Many Random Things I've Been Thinking About

Well, I started this posting last week, which is to say that I got as far as the above title and had to do something else.....probably something "constructive" or something. Of course, I then forgot about it. I was getting ready to start a new post this morning and remembered. Now though I have no idea about the enigmatic title. Could be many many random things. I'll just have to do my best.

I was thinking about some of that "retro blogging" that I keep meaning to get around to. I mentioned in this post about sharing books with my niece. We also share an affinity for things like Dragons and Faeries, and so I had shared the Dragon Slippers series by Jessica Day George. I was enchanted with Dragon Slippers from the first moment I read this description (from the author's website):

She wanted dragon gold. She got a pair of shoes.

Many stories tell of damsels in distress, who are rescued from the clutches of fire-breathing dragons by knights in shining armor, and swept off to live happily ever after.

This is not one of those stories.

True, when Creel’s aunt suggests sacrificing her to the local dragon, it is with the hope that the knight will marry Creel and that everyone (aunt and family included) will benefit handsomely. Yet it’s Creel who talks her way out of the dragon’s clutches. And it’s Creel who walks for days on end to seek her fortune in the king’s city with only a bit of embroidery thread and a strange pair of slippers in her possession.

But even Creel could not have guessed the outcome of this tale. For in a country on the verge of war, Creel unknowingly possesses not just any pair of shoes, but a tool that could be used to save her kingdom…or destroy it.

When I finished Dragon Slippers, I was kind of sad. There were hints about the survival of a character thought to have perished, and I wanted to know how this could be. However, the second book Dragon Flight had not yet been published. I recently learned that the author had no intentions originally of ever writing a sequel. I am so very glad that she not only wrote the sequel, but a third book, Dragon Spear as well. Such a delightful series, filled with adventure, embroidery, dressmaking, dragons, humor, exotic pets (and friends), and even some romance. They are not thick books, perfect length for the middle grade audience, even though some of them think they need the fattest books out there. We probably have J. K. Rowling to thank for at least part of that.

Sometimes I post on our library's blog. I have been known to pillage my own blog and modify slightly to save from totally redoing everything. Last week however, I created an entirely original post on some picture books, I may do another one today since I didn't get to but three that day. I thought about pillaging that to put up here, but instead I'm just linking. I'll save time, and get to talk about even more books. It is win/win.

The comment challenge. Not going to make the goal of 100, not close. That said, it has really been great. I have discovered some new-to-me blogs, and brought some new great folks here. I would call it an over all success.


I have to take this time to say how much I LOVE Paolo Nutini. My current play list is exclusively Paolo. If you don't know Paolo, I am sorry, and you need to rectify that immediately. This should help. I wanted to embed this video, but apparently that has been disabled. Pooh. Well, you'll just have to work a little harder. : ) There are so many things I love about this video, though it may not fit the images in my head when I first heard the song. The best part is that if it wasn't what I pictured, it was more fun. It is a sort of homage to Harvey, the 1950 Jimmy Stewart film. If you haven't seen this, you really should. In the film, Harvey (a Pooka) is invisible to all but Stewart's character. Elwood P. Dowd is one of my favorite Stewart characters. Such a sweet, thoughtful caring man. So what if is best friend is a six-foot invisible rabbit.

But I digress. Back to Paolo....which is in itself a digression from the topic of books, but......sorry, what was I saying? Oh yes, Paolo. This fine young lad from Paisley, Scotland is so soulful and different. His music is diverse, and delicious, and often oh so sexy. My favorite line (from Coming up Easy"): "It was in love I was created, and in love is how I hope I die." My thoughts exactly. Have a wonderful day, everyone.