New Blog Look...Again

Seems I have a need to change up my blog look every season or so. Found one I liked so I thought I would try it out. I still need to find a couple of other things to add to the site, but I did at least get my blog roll back up, so I thought I did pretty good. Please let me know what you think if you have a chance.

Re-reading favorites

So I have pretty much just been re-reading books from JD Robb's In Death series for the majority of this month. Actually, other than reading Demon Ex Machina at the beginning of the month, and a manuscript not yet published, I've only read books from the In Death series. I managed to re-read the first three books in the series in the past week and it made me remember how much I absolutely love Eve Dallas, Roarke, and all the other characters we get to meet in this series (not that I ever really forget how much I love these characters). I could very easily re-read the entire series and be completely happy. However, I have so many books in my house that I haven't read yet, I'm going back to my mountain of books I haven't read and picking something.

I decided to read a YA book for a change, since I haven't read one in a while. One of my favorite YA series I've read is The House of Night series by PC Cast & Kristin Cast. Based on a recommendation by my friend Paula, I moved the 2 books I have yet to read to the top of my TBR pile. I love the Zoey Redbird and her friends and am so excited to get back into this series with Tempted. I held off reading Tempted until now and already have Burned, the next book in the series on my bookshelf. Already totally sucked back in to the series and can't wait to see what happens over the next 2 books.

I also still need to post my thoughts about Lover Mine. Honestly, I don't know that I could actually say anything about LM that hasn't already been said. I'm still trying to get my thoughts together so I say more than just I totally loved this story, but not quite there yet. Hope to find time over the long holiday weekend to post.

Demon Ex Machina

Demon Ex Machina is the latest book in the Tales of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner. From the back cover.~

In between demon patrols and teaching self-defense classes for local moms, Kate has to deal with a teenage daughter, who is gung ho about being a demon slayer in training, and a toddler son entering a tantrum phase that rivals anything from the pits of hell.

To make matters worse, ever since her current husband, Stuart, learned about her secret life, he’s been practically smothering her with attention. That wouldn’t be so bad, except now Stuart’s fired up to learn everything he can about demons, and that kind of research can get a former desk jockey killed.

It’s a lot to juggle. And on top of it all, Kate has to find a way to release the demon possessing her first husband, Eric, without destroying the man inside. Because if the demon within Eric gets free, it just might be more than this seriously stressed suburban mom can handle…

Julie Kenner gives her fans another winner with Demon Ex Machina. I absolutely love the characters in this series. Kate is such a strong and amazing woman. She manages to juggle her family and her demon hunting job and even find time to teach self-defense classes to the local moms. With the research help of her best friend Laura, Kate searches for a way to release the demon from her first husband Eric, without killing him. With each passing day, it becomes evident that the demon in Eric is becoming stronger. Allie, Kate and Eric’s daughter is also coming into her own as a demon hunter. Of course the fact that she is only fifteen years old doesn’t ease her mother’s worries for her. Stuart, Kate’s current husband decides he needs to train to help her kill demons as well as help keep their son Timmy safe. Everything heats up as Kate must battle to kill the demon inside Eric, without killing her daughter’s father in the process. Kenner gives the reader an edge of their seat ride as the book progresses.

I really enjoy this series and look forward to each new installment. Demon Ex Machina actually was released in October 2009, but I was just able to get it from the library in the last couple of weeks. I love the fast-paced story of Kate and her family and friends and hope there will be another book in this series soon.

Music City Keeps On Playin'

Right now GAC is doing the Music City Keeps On Playin' benefit concert to raise money for people in middle Tennessee who were effected by the floods on May 1 and 2. To make donations, you can call 877-768-NASH or go to www.gactv.com/help. Every penny that is raised through this telethon/benefit concert will stay in middle Tennessee to help all the victims in this area. Nashville is getting the most attention right now, but there are so many smaller towns and counties that still have areas under water now.

I really don't think the floods in Nashville and middle Tennessee really got the attention the people in this area deserved. Tennesseans were out as soon as the waters started to rise helping one another and trying to get anyone in the flood areas to safety. In fact, so many volunteers going out in their own boats to do rescues is one of the biggest reasons the casualty numbers are so low. Thanks to all the country music people in the area, we are starting to get the attention of the national media. However, FEMA and the insurance companies won't be able to cover everything for the people in this area, so please if at all possible, please donate to help the flood victims of middle Tennessee.

Latest treatment from my doctors...for now

So I went to see my medical oncologist last Wednesday. After waiting for well over on hour to be taken to a room and then waiting another 30 minutes in the room, I finally was able to see the doctor. However, in the 6 weeks since I last saw her, she had not bothered to get with any of my other doctors to find out what course of treatment we were going to take. Unfortunately for the doctor, she asked how I was feeling and I literally held nothing back. I let her know how inconsiderate I felt they were to not only keep we waiting for over 1 1/2 hours, but not rescheduling the appointment when they hadn't talked to my doctor yet. She let me know she would get with my doctor and call me once they had decided what treatment would be our best bet.

She finally gave me a call on Monday and we are trying me on Tamoxifen, while staying on BCP to see if it will work much like Tamoxifen and HRT. I have to stay on Tamoxifen for at least 6 weeks and then get an appointment with the doctor to run blood test and go over any major side effects. The doctor did tell me if I have any side effects we would scrap the trial and look into other ways to monitor the tissue. Since I'm already scheduled to have mammograms at least twice a year, I'm not sure what other type of testing would be done each year. So I'm on a wait and see pattern again, as I try a new medicine.