Prague

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Prague: A Novel Prague: A Novel by Arthur Phillips


My review


rating: 2 of 5 stars
So I got suckered in by the comparison to Kundera. Wrong! This book was a struggle to get through and maybe I should have quit was back in the beginning but I have this thing about finishing. I have to finish what I start. (Which is why I don't start unless I know I can finish.)



Anyway, this book was NOT about Prague but about Budapest. So why title it Prague? I guess the author was being clever. Too clever for me because I was half way through and re-read the review to realize John Price was the protagonist. Really?



It seems like this book was trying to be and do too many things as once. The narrative was all over the place. It was tedious and esoteric. One I am glad to be done with and will not read again.


View all my reviews.

splash shopper

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I started using Splash Shopper years ago on my Palm. I love using it. If I run out of something, I go to the list, click it and it adds it to the need list. When I am planning on going to the store, I scroll through the list and it jogs my memory of things I will probably need, things I should buy every week but sometimes forget.

At the store, I click on need and see only the items I need to buy. I click on each item as I put it in my cart and the item disappears. If I stick with the list, I save money.

You can do more than grocery lists. You can set up lists for books, music & videos, gift ideas, vacation planner and to dos. There is even a default emergency list reminding you to check smoke detectors and give your neighbor your emergency contacts.

This new version has the ability to email your list. You can send your list to your husband while he is at work. Or make up a wish list and send it your friends before your birthday.

no more music, no more books

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I am on a hiatus from buying. I have too much I haven't heard and too much I haven't read.

I can look and add to my wish list buy NO buying.

How long? I don't know. Easter? Maybe longer. I think I will try for no new music through May. And books? Until I read and get rid of a couple of shelves' worth.

What about magazines? Can I limit them to one a month when the boys get their hair cut and we go to the bookstore as a reward?

I haven't even posted this and have failed. I was at Barnes & Noble on Thursday and got a book and a magazine. Then was back at B&N on Friday with the boys and got 2 more magazines. And I purchased one $.99 tune from iTunes. ugh

Isn't typical that when you cannot have something is when you crave it most. I saw LOTS of bargain books I would love to have. sigh

rules

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Why do some people think rules don't apply to them? I saw a woman at Bed, Bath & Beyond and she had a handful of discount coupons. She had 3 items and pulled out 3 coupons. I heard the cashier say, "We generally only accept one coupon per purchase." If the customer said anything in reply, I didn't hear her. As the cashier just happened to be a manager all 3 coupons were accepted and applied. Not only that, 2 of the coupons had expired. I asked about the expired coupons and was told that they do not expire. Then why put the expiration dates on them?

If those that make the rules don't follow them, then why should the rest of us. I guess rules really were meant to be broken.

more of this & that

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• ryan is still sick, I think it is the flu. mostly fever, some vomiting

• andy was very upset that he had to go to school without ryan

• I tried to upgrade my iPod Touch and it failed. tried again and again. finally got it to work by using another computer (I found that suggestion in the apple forums) but I lost all setting (annoying) and some data (grrrr)

• setting up pre-orders is time consuming. I am trying to do it right and organized and I am no spreadsheet guru.

• i paid off my van today.

• i made some excellent (healthy) chicken corn chowder on friday. i had the leftovers today.

• i missed photo of the day today. i will probably cheap and post it tomorrow, backdated.

love this scosche passPORT

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I love my iPod Touch. As with my previous iPod, I like to listen in the car. I have a Monster iCarPlay to connect to my car's audio system. (it's not perfect and I have had to remove the car's attenna to reduce the intervention.) The firt time I plugged my iPod Touch in, I got a prompt that said I could not charge the iPod. Hmmm... I checked it out and found that my iCarPlay won't charge the iPhones & iPod Touch. OK, what about a new iCarPlay? Yes, there is one bit the reviews are not favorable. And other connectors either won't work because of design, too expensive or rated poorly.

I decide I can live with what I have as I don't drive around much. But I find that I have to recharge during the day if I am listening to podcasts, which I do. Then one day, I see something called passPORT. Hmmm... will this work for me? And the price is not too bad. So I add it to my wish list.

Last week, I went down to Brandon to the newer Apple Store and look for the passPORT. Of course, I went unprepared and could not temember the name of the passPORT. Luckily, the store is rather small and I soon found it and bought it (finding the checkout was almost as difficult). I got back to my car and pulled out my wicked Swiss Army knife to open the friggin clamshell packaging and connected the passPORT. It works and I'm happy.

big decision

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Two years ago, I went to school for Andy's IEP. They wanted me to switch Andy from Sunshine State Standards to Special Standards. That meant that Andy wouldn't have to take the FCAT but could take an easier to administer alternative assesment test. They would also focus on life skills like how to use money and how to read a map. I was shocked! I had no idea that Andy was dreading the FCAT. I was angry that they had assumed that I would agree to this without knowing anything ahead of time. I declined saying I needed time to think about it. I thought a lot about this and it felt like I would be agreeing to giving up on my child's education. "He can go to school until he's 22!" Then what? They had no answers and I don't think they even cared since he would no longer be their problem. Nice.

I expected it to come up again at his next IEP but it didn't. I had no intention of giving up on Andy. He just seemed too young to make such a huge decision. But I knew the day was comimg when I would have to decide.

Last fall, I was picking up one of the boys to go to the dentist, I saw Andy's teacher. She mentioned that she wanted to meet after the holidays and talk about Andy. Crud. I knew what this was meant and it made me sad. It makes me feel bad, like I didn't do enough for him. But this is selfish. I should do what is best for him not what will make me feel better. Even this logic didn't make me feel any less naseous.

A few weeks ago, the invitation came and I mentioned it to dad and asked if he wanted to come along. Yes, he would join me. Whew! Someone to support me and ask those questions I forget to ask.

The day came and dad could not join me but I had time to come to terms with the decision that had to be made. And the decision turned out not to be as awful as I had been told 2 years ago. Andy would still be learning the same cirriculum as the regular students but would be learning at his pace and with the help he needed. He would also be able to earn a regular diploma but could take his time doing it. I am feeling much more positive about his future.

this & that

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• I went to Panda Express for the first time today. I had an urge for egg rolls. Now I have an urge for a good egg roll.


• I am in love with Starbuck's Black Tea Lattes


• I am really tired of this cold weather. I have only 4 pairs of pants and I am really sick of wearing them.


• I thought about trying to walk a marathon on a month, then it rained yesterday and it was too blustery today.


• I am good at coming up with excuses.


• I had this idea to do some details of my home for POTD's Home Sweet Home week but I could only come up with one.


• I used to like Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop. It takes like salted packing peanuts these days.


• I think I baked too much in December. I haven't baked at all this year.


• Orville's All Natural Butter Popcorn is very good. Tastes like the stuff I used to make on the stove.


• I had too much caffeine this afternoon.