter ones just to get caught up because I really really need to clean off my bookshelves. I'm afraid for my dog every time he bumps against them trying to find a place to curl up and snooze. He's a bit skittish--even if he is 60 pounds--and his psyche

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1152730826200574052006-07-12T11:51:00.000-07:002006-08-13T16:50:08.880-07:00

Rose Desrochers has been busy lately. I don't keep tabs on her rampage across the Internet, but for some of her latest antics, check out the following:Pooper's Scoops' post What a Weekend for GossipKatie's Blog (many posts).James Landrith (Both "Ugly Roses" and "Shriveled Roses" have the bulk of the comments).I also found an article that Rose has posted at free content sites around the Internet.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1152729034900254652006-07-12T11:25:00.000-07:002006-08-13T16:51:34.863-07:00

The search feature here at Blogger is not turning up my oldest post on Rose Desrochers. So here they are again:Portrait of a Narcissist - Part OnePortrait of a Narcissist - Part Two

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1150752009534580812006-06-19T14:10:00.000-07:002006-06-19T14:20:09.553-07:00

Well, it's been a busy couple of weeks on the reading front. I'm hoping to get caught up on book reviews shortly. I did find a couple of good books in my TBR pile, but since it's generally easier to write snarky reviews than glowing reviews that don't sound too fan-girly, the good reviews may wait for a bit.The grade A books were:BioRescue by Lynn ViehlLast Chance Saloon by Marianne Keyes

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1148602616261772052006-05-25T16:58:00.000-07:002006-05-25T17:16:56.283-07:00

Literary agency web sites are cropping up like crazy these days. How to tell the good from the bad? Well, here's one red flag. When the agency posts misleading statements such as:From the Desert Rose Literary Agency (member of Writer Beware's "Twenty Worst Agents") web site--"...most agents avoid unknown writers and only want to work for authors who are already published."From the Aspirations

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1148523505382241602006-05-24T18:59:00.000-07:002006-05-25T16:27:34.366-07:00

The Barbara Bauer Literary Agency has been listed as one of Writer Beware's "Twenty Worst Agents." Victoria Strauss and Ann Crispin run Writer Beware and spend many hours tracking scam agents and sometimes even assisting law enforcement in bringing them to justice (Yay!). The list is the culmination of a lot of hard work.Tha list was posted on the Absolute Write forums back around mid-March. Then

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1148349456380358392006-05-19T18:56:00.000-07:002006-05-23T16:31:10.196-07:00

A new review is up at Book Snark. Happy reading.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1147981271654027412006-05-18T12:17:00.000-07:002006-05-18T12:41:11.846-07:00

I picked up "The Deep Dark" (Three Rivers Press) by Gregg Olsen on my last trip to Costco. The book is a closer look at a deadly fire that started deep in the Sunshine Mine, in Kellogg, Idaho, on May 2, 1972. The Sunshine Mine was a hardrock mine, the richest silver mine in the U.S. They extracted silver and other precious metals. While fires in coal mines were more common--and typically more

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1147314452984491162006-05-10T19:12:00.000-07:002006-05-18T12:09:52.713-07:00

So I'm reading the PublishAmerica boards again tonight (yes, I really was that bored!), and what do I find but more arrogance and ignorance from an aspiring writer.The thread starts out innocently enough. The orginal poster states that when he tried to order a PublishAmerica book at a local Barnes&Noble, he was told it was a POD and was subtly discouraged from buying it. OK, fine. The saleswoman

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1146000080637988732006-04-25T14:20:00.000-07:002006-04-25T15:07:30.793-07:00

So about five years ago, the City decided to repave the street I live on. It's five blocks long and is a school and city bus route as well as a feeder into this residential area. And the street needed it, I'll admit. The pot holes had taken up arms and were demanding a toll price from drivers--five bucks or one of your axles, thank you very much. Repaving sounded like a good idea.Homeowners were

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1145914905060467872006-04-23T14:39:00.000-07:002006-04-24T14:41:45.076-07:00

So I was browsing through the magazines at my local Barnes and Noble this afternoon when I noticed the current issue of Writer's Digest. This issue had their yearly list of the "101 Best Web Sites for Writers." I had to look.I agree with some of their choices: Absolute Write, Agent Query, Agent Research, Dictionary.com, Fiction Factor, Google (my favorite search engine!), NaNoWriMo (yes, I did

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1145384678791548522006-04-18T11:22:00.000-07:002006-04-18T11:29:20.586-07:00

Still in the test taking mode, I tried another couple from Blogthings and here are the results:You Are a Purple FlowerA purple flower tends to represent success, grace, and elegance.At times, you are faithful like a violet.And other times, you represent luxury, like a wisteria.And more than you wish, you find yourself heartbroken like a lilac.What Color Flower Are You?Your World ViewYou are a

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1144938034541803072006-04-12T19:14:00.000-07:002006-04-13T07:20:34.560-07:00

I've moved the previously posted book reviews to my new blog, which will be just for reviews and such. This will still be my main blog.The other blog has a wider main column, and I think reads a lot better for longer posts. Now if I can just figure out how to get my previous posts to show up as a list in the side bar....

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1144766906755997922006-04-11T07:21:00.000-07:002006-04-11T07:48:26.770-07:00

So I took this Personality Disorder Test on-line (thanks to Devrie for the link). You, too, can aswer a mere 55 questions, and all of your personality flaws will instantly be revealed. Here are my results:Personality Disorder Test Results Paranoid14%Schizoid54%Schizotypal26%Antisocial54%Borderline14%Histrionic26%Narcissistic42%Avoidant30%Dependent18%Obsessive-Compulsive26%Take Free Personality

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1144698758876014932006-04-09T12:44:00.000-07:002006-06-04T17:03:05.793-07:00

From out in the blogsphere comes the following list which was created by Writer Beware. These are the agencies about which Writer Beware has received the most complaints over the last several years. [ETA on 6-4-06: I've added the preamble in bold below at the request of the fine folks at Writer Beware.]:Below is a list of the 20 literary agencies about which Writer Beware has received the

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1144419653873818632006-04-07T07:05:00.000-07:002006-04-07T07:22:32.576-07:00

Today's post is dedicated to my new little SUV.In the 24 hours between 10:00 p.m. Wednesday and 10:00 p.m. Thursday, we received a near record rainfall--almost 2 inches. Now keep in mind that our average yearly rainfall is only 12 to 15 inches, and you'll have some idea of just how much water is still sitting on our streets and in people's basements. My basement fared quite well. We have a little

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1144246204898376322006-04-05T07:06:00.000-07:002006-04-12T15:08:44.613-07:00

Grade: DSilent Reckoning by Debra WebbSilhouette Bombshell, December 2005This review has been moved to my other blog.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1144122353572665242006-04-03T19:44:00.000-07:002006-04-12T15:05:50.366-07:00

Grade: CBook Title: "Her Last Defense"Author: Vickie TaylorPublishing Info: Silhouette Intimate Moments, August 2005This review has been moved to my other blog.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1144122146970557352006-04-01T21:36:00.000-07:002006-04-12T14:57:57.630-07:00

Grade: B"The Diamond Secret" by Ruth WindSilhouette Bombshell, March 2006This review has been moved to my other blog.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1140569434093016342006-02-21T17:22:00.000-07:002006-02-21T18:06:36.013-07:00

Those of you who post your writing anywhere on the Internet really need to read the latest post at the Writer Beware blog. Ms. Crispin makes two very good points, in my opinion. I have been a member of several on-line critique sites, but about eighteen months ago I stopped posting any of my serious work on the Internet for the very reasons mentioned in the blog:One: By posting your work on the

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1140479741487487002006-02-20T16:50:00.000-07:002006-02-20T17:00:55.553-07:00

Since Snarky Writer asked for doggy pictures, here are a few. These aren't the best, but until I get my digital camera working again, I guess they'll do.The black dog is my baby, the one who needs his pack:The brown dog is our anti-social gal:

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1140461241054897802006-02-20T11:45:00.000-07:002006-02-20T11:47:21.066-07:00

Well, I survived the weekend with my sanity and both dogs intact. The new kitchen cabinets are finally installed, and I’ve begun to research how to bring someone back from the dead—specifically, the person who built our house back in the 1920’s. I’d like to throttle him. He was either drunk or working with a faulty level when he built the walls and soffits. There’s not a square corner in the room

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1140145993959892902006-02-16T20:05:00.000-07:002006-02-16T20:13:13.986-07:00

I had intended to discuss my trip to the sunny south a bit more, but that will have to wait. My dad has been in the hospital twice in the last week to have an angioplasty done. Actually, the first time was just for a look at where the arterial blockages were. The second time--this morning--the actual procedure was done. The good news is that he came through it well and will be home tomorrow. The

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1139442391950263532006-02-08T15:25:00.000-07:002006-02-08T16:46:32.520-07:00

OK, I'm back and horribly jet-lagged at the moment. Flying east didn't bother me--maybe the excitement of the trip took the edge off--but flying west really knocked me for a loop. It took us about 18 hours of traveling to get from the airport in Freeport (Grand Bahama Island) to my front door. Ouch!Grand Bahama was wonderful. The temperature stayed between 63 F and 73 F the entire time. Ahh,

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1138648093355962182006-01-30T11:31:00.000-07:002006-01-30T22:02:36.330-07:00

Wow, it's been a long time since my last post. But I have been busy...I've bought into the business that I have worked for for the last 14 years, and I have been promoted to the Vice President (and yes, we have only one Vice President). Yay for me! And now I'm taking my first real vacation in two years.On Wednesday, I'm headed to the lovely Bahamas for a week. A little sun...a little sand...a

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13544769.post-1133243474866157162005-11-28T22:49:00.000-07:002005-11-28T22:51:14.876-07:00

I just finished reading "Into Thin Air," and it was great. It's a quick read. I didn't want to put it down once I started, but turkey and relatives conspired against me. More tomorrow after I've gotten some sleep and adjusted my caffiene levels.

Julie Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14331303987066184507noreply@blogger.com0