Chatbug Karen

When the weather breaks and turns nice, I feel like a chicken with its head cut off. I have a list of things I want to get done so I can relax. Trouble is, I never relax. I am always adding to my list of things that need to be done. Why can I not sit and enjoy some free time?

I have heard that Debbie Macomber has written a new book, One Simple Act.

One Simple Act is a moving blend of true stories that motivates and delights as readers see that offering the gifts of time, hope, laughter, forgiveness, and prayer often have a life-changing impact not only for the recipient—but for the giver as well.

from Kyria.com

You may know of Debbie’s other books, A Turn in the Road or Between Friends. She is a terrific author.

My hairdresser has been attending zumba dance classes. Have you heard of this? I am assuming that it is what replaced aerobics as a popular way to exercise. If it takes coordination, count me out. I cannot keep up! Billy Banks would have given up on me. I gave all those videos to my sister. Has anyone tried the zumba dance? Do you get a good workout from it? Does it take coordination?

I feel like I am in an adventure movie! I am visiting my daughter in Florida and while she has appointments with work and such, I am trying to find my way around this area. It is so helpful to have a free web directory to help me find some things to do while I am here.

I found a wonderful bookstore that I could hibernate in. It has three floors full of used books, a cafe and free wireless internet service. I love to drink my coffee and read while sitting in a big comfy chair, which they provide.

I have decided to read Twilight to see what the big deal is with this story. I read two chapters at bedtime last night and got myself intrigued enough that I want to get right to reading at every moment now. I wonder if this is the first in a series of books and if so, how many books there are. Time to settle in and read. I could get used to this life! Have a great day everyone.

I am so excited for my daughter! and a bit jealous of her new Kindle reader. She is loving being able to read her favorite books on a lightweight reader. She doesn’t have to use a separate book light at night and has been known to read until the wee hours of the morning. She doesn’t show her tiredness like her mom who has to work with face moisturizer to get all the sleepy lines off her face.

Newspapers may go by the wayside but I don’t think we will ever be a bookless society. It feels so good to have a book in my hands and turn the pages. The convenience of the Kindle is appealing. My daughter was able to save so much money by downloading her textbooks for her master’s program at college. The savings nearly paid for the Kindle!

from Wikipedia
Amazon Kindle is a software and hardware platform developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126 for rendering and displaying e-books and other digital media.[1] Three hardware devices, known as “Kindle,” “Kindle 2,” and “Kindle DX” support this platform, as does an iPhone application called “Kindle for iPhone”. The first device was released in the United States on November 19, 2007.

The Kindle hardware device uses an E Ink brand electronic paper display, and is able to download content over Amazon Whispernet using the Sprint EVDO in the USA or, for newer Kindle 2 devices, AT&T’s network internationally.[2] The Kindle hardware device can be used without a computer, and Whispernet is accessible without any fee.[3] These devices also provide free access to the internet. Kindle devices sold prior to October 19, 2009 were sold only in the United States.[4] On October 7, 2009, Amazon announced an international version of the Kindle 2 with a built-in 3G (HSDPA) and EDGE/GSM wireless modem for connectivity in over 100 countries. This international version went on sale October 19, 2009 worldwide.[5]

On March 3, 2009, Amazon.com launched an application called Kindle for iPhone in the App Store, allowing iPhone and iPod Touch owners to read Kindle content on those devices. Through a technology termed “Whispersync,” customers can synchronize reading progress, bookmarks, and other information across Kindle hardware devices and other mobile devices.[6][7]

Amazon announced the Kindle DX on May 6, 2009. This device has a larger screen than its predecessors and supports PDF files natively. It is marketed as more suitable for displaying newspaper and textbook content.[8]

Amazon has released Kindle for PC as a free software download, allowing users to read Kindle books on a Windows PC.[9]

The Kindle competes with other e-paper devices: the Barnes & Noble nook, the Sony Reader, iRex iLiad, the Jinke Hanlin e-Reader, and CyBook by Bookeen.

I have been seeing so many blog posts about the new movie Twilight that I had to find out what this movie is about. I felt left behind so I did a little research. I found out that this movie is based on the New York Times Best-Selling series written by Stephenie Meyer. The books are about a love affair between a teenage girl and a vampire. What?!!

Isabelle Swan moves from Phoenix to Washington where her father lives because of her mother’s remarriage to another man. Edward Cullen is a vampire who lives in a small town with his family. The family lives peacefully in that town without exposing their underlying truths and characteristics.

In her new school Isabella meets Edward. She soon finds out that he is a vampire but knows she is already drawn to him and could never leave him. After a while the enemies of the Cullen’s Family attacks Edwards on his weak point, Sarah.

This powerful story actually has a cult like following. There are over 350 fan sites devoted to this movie. The Twilight soundtrack became only the 6th movie soundtrack EVER to debut at #1 on the Billboard album charts before the movie itself debuted. You will find the best prices on the soundtrack at Buy.com. In fact, the sale price is half of what I priced it at the mall on Saturday.

The promoters of this movie were smart to put this movie out right at the holiday season. It will be fun to go as a family.

I am always intrigued by famous people who made a difference in our society and want to read all about their lives. I especially enjoy books that deal with historical aspects that shaped our country. I have read many books about our country’s president’s wives. I recommend those if you want to read about the everyday lives of their families.

I have read the history of the Nestle Company, the Wrigley Company and my favorite, the story of IBM. Thomas Watson, Sr. transformed The Computer-Tabulating-Recording Company into IBM, the world’s first and most famous high-tech company. The book, The Maverick and His Machine, was so interesting as I discovered how Mr. Watson built the company we know as IBM. The author, Kevin Mane, was privy to hundreds of boxes of Watson’s papers. These papers gave information that put some pieces into the puzzle that had been a mystery for so long. Questions as to Watson’s supposed link with Adolf Hitler and other long held rumors of how he beat the 1930′s depression when other businesses failed.

Do you wonder how technology got to where it is today? Do you wonder why some products sell well when others fail? Read!

I have read the Elm Creek Quilts series of books by Jennifer Chiavirini and loved every one of them. Even if you are not a quilter, you will love the stories of the women and their lives in these books. I think that there are 12 books in the series. Each one centers on different women and how their lives are intertwined. If you enjoy reading uplifting stories, you will love these books.

I discovered that a man wrote a book with the quilt them in mind. He actually never planned on writing a book about quilts. He had always wanted to write a novel. Knowing that her husband loved to write, Mrs. West asked her husband to write a novel for her birthday. He knew that she loved to quilt and set out to write a book that had a quilting theme. Ed West wrote Father’s Quilt on enough pages to fill a 3-ring binder. The book was so popular that it was soon published.

From a review in the The County Register:

Father’s Quilt is about a special quilt made at a special time and the impact the quilt had on the young woman that made it. The story starts out during the Civil War and progresses through the late 1800′s to the early 1900′s. You’ll follow Sarah as she makes her special quilt and lives life in a small rural town complete with quilting bees, small town fairs, barn dances and the difficult times faced by women prior to women’s rights.

This book is full of twists and turns that will make you want to turn the page quickly.