What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Ghost Writer by John Harwood

The jury is still out on this one.  I find myself skimming quite a bit...but on the other hand, I can't seem to put it down.  Maybe I'm just in a hurry to figure it out.  :)  At any rate, it has me giving up listening to NPR on the morning commute to listen to this on my Kindle instead.  

Moore, Oklahoma...

Not all is OK in OK tonight, but we're so thankful to know that the Sims men are safe (nephew, great-nephew, ex-brother-in-law).  Prayers for their neighbors and community...for those hurting, for those mourning, for those still in shock.

This week in a nutshell...

photo credit: Microsoft clipart

It was a dark and stormy night that kicked it off, which dawned into a beautiful Mother's Day.  Monday was a busy one on which was discovered blog thievery.  Wednesday slowed down a bit at the office, but ramped up when I got home to a son with lower abdominal pain and fever...made a trip to the ER...night spent in hospital.  Thursday morning brought surgery to remove appendix.  Went well.  This morning (Friday) he was released.  I made him chicken soup.  His sister and nieces brought him ice cream and flowers.

And that's it...in a nutshell.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Mrs. Somebody Somebody by Tracy Winn

Random House Publishing

A book of interwoven short stories that span decades in Lowell, Massachusettes.  Very well crafted.  A little like looking at cross sections of a small town on slides under a microscope. 

Is it time to call out the big dogs???

Well, maybe not these three.  They ARE big, but not nearly mean enough.

So, what brings about the need of protection, you may ask.  I've had a post stolen...post, accompanying photograph, the whole shebang.  Not from this blog, but from What's Cookin' 4 Miles North of Nowhere .  I had an anonymous email from someone alerting me that it was on another (very commercial) blog, unattributed of course.

What I find really nasty about them is that they have a copyright notice on their blog that states, "This blog is copyright protected, and anything on it belongs to _________."  Yeah, right.

My first reaction was to Google what to do about a stolen blog post.  I found an awesome article posted by Rhonda at Crafterminds detailing how to go about approaching the plagiarizer.  I don't have time or energy to begin the process tonight.  

I thought I'd come ask you guys how you feel about it.  Ever had anything blatantly lifted from your blog?  I don't really care about the recipe (which I'm sure I found on a label somewhere decades ago and morphed into my own over the years),  but it is really just kind of creepy seeing my photo with my napkin and my counter top (from the old house).  Oh yeah, the counter top is from the old house, because the post they lifted from me predates their blog.  Oi vey.  Is there an emoticon for an eye-rolling bummed-out blogger?

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

This one has been hanging out on my bookshelf waiting for a reading, and is now on my 2013 Reading Challenge list.  

When the old government-run 'lunatic asylum' in Sligo, Ireland is on the verge of being closed, alternate living arrangements for its residents have to be made.

 This is the story of a centenarian who has lived in the facility for decades.

X marks the spot...of 7 random thoughts...

1.  I've talked before about how I love contrails, but I REALLY loved these that I saw on the way home today.

2.  My phone is acting strange.  Yesterday it went dark while I was trying to leave a voicemail for someone.   I couldn't end the call, so who knows what was recorded.  Text messages are taking forever to show up sometimes.  And today several videos and photographs disappeared from it.  :(  They were good ones too.

3.  I don't meet many celebrities in my line of work, but last week I met Dick Cheney, and I FAXed documents to David Casady...of course it wasn't THE Dick Cheney or David Cassidy, but still...

4.  You know how there are just some songs that you rock out to and completely embarrass yourself if anyone hears you, because you have the lyrics TOTALLY wrong?  Yeah.  Enjoy.

I know it's not really 'Secret Asian Man,' but I can't help it...I just can't sing it correctly.  And now I dare you to.  

5.  I got all the way to work last week without my office keys.  Had to go by boss's house to pick up his, and then go and have one made.  It works out really well to have a spare one now to keep in my car...because this morning I did it again!  I NEVER misplace keys, so this is absolutely unheard of.  Both times I had left them in the pocket of my slacks and tossed them in the laundry basket.

6.  Yesterday I was pulled over by a State Trooper...going 67 in a 60 mph zone.  Luckily, blessedly, miraculously(!) he only gave me a written warning and not a speeding ticket.  This is the third warning I've had in the last six months or so.  One for a burned-out headlight.  One for a burned out brake light.  And now this.  You know how  they say things happen in threes?  I think I'd better start watching my p's and q's, because now that I've had my three warnings, the next one will probably be the real deal.

7.  My new laptop has an annoying habit of the cursor disappearing or hopping around on me.  I'm not sure if I am accidentally causing it somehow...maybe brushing the touchpad or something without being aware of it?  I'm not sure if I should try to have it fixed or just get used to it or what.

Okay, that's seven, so I'm going to call it a day.