Stuff

Managed to finish In the Land of the Long White Cloud, which was basically a New Zealand version of The Thorn Birds. Not bad, but I could have used some variance of the characters. Too often I felt there were repeating patterns and then the end just sort of hit with a slam. But, Kindle+Sale=something to read while sick.

Only after I finished ITLOTLWC did I come across Paper Towns, which had me with such phrases as "12,000 Black Santas" and "She came dressed as a ninja. I felt like I was in a vampireless episode of Buffy. Quirkiness, that is what I need.

The Kindle HD is mostly shared among the boys, but I've taken up playing a few games with Jake. He likes easy puzzle style games. We went through Grisly Manor in about an hour. The only trick is that Jake is half and half with the puzzles some of them he grasps intuitively, but the ones he doesn't seem to be torture for him. Deductive reasoning isn't his thing yet, despite all the Psych and Sherlock we watch.

Quest

Trying to remember when I purchased my last handbag. I need a new one as the current model is worn out. This is due in part to me and in part to owning Gideon. Since he was a kitten he has attacked every purse and pair of boots I own. Bitter apple not withstanding, he must have it. He must chew it. He must claw it.

His ecstasy over running shoes are equally disturbing, but that is another story.

The quest for a suitable handbag remains. My inner tomboy wonders why I am the family mule, saddle bags and all, but the truth is that even without their bizarre storage requests I would not be free of a bag. I have never liked sitting on a wallet and have no idea how men do it for any length of time. So a handbag has merits, despite the matchbox cars and dismembered Lego men who invariably inhabit it over time.

But what to get? Ideally I like to shop to make sure such things have appropriate pockets. Unfortunately there hasn't been much time to be on my own. Now that James can walk, purse shopping would theoretically be more of a grab and run than a browse and bargain.

Still I can't resign myself to internet shopping. It's much easier to hide cheap stitching in a photo than when you look at it up close. And after the adventure of Mom's birthday sweater, I feel uncertain about the quality of folks stocking internet orders.