Here's how my November To-Do List turned out............
NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER
* Pay Bills DONE Top of the list, always gets done before anything else.
* Read 1, 2 Books DONE I actually read THREE Books this month! (It surprised me when I sat down to go over what I read. lol)
First off was this one.............
"Hanging Mary" by Sarah Higginbotham
A very well done bit of historical fiction, the author takes us into the world of the folks who lived at Mary Surratt's boardinghouse on H St. leading up to the assassination by John Wilkes Booth and how Mary became the first women in US history to be unjustly hanged for treason.
You really get to know the people who had close contact with JWB and how they were affected as the author is quite gifted at making all the folks involved in this drama come alive.
A very well done bit of historical fiction, the author takes us into the world of the folks who lived at Mary Surratt's boardinghouse on H St. leading up to the assassination by John Wilkes Booth and how Mary became the first women in US history to be unjustly hanged for treason.
You really get to know the people who had close contact with JWB and how they were affected as the author is quite gifted at making all the folks involved in this drama come alive.
Then I read was this one.............
"A Soldier's Secret" by Marissa Moss
I didn't know going in but it became apparent quickly that this book was written for YAs(young adults/teens). It was still enjoyable though and a very quick read. Another historical fiction selection about Sarah Emma Edmonds, a woman who ran away as a teen from a miserable home life in Canada(then a British possession)and lived for many years as a man, including volunteering to serve in the US Union army during the Civil War. Though the dialogue is fiction, the characters were real people who lived during that time. Sarah survived the conflict and eventually married and lived as a women. She is the only women who secretly served as a man during the war to be inducted into the GAR and receive a government pension for her Civil War service. She wrote a memoir about her life which was published in the 1880's and she toured and gave lectures. This book was based on her memoirs.
Dialogue was a little stilted and tiresome at parts but worth a read.
I didn't know going in but it became apparent quickly that this book was written for YAs(young adults/teens). It was still enjoyable though and a very quick read. Another historical fiction selection about Sarah Emma Edmonds, a woman who ran away as a teen from a miserable home life in Canada(then a British possession)and lived for many years as a man, including volunteering to serve in the US Union army during the Civil War. Though the dialogue is fiction, the characters were real people who lived during that time. Sarah survived the conflict and eventually married and lived as a women. She is the only women who secretly served as a man during the war to be inducted into the GAR and receive a government pension for her Civil War service. She wrote a memoir about her life which was published in the 1880's and she toured and gave lectures. This book was based on her memoirs.
Dialogue was a little stilted and tiresome at parts but worth a read.
And finally I read this one............
"The Liberal Redneck Manifesto-Draggin' Dixie Outta the Dark" by Trae Crowder, Corey Ryan Forrester and Drew Morgan
I really related to this book, being a Southerner and all. 8-) They dig in and go after every stereotype and shed light on many issues that people from this region of the country are affected by and still dealing with. They go after both the good and bad of the culture and delve into the real history of why things are the way they are there. These guys are a comedy trio of self-proclaimed rednecks but they are educated and articulate rednecks who are proud of their region and history. They have lived real, sometimes painful lives and have seen both the good and bad about the region and have thoughts and ideas that may make you go, "huh".
This book will get you thinking and it's a must read for anyone who isn't from/didn't grow up in the South.
I am the product of a NY Yankee father and a VA Southern mother and was raised in the South. Most of my Southern relatives come from uneducated redneck stock(at least for 5 or 6 generations)so this book spoke to me. Living and traveling widely in other parts of the country I've seen the regional prejudice first hand Trae and company talk about. I'd be delighted to spread some learnin' about true Southern culture(both the good and bad)to other regions.
HIGHLY recommend!
* Hold Giveaway DONE
* Mail Giveaway DONE Mailed off right away and gladly received.
* Chester Surgery DONE My poor puppy lost his nuts in November. He healed up rather quickly and didn't need the "cone of shame" but for 2 days. The good thing is he is less likely to mark in the house now and we don't have to confine him as much.
* Repair DR Ceiling DONE SORT OF Hubs got the patch job done but he still has to sand and paint it. It will get done as soon as I nag enough. lolz
* Work the Polls DONE I did my civic duty. It was a long day but enjoyable really.
* Hem Hubs Pants DONE The denim was so thick and non-plyable that the machine needle wouldn't go through the multiple layers of fabric at the seams so I had to partially hand hem part of each pants leg. ugh. But it's done.
* List Items on eBay FAIL I looked back and I didn't list a single item in November(though I did sell stuff that month). I just got too busy with other things. I'm not listing anything in December either due to being too close to Christmas now and we have the out of town Wedding in early January so I won't be able to ship stuff out.
* Go to HS Clinic DONE Had my appointment and things are going well....not great but the outbreaks are not as bad as before going on Humira. Only time will tell how successful this treatment will be and for how long.
In other medical news I also had my sleep doc appointment in November and I am now down to being borderline for needing sleep apnea treatment. go me. ;-)
In other medical news I also had my sleep doc appointment in November and I am now down to being borderline for needing sleep apnea treatment. go me. ;-)
* Work on Christmas Gifts IN PROGRESS I'm not really "making" anything for gifts, it's just about making up gift baskets, wrapping all of it, and mailing a couple of things. After we get the tree decorated this week my dining room table becomes wrapping central and the tape and scissors will be flying fast and furiously. lol
* Clean Downstairs for Turkey Day DONE Got the place presentable. 'Nuff said.
* Change Curtains in LR DONE Got Hubs to finally help hang the Winter curtains up without too much cursing(Guess who did the cursing?!LOL)
* Hang a Picture DONE Ditto the item above. It was a much more difficult chore than the curtains but nobody committed murder in the process(though there were murderous thoughts on both sides).
* Hang Curtains in Hubs' Room FAIL I got him the curtain rod out but he just didn't do it. I need to hem those curtains so they don't cover the baseboard heating unit under the window but he needs to get the rod on the wall so I know how much to cut off the drapes. And he really needs to do this soon because we'll have folks sleeping in the daybed in that room for the Holidays and that window gets the morning sun so I guess I'll go into nag mode soon.........
* Cook Turkey Day Meal DONE It all got done and on time. Cooking ahead really helped me not to overdo physically. Even not being as tired and rushed I didn't take a single photo of the day. I was just in the moment for Thanksgiving(when I wasn't running to Rite-Aid that is.)
That's about all I can remember.
I hope everyone tackled everything on their November To-Do List and are satisfied with how things turned out.
That's about all I can remember.
I hope everyone tackled everything on their November To-Do List and are satisfied with how things turned out.
