Winter is Coming

It has been a while. But that is obvious. The biggest things that have happened in the last couple of months are as follows:

1 - We found out that we're having another boy.

2 - Leeroy, Spock, and Raptor have relocated to an apartment since their house will not be completed before Angel and Spock have their babies.

3 - School has started for Kanga and Tigger.

4 - My last sibling, Babe, went into the Missionary Training Center

5 - Winter is coming



Kanga isn't sure what to think about this third little brother in her life. She was really hoping for a little sister. I think a big part of that is looking for some solidarity and looking for a playmate. However, I don't think she realizes that by the time this child will be old enough "to play" with, Kanga will be a pre-teen and many not be interested in the same things. I'm also pretty sure that she doesn't realize the position she will be in with her brothers. She is the oldest and will be the non-parent authority in the house. She's also a lot like her father and likes to be an expert on things. Based on the the temperaments of her brothers, I think she will be looked up to in many ways. She has the opportunity to become her brothers' best friend or greatest advocate. As much as my younger self would remain silent on the issue, I looked up to my older sister a lot. She was intelligent, friendly, and a lot of fun to spend time with. She still is - Thanks, Muscles! Anyway, Kanga is getting used to the idea and I know that the relationship that she will have with her mother will always be special. Angel and her mother share some special things and Lydia, while attached to her father, is very much a mamma's girl. It will be a fun adventure to watch her and do my best not to screw it up.


The house is a lot quieter without an extra three people around. The kids have done well at making it a mess as if we had three other people in the house with us, but there is a decided difference to the evenings and the space. It is good to have our house back to ourselves. Leeroy, Spock, and Raptor were good guests. They payed rent, they helped with chores, they did their best to respect our space and family boundaries. They were fun to play games with, watch movies with, talk with, and hang out. They were better house guests than Angel and I have been. It wasn't always easy but I don't regret our helping them.

It's interesting how different it is being the host instead of the house guest. We've lived with my in-laws twice during our marriage and my wife has lived with my parents two additional times for a couple of months. That was one of the my reasons for inviting Leeroy and Spock to live with us. Others have been so helpful to us that I felt obligated to also help others. I know that such a reason would not be enough to open their home to family or friends the way we did. My grandmother was always concerned about us - not because of who we had living with us - because of the situation it causes. As the saying goes "Familiarity breeds contempt." I won't say that there weren't some arguments and such. We got them sorted out and we all survived the experience with our (good) relationships intact.


Kanga and Tigger are both in full time school, which Angel has been enjoying. Kanga has enjoyed connecting with old friends that we didn't see much this summer, while Tigger is busy making new friends. They are both in the Chinese immersion program and are still enjoying both school and the language. Tigger still struggles with keeping himself dry and we're looking into some new ways to help him. At back to school night his teacher expressed some concerns about him but we've been working with the new principal on some school resources. Tigger's reading has improved and he's even taking his own verses when we read scriptures after dinner. They are always the shortest verses, but they are still his. As far as I can tell, Zilla is enjoying his time with Angel while the kids are at school. He's good at helping with small chores and plays well. As Leeroy and Spock moved in about a year ago, this is the first year that Angel has been home while the kids have been in school and she's enjoying the quiet at home.


So, maybe it's finally time to give my youngest sister a new nickname. She's the baby of the family so when she was young we all just called her "Babe", but I don't know if any of us have called her that in a while. I haven't at least. She's as tall as my mother (5'9"), is still good at Akido karate, has completed her EMT training and has seen some pretty grisly things as a part of it, and is the same age that my wife was when Angel got married. I just don't see her as a "Babe" anymore. That and even though I don't call Angel that, it sounds weird for a married man to call someone, anyone, other than his wife "Babe." So, I think I'll call her Bones. How's that for another Star Trek reference? She is considering Physician's Assistant schooling after completing her Paramedic training, so she may work in a doctor's office and that's good enough for me. Plus, she'll break your bones if you try anything with her. And then, probably, patch you up. Probably. Anyway... She left for the mission field this last week and we are all very excited for her. This makes two relatives that are out currently and Bones should get back a little after Angel's younger brother, Elder Chuuk. Bones is serving in Farming, New Mexico, which I understand is the pretty part of the state, unlike the other part where we have relatives. She already knows one of the missionaries there as he was a good friend of hers in high school. She might even end up in southeast Utah. She's excited to be able to serve on reservations. We wish her the best and I'll need to step up my letter writing game.


Yesterday was the first day of fall and we've had sever storms for the last 36 hours or so with the next 24 being not much different. My weather app said that my work is due for some snow, but it looks like a more recent update of that says to just expect rain. As I drive through a pretty formidable canyon every day to get to and from work I try to pay attention to the weather. I'm kind of excited because at the end of spring I got a new warm jacket to wear with my ski jacket and I haven't really been able to wear it comfortably. Winter also means Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and then a new baby in February, most likely right before Kanga's birthday. Oh, and tax season. I'm glad we're a family that enjoys snuggling in blankets with hot chocolate and a good movie/game.

All in all, life is very good. It's not perfect and it's not easy. BUT it is good.

Family update

Well, It's been a while since I gave an update and I due. First, it's important to know that Angel is expecting our fourth. She is referring to it as "Poppet," so that's how I'll refer to him/her. We suspect it's a her based on how sick she's been. For both of the boys she was fine, very little morning sickness and a relatively comfortable pregnancy. With Kanga Angel lost weight she was so sick. This one is looking along those lines. So we figure she's a girl. We're excited to add one more to our family. We always kind of felt that there would be four kids in our family but weren't too sure how that would work out. After Tigger's close call and extended stay in the NICU we were very nervous about if Angel's body could handle more. We were resigned to two when Zilla came along.

Oh, yes. Roo has got a new nic-name: Zilla. Short for Godzilla. This is because he likes to knock down block towers and will emit loud shrieks. One of his favorite noises is a loud "ACH" that he'll repeat for a while. It makes me think of an air raid warning, another thing commonly associated with Godzilla. Anyway, for these reasons I occasionally call him Zilla and so I figure I'd make it official here.

Anyway. We're excited about Poppet. We're hoping that she'll be born in February as will give us three months with two birthdays in each one. Easy to keep track of. Granted we were also hoping for all of our birthdays to land on multiples of 9 but Tigger missed it by one day and Zilla missed it by five days. We're worried that with four kids our house may not be able to take the strain, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I really like our house and I really hate moving, so I'm going to try to make it work for as long as I can.

Audible Book Review - The Adventures of Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent by Larry Correia

As is well known by now, I really enjoy Larry Corriea's writing. There are a couple of short stories and a novella that I haven't read/listened to yet, but I've read/own everything else of his. The Adventures of Tom Stranger are one of his funniest yet, particularly if you read his blog or follow him on social media. This is in large part because he incorporates a lot of inside jokes into the text. Now, many may feel that if you don't get the inside jokes it's not going to be funny, but my mother and wife, who don't read a Larry's blog or even his books, both found it very humorous. There is something about a manatee who is also a CFO and a call center from Hell that are inherently funny. The story could be pre-ordered for free, and will remain free until June 21 (2016). It is certainly worth the price. Even if it would cost you a couple of bucks, I would still recommend you pick it up. I've already decided that it will always have a place on my device, just like Night of Blacker Darkness and for the same reason. If you want to get a taste of what the story is like, you can read the original basis for the character on Larry's blog here - just scroll down to the Tom Stranger section. The story was narrated by Adam Baldwin - yes, the same Adam Baldwin that is referenced in the story - and he does an excellent job. This shouldn't be surprising as Larry wrote this production knowing that he would be the narrator. All in all, this is a hilarious short story that I have already listened to three times and that has made me laugh every time.

Plot: When a rift opens and creatures from another dimension start trying to take over, who are you going to call? TOM STRANGER!! Voted number one in customer service three years running, Tom takes his clients' needs very seriously. Sporting the greatest tech in the multiverse, bio- and cybernetic enhancements, and an intern that has the survivibility of  a standard earth chicken, Tom.... Wait. What was that about an unsuitable intern? There has clearly been a mix up with Tom's new intern. The question is will Jimmy the Intern live through "filing claims" long enough for Tom to sort out what's going on.

My favorite parts: All of it. Really, I loved the pop culture references, I loved the tongue in cheek political commentary, I loved the making fun of conventions. It was a funny book written to be funny.

Considerations: There is just a little strong language (no f-bombs) and there is plenty making fun of liberal politics, so you've been warned. Really, I think Larry wrote this section better, so if you would like to see Tom Stranger's response to all of the 1 star reviews (58 as of this writing) you can read Tom Stranger:Customer Service Response Panel on Larry's blog - Monsterhunternation.com.

As I said, this one is staying on my device. It's a great story to work out to and is just fun when you need a break. The total length was just over two hours.

Birthdays

As I'm reviewing my blog I realized that I haven't posted anything about my birthday last week. It was a very enjoyable day. Work was good and I met Angel and the kids afterwards to go to dinner. At dinner they let me open one gift (the one small enough to bring into the restaurant) which was season 4 of M*A*S*H. I was excited because that's the first season with BJ Honeycut and Col. Potter, two of my favorite characters. I've been able to watch episodes with Angel and while folding laundry. I love how the episodes are a mix of humor, satire, and serious topics. I later opened two other gifts, one was a new wall clock for my office that I think is really awesome the other was a Darth Vader apron. My enjoyment in these gifts just goes to show how much I'm getting older. I appreciate very practical things.

Interestingly enough, as I write this it is Tigger's birthday today. He made it to six and is doing alright. There are some words that come to mind when I think about Tigger. Passion and childlike joy are the two at the forefront. Volatile (not violent) and trying are two others, but they only come up when he and I are both in bad moods. I've never seen a child so spontaneous in his love and affection. Whenever he sees somebody he likes, it's the best day EVER!!! Whenever he has the chance to do something he enjoys, it's the best day EVER!!! He loves to be close to those he loves and is a world class snuggler. Every night when I put him to bed he asks if I'll tell him a story from when I was little. He is getting better at reading, although he really doesn't like practicing. I know it's not advised to compare your kids as they are all very different. I do it anyway. He is not the academic his sister is, but he is very curious and he will remember things that surprise me at times. He can still be a bit of an omniphobe but I'm learning how to help him get over some fears. He and I have a father/son camp out coming up soon and I'm looking forward to spending time with him and his grandfather. All in all, I'm very happy to have him as a son and feel blessed to be his father.

Audible Book Review - Into the Wild by Larry Correia, The Malcontents book 2

This is the problem with reviewing a Larry Correia book. I go to find a picture and end up getting sucked into his blog for longer than anticipated. I was excited to learn that the last Dead Six novel is approaching final edits which will mean we should get it in about a year. I'm sure I'll be able to wait until then. Probably. Anyway, enough about future books. Into the Wild was a fun ride featuring the great cast of characters that we got to know in Into the Storm. The Malcontents are more respectable now, but still known as a rough and tumble bunch. Ray Porter narrates the book and does a great job even though some of the characters don't sound the same way as before. Here is a link to the Audible page for the book. We get to see more character growth from many of the characters and it's fun to see the Malcontents in an environment that we haven't seen them in before. All in all it was very enjoyable.

Plot: Royal Sygnaran Storm Knights have to put up with a lot. As the Kingdom's heavy infantry they get thrown into some of the roughest battles against some of the most dangerous foes. Armed with insulated armor and weapons that channel and shoot light lightning there is very little that they can't kill. And now one squad of the infamous Sixth Platton, "Madigan's Malcontents," has been tasked with "babysitting some academics" on a research trip in the wild mountains deep inside Cygnar's own borders. Kelvan Cleasby has not been an officer long but he knows better than to ask "what's the worst that can happen." The academics may be surprised when Cleasby has their heavy war jack, Headhunter, packed up and brought with them but in the end they're glad. What leaves Ironhead station as a camping trip in the mountains rapidly turns into a fight for survival that even the Malcontents may not be up to winning. Good thing they meet an old "friend" before the trouble starts. But then, Savio Montero Acosta is always looking for trouble and he has yet to be disappointed.

My personal favorites: As always, Correia does a great job and blending action with story. I cared about the characters and wanted to see them succeed. I was even cheering for the villain at one point, and not because one I wanted one of the good guys to die because he annoyed me. (I'm looking at you Dr. Burrows from Closer). Larry does a good job of making the villain sympathetic and still engaging. For those that are unfamiliar with Warmachine gaming world the book shows us more and helps us feel connected without treating us like children. We also get a glance at more world wide conflicts. And of course, who doesn't love a commanding officer who doesn't hesitate to order his men to shoot him.

Considerations: Just as in Into the Storm the language is low and there is no sensuality. This book had more gore and descriptive violence as the foes they fought were bestial berserkers who followed rites of blood sacrifice. Nothing I haven't come across in other young adult books. I make this special note of it as it is more than in the last book.

From city to mountains, from fortress to the top of train cars the Malcontents continue to deliver. I kept wondering what was going to happen next and Correia didn't leave me wanting. The only thing I don't like about Correia's writing is that I listen to it too quickly. One of the best things about it though is that I can listen to it over and over and still find it entertaining. The total length of Into the Wild was nine hours and forty-five minutes.

Audible Book Review - The Hollow Boy: Lockwood & Co., book 3 by Jonathan Stroud

And since I've already reviewed one book, I might as well get as caught up as I can. I think I've actually got two more to do, but I'm not sure why I'm dragging my feet on them. Maybe it's because these other review are more gripping. That is certainly the case with The Hollow Boy. With Ghost Story, and Death Weavers this makes the third story involving ghosts in as many months. Out of those three I think this one is the most well written when it comes to making ghosts creepy and terrifying. Both of the other two books do a good job with what they are writing. Their limitations are they are introductions to ghostly aspects of the established world where Lockwood & Co. is a world of ghosts and Stroud is not adding to the world but rather is adding details to that world that make it even more vivid and lurid. While I enjoyed all of the ghost stories I recently listened to, The Hollow Boy is the one that is a true ghost story. Stroud's writing does an awesome job of building tension and portraying the situations our characters find themselves in as genuinely frightening. His style lends well to audio and I think would translate well to film. Here is a link to the Audible page for the book. This book was narrated by Emily Bevan who is new to the series. It took a bit to get into her version of the characters' voices, but by the end I was good with it and it didn't distract from the performance. All in all, the book was gripping, exciting, and intriguing throughout.

Plot: London's ghost problem is accelerating. That is good for business for the various firms that handle ghosts, but bad for survival rates. Lockwood, Lucy, and George and so busy that it's been ages since they went on a case together. Moral is suffering the effects of fatigue and what's worse (for Lockwood anyway), they haven't been asked to participate on the giant outbreak that has all the big firms tied up in the Chelsea district of London. In an attempt to make their life easier, Lockwood hires an office assistant. However, it doesn't make Lucy's life easier as she and Holly do not get a long. At all. While they keep things civil (barely) it just might boil over at the worst time. What's more, Lucy's talent of listening to ghosts might be more powerful then originally thought, but in order to employ it she has to leave herself completely defenseless. At what point does exploration and a desire to help become suicide? She might not know until it's too late.

My personal favorites: As always, Lucy, George, and Lockwood are fantastic. Holly is a fun addition as well, particularly as it throws a wrench in Lucy's mindset. In many a less well written young adult novel this addition of a character like Holly would through the characters into an emotional well of soppy and "woe is me" self-dialog that would turn the novel into a mushy YA romance. However, Stroud is a really good writer and Lucy is too stubborn to let her emotions get the better of her - or so she thinks. One conflict didn't remove tension from the others. The climatic scene was well done and we start to see more intrigue on a large scale. Stroud is good as paying off promises he made in earlier books all the while leading into new ones that are leading us where he wants to take us. Really, just needs to say: My personal favorites: all of it.

Considerations: Like the other books, the considerations for this have nothing to do with violence, sensuality, gore, or anything else. Some strong language, but nothing else in that regard. The climax is intense and might be frightening for young readers, but nothing YA readers would find too much.

These are some of Angel's favorite books. In fact she had read this book from the library but still wanted the audio version for her private collection. I also enjoy the books, which is surprising as I don't normally go for ghost stories. However, Stroud has done a great job writing a ghost intrigue/suspense story and THAT is something I can get into. The total length for the book was just under 12 hours.

Audible Book Review - Death Weavers by Brandon Mull, Five Kingdoms book four

As my new credit is coming today (can't wait) I should review the book I got with my last one. I've enjoyed the Five Kingdom books by Mull. I re-listened to Crystal Keepers in preparation to getting Death Weavers and enjoyed getting back into the world (or worlds). Death Weavers was a good read and I like the way that Mull is weaving his worlds together. Here is a link to Audible page for the book. We learn more about The Outskirts in this book then we ever did in any of the others. It sets up the challenges of the final conflict we'll see in the last book. Keith Nobbs continues to narrate the series and continues to do a good job. I'm looking forward to the last book.

Plot: Cole, Mira, and the rest of the crew has entered Necronum in search of two of Mira's sisters who have come under duress there. Necronum's shaping is centered on death and all of the mysteries associated with it. In Necronum ghosts, called echos, can be seen and can even act in certain situations. Their search takes them from caves where memories dwell to literally the other side of death. Cole is forced to make some hard decisions and he embarks on a journey across the lands of the hereafter. There he will meet new allies and enemies and learns what must be done if he is ever to return home to stay. You can expect nothing less when you set out to find Destiny.

My personal favorites: The question of destiny was a great one. I loved the questions that faced the characters and the decisions they had to make. The new and newly re-acquainted companions were a lot of fun. As previously mentioned, I like how Mull is weaving together his worlds of his books.

Considerations: Like the others, there was nothing of concern for young adults in this book. Non-graphic violence, no sensuality of any kind. Mull writes to his audience's level very well.

It's always hard to review a book in the middle of the series without giving away spoilers. It makes for short reviews. I enjoyed Death Weavers and am awaiting the final book, curious to see what Mull has in mind. The total length was 13 and half hours.

Spring may finally be here

It seems that my update schedule has moved to every two weeks. I'm going to try to get back to a weekly update.

The snow has finally all melted from our last snow storm on the 14th. I was reminded that It snowed pretty hard (about 3") on April 14th, 2002. I remember complaining about it on an online forum and an acquaintance who had just returned from Brazil was complaining more bitterly than the cold. The trees are budding, leaves are leafing, and we've had a series of rain storms move through. My grass has been cut once and I'm planning on getting to it this weekend again for a second. The Spring semester has one week left before graduation and our department is geared up for the summer. I've had a lot of fun in the mornings watching the clouds roll through Cache Valley, sometimes bringing rain, but I don't need to turn on my lights very often, my window lets in a lot of light when when it's mostly cloudy, like now.

The kids are excited about the change in weather because it means they can play outside more and longer. Our neighbors, who have six kids, do a lot outdoors, often riding their bikes around the cul-de-sac (French for bottom of the bag). Kanga is a lot more interested in learning how to ride her bike while Tigger is still unsure about it. He likes the idea of a bike, but his perpetual hesitance gets in the way of trying it. We took Kanga's pedals off so she could practice balancing and she's gotten pretty good at it now. She may be ready for pedals soon. Last night when I came home I had to pull through the whole herd as turned into the street. It did my heart good to see them all playing. Everybody in the cul-de-sac is careful about the kids and the kids do a good job of steering clear of cars. Reminds me of my own childhood.

Leeroy, Spock, and Raptor are still living with us as they have had difficulty finding land and a house. It is not for lack of trying and they are currently under contract on a plot ten minutes away from us. They have moved out to their trailer, which has freed up the TV room. It has been good to have them with us. They help out with expenses, meals, cleaning, and watching the kids. It will be good to have our house back to ourselves and it will also be bittersweet when they move out.

Angel and I are looking forward to summer and working on a few projects around the house and yard. With the new job we have some funds for these projects. Unfortunately, the first one is replacing the roof. I'm also in the process of pricing out the cost of a new shed and greenhouse. We've had less than mediocre luck with gardening. Mostly because we've had difficulty keeping up on it. I did have a chance to prune three of my trees a couple of weeks back and I'm hoping we get some good fruit. The pear and peach are looking good. The apples - well, it could be an off year for them, we'll just have to see. The magnolia is blooming beautifully and we'll probably start having Monday dinners on deck soon.

All in all, life, like the seasons, is looking up. 

Audible Book Review - Manners and Mutiny by Gail Carriger Finishing School book the Fourth

And I'm still struggling keeping up but here it is. The last of the Finishing School series by Gail Carriger. When we cancelled our Audible Account both Angel and I were sad that we wouldn't have ready access to this book when it came out. Luckily my new job enabled us to renew our account just in time. There was no question that this book (which had come out late last year) was getting picked up. Here is the link to the Audbile page for the book. The series is now complete and, from what I understand, ends with everything in place for Carriger's 1st book Soulless to start up. Muscles has told us that while she enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate books she recommends them sparingly, the same way I recommend the Monster Hunter and Dead Six series. I don't know that we'll pick up any of those books we we've enjoyed the Finishing School books. The last book was narrated by Moira Quirk, like the others, and like the others she did a great job.

Plot: Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy Young Ladies of Quality is in more danger than ever. With the Picklemen maneuvering to take over mechanicals all over the kingdom something most be done. And the most capable people of doing anything about it tend to be the first targets. Sophronia is determined to make sure that those who are seeking control don't get it, but that's hard to do when you don't know how they intend to take control. With Agatha and Dimnity, Sophronia tries to figure out what is the Picklemen's ultimate goal. However, can she survive finding out?

My personal favorites: The story is great and the characters are a lot of fun, as before. The action was good and suspense was well done. I liked part where Sophronia was "behind enemy lines" and had to find ways to handle herself with danger all around her. I thought the ending was satisfying. I didn't mind Sophronia and Soap's relationships and I thought the interactions were fun.

Considerations: There is more violence in this book as well as more sensuality, but I still consider it appropriate for young adults. There were no graphic descriptions or language to worry about. The book was on par with the others.

I was glad to listen to this series and enjoyed the presentation very much. As I said, we probably won't pick up the Parasol Protectorate, but I am curious about the Custard Protocol. The total length of Manners and Mutiny was just under 10 hours.

Audible Book Review - The Dresden Files books 3-12 by Jim Butcher

So I haven't posted a book review in a while because I wanted to get through all the books I had in the series. Thanks to my cousin I was able to get audible versions of the bulk of the Dresden Files that I started reading a could of years ago. SO, you can consider this a review of Grave Peril, Summer Knight, Death Masks, Blood Rites, Dead Beat, Proven Guilty, White Knight, Small Favor, Turn Coat, Changes, and Ghost Story. It was a lot of listening, about 154 hours, give or take a hour or two. They were all narrated by James Marsters who was marvelous. I really like Butcher's writing and despite listening to a adventure/thriller series for almost three months straight I rarely tired of hearing either about the story or James Marsters' voice. There were a couple of times when I would feel annoyed with an attitude or action that the Dresden had decided to take, but without fail the next time I started listening had me back in the story and loving the characters in a matter of minutes. This says a lot about an author. It took me twice to get through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix because I was so annoyed with Potter's attitude but when I got annoyed with Dresden I just had to give it a minute and I knew that Butcher would suck me right back in. I'm not going to try to provide a plot summery for each book, but, in Butcher's own words, Grave Peril is where the much larger story arch gets started and, while it is still moving forward at the end of Ghost Story it does wrap up a pretty big part of it. Harry Dresden is far from done. As of this writing there are two books and an anthology that are past this. I'm going to see a friend next month who has promised to help me get the next couple of books, so I'll review those when I get done with them. It may be a bit. Despite enjoying Dresden, I may need a bit more time before getting back into his story. It's pretty intense and a change of pace and palate is nice every once in a while. Can I just say I really don't like the way Blogger arranges pictures?

Plot: Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard private investigator, is not known for holding back when innocents are in danger. Luckily he is not alone. Through his contacts in the supernatural world Harry has met righteous knights (complete with swords and shining armor), a pack of young werewolves, small time practitioners, necromancers (complete with zombies) gangsters, demons, ghosts, vampires, the Fae (Matrons, Queens, Kings, Ladies, and Knights - all worthy of the capitol letter), shades, fallen angles, mercenaries, oracles, and, or course, fellow wizards. All of whom want him to work for them, kill him, or are willing to help him. His job is to know which is which. When war breaks out and Harry starts to lose friends and allies, he finds himself stretching and pushing himself more and more. With every victory he finds himself losing something. The question is how far can he go before he bets too big and loses it all.

My personal favorites: Butcher has created a cast of heroes, villains, gods, and demons that are anything but two dimensional. and are all intriguing. Whether it's the polka loving Butters, the mysterious gangster Markon, the relentless Warden Morgan, or the good intentioned Molly - and these are predominately side characters - the cast is well envisioned and well developed. It's incredible to see each character go through their own story arc and experience their own triumphs and failures. Karen Murphy, Dresden's closest friend, is a delight in and of herself. Unfailing in her loyalty and stalwart in her duty she backs Dresden to the hilt (literally on occasion) and reaps the rewards and the consequences. Butcher does an incredible job of showing us exactly what Harry's actions lead to and many of them are not pretty. The action is very well written and the story arc is both vast and intimate. All in all, fantastic writing.

Considerations: The books do have occasional strong language. I would be surprised to be reminded of that fact, but did not find it used inappropriately. There is also sensuality, some books don't have much, others more so. The most blatant sexual references were in Death Masks which was a little intense with some brief, limited, graphic descriptions, Despite all the violence and the supernatural aspects there aren't a lot of graphic descriptions of violence. On par or less than Corriea's books. I probably wouldn't recommend these books for young adults, even older ones. For anybody else, go for it.

Going through these books was quite a ride. They were a big help in handling the stress of job searching and starting my new job. I've recently finished another new book and the audible version of an old favorite that I need to review. I'm also re-listening to Crystal Keepers as I'm anticipating getting the new Five Kingdoms book next week. My wife is thinking about picking up the latest Lockwood & Co. even though she's already read it. She really likes the productions on Audible and I have been encouraging her because I have not read it yet. So, yeah, lots of stuff on my plate - reading wise. The Dresden books were great and I will finish the series. It's just a matter of time.

Brownies

I made brownies the other night. They were from the American Test Kitchen's book, which I love dearly. The recipe calls for cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate, and bittersweet chocolate pieces. It makes for a very chewy and very (very) rich flavor. Angel normally has problems with the intensity, but I really like them. I had one for lunch today and just sat there and enjoyed it.

Perhaps the fact that I made brownies has no real significance but where I ate mine today did. Today marks the first month in my new job. It's been an interesting month, but a very good one. I enjoy the people I work with and the work that I'm doing. I'm back at Utah State, this time on the Logan campus. Interestingly enough my commute is about the same as my last job. Shorter in terms of miles. I'm working with prospective students and while I don't get to see them directly I enjoy being able to be of service. I also get to coordinate with advisors and program coordinators of both undergraduate and graduate programs, some of which I knew from my previous work at USU.

It certainly has been a bit of a shift. I've worked front line positions for the last nine years, but not now. If a student were to walk in my office now I would be very surprised. None the least because I'm located on the forth floor next to a conference room and down from the marketing cube farm. This is not a location where students have any business being. I have two Nerf guns at my desk just in case one of the marketing's battles spills my direction. I also have a wall to wall, floor to ceiling window looking west over campus to the Wellsville mountains. I keep my windows in the morning, but have to drop the shade blinds in the afternoon.

I think I've reached a point where my routine has become pretty standardized. I've been able to work in a 30 minute work out every day and I get home at the time I like. My daily work consists of making sure things are up to date, potential students are contacted, and following up with previous contacts. In the future We'll look into working with the marketing department on recruitment for online programs. I also know that I'll be meeting with the executive vice-provost and department heads about developing future programs. The work is interesting and I enjoy it.

I hope to get back on a regular schedule of posting again. I've got ten or eleven books to review or rather a series of ten or eleven books that I need to review. I'm back on Audible so expect to see more reviews in general. And I need to post about Kanga's baptism. Now I really feel bad. Oh, well. It will happen.

Bittersweet choices

This was the subject line of an E-mail that I sent out recently to my colleagues at work. It is because, that morning I had made the choice to take a job at another university. It was not a hard choice to make. The compensation would enable me to better support my family and it would help me to grow professionally in ways that I wasn't able to in my current position. The offer was the answer to months of prayers and searches. It was a very easy choice to make. It was also a very bittersweet choice. I'll be leaving some of the best people I've met here. And that saddens me.

I think that there are lots of bittersweet choices that we make. They are the choices that improve our situation but move us away from things we enjoy or love. They do not eliminate opportunities but they do limit them. There have been four times when my wife and I have been separated from each other for extended periods of time:
When I got a new job while she was expecting our oldest child.
When our second child was born and spent three months in a NICU.
When my wife was dealing with some acute medical difficulties.
When she got a job close to our parents while I was still working away from them.

Each of those times saw us apart for six weeks or more. I would drive up to visit on the weekends, but otherwise we could only communicate via technology. All of those choices were easy to make. All of them were necessary to make. The alternative would have been worse for everyone. And all of them were bittersweet.

"Bittersweet" is an informative expression. The choice is pleasant and inciting but with undertones of sadness. From the sense of taste alone, bittersweet flavors tend to be richer or more complex, leading to a more robust sensory experience. I think the same is true of bittersweet choices, they lead to richer and more robust experiences. I am thankful for bittersweet choices because they help me look forward to something new and help me to appreciate what I have.

Time passes

It's amazing how time passes without noticing it. It's been over three weeks since I posted here and don't even get me started on my other blog. The sign on Brigham City Implement (our local marque that shares words of wisdom) currently says something along the lines of "Anyone who things a minute goes by quickly hasn't been on a treadmill." This reminds me of the comparison, often contributed to Einstein - Put you hand on a hot stove for a minute and it feels like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour and it feels like a minute. That's relativity. I've noticed that when I'm busy and content time passes slowly in the moment but upon hindsight seem to have flown by. I don't know if it's a function of memory that I can't remember the time that has gone by, but I suspect it is. We tend to remember negative emotions more than positive, so when things are happy or content it tends to make time go faster.

Understanding that, it's no wonder that time seems to be moving pretty quick. While things are far from perfect, they are still very nice. Kanga and I finished The Hobbit and started reading the Adventures Wanted series by M.L. Foreman. Tigger is doing better at staying dry and is improving in his reading. And Roo has become become predominately bipedal. Angel still loves being at home and my responsibilities at work haven't changed much. Money is tight, but it always has been, and we have Leeroy Jenkins, Spock, and their little girl (hereafter called Raptor - for her cute dinosaur noises) have moved in with us while looking for property to build on. It's made things a little cozier but it's worked well for the time being. I've enjoyed Leeroy picking me up from work as it means I get home a lot faster than when I take the bus.

All in all, I can't complain about life. It is good and treats us well. We are warm, fed, clothed, and I have a job. Yes, there is more that we would like (like to reactivate our Audible account) but opportunities are being explored and developed so I can't complain.

Book Review - Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

My coworker mentioned the character of Amelia Peabody one time when we were discussing books and I was a little intrigued. I enjoy a good hero/heroine and Peabody sounded like somebody up my alley. I was finally able to make a trip to the library AND remember the name of the author and book, so I was able to pick it up. I started reading it on the bus and then found myself reading it at home and finally finished it on a day that I had off when I woke up early. As I suspected, I enjoyed the character of Amelia Peabody and the situations she found herself in. It was a pretty quick read, what I would expect from a paperback mystery, but it was satisfying. I'm looking forward to reading more of her adventures, and will probably fit them in between other books as the mood takes me.

Plot: Amelia is the youngest child of a scholarly father. She grew up studying with him and gaining a pleasure out of learning about dusty tombs and ancient mummies. When her father died and left her with an unexpectedly large amount of money she decided to live her dream and winter in Egypt. Not quite a full feminist, but still rather progressive for the 1880s Amelia is a direct women that will not be swayed or moved if she doesn't want to be. She is delayed in Italy on her way to Egypt but it throws her in the path of Evelyn, a young English woman who has found herself in deplorable circumstance and who Amelia takes under her wing as a traveling companion. The two of them reach Egypt and begin their cruise down the Nile. But new friends and old acquaintances muddy the waters of Amelia and Evelyn's trip. When a mummy goes missing, only to reappear on its feet Amelia is determined to clear the waters and see that everything ends in proper fashion.

My personal favorites: Amelia and Evelyn were great period characters, showing two different personalities in similar situations. I liked the way the two played off each. The mystery was fun - not your classic murder mystery but still engaging. The Emersons, Lucas, and the other characters were all interesting. I really liked the setting and the historical events were all fun.

Considerations: It's important to remember that this is a period book, so the characters are concerned about some things that modern readers might consider important. Beyond this, there was nothing I would consider questionable.

I enjoyed Crocodile on the Sandbank and will undoubtably pick up more Elizabeth Peters' books in the future. I can see them as becoming a mystery Louis L'amour, something to grab when I'm in the mood or as a palette cleanser after a heavier novel. All in all it was a good read. The total length was 352 pages.

Great Grandfathers and Great Grandmothers

Three posts in two days. I know I'm not being consistent with my postings, but the new year tends to get me introspective so that's why the increase in posts.

We were with my family on Christmas Eve and I found myself watching my dad closely. I watched the way he played with the grandkids and interacted with them. I thought about what he meant to my kids. He's not the favorite relative they have, but he is a favored relative. I watched his reaction to them and how they are all his favorites (favorite Kanga, favorite Tigger, favorite Roo, etc). I noted the smiles, the laughs, the kind words and encouragement. I sidled up to him in a brief lull of people and told him that he was a good grandfather. And how that made me miss his father.

I've already mourned my grandfather, who was the inspiration for this blog. And while I've missed him at times I've not felt a need to mourn again. Until I made that comment to my father. I could see that Dad felt the same thing as me, but I could also see that I had paid him a great complement. He deserves that comparison. I have been very blessed by the patriarchs in my family.

I have also been blessed by the matriarchs. My two oldest childrens' middle names are tied directly to their grandmothers for good reason. My own grandmothers are and were caring individuals. My paternal grandmother, who died three months after my grandfather, was caring, witty, educated, and musical. She would play games with us - she loved games - and was not the sort of person to "let" you win. You had to earn it. My maternal grandmother, who was not always the most liked is a selfless individual who cares about and helps all those around her. We did not always understand grandmother, but my siblings and I came to know what an amazing women she is. As an example, I carried an extra dinner across the street every Sunday while I was in college to the couple across the street who had constant medical problems. Without being asked Grandmother sent me with a baking sheet covered in warm dishes to the Simmons which was always received with much appreciation. I remember meeting a man whose first words out of his month upon learning of my relation to her told me how appreciative he was for her visits to his aged mother. She visited her, not for hours, or days, or weeks, or months, but for years. It's no wonder that my mother has always been very selfless as well.

All in all, I'm grateful for my grandmothers and grandfathers.

A white and fine Christmas

Christmas this year was very white, as I'm sure the rest of you living in Utah noticed. It was very beautiful and was perfect for my work's Christmas bunch where I was asked to head up a vocal quartet that performed. It was fun to sing with Andy (Young), Warren (Loveless), and Aaron (Garza).




The family parties were a lot of fun. The three pictures below were all from Angel's grandmother's get together. I'm glad that I get a long with so many of her relatives. As a young man you are inundated with stories of horrific get togethers with the in-laws, but I haven't had one yet. Kanga, Roo, and Tigger enjoyed themselves. I love these pictures of them as they do a good job of showing off parts of their personalities. Kanga loves to dress up (that's her trying on a new dress she just received). Roo, when unsure what to do, is quite and watches, very much like his mother (he's also starting to get tired at this point). And Tigger is a happy kid who just can't keep still (you can see his had is blurry because he's pulling it out of his pocket.

 We all got things we enjoyed for Christmas and have LOVED being close to family and visiting with them. With that said, we're planning on taking New Years a little easier, but it still includes a family dinner with Angel's aunt (the one sitting next to her in the picture). The kids have all been very good with Christmas being a little thinner due to Angel quitting her job. While finances are always stressful the blessing of her being at home with the kids is far greater than anything money could buy. With that said, I'm currently waiting to hear about a job I interviewed for (on the same day I sang at work). I've got high hopes that I'll be looked on favorably and have a better than average shot at it. Regardless, it's uncertain what the future holds and while I always have a little anxiety about the unknown I'm glad that I have my family by my side for the journey.

2015 Books reviewed

First off, this is not a "Best of 2015" list. I don't want to end up on Richard's list.

Looks like it was a little thinner this year for books. But that was probably due to me finishing my masters and cutting our audible account in September. Last year's total was 46, so I'm down nine. However, that is books reviewed not read. I think I read a half dozen ebooks that I didn't review (not quite "if you can't say something nice" but close enough) and I read a lot of monographs for classes and such. The list looks a lot shorter because I had more repeat authors this year that last year (5 books from Elizabeth Moon, 3 from Brian McClellan, 6 from Brandons - Mull and Sanderson).

Curtsies and Conspiracies and Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger
1633 and 1634: the Baltic War by Eric Flint (and David Weber)
Legion, Legion: Skin Deep, and The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson
Slaves of Socorro, and Scorpion Mountain by John Flanagan
Dracula by Bram Stoker
William Shakespeare's Star Wars: The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher
Sky Raiders, Rogue Knight, and Crystal Keepers by Brandon Mull
The Seventh Sigil by Margaret Weis and Robert Krammes
Promise of Blood, The Crimson Campaign, and The Autumn Republic, (The Powder Mage trilogy) by Brian McClellan
Trackers by Peter Haran
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
The Ethos Effect by L.E. Modesitt, jr. (I have actually read three others and am in the middle of a fourth by Modesitt's but haven't reviewed them yet. I wanted to get the whole set read).
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Thursdays with the Crown, and Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George
Farmer in the Sky by Robert A Heinlein
Dune by Frank Herbert
Trading in Danger, Marque and Reprisal, Engaging the Enemy, Command Decision, and Victory Conditions (Vatta's War series) by Elizabeth Moon
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
Son of the Black Sword by Larry Correia
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
Her Brother's Keeper by Mike Kupari
David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

Favorite book this year - Silver in the Blood. It was a great romp for all ages and held me entranced for the whole thing. I loved the mythos of the family and, like Dracula, knowing what's coming just builds the suspense. With that said, The Aeronaut Windlass comes in a very close second. Steampunk, airship combat, great characters. It was close. Interesting enough, both of those books are ones I read, not had read to me. There runners up for favorites were Son of the Black Sword and Rithmatist, both by great authors who are really good with character and plot. Correia has joked that he doesn't mind coming in behind Butcher and he does again. But not by much.

However, I have to mention that The Power Mage trilogy takes favorite series. And that probably takes first place for the year overall. It was an incredible ride through an awesome world with great characters and all the awesome. What's more is that Brain McClellan is a new author and this is his debut series. Like I said, all the awesome. Vatta's War was also very good and ranks high on the favorites.

All in all, it was a good year for reading. There was some great stories that I look forward to re-reading/listening to, and others I can't wait to share with my children (I've already pawned off a bunch on my friends). I can't wait to see what next year brings. I've already got several I'm looking forward to reading and others I just need to finish.

Losing tempers

This last week Tigger decided to play in the bathroom sink. He knows he shouldn't but he tends to anyway when he goes to the bathroom. However this time he left a towel in the sink and the water running. I have no idea how long it was like that before I went in to grab some tissue to wipe Roo's nose (he and I have colds) and discovered Tigger's new water park.

I'll be honest, I lost my temper and wanted to throttle him. Angel was also upset and let him know it in no uncertain terms. He was promptly told that he was expected to clean up the mess immediately and that if he was lucky he would be allowed to see the light of day before he died. It was a fair amount of water and I knew that towels were not going to get the job done by themselves. So I ran down to get the wet/dry vacuum. That's when i realized that it was raining in the basement. That should have really made me even more upset but it didn't. In fact I wasn't even mad. I think this was because I had dropped my phone that morning.

For the last two weeks I've been dealing with the complications of dropping my phone. I won't bore you with the details, but that very morning I dropped my replacement phone and broke the screen. I was so mad at myself for doing something so stupid that I almost threw the phone against the wall. The whole situation had been such an emotional ride already that I was just done. I hopped in the car and used the drive to "talk myself back from the ledge." I had to tell myself that life would go on, that it wan't as bad as my emotions were making me think it was, and that I needed to calm down. I finally succeeded in calming down and everything really was fine.

I think because I had to deal with my own little emergency that morning that I didn't totally flip out even worse when I saw the waterfall. In fact, I might have laughed. I worked with Tigger and he did a great job getting everything cleaned up. Really, he didn't complain or shirk, even though he doesn't normally like vacuums. I was really impressed and while he couldn't play with friends for three days, it was only for three days.

In the end, I think it was a great experience for him despite the difficulty he caused.

Book Review - David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

My work sponsors a book group every semester. Now that I think about it, I didn't review the book last time. I may need to get on that.... Anyway, this year there was a great selection of books, but I wasn't really drawn to many of them. I had heard about David and Goliath through Audible when it came out so I thought I would give it a go. Our group is only four people, but I like them all and am looking forward to the discussion later this month. Like with the other non-fiction books I've reviewed the "plot" section of this review will include an overview of the points that Gladwell makes. In many ways, Gladwell reminds me of Taleb and Black Swan in that he introduces ideas that seem contradictory or highly unorthodox, but with consideration make sense and should be the logical choice. It was a good read, although it wasn't always easy. Gladwell requires you to reflect on the people and situations that he presents and some of the situations can be painful. In any event, the book was a good read and worth considering.

Plot: Why was Goliath surprised when David slew him? A thing like that hadn't entered his head before. David is the mascot of any underdog taking on the superior foe. However, was David really at a disadvantage when he fought Goliath? If you look closely at the situation, even without considering possible physiological considerations/limitation, David was armed with a projectile weapon against a man with a sword. He had essentially brought a gun to a knife fight. There's no wonder he won. However, the fact that don't tend to consider the details but rather make assumptions based on imperfect information. Gladwell looks at the strengths that come with being an underdog and the weaknesses of giants that are not readily apparent. He demonstrates these ideas through relating actual events and through interviews with those that were the underdogs. The clincher of the book is that you might not be as disadvantaged as you originally thought.

My personal favorites: This book causes you to shift you mindset and consider some things that may be perceived as laws, but are in fact just customs or traditions. It is inspiring in that it lets you see what kinds of advantages you can have because of disadvantages. It also encourages you to consider what's the worst that can happen and what that enables you to do.

Considerations: There is no language or sensuality of course. There are some descriptions of childhood leukemia that showed it's devastating impact, but nothing graphic. I found some of the examples he gave were of people that pushed the lines of ethics in my opinion and consequently their behavior should not be emulated, but Gladwell might argue that point. As ethics is determined by social and cultural norms more than rigid laws and this book is about looking beyond those norms his examples make sense and show exactly what he is discussing. The only other thought I have on this book is one that I have with many such books or stories when I come across them - for every person who succeed how many failed? My (albeit small) inner skeptic knows that books like this are only written about success and that stories about failures are not often published which gives us a skewed view of success. With that said, Gladwell does look at some examples where someone failed to achieve what they wanted to despite doing what appeared to be the right thing. He also acknowledges the fact that the disadvantages that can create an advantage are still disadvantages that we won't wish on anyone and we should not seek for them. Regardless of my small misgivings about these kinds of books, I feel and know that they need to be written for the simple reason that they show that success is possible. If a person is unable to see the potential of success they will never strive for it. This book encourages us to look at that potential and rise up to meet it.

The book was very good and it was a relatively quick read for non-fiction. It's well written, expertly organized, and engaging. I've already got an eye on one of Gladwell's other books and do not expect to be disappointed. The total length was 295 pages.

Book Review - Her Brother's Keeper by Mike Kupari

I pre-ordered Her Brother's Keeper back in June and have been waiting anxiously for it. This is for two reasons. First, I really like Mike's work with Larry Correia in Dead Six and Swords of Exodus. Those two books have awesome characters and action and a plot that is more complex than a whole lot of other books out there. I recently read some books through a free ebook service and I have not reviewed them here because they felt very mediocre. I once asked my Mom if Jane Eyre was a Gothic novel and she replied by saying Jane Eyre is what Gothic novels aspired to be. Dead Six and Swords of Exodus are to action and military thriller as Jane Eyre is to Gothic. Because of how Mike and Larry wrote those books, you can tell when you're reading Mike and when you're reading Larry. This is not due to a difference in quality but rather style, and Mike has established a great writing style. I would say that Mike has a great way with characters, specially ones that have to deal with all kinds of troubles and still keep on moving. Second, for a brief period, before he cleared out his Facebook friends, I was able to interact with him and see a bit of his life. He was a really nice guy. Somebody that impressed me in several different ways. I don't know that I would be able relate to him or that we would have a lot in common, but he was somebody that I wanted to see succeed. Her Brother's Keeper is his first solo book and if it did well then he might be able to get a contact with the publisher that would help support him. Between his good writing and my desire to see him succeed, I wanted to support him. That is why I pre-ordered his book. And I'm glad I did.

Plot: Cecil Blackwood is the heir to the Blackwood clan's fortune and power on Avolon. He is also a bit of a scoundrel. His latest adventure has sent him to the far distant, tumultuous planet of Zanzibar, hunting alien relics where he was quickly captured by a local warlord, Lang. Now he is being ransomed off to his family. Captain Catherine Blackwood runs a tight ship and has a reputation for calm efficiency. That's one of the reasons her father hired her to get her brother back despite not being happy with her chosen career. Catherine's job is to travel the months long journey to Zanzibar and get her brother back. Her father simply intends to pay Lang, but Catherine knows that most jobs don't always go according to plan so while stopping for supplies she hires a few people who specialize in getting people like her brother away from warlords like Lang. With a ship for of supplies and some people who are very good at breaking things She sets off to rescue her brother. But Cecil won't be ideal for that time and what he and his colleagues find might just change Zanzibar for the worst.

My personal favorites: As with his other work, I liked the characters. Kupari has created a good cast. I would love to follow any of the characters into other stories whether it's Catherine into space, Cecil on a dig, or Marcus at home with the police. The world/galaxy Mike set up is complex. It explains the idea of "lost technologies" far better than I've seen it anywhere else. The action was, of course, well done. Mike knows his stuff having been in firefights and disarmed actual bombs himself. The story was also more than just your standard space opera. There was a mash of different genre stories throughout and it made it a lot of fun. It was difficult to put the book down once I started.

Considerations: There is little strong language, certainly a lot less than Dead Six. There wasn't any graphic violence, despite there being a fair amount of action. It was tastefully done. There was some sensuality with nothing graphic or too descriptive - along the lines of Dead Six again. All in all, I would recommend it to a older young adult and above audience - 18 or so.

I loved every minute of Her Brother's Keeper. It was a great action Sci-fi with classic elements such as space ship battles, FTL travel, new cultures and aliens and, where rocket ships take off and land on their tails, "...as God and Heinlein intended." I'm glad to have it in my collection and I look forward to future stories set in this world. The total length was 384 pages.