She's a Tortie lovin', TV watchin', Book Wormin', Kinda Gal.

We have a new addition in the Moose apartment...



Meet L'il Miss Cammie Squeakers!
We adopted her two weeks ago from the Cleveland Animal Protective League. They had a wonderful special going on to help get their cats and kittens adopted because their shelter was far too full of them.
The fella had been on a mission to help me find a new kitty companion, and as we went through the cages that day not one cat or kitten really caught my eye and heart. Of all the cats and kittens I held that day, not one did I feel a connection with. Then we walked past the cages of kittens again and there were two tortie girls in one of the bottom cages. I love torties and opened the cage to see if one (or both) would come to me. This sweet girl came right over to me (her sister had no interest) and it was love at first purr. She bonded to Josh right away as well. Within thirty minutes Josh had purchased her for me and we were on our way home with our new addition - Cammie!
It's nice to have a cat around the apartment again and I am very happy to report that Cammie has adjusted *SO* well! I was concerned that we may have a rough few nights at first - but from night one she's slept in bed with us. No crying or acting out. I was worried about her being left all day while we were at work (I actually came home on my lunch hour that first day - and got my first speeding ticket EVER in the process!!) but she was mellow and laid back - saving all her silliness and energy for when her humans were around ;o)
She's a tiny little thing... still more of a squeaker than a meow-er... (hence the middle name). Not quite three months old yet (birthday is June 6th). We are very lucky to have her!

Moving on.

In the past few years I haven't watched too much TV... I actually got rid of everything but local channels last October because I wasn't watching it nearly enough to justify the cost of it all. Plus, I have a Roku Player so I can stream from Netflix as well as watch Roku channels. Even old favorites that I'd watched during Prime Time, such as Grey's Anatomy, I stopped watching (though I think I will pick up where I left off eventually thanks to Netflix instant streaming). When Glee came on I fell in love and have watched it both seasons so far. I started watching Gossip Girl (thanks to Netflix and my library) and was caught up just in time for the past season to air - which I watched. But that was it.
I started to get excited to hear about a new show with one of my favorite actresses (and singers!) - Zooey Deschanel called The New Girl. Also The Playboy Club sounded appealing... but that was all I had really heard about. But then I got my new issue of Nylon today - the TV issue. Be still my usually television despising heart - there are shows I'm looking forward to giving a shot at watching! For all of these (with the exception of Glee and Gossip Girl) this is their first season - so no playing catch up is needed. Not too many time conflicts thankfully so I won't have to rely on Hulu too much :o)

September 15th - Thursday
The Secret Circle (CW)

September 19th - Monday
The Playboy Club (NBC)

September 20th - Tuesday
GLEE *season 3* (FOX)
New Girl (FOX)

September 21 - Wednesday
Revenge (ABC)

September 25th - Sunday
Pan Am (ABC)

September 26th - Monday
Gossip Girl *season 5* (CW)

September 28th - Wednesday
Suburgatory (ABC)

October 23rd - Sunday
One Upon a Time (ABC)

January 3rd
Apartment 23 (ABC)


I've been trying to catch up on reading to at least hit my minimal goal of 52 books for the year. I've read 28 so far this year, so I'm behind... but I'm still fairly certain that I can pull it together and come out ahead. I've read some great books so far this year - I'd say I've had a better year book wise this year so far than all together last year (with the exception of Water for Elephants last year which has become one of my all time favorites).

Top Book Picks from the 28 I've read so far this year...

* Trans-Sister Radio by Chris Bohjialian
* Room by Emma Donoghue
* Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
* Unbearable Lightness by Portia DeRossi
* Madness by Marya Hornbacher
* The Help by Kathryn Stockett (another that has made my all time favorites list)
* The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman
* Delirium by Lauren Oliver
* The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Updates

I know a month and a half ago I said that I would be updating here more often... and I intended to. I wanted to make some changes to the style of my blog and figure out exactly what I wanted to do here. I still do, but lately life has gotten in the way. To share the updates that I have of the life variety I've been thinking of weather to do it chronologically or go with the old bad news first, type. I think the latter is the best form for this though because while both are big news items for me, the bad news includes the loss of one of Miss Moose's own.

Miss Chloe Marie
(Adopted) April 2008 - July 27th, 2011

Sadly, kitty girl passed away. It absolutely breaks my heart and I'd give anything to have her back with me and healthy again. Long story short, her kidney's were completely shut down. The vet said that it may have been genetic and there was nothing that could have been done. Tuesday night they took blood and gave her meds and fluids so I could take her home until the final results were in. I got the call Wednesday morning that she was, in fact, in complete renal failure. I set the appointment for 4pm that day. Blessedly, my boss and co-workers are amazing and both Tuesday and Wednesday I was able to leave work by 1pm (instead of my usual 5:15) to tend to Chloe. I knew putting her to sleep was for the best, but I still dreaded it. I wanted her to pass away comfortably at home with me. Apparently that's what she wanted as well. She left this world peacefully at home around 3pm that day, only an hour before her appointment. I miss her like crazy and my apartment has been much quieter with her gone.

Now, the good news...
I have a fella in my life ;o)
(yes, I'm aware I got sunburned...)

The fella's name is Joshua. Or Josh. Or, as I like to be silly and call him - Ua. Haha. We met at a theme night at a local club back at the very beginning of May. We chatted much that night, but didn't trade info and I didn't really think much of it. A few days later it gets back to me that he's been trying to find out who I am... so we connect via the wonder that is facebook. We talk, a lot. A lot, a lot. For a while I was resistant. I kind of like my little single-gal bubble full of books and my own routines and structure. But, one day it was like a switch flipped. After a few months of hanging out occasionally in groups and talking nearly nightly I realized he was someone quite special who could possibly be something very special to me. Right before July 4th we hung out one on one for a movie night that went into the next morning with us just talking and watching movies. A few more one on one evenings and we decided that we would take it to the "official" stage of things. He's pretty amazing. He even took me to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2...at the drive in! He's gotten me outside of my little bookworm box a bit, in a good way. He encourages me to expand myself and try new things. Having him by my side has been some new experiences not so scary... like shooting a gun for the first time (ps - I rocked it that day at the range! He was so proud! Haha). We have his birthday shindig at Cedar Point coming up this weekend, and I am **NOT** a coaster girl in the least... but I promised him I'd try and oddly I am looking forward to it quite a bit. I'm happy and apparently it shows. :o)

Other happenings...

My birthday was yesterday (July 31st). I officially entered my last year of my 20's! I'm 29 now and, unlike many people I know, it doesn't freak me out at all. Maybe it's because no one believes that I'm 29... most guess somewhere in the early twenties up through 25. I definitely don't feel like "an old lady" - nor should I!! It was a fantastic weekend, especially given the not so great week I had (including the loss of my dear Chloe, work was insane due to inspection). A few of us went downtown to see the TPN boys play. We left early due to the massive amounts of people downtown that night... by 1am I was ready to go! I don't generally do the late-night downtown Cleveland thing and that's a good reminder of why! But it was still a fantastic night with some of my favorite people.

Josh pays good attention to what I say, obviously because he got me a book for my birthday! It's a Jane Austen book that has seven of her novels in it. It's beautiful!! I also got a cute bookmark that says "Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake"... since Cupcake is a nickname from friends and an ongoing joke.

Jess and Michele both gave me the gift of beautiful memories. Michele made me a DVD of photos from our few years as friends... stuff of things we did together, a few nights out that I couldn't be at but she documented, and other random memories of people and places and things all montaged to the song "I Hope You Dance". Jess made me a BEAUTIFUL scrapbook. She took it home to finish some pages, but so long as she doesn't mind, once I get it back I'll post some highlights. It is absolutely amazing!

My good friend Bob is an author... his first book Prodigal is available on Amazon and he finished the first draft of his second book yesterday, my birthday. After he allowed me to read a few chapters a while back I've been bugging him to let me read more of it. I received an e-mail last night from him that had the draft of his new book attached for me to read. I am so excited to dive into it!! That's the plan for a little later on today ;o)

As for today... I took the day off work today. I wasn't planning to, but I forgot to say I wanted the day after Relay off with pay so I didn't get paid for it. I figured then that I'd use the paid day today. I have to pay bills and clean... and figure out what I'm making for dinner for the fella and I since he's stopping over after work. I'm finding myself rather inspired today... hopefully it sticks around for a while.

Some changes may be afoot for this blog.... but it'll be the same Miss Moose, only better ;o)

And hopefully I'll be back sooner than later. Every time I promise it, I fail so hopefully not using a promise will be, well, promising!

From zero to YAY!

In an attempt to kick myself in the tush when it comes to reading, I began reading the book Social Lives by Wendy Walker. It seemed like a fairly "easy" read; chick-lit account of privileged adults and teens and the troubles of their lives. I also began reading A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. It's on my TBR list for 2011 and I've been looking forward to it. I'm quite excited by both...
Then I get two e-mails today from my library informing me that two books I had on hold are ready for pick up:

Beastly by Alex Finn

and

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Beastly is on my 2011 Movie Adaptations list, which is pretty much any movie coming out this year that I want to see that had a book predecessor.

My problem now is to figure out how to juggle all four books... I'm thinking of reading Beastly and Sing You Home now, and saving Social Lives and A Clockwork Orange for after since I'm not crazy far into either one of them as of yet.

Hooray for a good library "haul" (I use that loosely since it's just two books). Now the trick will be to stop watching Season 3 of The O.C. on DVD and read this weekend... and get other things done too, of course ;o)

Valentine's Day Must Read

So. I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day. Never have been. I'm of the school of thought that everyday should be about showing the ones we love our appreciation and adoration.
Even if I'm in a relationship, I'm not really a fan. Being single... well that one's obvious. And while I am proud of the fact that I'm independent, it doesn't mean that sometimes I don't become a bit bitter. *ahem*.

"When it comes to love, there are a million theories to explain it. But when it comes to love stories, things are simpler. A love story can never be about full possession. Love stories depend on disappointment, on unequal births and feuding families, on matrimonial boredom and at least one cold heart. Love stories, nearly without exception, give love a bad name . . . .

It is perhaps only in reading a love story (or in writing one) that we can simultaneously partake of the ecstasy and agony of being in love without paying a crippling emotional price. I offer this book, then, as a cure for lovesickness and an antidote to adultery. Read these love stories in the safety of your single bed. Let everybody else suffer."—Jeffrey Eugenides, from the introduction to My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead

[source]

However, at least I know Valentine's Day won't be a complete bust this year. It looks as if I'll be seeing South Pacific at the Playhouse with a good friend on the 12th.

And, of course, while we're on the subject of February 14th related things, I encourage any and all of you reading to become informed about V-Day. Not the day of candy hearts and red roses, but rather a global movement to end violence against women and girls worldwide.

A book, a musical and most importantly a cause to stand behind. Pretty stellar line up if you ask me.

Library Love!

The end of winter break... this is really a bummer. Well, kind of. Another week off would be stellar, but I do miss my kiddos and having a "weekday routine". Maybe if I can stay healthy (unlike last year when I had to get my tonsils out - pronto like) I can take a week off later this year.

It's almost the close of the second day of 2011 and.. I am really ashamed here... I haven't started a book yet! I had no clue what to choose... and I have a pretty large library pile right now to choose from.





As for what book I chose for the first read of 2011? You'll have to wait and see :) (unless, of course, you're my friend on GoodReads because I'm sure I'll update it on there in the nearish future).

2010 Book Survey

Lauren did this, she got it from her hubby and he got the questions from Life With Books.


1. Best books of 2010? Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.

2. Worst book of 2010? There were a few that I started but didn't finish, and I can't seem to recall any of them.

3. Most disappointing book of 2010? Sickened by Julie Gregory. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but for some reason I felt rather... let down.

4. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010? Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. I had tried to read another book of hers at one point and wasn't into it at all, but this one I really enjoyed.

5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010? Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, for sure.

6. Best series you discovered in 2010? The Hunger Games Trilogy, by far.

7. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010? Jen Lancaster.

8. Most hilarious read of 2010? Any of Jen Lancaster's books. She's flippin' hilarious.

9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010? Water for Elephants and The Hunger Games books.

10. Book you most anticipated in 2010? Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Third book in the Hunger Games Trilogy). I had finished the first two shortly before the third came out.

11. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2010?





Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. It's just... pretty. Haha.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

12. Most memorable character in 2010? Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games and Marlena in Water for Elephants.

13. Most beautifully written book in 2010? Water for Elephants wins it again. Though Blankets by Craig Thompson was fantastic as well (though in all fairness it is a graphic novel).

14. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010? The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer.

15. Book you can’t believe you waited until 2010 to finally read? Water for Elephants.

16. Honorable Mentions? House Rules by Jodi Picoult. It was very typical of her style, and in fact, I had it "figured out" within the first few pages. But the fact that she really showed an interest and understanding in the Autistic Spectrum really made this book worth reading.

Ugh. I feel like I didn't read much that was "worth it". That's sad. Hopefully with the TBR challenge for 2011 and some other ideas I have for books to pick up, I'll fair better.

Chances are this will be my last post of 2010, so... I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable New Years Eve! Mine will be spent babysitting. I know, I'm a wild one.

See you next year!

TBR Challenge - 2011

It's no secret that I love to read. It's also no secret that I have a plethora of books that are on my shelves (or on virtual lists of "to-read") that I have yet to pick up and enjoy. So, I thought I'd join the TBR challenge that Lauren of Oh, Lauren posted about.

So my twelve books are:





1. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
3. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
4. The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
5. MiddleSex by Jeffery Eugenides
6. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
7. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
8. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
9. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
10. The Schopenhauer Cure by Irvin Yalom
11. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
12. On The Road by Jack Kerouac

Alternates
1. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
2. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair



Happy reading, friends!