Friday Firsts

Wendy of We Read hosts Friday Firsts. Today she shares a list from Nancy Pearle's Book Lust

Sometimes, Pearle says, great first lines ‘promise much but deliver little’. She makes a promise, when she lists eight books with enticing first lines that they are also ‘perfectly wonderful all the way to the last line.’ Check out the 8 books here.

I am currently reading The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson that has a very long first sentence,

"It was six days ago that Lord Bidborough, accompanied by another gentleman, came to the Elephant House and, after making the usual inquiries about my charge, who was, at that moment, quietly eating hay, asked whether it was true that, as he has heard, I was able to read."

I am enjoying this story of Tom and the elephants, "in Tom's own words, moves from the green fields and woods of the English countryside to the dark streets and alleys of late-eighteenth century London, reflecting both the beauty and the violence of the age."

Famous Firsts

Wendy of We Read asks today how many famous firsts do we know?

I know many partial famous firsts but the one I do know without having to look up is:

"Its a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Friday Firsts

Wendy of We Read hosts this weekly look at all things "First".

This week let’s have an easy FF…grab the closest reading matter to hand and let us have a first line teaser.

My first line comes from a book that I need to get read today! Good thing it is overcast and I am caught up on my laundry:

"All this happened more or less."

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Visit We Read to play along.

Friday Firsts

Friday Firsts is a new weekly meme hosted by Wendy of We Read. Check out all the details here.

Since this is our first Friday First and as it's Good Friday why don't we start with a good first...

Favourite Firsts: Do you have one or many? Share one your favourites. with us. Why do you love it, remember it or feel connected to it.

My Friday First is from one of my all time favorite books Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns:
"Three weeks after Granny Blakeslee died, Grandpa came to our house for his early morning snort of whiskey, as usual, and said to me, "Will Tweedy? Go find yore mama, then run up to yore Aunt Loma's and tell her I said git on down here. I got something to say, and I ain't a-go-n say it but once't."

What Grandpa has to say is scandalous and sets the town a talking and Will's adventure begins.

Do you have a favorite first line?

I've Been Tagged - Book Edition

I've been tagged by Deena at A Peek at My Bookshelf for 7 random things involving books/reading:

1. I read really, really fast just like my dad.

2. I read 30 books in August.

3. My love of reading took off when I was in the ninth grade home sick for 9 weeks.

4. I drove my mother crazy asking her to get me more books.

5. I have three books going at a time. One on each level and one in the car.

6. My sons and I are reading the Twilight series together. It has been great. Any
suggestions on what we can read next? They are 17 and 21.

7. This year I have read many classics and love them!

If you play along, please let me know!

Tuesday Thingers

Today's question: Series. Do you collect any series? Do you read series books? Fantasy? Mystery? Science fiction? Religious? Other genre? Do you use the series feature in LT to help you find new books or figure out what you might be missing from a series?

Because I read so many series books, I do not collect them as I would go broke. If a series has just a few books, then I prefer to wait until they are all published before I read them. I hate to wait.

Some of my favorite series are:
The Mitford series by Jan Karon
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
The O'Malley series by Dee Henderson

Favorite ongoing series:
The Alex Cross series by James Patterson
The Jack Reacher series by Lee Child
The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
The Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs
The Alexandra Cooper series by Linda Fairstein
The Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coban
The In Death series by J.D. Robb
The Sean King and Camel Club series by David Baldacci
Cedar Cove and Blossom Street series by Debbie Macomber

Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys started it all.

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins #85


Here we go:

1. The last meal I had at a restaurant was soup and salad at Panera Bread.

2. People who talk on their cell phones loudly in restaurants is something I intensely dislike.

3. The full moon is blamed when crazy things happen.

4. Certainly! is one of my favorite local expressions.

5. Sometimes it's best to keep my mouth SHUT!.

6. Horatio Hornblower (A&E series) is the best movie I've seen so far this year!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to the Olympics, tomorrow my plans include going to an art fair and Sunday, I want to finish my book (after Church)!

Classics Challenge Meme

As a warm up to the beginning of the Classic Challenge 08 Trish is hosting this pre-challenge fun.

1. My favorite classic is Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger, because it was my first classic and I felt very grown up reading it in the 9th grade.

2. The classic I had the toughest time finishing is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

3. I would recommend........... To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee to someone who doesn't read a lot of classics or who doesn't generally like classics because it is the one book, as a high schooler, I didn't hate and one that my kids didn't hate as well! (Black Beauty by Anna Sewell for the same reason).

4. To me, a classic book is a book that is recommended over and over and one you want to read again and again.

5. The type of relationship I have with classics is eagerness. I am so looking forward to reading more of the classics instead of reading the same ones over and over again.

How many names do you need?

YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Jingles Jeep

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Pecan Praline Chocolate Chip

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
DCas

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Blue Dog

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, hospital where you were born)
Renee' City

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
Casde

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
The Pink Shake

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
Emil Robert

9.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )
Lynn Paul

10. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
Beach Boston

11. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
Summer Hydrangea

12. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Blueberry Sweatery

13. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
French Toast Maple

14. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)
The Reading Sun

One Word Meme

One Word Meme--answer the following questions with just one word.

1. Where is your mobile phone? dresser

2. Relationship? married

3. Your hair? blond

4. Work? sometimes

5. Your sister(s)? none

6. Your favorite thing? reading

7. Your dream last night? forgot

8. Your favorite drink? water

9. Your dream car? Jaguar

10. The room you’re in? Office

11. Your shoes? athletic

12. Your fears? illness

13. What do you want to be in 10 years? grandma

14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? family

15. What are you not good at? singing

16. Muffin? NoThanks

17. Wish list item? loseweight

18. Where you grew up? Michigan

19. The last thing you did? breakfast

20. What are you wearing? workoutclothes

21. What are you not wearing? contacts

22. Your pet? kitties

23. Your computer? desk

24. Your life? excellent

25. Your mood? tired

26. Missing? friends

27. What are you thinking about? exercise

28. Your car? Jeep

29. Your kitchen? messy

30. Your summer? wonderful

31. Your favorite color? blue

32. Last time you laughed? last night

33. Last time you cried? last weekend

34. School? DONE

35. Love? LORD, Hubby, Kids

If you play along, let me know!

I'm back....and I've been tagged...

I'm back from the basketball tournament I have been working at for the last 10 days! Whew... I am tired! It was a lot of fun, but hard work. Deena at A Peek At My Bookshelf tagged me for The Blogging Tips meme.
Here's what to do:

It’s very simple. When this is passed on to you, copy the whole thing, skim the list and put a * star beside those that you like. (Check out especially the * starred ones.)

Add the next number (1. 2. 3. 4. 5., etc.) and write your own blogging tip for other bloggers. Try to make your tip general.

After that, tag 10 other people. Link love some friends!

1. Look, read, and learn. *****
http://www.neonscent.com/
2. Be EXCELLENT to each other. ****
http://www.bushmackel.com/
3. Don’t let money change ya! *
http://www.therandomforest.info/
4. Always reply to your comments. ********
http://chattiekat.com/
5. Link liberally—it keeps you and your friends afloat in the Sea of Technorati. ** http://chipsquips.com/
6. Don’t give up - persistence is fertile. **
http://www.velcro-city.co.uk/
7. Give link credit where credit is due. ****
http://www.sfsignal.com/
8. Pictures say a thousand words and can usually add to any post. ** http://scifichick.com/
9. Visit all the bloggers that leave comments for you - it’s nice to know who is reading! ***
http://stephaniesbooks.blogspot.com/
10. Thrown in something humorous occasionally, to keep things fun.** http://bonniesbooks.blogspot.com/
11. Make it easy for your readers - use tags and labels and keep it simple!* http://caribousmom.blogharbor.com
12. Memes are fun and a great way to get to know other bloggers! **
http://thesleepyreader.wordpress.com
13. If you disagree, be kind, not insulting or crude!
http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com
14. There is no "dumb" question about blogging, if you don't know ask
http://nisefunpages.blogspot.com

If you want to play along, you are tagged!!!!

50 Questions

20 Questions always tired me out, whew I am really tired after answering 50 Questions after being tagged by Deborah

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My uncle Dennis
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Probably at some sappy ad on TV
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? NO
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Sara Lee Turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Three, 1 daughter and two sons
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? You bet!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Absolutely!
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I would never survive it!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Honey Nut Cheerios
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? The only shoes I have with laces are my work out shoes and no I don't untie them
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, on my own I am weak.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Mint Chocolate Chip
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Are they approachable
15. RED OR PINK? Pink
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I compare my self to others WAY too much
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mom who lives in Alaska
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Yes
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Ymmm.. in pjs with no shoes
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? A bite of my son's cheese breadstick from Pizza Hut
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The Detroit Tiger game
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE? Magenta
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? lilacs, outside right after the rain, baking bread & cookies
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My boss
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes, she is one great dolla girl and a great encourager
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Basketball, Hockey, Baseball,
27. HAIR COLOR? Blond
28. EYE COLOR? Blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes
30. FAVORITE FOOD? ALL of it!
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Braveheart
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? my pj top is pink
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs, hugs and more hugs, except from my man I'll take the kisses
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? to what?
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Not sure
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Death of a Garage Sale Newbie by Sharon Dunn
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? My beloved Bailey dog, who died in January
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Burn Notice on USA
42. FAVORITE SOUND? when I hear that my kids are home for the night
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? How far is heaven?
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Hmmmmmm.....
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Michigan
47. WHAT SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU LIKE? as a mom, my kids tell me I have quite a few of them already! LOL
48. FAVORITE HOBBY? Reading
49. A FRIEND THAT YOU WISH YOU COULD HANG OUT MORE WITH? Jenni
50. IF YOU COULD BE ANYWHERE RIGHT NOW, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE? In bed sleeping

If you play along, leave me a link so I can get to know more about you!

Two, two memes in One

Deena and forgiven4this tagged me to play this meme: Each is a little different so I combined them into one.

Two Names You Go By:
Mom
Nise'

Two Things You are Wearing Right Now:
black capris
socks (Washington nights are cool)

Two Things You Would Want (or Have) in a Relationship:
security
trust

Two of Your Favorite Things to do:
Sleep
Read

Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
To get another dog
Lose weight

Two pets you have/had:
Two kitties named Tiger and Sookie
My beloved Bailey, (I miss her)

Two Things You Did Last Night:
Sorted, packed, boxed
Collapsed into bed

Two Things You Ate Today:
Homegrown strawberries
more homegrown strawberries

Two People You Last Talked To:
My son, James, about his dentist appointment (way to go James)
My Mom

Two Things You’re Doing Tomorrow:
sorting, packing, boxing,
collapsing into bed

Two Favorite Holidays:
Christmas
Fourth of July

Two favorite beverages:
Water (really!)
Hot Chocolate

Two of your favorite colors:
blues
pinks

Two of your favorite Christian Artists:
Chris Tomlin
Mercy Me

Two of your favorite meals:
lasagna, salad, cheesy bread
steak, corn, potato, cheesy bread

Two of your favorite people:
My husband
My daughter
My sons
My mom
My..oops

Two of your favorite books in the bible:
Philippians
Psalms

Two of your least favorite foods:
Beets
Peaches

Two sexes of your children:
Is this a trick question?

Two of your favorite movies:
The Princess Bride
Gladiator

Two of your worse Phobias:
carnival rides
roller coasters

Two of your favorite quotes:
"What we do today echos in eternity"
(Maximus The Gladiator )

"Beloved, you will never waste time in God's Word."
( Beth Moore)

Two things that you are in the process of doing:
packing, sorting, boxing my mother's house up
eating popcorn

Two people you have enjoyed meeting:
Husband
Friends

Two places you would really love to go to:
Massachusetts
Grand Canyon

Join in and play! Let me know if you do so I can check out your "twos"

Scattergories Meme

Deena over at Junk is a bad influence on me. I should be packing, sorting, boxing instead I am playing a game instead. "Naughty"!

The game is SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks! Here are the rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They MUST be real places, names, things...NOTHING made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person before you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your Name: Nise'
1. Famous Singer/Band: Neil Diamond
2. 4 letter word: Nice
3. Street: North Michigan Street (Chicago)
4. Color: Navy
5. Gifts/Presents: Napkins
6. Vehicle: Nisson
7. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Nicknacks
8. Boy Name: Noah
9. Girl Name: Nancy
10. Movie Title: National Treasure
11. Drink: Nightcap
12. Occupation: Nurse
13. Celebrity: Nathan Lane
14. Magazine: Newsweek
15. U.S. City: New Orleans, LA
16. Pro Sports Teams: New England Patriots
17. Reason for Being Late for Work: Never set alarm
18. Something You Throw Away: Newspapers (please recycle!)
19. Things You Shout: "next", "never", "no-way"
20. Cartoon Character: Nemo

What's Your Preference--A New Meme!!

Deena wants to know "What's Your Preference" over at A Peek At My Bookshelf

What's Your Preference??

1) Novel or novella?
Novel

2) Hardback or paperback?
If I am sitting on a raft in the pool definitely a paperback. Otherwise, either or is just fine.

3) Male authors or female authors?
Doesn't make a difference

4) Fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction

5) Bestseller or obscure title?
Both please

6) Local bookstore or chain franchise?
Local

7) Read the book first or see the movie first?
Always, always read the book, then maybe see the movie.

If you play along leave me a link so I can check out your preferences.

There's a whole lot of tagging going on...

I was tagged by Deena, A Peek At My Bookshelf and Connie, Little Red Hearts From God for the following:

1. Grab the book closest to you
2. Open it to page 161
3. Find the fifth full sentence
4. Post the text of the sentence to your blog
5. Don't search around for the coolest book you have, use the one that is really next to you.
6. Tag five people to do this meme.

On the top of a pile was my Bible Study book, the rules say don't look around so I grabbed it and there is no page 161. Under it was my Devotional Book "Praying God's Work Day By Day. There is a page 161 and the fifth sentence down says:

You ways are always righteous (Ps. 145:17)

Right next to that book was a fiction book so I picked it up and the fifth sentence down on page 161 says (I hope's its clean, cause I haven't read this book yet):

Sure enough, when they'd finished passing around the newspaper article, they dropped the subject of the Underdowns' criminal-element houseboy and moved onto the subject of everything dull under the blue sky: new sheets, malaria pills, new Bibles for the school.

I just may have to read this book this weekend.

More Random Things

Mary from Kisses From Heaven and Susanne from Truly Captivating tagged me to play "8 Random Things". Since they are new blogging buddies and I love to play along, here goes 8 more random things....

1. One of my earliest memories is flying to Ketchikan, Alaska on a pontoon plane, docking and then having to get out on a moving dock and climb up some scary stairs that kept moving and I was sure I was going to fall in the black, black water.

2. When I was in Kindergarten, my Uncle Denny (he recently passed away) went to Vietnam and my Aunt Kathy, who was pregnant, came to live with us. She was very open with me about how the baby was growing and how it was going to come out and I, of course, had to share my new found knowledge with the rest of the class. The teacher finally talked to my mom about telling me that some knowledge was best kept to myself!

3. I am living in the town that I was born in 46 years ago (with a three year absence when I was living in Alaska).

4. Everyone of my school reviews says that I love art and am very creative. Where did it go? Who was that kid they were talking about?

5. Our family has a history of only one twin surviving. My brother was blessed with healthy twins that are 14 years old.

6. I have been to 23 of the 50 states and would like to visit the other 27.

7. I still feel responsible after 35 years for our first family dog's death. I heard him wanting to come inside and didn't get up to let him in and we found him dead the next day. He was the best dog, his name was Jingles.

8. I have done six Beth Moore Bible Studies and hope to do others! They are awesome.

Tagged Again

I have been tagged by Deena and Connie to reveal 8 more random things.

#1 Go here to find everything you've never wanted to know about the number 8.

#2 My daughter was born on a Wednesday, My #2 son was born on a Tuesday and my #3 son was born on a Sunday. My #1 son was born into heaven on a Wednesday. Two were in June the other two in July.

#3 I was born on a Monday and my husband was born on a Friday.

#4 I want another dog my husband does not.

#5 Our family retired from the independent grocery business in 2000.

#6 My must wear accessory is earrings. I can forget my rings, but if I don't have earrings on I feel nekid.

#7 I NEVER go to bed without washing my face.

#8 I received my first kiss in Kindergarten.

Random Facts/Habits/Things

Deena tagged me to play 8 random facts/habits
Sharon tagged me to play 7 Things… So two for the price of one

but first the instructions:

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

8 random facts/habits that you really could care less about but I have been forced to reveal… just kidding

I could sit in a lounge chair reading a book All. Day. Long. Every. Single. Day.
(and during the summer, I do!) In other words, I’m basically a lazy person.

I HATE Coffee, whew, I have been dancing around this fact, not wanting to offend anyone, but I just HATE coffee.

In 1976 we (my mother, grandfather and 2 brothers) drove to Alaska camping our way out there. In Yellowstone National Park the entire family got food poisoning .On one of my attempted trips to the bathroom; I threw up right in front of a bear on the road. I guess it was offended because it ran the other way. I just wanted it to put me out of my misery!

I love, love, love the 80’s show Wiseguy and if Vinne Terranova showed up at my house, see ya!

I collect Boyds Bears, and at one time I have over 400 in my collection, I am down to about 100.

My brother scared me so bad when we were kids, that for years I had to check under beds before I got in them.

I met my husband when I was with my best friend who was trying to win him back as her boyfriend.

I have not had any diet Coke or diet Pepsi in over two years. I do drink caffeine free when it is available in fountain.

If you are reading this and haven’t been tagged, consider yourself tagged and play along. Leave me a link so I can check out your random facts/habits/things.

Show Me Your Handbag

Saw this fun looking meme over at Lisa The Preacher's Wife. Looked easy enough to do and besides I keep my most embarrassing stuff in the arm rest lifty thing in my car..

Here's a pictured of my current purse, a freebie that I got from Mary Kay. I used it one day in the winter for some reason or another and kept right on using it. Hey, black goes with everything right? I am almost embarrassed to show how it looked on the inside. Sometimes we are just in a hurry, right girls?

Here is what was inside: cell phone, wallet, checkbook, mirrored zippy case with roll on Amazing Grace perfume & lipstick, 2 pens, 4 lip glosses (you can never have enough), mascara (for touch ups), hand lotion, pain reliever, plastic cases that hold my supplements (you can never be too healthy), sunglasses, keys, a small zippered case to hold my ID badge, all my gift cards, datebook & receipts I need to save (keeps everything neat), a protein bar, my current book (I never leave home without one) and last but very important an order to get my yearly mammogram (ladies have you had yours yet?)

See what I had to get rid of to make it look presentable?

Would you look at that... a clean, organized purse.. ain't she a beauty.

Now I can switch to a more springy looking one. I may have to check back with Leigh at Speaking Thru Me, she has cute, cute purses available. Go and check them out!

What does your handbag look like? Show me. You are tagged if you want to play along. Let me know so I can check out your handbag.