Amazon discontinued the ability to create images using their SiteStripe feature and in their infinite wisdom broke all previously created images on 12/31/23. Many blogs used this feature, including this one. Expect my archives to be a hot mess of broken book cover images until I can slowly comb through 20 years of archives to make corrections.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Random Natterings: Holidays, TV, Adele and Apps

My #1 piece of advice for newbie bloggers has always been "be consistent."  I don't subscribe to the school of thought that says Blog Every Day, instead saying that one should find their own natural rhythm.  Mine?  On average, around 3 posts a week.  But honestly, this "reorg" at work is kicking my ass.  Still.  Just when I think I've settled in to some normalcy, I slide back a few steps.  It's also been hell on my mojo.  I've got nothing people.  Like, nothing.  I'm half-tempted to declare a hiatus because the one and only time I did that?  Yeah, blogging inspiration all over the darn place.  But yeah - I'm not going to do that.  Instead, I'm going to suck it up - which means yep, y'all are getting a random as hell post from me about stuff that I've been thinking about.

Wendy's brain = yes, really this pathetic.

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The older I get the more overwhelmed I feel by the holidays.  Honestly, I think that might be attributing to my current lack of blogging inspiration.  However, I am making progress!  The Christmas tree went up over Thanksgiving weekend, and today I finally sat down in front of the computer and ordered most of the gifts I needed to get.

The last sticking point?  Ugh, cards.  I haven't done cards the last two years because I suck (oh, and I'm lazy).  But this year?  I really feel like I should.  So I am.  Cards have been bought, but do you think I've started on them yet?  Ha!  It is to laugh.

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Oh happy day, TV has been pure gold for me.  First, Beavis and Butthead are back - which means I can start watching MTV again for the first time in like, 15 years.  Yes, I know they're juvenile.  Yes, I know I have precious few brain cells as is - but I don't care.  Epic!  It's been epic I tells ya!

Then I found out last week that Justified is coming back on January 17.  People, my life is just better with a blue-jean-boot-cowboy-hat-wearin' Timothy Olypant in it.  Heck, I think that makes all our lives better.

Dare I say it, could cowboy eye-candy be the meaning of life?  OK, maybe just my life....

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I don't get Adele.

At all.

There, I said it.

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I finally broke down and got a real cell phone.  No more pay-as-you-go for Wendy!  Yep, an actual honest-to-goodness smartphone.  With apps!  One app I downloaded right away was, well of course, Kindle.  I'll be blunt, I'm cheap and in it for the freebies.

So any advice out there from Kindle junkies?  Any searching tips for finding those killer deals?  Along those lines, any blogs or newsletters that I should think about signing up for?

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In general housekeeping news, I need to get moving on getting the information for the 2012 TBR Challenge posted.  Scroll back to the top of this blog post and reread.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.  Hopefully next week.  Start wrapping your mind around how much you want to sign on!

18 comments:

Dev said...

I love ereaderiq.com - they work off of your wishlist from amazon and will notify you of free books, price drops, and when books are released on kindle.

Vi Dao said...

I love ereaderiq and also recommend www.pixelofink.com. Amazon runs a monthly sale. For some reason though, this one ends on 12/3:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_84185091_1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000705681&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=14G67ANTMRQ9MGBKBCTR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1336445282&pf_rd_i=1286228011

Vi Dao said...

Let's try that sale link again: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_84185091_1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000705681&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=14G67ANTMRQ9MGBKBCTR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1336445282&pf_rd_i=1286228011

Shannon Stacey said...

I subscribe to booksontheknob.blogspot.com. Wide variety of books, but the best one-stop source I've found for free/discounted digital books.

And I don't get Adele, either.

*Goddess* said...

I usually agree with you, but why don't you 'get' Adele? I loves me some Adele! She's got a great voice and I love her lyrics.

And I heart Justified, too:) Is it wrong to think Boyd Crowder is sexy?! Too bad...I do:)

Lil Sis said...

I feel ya on Adele....I would go on but don't want to piss off any fans. :)

Deanna said...

I agree with all of the above. Books on the Knob, Pixel of Ink are two websites I follow for freebies and cheap books, plus I get a daily email from eReaderIQ notifying me of free books.

Anonymous said...

Another good site is http://dailycheapreads.com/

nath said...

Consistency is a good point... but sometimes, it's so darn hard! ugh, I just came back from the conference and yeah, my blogging mojo is gone! gone T_T

LOL, I never did Christmas cards. Seriously, when are you supposed to start? Two years ago, I was going to do them. Had them all written... never sent them out ^_^; This year though, I should do something I guess.

What is there to get about Adele?

Kristie (J) said...

Oh girl, can we talk! First off, I do find Adele's newest song very haunting and sad though I hear you on Rolling in the Deep.

And you are in for SUCH a teat with Kindle. I love my iPad kindle app SO SO SO much.

Hilcia said...

Sigh... adjusting to a new job stressful situation and finding inspiration for reviewing and blogging don't go together -- I found that out this last year. I also USED to try to blog three times per week, but now... I basically post when I'm able or when my burned out brain cells allow it. (I love the Dam Right I'm Good in Bed, I Can Sleep For Days pic you have up there... so true!)

I love Nath's "what is there to get about Adele." She sings, has a great voice, her lyrics are mostly depressing, emotional and some people connect with that. I got sick of hearing Rolling in the Deep, but enjoy the latest (until they kill that one by playing it to death).

Enjoy your Kindle app, it's awesome! I don't have anything to add to the above recs. ;P

Christmas cards? I used to send them out a long time ago... it used to be a lovely tradition that seems to have gone by the wayside in my family for some reason. Hmm....

Wendy said...

Oooh, thanks for all the Kindle tips everybody! I love my "ancient" Sony Reader, but I'll admit to coveting all the deals that crop up on Kindle - so I'm glad to finally have the ability to take advantage of the app :)

Goddess: I love Boyd too, but I hope they tame his hair in this new season. No man should wear that much product :)

And on paper I should "get" Adele. She's like an "actual" musician and she sounds totally different from everything else on Top 40 right now (which is mostly crap - but then I'm old and cranky). I don't know "why" I don't get her. I think it might be her delivery style.....

Anonymous said...

I agree in theory on how desirable it is to have a blogging routine, but I just can't seem to do it. It;s feast or famine for me. I don't know if this bothers readers. No one has complained, at least!

And thank you for the Adele comment. She does have an amazing voice, but I haven't loved her songs. I actually *dislike* Someone Like You. She goes to her married ex's house, and hopes he'll "be reminded"? And then what? Leave his wife? Right there on his doorstep? Weird. I guess I'm too literal for Adele music!

Karenmc said...

Enjoy the heck out of that new app, and don't beat yourself up about blogging and Christmas cards: no harm, no foul.

Unknown said...

I actually like Adele which is saying a lot because I think almost all new pop music is crap. I am a rock and roll/alternative girl and honestly usually prefer male artists, but I think Adele is cool.

I am actually feeling a little more in the Christmas spirit this year. Last year I was suffering from some hardcore depression and really just wanted to sleep through the whole holiday season. I need to get my Christmas cards finished too.

Leslie said...

The holidays sneak up on me every year. I start with good intentions of making some gifts (LOL) and lots of baking but I rarely do as much as I planned. I do send out cards every year. If I didn't I'm sure I'd hear about it from certainly family members. :(

Yes! for Justified! Timothy Olyphant is a great way to start the new year. And here I thought I was odd to think Boyd is cute. :)

I have over 200 kindle books - all free. But I don't have a kindle, just the app. I do plan to get a kindle someday but until then, it's great for reading while waiting in line etc. Like Shannon said, books on the knob, follow on twitter for free books.

Buriedbybooks said...

Ah, Wendy, don't feel too bad. November kicked my booty. I think I had a whopping 3 posts last month. And I was 2 weeks late with my TBR Challenge post. :(

And you're ahead of me with the tree. We just went and cut ours on Sunday. It's still outside because I have to clean a spot for it. :D

You'll find your new routine. But it will take time. Don't beat yourself up about it.

joykenn said...

I really like the Kindle app for my smartphone! They've improved it a lot since it was first released. My tip is that at least once a week I go to Amazon, Kindle books and then choose Romance as a category. On my computer, it has the top 100 paid and free books. I've picked up some nice re-issues for a buck or two and found some new writers as well as discovering some new authors by getting one of their books free.

Christmas--ARGHH! It is so much work! Trying to get the guys help set up & decorate the tree (in between plays at whichever game is going on), the endless cooking, cleaning and, this year, all the folks we invited to come visit us have suddenly decided to come in the next three weeks! (Yikes the cobwebs in the spare room have DUST!) Cards are sitting on the dining room table with half wrapped gifts. Help! Can I fast forward to Feb.?