J.D. Robb's In Death Series

Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since my last post. If I keep this up, I'm never going to get a steady readership! Part of the reason for my lack of posts is that however opinionated I believe myself to be, apparently I have to be inspired. I have been working so many long hours that I've not had much opportunity for activities which lead to inspiration. My news blackout (working like a charm!) probably doesn't help. But the number one culprit right now is my obsession with re-reading the 'In Death' series of books by J.D. Robb aka Nora Roberts. I began my quest on January 6th and between work and the need for sleep I've managed to get to Book 26 "Creation in Death". I have 2 more books to read to finish the series but serendipitously there is a new book coming out this Tuesday, February 24th. This new book release date has put me under some pressure to finish so I can start it right away but if you read Robin's blog you'll know she's been doing the same thing and then blogging a book review. Of course that means that one of us gets to read the new book first as we only buy two copies of a hardcover if it's a Laurel K. Hamilton or Harry Potter book. So I'm asking myself why I feel so much pressure when Robin is going to insist on reading the new first? (She says it's because she reads faster than me). I have an ace in hole, though because I can take Tuesday afternoon off and get a headstart on her. I haven't decided for sure if I'm going to do it, I'll probably make up my mind on Tuesday based on the work load. As much as I've enjoyed re-reading this series I'm not sorry it's coming to an end. I feel like I've been living with Eve Dallas the lead character a really long time (which looking at when I started reading is true!). In addition since these are MURDER mysteries, I've started to notice I look over my shoulder alot. And while being caution and safety minded isn't a bad thing, being paranoid does lower the quality of life a little.

Five Guys at a Location near Me!

Five Guys Burgers & Fries is a restaurant chain here on the east coast (I think just the east coast) that makes what have to be the best. burgers. ever.

Robin and I love them. They are like home-made burgers only good. They are the burger you want to be able to cook but can't seem to accomplish. I first discovered Five Guys on my way to visit Mount Vernon, Washington's home. We didn't stop there to eat, mind you, but I noticed the restaurant on the way and then I discovered one a couple of miles away from Solo on Reisterstown Road. When I mentioned it to my co-workers they all raved about the burgers and how good they are so I convinced Robin to visit. Since it was in a strip mall (no drive-thru) Robin was a tough sell. But once we tried the burgers we agreed they were awesome. The fries are good too. They are the handcut old-fashioned kind. Still Robin and I aren't really eat-in types and it was a good 20 minutes from our house so we haven't ever gotten in the habit of going regularly. In a seemingly unlrelated to this story action, my boss gave me a gift card to The Outback restaurant for Christmas. Robin and I decided to use it on the day before New Year's eve and when we did we noticed that a new Five Guy's was being put in the strip mall right next door. It wasn't open yet, though. Being a busy person I promptly forgot it. I forgot it so thoroughly (which is odd because we were really excited when we saw it because its so much closer to our place than the one on Reisterstown Road) that when last week, Mike (my co-worker at Solo) and I were discussing how long it had been since either of us had eaten 5 Guys that although I could remember one was opening up in a really great location that was close, but I couldn't remember where or how I knew it. Isn't memory funny? So fast forward to Friday night. I've worked late and don't want to cook so I suggest getting Outback on my way home (big mistake, 1/2 hour wait for curbside delivery, couldn't back out of my parking space for 10 minutes because other cars were blocking me in and they forgot our salads) and what do I see? The 5 Guys! Yay! I was as thrilled to discover it the second time as the first and even better it was now open. So today after our bi-monthly visit to Wal-Mart, Robin and I went to 5 Guys for linner (linner =late lunch+dinner). We were going to get it to go but Robin started eating the peanuts they have sitting around in boxes so I said "Hey, get a drink and let's eat in" I KNOW, shocking, huh? Not like us AT ALL. Still, she did get a drink (I already had one) and we did eat in and it was great. Next time I go, I'll take a picture of my burger and post it so all my faithful readers can drool.

The Kindle

The Kindle is a digital reader available from Amazon. When I say available here I mean in a wait-list kind of way because like the Wii or the iPhone it sold out pretty quickly after it was introduced. It's quite pricey at $359.00 but it has some really neat features. It's a wireless reader so whenever you want or wherever you are you can download magazines, newspapers or books. That's very appealing to me since I'm the kind of person who takes a book with me almost every where 'just in case'. You never know when you're going to be stuck somewhere with nothing to do. Book downloads are only $9.99 so there's a cost savings plus also. One of my co-workers has one that I've seen in person and it seems to be a nice size, the type on the screen mimics that of type in a book so it's very readable. Downside, I can see is that right now it's a black and white screen which would make the magazines a little boring but not affect the books or newspapers in any way and there's a limit to how much you can keep on the device which is not a plus for someone who re-reads books constantly. I don't like the idea of buying something and throwing it away but maybe it's possible to back the books up to a cd, I'm not sure yet. I read a really positive review of the Kindle at Amazon by a guy who's an admitted techno-geek. He basically buys all the new technology that comes out and he already owned several digital readers. He says the Kindle is the best by far.
So I want a Kindle but being cheap and sensible, I don't think it's quite right for me yet. It's a big investment for someone who currently doesn't have any kind of a digital reader. I think I'm going to be patience and wait for the next generation. I'm sure they are already working on improvements. My wish list would be a color screen and the ability to watch movies or play computer games also. Possibly I'm trying to combine too many devices into one but it's my wish list, I don't have to be reasonable!

The State of Maryland and Snow Removal

Living as I did for many years in the state of Illinois, I've spent many long winters complaining about the rotten job the state did at snow removal. Anything under 2 inches and it seemed like they didn't even bother to get the plows out which caused the snow to pack to an unfortunate glasslike consistency. Anything over 4 inches and it seemed like they couldn't create more than one lane in each direction. And don't get me started on Parking Lots. I broke my leg in my work parking lot because as near as I could tell, no businesses in the midwest ever heard of salt.

Well let me tell you, that is not the case in Maryland. Yippee skippee, yes, they have heard of salt and they lay it out so thick on sidewalks that it's like walking on gravel or sand (a whole 'nother hazard but I don't want to seem like a complainer). Usually the parking lots are clear the day after the snow stops if not before so you don't even need to wear snow boots.

An interesting effect of this generous laydown of salt (many times before the snow even STARTS) is the discolored pavement. In the mornings you have to wonder if it's heavy frost or salt stain. It's usually the latter. I've come to the conclusion the difference in state policy is as simple as: HILLS. In Illinois there are a few hills and yes they do ice up and become tough to get up. Robin and I got stuck on one of them on the way to the Doctor after she broke her arm on ice on the sidewalk (again, not salted). But in Maryland there are ALOT of hills and the prospect of thousands of miles of impassable roads is not to be borne in a state this crowded. So just like I love not worrying about tornadoes, I love the salted Maryland roads.

I still miss Illinois, though and all my friends. Just not as much when it's snowing.

Ambulances and my evening commute

Leaving work today a little earlier than usual (Yay!) I noted as I got to the parking lot exit that Reisterstown Road was pretty backed up. That's not too unusual in the thick of rush hour but because it was still before 5, my radar kicked on. A look to the left confirmed flashing lights at the intersection where I normally turn left.

I was still a pretty fair distance away as you can see so I wasn't immediately sure if the left turn was blocked off. It can get complicated trying to predict where to go to avoid being stuck in the blocked lane and the complication is not made simpler when you're trying to take a picture at the same time. Happily the light was red for a while. The vehicle was not moving when I took the above picture, Robin! After getting a little closer I determined that there was no going left at that intersection, and that the left lane was pretty backed up as people (hope springing eternally) kept getting in the lane anyway. Being extremely lucky, the right lane was pretty empty so I nipped over there and proceeded toward the wreck lamenting to myself that the lane I was in didn't have a very good view and so was not going to get me a good picture. Reflecting, I do not believe taking the camera to work made me a more compassionate person. I tried to get a picture as I

passed the intersection but the lighting and a moving vehicle made for a big dark blob of a Firetruck and nothing else. A little further on an Ambulance (just like the one Robin hit) bulled its way through bumper to bumper traffic to trundle past in the left turn lane. The roadway on that side was actually more backed up than mine I think because all the cross traffic and tried to go through the parking lot of the Burger King to get onto Reisterstown Road. I put away my camera and then two more police cars did the same thing. I didn't get a great look but I saw enough to think the accident had been pretty cleaned up. I can't imagine what good two more cops were going to do. Maybe they were bored. In the end my commute didn't take anymore time than usual.

Chick-Fil-A and my Morning Drink

Pretty much every morning, much to Robin's disgust,
I go to Chick-Fil-A. Primarily I go to get a Large Diet Coke in a foam cup. I love foam cups, they keep my drink cold all day and don't sweat like plastic. This is difficult for me to say since I work for a Cup company and we don't make those kind of foam cups, we make the plastic ones. Happily, lots of people are just fine with the plastic cups so the company survives without my business. Normally when I get to the Chick-Fil-A there is no line. It's not because they don't get a lot of business but they are very fast.

This month, however, Thursdays are "Get a Free Breakfast Item" day and the normally empty drive-thru was full all the way around the corner and past the ordering speaker so I had to wait. This was hard for me because being essentially self-centered I think I should be rewarded for my loyalty and moved to the front of the line. Who knows, maybe if I went inside they would treat me like a queen and wait on me first. The drive-thru shows no favoritism. First in-First out. No cutting. Still the free Cinnamon thingy was good. It doesn't get much better than Free and Good so the day started fine. How it ended is another post.

How Liberty Dies...

I want to go on record before I insert this youtube link that I thought of this ALL ON MY OWN. I was talking with Paul, my boss about how this whole Obama cult thing reminded me of how the Emperor took over in Star Wars by sneaking in without anyone realizing what he was doing. Paul being a Star Wars fan to the 10th level replied: "Yeah, It's like when Queen Amidala says..." Thinking I was my idea was unique and original I asked Robin to try to find the movie quote clip on Youtube and lo, and behold a million somebodies had already been thinking the same thing and created clips to go with. So here's a clip that's WAYYY better than anything I could have done.