I do not think I introduced Chicky Noel

Chicky "found" us on December 12th.  I follow the local shelters on Facebook, which is really a bad idea, and I saw a video of her and read her story.  Went to meet her after work, she jumped into my lap and the rest is history.  She is a sweetie.  Mostly just wants to snuggle and sleep on your head when you go to bed for the night. 

I knew after we put Elizah down in October that I would get another cat, but I also knew I wasn't really going to have to seek one out...one would appear in one way or another.  And she did.

Isn't she a love?

Chicky exploring at the vet's office

Ok, this one is just funny.

random winter photo...

On occasion, I "wander" through my photos on my phone, and find things I forgot about.  Like this.  Early morning frost on the window of my car.  I ran it through Instagram, and it looked like 50 different things depending on the filter I put on it.  This is with no filter, and I think it is perfect. 

It is snow time here in New England

Well really everywhere, I guess.  This sight made me laugh this morning so I had to snap a picture.  Poor Lowell the Red Sox gnome had seen better days.

Of course, since it has snowed all day, poor Lowell is submerged.  

I have come up with a great plan to pick the order of the books I read...

I have asked my friend Tom to do it.  This is Tom:

Ok, ok, this isn't really Tom, but he is a farmer.  At least by avocation.  Someday it will be his full time occupation.  Anyway, he is one of the only people that reads as much as I do, and who fully supports and enjoys my crazy stunts like reading random lists of books and blogging about them.  (you could always go check out my old blog-alwaysgreetyourvegetablesproperly.blogspot.com .  He liked that too)

So without further ado, I will now reveal Tom's next pick in the book draft.  The Art of Racing in the Rain.  Ironically, there is another book called Racing in the Rain, by the same author, and that is actually what I downloaded by mistake.  Oops.  Time to get the actual book I wanted.  Hooray for Kindle returns.

I am still working on finishing at least one of the three books I am currently reading, but as soon as one of them is done, I will start this one.

I finished it

And as I expected, there was tragedy.  But there was also this beautiful sentiment (and I don't really think I give away anything by sharing it)

"You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world, but you do have some say in who hurts you.  I like my choices."

This made me so very happy, and ripped my heart out all at the same time.  Perfection.  Did this book change my life?  Eh, probably not in the way the phrase "change your life" is drummed up to mean.  Have I been thinking the line I referenced for 2 days?  Yep.

This book I recommend.  It is a quick read, and it is really a lovely story.

As a side note, I think my book list might expand.  I read book reviews all the time, and I am finding myself adding to the list.  Perhaps this will be more than a year long project.

Soooooo...the next book.  I am going to take a break from the list and finish the other 3 books I am reading right now.  The Titan's Curse (from the Percy Jackson series), The Sorceress (from the Alchemyst series) and Allegiant (from the Divergent series).  Yes.  All "young adult" books.  I try to read many of the books my kids read so we continue to have something to talk about.  The added bonus?  Usually the books are awesome.  With the amount of snow coming this weekend, I may have a chance to finish all three :)

Next book

The Fault in Our Stars.

I am loving this book.  I am fearing a horribly tragic ending, however.  Ironically, since I am reading this book as a part of a list of books that could change my life, and part of the book is centered around a book that changed someone's life.

The two main characters are Hazel Grace and Augustus.  Hazel Grace is battling terminal cancer, and Augustus is a survivor.  This alone has tragic all over it. I don't think I am going to write anything additional about actual details of the book, because I don't want to give the beautiful story away, but when I finish, I will tell you what the book left me with.  Please don't be heartache, please don't be heartache, please don't be heartache.

So. Here it is.

I can't do it.  At least not right now.  I cannot finish Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.  Maybe I will add it back to the bottom of the pile, but I just don't get it.  I like the superficial story, but I do not get all the deep, philosophical, waaaaaaaaaaaaay out there stuff.

So this is a fail.

Next book?  The Fault in Our Stars.  I admit part of the reason I picked this one is that I know its being turned into a movie.  And I always want to read the book before I see a movie.  Amazon Prime...send me my book.  Probably a good thing they don't have that 30 minute drone delivery thing.  I need to grade papers and clean my house today.