'First Family' by David Baldacci

This is the first that I've picked up by this author, and it was of
course one in a series, but I was still able to make sense of it
without reading the preceding books.

Sean and Michelle are former Secret Service agents turned private
detectives. When the President's niece is kidnapped, the First Lady
calls her old friend, Sean, for assistance. She wants somebody that
she can trust on the case, that is less likely to be hindered by
government procedures and politics. The book is interesting, as you
are eager to find out why the girl was taken, but I also felt sympathy
for her captor. What drove him to do such a thing?

It's a quick and engaging story, and I didn't find it to be too
predictable, as it seems a lot of books are these days. I really
enjoyed this one, and will likely check out more of Baldacci's work.

'Long Lost' by Harlan Coben

This is the first that I've picked up by this author, and it was of
course one in a series, but I was still able to make sense of it
without reading the preceding books.

Myron Bolitar is an ex-NBA player that now works as an agent for
celebrities. He gets a call from an old friend who is desperate, and
is in the midst of a strange mystery surrounding the death of her
child ten years prior. Myron gets wrapped up in the investigation,
which becomes a whirlwind involving terrorists and questionable
identities.

It was a very interesting storyline, far-fetched yet not so out of
reach by today's technology and radical terrorists. It was a fun and
fast-moving story.

'Lost Boys' by Orson Scott Card

Wow. This book was amazing, and nothing like I expected. It made me
cry and disturbed me, but I also found it beautiful and touching.

The book is about a young Mormon family that moves from Indiana to a
town in North Carolina. Step, the father, is a software developer. His
wife, DeAnne, is a stay-at-home mom. They have three children, Stevie
(age 7), Robbie (age 4), and Elizabeth (age 2), with another baby on
the way. Stevie has trouble adjusting, and has a teacher that is quite
cruel to him. Soon, he begins talking to imaginary friends, which his
parents attribute to his stress of moving and difficulties with his
teacher. All the while, the town has had young boys disappearing,
beginning before the family arrived in town, causing a panic with area
parents.

The family background is very autobiographical on the part of the
author, who is himself a Mormon. One of the interesting aspects of the
book is the insight given into the rituals and beliefs of Mormons.
Another bit of fun is the nostalgia aspect, as Step is a software
engineer in 1983, just as the PC is being introduced. Commodore 64 is
the reigning King in this world, with doubts that the PC will ever
take off.

This was a wonderful book. It has a very original storyline, and was
probably influential in several other books and movies that have since
been released since this book was published in 1992. I highly
recommend this book, but be sure to have a box of tissues handy as you
reach the end.

More Zoo Pictures from my Sister-In-Law

These were sent from my sister-in-law Ann, from 8-15-09 when we all
went to the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls.

Freecycle

Freecycle is mostly a source of amusement. It's always incredible what kinds of things that people ask for. Got an iPod laying around that you aren't using? LOL

Today, there was one that really made me shake my head, that was sad on so many levels.

~~~~~~

I am looking for a free puppy for my neighbors. They had a dog and somebody came by and stole him took the chain and all in the middle of the night. Looking for a puppy that is young enough to be trained, or an older dog that is good around children. If you know of any please let me know!!!
Thanks you!

~~~~~~~

*sigh*

Aimee - http://www.odnarb.com - Sent from my BlackBerry

Heart Shaped Box - Joe Hill

Judas Coyne is an aging rock star with a collection of various morbid items, often gifts from fans. When he finds a ghost for sale in an online auction, he can't resist himself and purchases it. He gets a supposedly haunted suit in the mail. Soon he begins to see the ghost around his home, and eventually he realizes that this isn't some random ghost, but one that has personal interest in him.

This was a great read, and the first that I've read by Joe Hill. It is very suspenseful with a very original plot. I look forward to more books by this author.

Double Identity - Margaret Peterson Haddix

Bethany is a teenage girl that has been spoiled all of her life. Her parents pretty much give her whatever she wants, and she has had an ideal childhood. Then suddenly, her father becomes extremely overprotective, and her mother falls into a deep depression. Suddenly, they get in the car and drive across the country, only to leave Bethany with an aunt that never knew existed, and is just as clueless about the situation as Bethany. Her parents disappear, and tell her that it is too dangerous to contact them. People in her aunt's hometown look at Bethany as though they have seen a ghost. Soon, a strange man comes looking for answers, and Bethany realizes that there might be more danger than she realizes.

This is a very quick read, aimed at older children. I would recommend it to older elementary and junior high students.

Relentless - Dean Koontz

Cubby Greenwich is a bestselling author. His newest book gets reviewed by Sherman Waxx, the country's premier literary critic, a reclusive and enigmatic man who can make or break a career. When the review is published as being extremely critical of Cubby's new novel, he gets curious and wants to get a glimpse of the mystery man. A brief encounter at a restaurant reveals Waxx to be more than just a bit odd, and soon Cubby and his family are running for their lives from a determined stalker intent on destruction.

This is a fun read, and Koontz fans will enjoy it.

Tunnels - Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams

Will Burrows is a 14 year old boy that lives in a London suburb with his parents and younger sister. The family is not particularly close, but Will and his father have bonded over one common interest, archaeological digs.

Will and his father unearth an old subway station that had been abandoned for more than a century. The two of them thought that they were on the brink of a great discovery, when Will's father vanishes without a trace. Will is certain that his disappearance has something to do with the digs. So, he and his best friend, Chester, set out to find his father.

This was a very enjoyable read. The characters, setting, and plot are very original. I highly recommend this book for older children and adults alike.

Chasing the Dead - Joe Schreiber

Sue is a single mother of an 18 month old girl. One day she gets a phone call from a strange man, telling her that he has kidnapped her daughter and her nanny. When she realized that it is true, she descends into a nightmare. The book is told over the course of one evening of Sue trying to rescue her daughter. What starts out as a crime drama quickly takes a supernatural turn, and you have no idea what is going to happen next.

I particularly enjoyed this book as I am both a horror nut and the mother of a girl the same age. I could relate to how Sue felt if my daughter was in danger.

This is very fast paced book, and a pretty quick read. If you are looking for something short, fun, and scary, I highly recommend it.

Blaze - Richard Bachman

Blaze is a simple man who endured a childhood of abuse. As an adult, he leads a life of petty crime, and soon meets up with George, a scheming man with bigger goals. Their money-making schemes get bigger and bigger, until George comes up with a plan to kidnap the infant son of a rich family. After George is killed, he haunts Blaze, and continues to encourage him to go ahead with the plan. Soon Blaze has a baby in his possession, and his big heart and affection for the baby clashes with the ruthless ghost of George, all while the authorities are cracking the case and moving in.

Blaze was written by Richard Bachman, a pseudonym of Stephen King. The original manuscript was written in 1973, but not released until 2007. It was a fun, quick read, and an engaging story with characters that make you care about them.

Black Creek Crossing - John Saul

Since I don't have a lot to blog about being that I am ridiculously boring, I thought that I would talk about books that I've read lately and will post about them when I finish one. Since I'm writing staff picks at work, might as well post them here, too. I don't choose anything to cerebral. I have enough distractions between work and a toddler, and tend to lean towards easy reads or I will never get through them.

The first book I will talk about is Black Creek Crossing by John Saul. It's a fun, quick read, and pretty typical of his work.

Angel Sullivan is a teenage girl that is ostracized by her classmates. When her family moves a small town in Massachusetts, she is excited at the prospect of a new beginning and an opportunity to make friends. Unfortunately, she is bullied again at her new school, but she makes friends with Seth, another social outcast.

Seth informs Angel of the dark history of the house that her parents had purchased, an old house dating back to the 1600s. There have been rumors about the house being haunted for hundreds of years. Angel and Seth seek out to learn the truth about the house, and unleash a terror that cannot be stopped.

Update on Harry's Tail

I was able to get some amoxicillin to give him orally. I think that it is looking a lot better. He loves getting half a hamburger bun (with a pill hidden in it) three times a day.

I think maybe I've got an idea on how he tore the skin. He lets himself out the screen door. I wonder if he got he tail caught while it was closing?

Between Harry's tail injuries, and dealing with Brando's "Happy Tail" for years, I'm seriously considering docked breeds in the future. I do like Aussies...

Aimee - http://www.odnarb.com - Sent from my BlackBerry

Grant makes the local newspaper!

I forgot to add this here to my own blog!

Grant made both the Lakes News Shopper and the Dickinson County News this week. Same article, same picture, but the DCN printed it in b&w. Click on the picture, and it should become large enough to read the article. I made a tinyurl link at http://tinyurl.com/grantxander , but I don't know if the Lakes News Shopper links expire. I had to save this!

The boy in the picture is Xander, the son of some friends of ours.

Another Tail Injury

Harry was acting like his tail was bothering him again last night. Looked at it, didn't see anything obvious. Tonight he was licking it, but it seemed to bother him less. Looked at it and there was puss coming out of the end. Fabulous!

I wonder if he did something at the kennel over the weekend. Or could it be an insect bite? Wish I still worked at the vet. I don't have the access to radiograph & other medical equipment that I used to. Doh!

I soaked it in hydrogen peroxide. Now the end of his tail will probably turn orange! It looks better. Put on some panalog, too. Hopefully it's just a soft tissue injury. It's really hurting, I can tell.

After the last 8 months, I'm half wishing that Malinois were a docked breed!

Aimee - http://www.odnarb.com - Sent from my BlackBerry

Brando and Rusty

For those of you that remember my ex-dog, Brando, and my mom's dog, Rusty...

Brando is obviously doing well. Rusty has been diagnosed with bone
cancer, and is holding his own. I think both look good for old men
pushing 13.

The statues are characters from Beverly Cleary books: Henry, Ramona,
and Ribsy. The books take place in my mom's neighborhood.