Look what happened now...
Ready, Set, Jet!
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I don’t actually regret reading these books, but I am not adding either to my library, either. I shall pass them on to some other reader whom I'm sure will appreciate them. This was my fault, I really enjoy Ms Harris's southern writing style. Her horror genre is funny, creepy and cool all rolled into one book. But obstinate me, why read reviews? Just buy the damn book, it has to be cool! Well, I should have read the reviews. See this series, so far I’ve counted 8 books, is just a good old fashion murder mystery series. No vampires, witches or were-anythings. (Insert sad face here.) I felt the characters, while likable, were not as folksy (another thing I like about her Sookie and Midnight, Texas series) or as detailed. It was an easy, quick read with a few surprise twists along the way.
I'm now at 19 of my 25 books for 2017 Goodreads reading challenge. Did you take the challenge too? According to the site I am “on track” to reaching my goal. Bravely on to the next book... Heart In The Night by Karen Bishop This book.....sadly I could not handle. It could have been me, but I wasn’t able to even finish it. I just skimmed it and was so done. (And it was recommended to me!) It was just of no interest to me. And that says a lot because I read just about anything from Young Adult to Science Journals. In defense of Young Adult, if a book is well written it will just draw you in. So that being said, maybe it was just me? I honestly don't know. The book has good, sold star ratings (I just checked) but suspiciously no actual written reviews. It was published in 2011 and is 172 pages long.
Sigh..... Have you read either book? What did you think? Was it just me or do you agree? I’d love to hear your thoughts on these books. I'm currently reading the Elegant Universe. At the rate I'm blogging expect a review sometime last 2020! Catch you later!
I haven’t really spoken about Harvey. As some of you know I am from Texas, (United States) and while Texas is a large state - roughly the size of France actually, it's all connected. Many nice people have asked if I was affected by this massive storm and if it hit close to my home or family. The short answer is yes. It hit close and the rains following the hurricane devastated “my part of Texas”.
What Happened: More than six million Americans endured more than 30 inches of rain as Hurricane Harvey slammed into the Texas coast. The storm set historic records for rainfall in the United States, dumping 33 trillion gallons of water as it made landfall. According to the Red Cross, rain flooded an area in Texas roughly the size of Michigan, and nearly 52 inches of rain fell in Mont Belvieu (a suburb east of Houston), making it the highest total rainfall of any storm in the country’s history. Harvey displaced 1 million people—early estimates suggest nearly 43,000 headed to shelters, while NPR reported 7,500 people evacuated to Texas State Parks. A Reuters assessment believes 30,000 homes were flooded, resulting in approximately $23 billion in property damage, though experts agree the full environmental impact is still unknown. That’s not a typo that's a BILLION with a B and although the storm is over, the recovery has just begun. I grew up spending summers on the gulf coast. My friends and family still live in the area. It was difficult to watch all of this and almost impossible to not to rush right in afterwards. I’m actually going to Texas in a few weeks to help as much as I can. I promise to blog/video the entire trip. What I’m Doing To Help: I’m going to be dropping off a donation and lending a hand where it’s needed. If you want to help too I have added a 10 page Hurricane Preparedness Guide to this site. This report includes a 5 page Emergency Supplies Checklist. The whole report and the checklist are only $2.99 with the proceeds, after paypal fees, going towards Harvey relief. No matter where you live disasters happen and it pays to be prepared - so buy the report to learn how to protect your family and know that the money is going to a good cause. See you at the airport~ When I travel I spilt my time between Gite's (Holiday Homes owned by individuals) and hotels. Making the decision often comes down to the location and the length of stay. When I stay in a hotel I choose a hotel chain that I am familiar with, if possible. If you have ever booked online, flew 10+ hours, boarded a train, cranky child in tow, only to get to your "Boutique" hotel to find it less than err, promised, then you learn quickly to always find a chain you can trust! And always, always stick with them! Marriott is one of my favorite hotels, because no matter where you are in the world you are assured of the quality and a fair price. Plus with over 4,000 hotels in 70 countries you can easily earn rewards! And those rewards can be used on hotel stays, flights, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. #Win! But don't just take my word for it, Marriott Rewards is ranked No. 1 in the Best Hotel Rewards Programs by U.S. News. They evaluated 17 loyalty programs associated with major hotel brands across several indicators of excellence and not surprisingly Marriott won!
I also am a member of Wyndham Rewards Program. The hotel group's partnered with Amtrak and numerous air carriers also allows you to earn even more miles or points. You can earn points on car rentals, too, thanks to Wyndham's partnership with Avis and Budget. So points add up quickly and more points equal more trips! And I'm a happy member of the IHG Rewards Club. With over 5,200 properties throughout 100 countries, you can find a room! Through the IHG Rewards Club, you can earn rewards within IHG's extensive network of hotels, including Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo and Staybridge Suites properties. I actually stay in IHG properties pretty regularly and am always happy with the hotel. Choose IHG for amenities and locations. I'm a member of the Hilton Honors program, but rarely stay with them. Although I'm pretty sure I didn't get my point for my 5 day stay in NYC last February. Hmmm, need to send an email tonight. My newest hotel rewards program- Stash Hotels See, one time I was in New Jersey, (read about it here) and I booked through Hotwire. So it was an "unknown" hotel, (you learn the name after you pay on Hotwire). It ended up being a property owned by Stash Hotels. I signed up for the program on a whim, because I liked the staff and the hotel was very charming. Not what you might imagine when I say New Jersey, lol. How many hotel rewards programs do you belong to? Do you have a favorite I didn't mention here? I'm actually in the middle of planning a trip today and am trying to decide if I should stay in a Gite or Hotel? It's a solo trip so I don't need the extra room and I don't plan on cooking...So I guess I'm calling the Marriott! See you at the airport! Is this you too? Are you ready for Halloween, cooler temps and fuzzy sweaters? I must admit, there is a part of me that loves the cool crisp air that comes along with the autumn season. I want to be able to enjoy my pumpkin flavored decaffeinated beverages without breaking a sweat. Not to mention, I have recently purged/donated 4 XXL trash bags worth of old summer/spring clothes - part of my 'out with the old and in with the new' challenge. So I’m Uber excited to wear all my new fall purchases. Whose with me? Let's grab those sweaters, long socks and new boots! #FAIL Sadly it was 89' here today... But the weather here in New Mexico is unpredictable, so who knows what next week will be like? In the meantime check out what I happened on in the market today. That's right! The Halloween decorations are going up! And actually all things Thanksgiving/Turkey Madness was also being arranged on the next shelf....OMG! Holiday's here we come! I did my part and bought organic pumpkin. I actually am NOT that crazy about pumpkin, I can take it or leave it. I like one good piece of pie or one good cup of pumpkin spiced coffee a season. But figure I might as well get with the program and grab some now, before it's all gone. This has been a crazy week. I had planned to jump on a plane this weekend and go to south Texas, but it just didn't work out. I should be going before the months out- I need to see for myself the damage and also check on things.
I promise to post pictures as I make my way there and of the area. My family is fine and most of my friends were spared the worst of it, except those in Houston. It's such a tragedy, but I know almost everyone will rebuild. Texans are strong and very loyal. Here's to hoping for a good September, no matter what you are facing or where you are in the world. |
Ms One~🌍 Welcome to My Adventures! 🌱 Foto Friday's
🗣️ Featured Blog Posts: Nature-Inspired Creativity: Overcoming Creative Blocks by the Bay: An easy way to overcome writers block. Plant-Powered Living: Raw Till 4 This an older post, but a great place to start it you want to eat healthier. "Life Lessons": Foto Friday: Glass & Light Join me in reflecting on the simple joys and lessons life brings our way. 🌟 Connect with Me: 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msoneworld4me/ 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsOneWorld4Me 📌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/msoneworld4me/ Follow for Daily Inspiration 🚀 Upcoming Adventures: Stay tuned for my next travel destination and upcoming blog posts. Where should I go next? Share your suggestions! Share Your Ideas 📚 Book Nook:
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