All the great books (and a few not so great ones)

The Bookworm by Carl Spitzweg.

A couple weeks ago the nephew called from the bookstore and wanted me to recommend some books. My first question was what kind of books. How do I answer him? I asked what sort of genre he might like. "No, the good books" he said. He wants to know about the classics, the "great" books. I ask him if he wants to really read them for him or if he wanted to read them to impress someone or if he wanted to read them because someone told him he should. "I just want to for me" was the answer. Cool, awesome, happy for him. "What do you think about War and Peace". I told him I didn't. I said it was the most boring bunch of overblown BS I had ever attempted to read. I recommended a few classics and of course he chose none of them. I was thrilled. He went with some Orwell. It's all good.

Books have always been vital to my mental health. When I was young they were an escape and a good friend. They were as I got older too. I can't stay focused on a book lately. It has come about since my mom died. I can't settle my mind into the story. It is driving me MAD. I have 6 books at my bedside table that are waiting. They are calling and I want to answer. I need to immerse myself in the tale and put myself in the story, just like I used to. I'm going to find my passion for books again. I must. But back to the classics for a minute.

I never had much use for the mysterious "they" that decided what made up good literature. Yes, I adore many of the classic writers. Twain, Dickens, Poe, Steinbeck, Bradbury are a few of my heroes. I loved the book lists we used to get in Senior English. I would always chose the one book nobody else wanted to read. It made for great discussion with my teacher. He never wanted us to figure out what the author was trying to convey or what the "deeper meaning" was. He told us to take what we wanted from it and I loved him for it. A book should be savored and enjoyed and wallowed in . Not rammed down your throat because some obscure intellectual snooze meister stated it was worthy or art. I have read plenty, and I do mean plenty, of crap. Not one single book has failed to teach me something, even if it was just a new word. I have given up on a few that just bored me to tears.

I always wanted to read Satanic Verses. I think if you write a book that makes a lot of people want to kill you, it's probably worth a shot. I soon figured out why. It was a bore, a total bore. I slugged my way through 100 pages and still had no clue what was going on. That is my limit. If in 100 pages you can't capture my attention, then I am done. I felt the exact same way about anything written by Tolkien. "gasp" I know, I should be tarred and feathered. Sorry, it seriously bored me to tears. Maybe I'm just not intelligent enough to find the "deeper meaning." Which brings me to another irritation.

Someone I consider very intelligent told me the other day they didn't feel confident commenting or interacting because they didn't have the same book knowledge or weren't as well read as others. I laughed it off a bit for two reasons. The person I was talking to was smart and because all that stuff is just a bunch of hogwash. I can google quotes all day long. It doesn't make me smart, it just gives the appearance that I am. I really don't care. I have met brilliant people who never spent a day in a college classroom and I have met quite a few over educated folk who thinks their shite doesn't stink. That is not a slap at education. There is nothing in this world worth more to me than the value of a higher education but it is a lot like manners, it should be used to teach and make people comfortable, not to beat them over the head and make them feel small or insignificant.

If you ever want a really good laugh, read Texasville by Larry McMurty. It's the sequel to The Last Picture Show (a book I did not like) and one I go back and read often. Of all of Mr. McMurty's books, this is the best in my humble ("snicker") opinion. If I am in a bad mood and I want a lift, I pull it out. A courier at work told me once to never waste time on bestsellers. I thought he was full of it then and I still do. Here is a very small list of some of my favorite crappy writers. (said tongue in cheek) Oh, I am a travel writer junkie too.

Larry McMurtry
James Lee Burke
Simon Green
Jim Butcher
J.R. Ward
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Laurell K Hamilton
Louis L'amour (yes I did go there)

Yep, all crap to some people. I could care less what they think. I hate autobiographies and "real life" murder stories. Other than that, I will read just about anything. Read a book, any book. I don't care if it's a comic book. Read crap and read the classics. I am getting back to my books, as of right now and to quote Mr. Stephen King from Christine "shit wipes off" (google not utilized) and Mr. L'Amour (google also not utilized)

"For one who reads, there is no limit to the number of lives that may be lived, for fiction, biography, and history offer an inexhaustible number of lives in many parts of the world, in all periods of time."

I also don't like most opera music or Picasso. Call a cop. I'm not saying it isn't art. I just don't like it. Feel free to share your personal favorites if you are inclined.

Do you ever have a moment

when you feel absolutely aware and in tune? Just a sudden realization and a knowing? I had one a little bit ago and I know the feeling won't last. It never does. Soon enough, I will be back to washing socks and underwear and sweeping up doots. But for now, right now, I feel fabulous. I could be KING!

I am not drunk or high people. If you have had moments like this, feel free to share if you are inclined.

The Sophie Boyd

Sophie on his first day

Nina beans is always so stressed.

Sophie trying his best with Nina.

I never thought I would be writing about bunny number 11. Some of you have already met Sophie through Facebook but for those that haven't, here we go.

I was at the rescue a few weeks ago when we got a call about a bunny. As usual we were over capacity and promised to put this bunny on a waiting list and share his photos and do what we could. He would have ended up at Heartland eventually.

Something kept nagging me about this particular bunny. 4 years in a backyard. It's amazing that he survived this long. I had visions of Pippin running through my head. I had a dream about the bunny. I called the guy back the next day and talked to him. We made arrangements for me to pick him up.

When I got there the house was pretty dumpy. I was already worried about the bunny. The guy came out and I could tell he was having a bit of trouble walking and breathing. He walked me into the backyard and I was tensed up expecting to find Sophie in deplorable conditions. What I saw blew me away.

He had a bunny wonderland and a fortress built for Sophie. It was as long as my living room, had a roof like a house and the fencing was buried in the ground. Sophie had been protected from all the elements and it was heated and cooled. He has good quality food, hay and the most expensive litter in his potty box. This man had gone through a lot of work to make this bunny comfy. Sophie was friendly and in beautiful condition. I had to ask if he was sure he wanted to surrender his bunny.

He started crying like a baby and just said he couldn't take care of him anymore. I didn't ask anymore questions. I understood. I packed Sophie up and we said goodbye with my promises that Sophie would be loved and taken care of. On the way home I got several text messages asking me for pictures sometimes and telling me what Sophie's favorite foods were.

I was going to change his name. Sophie seemed strange for a boy bunny. Some of the bunny ladies suggested Boyd after a tv character we all like. He was dubbed The Sophie Boyd. Sometimes I call him Bo but mostly I still call him Sophie or Soapy. He knows his name. He is the happiest bunny. From the second I opened his carrier door he has been a free roam bunny. He doesn't tinkle anywhere but his potty box and doesn't scatter doots about. He is the tidiest kid. Doesn't bother a thing. He has almost no interest in the other bunnies at all. Sophie's only interest besides humans is Nina, he adores her. Nina is completely alarmed by him and hisses and runs away. Sophie wants so badly to make friends. Maybe someday.

I feel very privileged to have Sophie in my home. I took him out to Heartland for a visit and to show him off a bit. Nothing bothers this boy in the slightest. Aggression from other bunnies seems to puzzle him. I get wonderful binkies all the time from this snuggle kid. What a treat he is.

So there you have it. Now you know The Sophie Boyd.

Busy Busy Busy

Heartland's newest residents.

Nina inspects the goods

Never seen this person before

Ignore my expression. I was cold, wet and exhausted.
 

Our charming home away from home.

I haven't posted in forever. It's been a crazy time around here. I changed my hours from working late nights to second shift (after many MANY years) and they gave me a whole new and very stressful job to go with it. I am also refinancing my house and trying to get the yard a bit cleaned up for spring. I needed a break so a last minute weekend away was planned.

Amy Patterson has been a facebook friend forever. We talk daily and have chatted on the phone too. She lives up Missouri way and works/runs https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colars/293981707289603?fref=ts a low cost spay/neuter program. She is a terrific lady and came down to spend the weekend with us. A wonderful time was had by all. Lots of eating and drinking and carrying on. It was a pleasure to finally meet her in person.

Our little two story cottage was so charming. That is the place I will stay again and again.

I got a fun package in the mail yesterday. My friend Annette from http://dragonhouseofyuen.blogspot.com sent me a lovely bunch of treasures. I won a magnet from her blog give-a-way but Annette never sends just one thing. The package was filled with little notes from her, sweet note cards, bunny treats and a gift for Nina. You will notice that the bunny cookies aren't in the picture. I shared them with the bunnies and they loved them. I was saving some for later but somebun raided the package and helped herself. I will let you guess who that was but she did have a partner in crime. Thank you so much Annette.

My friend Michelle from http://theraspberryrabbits.blogspot.com sent me a lovely bunny clip. It is beautiful. I don't have a pic because it's hanging on my desk at work. Shoot! I should have taken a photo. Thank you Michelle. You forever brighten my day.

I also received a bunny calender from my spunky friend Jade over at http://zenofbun.blogspot.com It features the handsome Mr. Mick of course. Thank you Jade. It hangs in my kitchen and I enjoy every morning while I have my coffee.

All the buns are doing great and Nina is just dandy. She is still completely intimidated by the bunnies. Misti was a little polite earlier this evening and allowed Nina to get close and check her out a bit. Nina just stares at them and then looks at me. They puzzle her. She is such a sweet girl that just wants to snuggle and give kisses.

My nephew Jakob did a great job taking care of the bunnies, brother and Nina while I was gone. I owe him big time for allowing me to have that weekend.

I am off to read all of your blogs! I hope everyone has a Happy Easter and just a quick reminder that baby animals are not toys. Please make yours a chocolate or stuffed bunny instead of a live one. The bunnies and chicks and ducklings will thank you for it.

Oh what the heck. Let's have a Monday Mantra too!
The remarkable position in which we find ourselves is that we don't actually know what we actually know.
Bill Bryson

Monday Mantra

"A day spent without the sight or sound of beauty, the contemplation of mystery, or the search of truth or perfection is a poverty-stricken day; and a succession of such days is fatal to human life."

 

Lewis Mumford

JoJo says

"I want Misti cuz she is beautiful".....(and she is the only bunny even remotely interested in kissing me)

After we got home and she whipped his butt a few thousand times, not so much. QUIET please! Bonding in progress.

Monday Mantra

"Passion rebuilds the world for the youth. It makes all things alive and significant"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Monday Mantra Smokin Jo Style

 

I'm ready for love, oh baby I'm ready for love

 Bad Company