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, November 22, 2013

This, That, The Other, And A Holiday Break

First, let us all bask in the glow that is this cool postcard that Lil' Sis (AKA The Mother Of Lemon Drop) sent to me this week.  This is how awesome my sister is.  While driving all over creation to various used bookstores to unload unread books her students refused to read (I don't care how low your lexile level is, I don't know a single high school student on this planet who would willingly choose to read Junie B. Jones) she found this gem.

Although really, didn't we already know Satan was a man?  Because really, if Satan was a woman - well, I'm just sayin' - girlfriend wouldn't have been banished to the bowels of H-e-double-hockey-sticks.

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On Wednesday, my Detroit Tigers made a move heard 'round the world, and basically caused 1/3 of my Twitter feed to lose it's mind (it was business as usual for the 1/3 romance novel and 1/3 librarian/publishing groups).  Prince Fielder, or as Wendy likes to call him when yelling at the TV every summer, "Fatty," has been traded to the Texas Rangers.  In exchange the Tigers sent cash and second baseman Ian Kinsler.

In the long run, this is probably a good move.  Prince's contract (something I've loathed from day one) was like three elephants in the room.  Kinsler's contract is nothing to sneeze at, but at least it's not as long term as Fielder's.  Also, the Tigers have to figure out a way to sign Max Scherzer (you know, the guy who won the Cy Young award this year) to an extension when he's represented by Scott Boras (an agent that most of us have made up a voodoo doll for).

So yeah.  So long Prince.  Yes, your contract drove me insane, and yes, you were non-existent in the playoffs the last two years.  But you're big and cuddly like a teddy bear, you have more Daddy Issues than a boatload of Harlequin Presents billionaires and you were Miguel Cabrera's Super Best Friend.  Bon voyage, and best of luck to you in Texas.

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And finally, next week is Thanksgiving here in the States - and Wendy will find herself unplugging due to various commitments.  Not that this blog has been a scintillating hotbed of interesting content this path month, but it's going to be even more of a vast wasteland next week.

On the bright side?  I hope that while I am unplugged I'll get a ton of reading done - which means once I'm back to my normal routine in December?  I should have lots of reviews coming down the pipe.

See you on the flip of the calendar!

7 comments:

lynneconnolly said...

Sorry, Wendy, but if you mean by "round the world" "round the USA," then that's more accurate. I've never heard of the people you're talking about! Fine looking specimens, though. But I do know what sport can do to a person's sanity.
Now if Robin van Persie's contract with Man U was in peril, that'd be heard all around the world! (another fine looking man!)
But yes, sport is a divisive and passionate thing for some of us. Oh and I forgot to add that the England cricket team is currently in Australia trying to retain the Ashes. After the second day the Aussies bowled England out for 136, which is nothing short of pathetic.
And this weekend, tomorrow actually, England play New Zealand in the semi-finals of the Rugby League Word Cup. Oh dear, I fear the worst. Did you know the USA had a team in this competition? Good team, too.

lynneconnolly said...

Maybe I should add that a cuddly man gets my vote! But here's Van Persie for your delectation, and the RL England team.
http://www.footballwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Robin_van_persie.jpg

And here's what you're missing with Rugby League
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71015000/jpg/_71015513_71015482.jpg

But I'm not sending you any cricket pictures, as I'm ashamed.

azteclady said...

May your Thanksgiving be awesome, and safe, and full of wondrous reading.

See you soon!

Marguerite Kaye said...

Have a fabulous thanksgiving. May you eat, read and drink your fill without even a teensy tiny guilt-trip!

Wendy said...

Oh my! Hello Robin Van Persie! Hubba, hubba, hubba! Someone toss me in the nearest cold shower.

I had a professor in college who was obsessed with cricket. Even tried to explain it to me once. Needless to say I was confused by it all in about three seconds. People who say it's "similar to baseball" obviously have no idea what they are talking about :)

Wendy said...

AL: I got through 4.5 books. Not bad, but not as many as I hoped. Lots o' reviews coming up!

Wendy said...

Marguerite: No guilt-trip whatsoever! It was heavenly to get away from the office for a week. Managed to unwind, catch up on my sleep, and got a decent amount of reading done.