A big thank you for dropping by last week and posting about your sucka experiences and the charities you support. 
It’s nice to know I’m not the only who’s fallen for ye olde sob story.
I spent last weekend at the Red Dirt Book Festival in Shawnee, Oklahoma. I wrote a detailed blog about it at the League of Reluctant Adults. I’m giving away a Red Dirt Festival tote filled with books. Some are autographed, and all are awesome. You wanna pop over there to read the blog and leave a comment to enter the contest? Go here. I’ll wait. (But come back, ’cause there’s a contest here, too.)
So, while I was at the book festival I thought a lot about books. I know. Weird, right? One train of thought (choo … choo!) was started by a conversation I had with lovely ladies, Cindy the Librarian and Mary-Theresa the Editor. We talked about “keeper” books. The older I get, the less likely I am to re-read a book because hey, so many books so little time. Literally. (Give me a moment while I contemplate the nearness of my 40th birthday. Great. Now I need a chocolate.) But there are those books that have affected me profoundly, and several of those I re-read many times.
I started reading romance novels when I was eleven. I went pretty much from novels like The Pistachio Prescription by Paula Danzinger to Harlequin Romance novels. But the definitive book that sealed my lurve for the romance genre was when I read (at the tender age of twelve) Laurie McBain’s Tears of Gold. I read that book many times. To this day, I can remember the characters and the plot. And while we’re talking about life-changing romance novels, I’ll also need to name A Rose in Winter by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Devereaux, and Shadows and Lace by Teresa Medeiros.
It has not escaped my attention that all these novels are historical, but while the settings are awesome, it is the heroes and heroines of these novels that make them my keepers. (I actually did re-read Shadows and Lace a couple months prior, and it was just as awesome as the first time I read it years ago). Also, because of those books I know what a fortnight is.
In other news, She Speaks sent me a free full-sized Aquafresh. I know you care deeply about my teeth-cleaning habits. Hah. I really shouldn’t have been so mesmerized by the shiny can or by the promise of “iso-active foaming toothgel.” I couldn’t resist trying it. Oh. You know what? I bought into the hype of the Colgate Total commercials and spent the extra moola to get a tube. It’s all right, but whatever ingredient they use to make sure you have 12 hours of fresh breath (yeah, right) taints the taste of food and drink. I don’t mean in a regular toothpaste kind of a way. In metallic icky kind of way.
Anyway. The Aquafresh toothpaste? Awesome. Aquafresh always tastes like candy to me. It requires very little of the gel. I … uh, sorta, overdid so I had more foam-action than I needed. I looked rabid, okay? You’re welcome for the visual. On the up side, my teeth felt really, really clean. And no weird clinging aftertaste, either.
If you want a $1.00 off coupon for Aquafresh (and I have some for other products as well), email me at michelebardsleyATyahooDOTcom. The first three people to ask will get the coupons.
I had a shopping triumph yesterday, and wanted to share. There’s a game my son wants, and a game I want. The boys wants to kill zombies, and I want to rock out. I’m a Reward Zone member at Best Buy, so I often go there for games and electronics. The Reward Zone membership is free. Best Buy keeps track of your purchases and when you reach certain dollar amounts, they issue reward certificates. First, I went to Ebates and used their link to the BB website. I found this, too: A $100 purchase done through PayPal gets $20 cash back (through November 16th). In addition, the game for The Boy is a pre-order and Best Buy had a $10 gift card incentive attached to it. To recap:
I’ll get cash back through Ebates, got a $10 gift card, used my $10 reward certificate, will get $20 from the PayPal promotion, and earned Reward Zone points. Not to mention I’ll get the games, which was the whole point of this experience.
My life is exciting, people.
Speaking of excitement: I’ve been nominated in a Bitten by Books poll for Best Secondary Characters. My friend and fellow League Member Mark Henry is also nominated. You get three votes, so vote for me, vote for Mark, and one of those other authors (whom you’ve probably never heard of … snerk). Vote here.
Once again, I consulted a random number generator to choose the winner of BITE MARKS by Jennifer Rardin and HOT SPELL by Michelle Rowen. Drum roll, please … ~Linda~ you won! Email your mailing address to michelebardsleyATyahooDOTcom.
Leave a comment to tell me about your keepers, or your favorite toothpaste, or your favorite shopping triumph and you’ll be entered to win two books by a League member: Staked and Revamped by J.F. Lewis.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
OMG…trip down memory lane…my copy of KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR is falling apart and tear-stained. I sobbed right along with Dougless when she ended up back in our time. Every once in a while my eyes will light on it on the bookshelf and I have to read it again….and sob.
OMG…I totally just blew my mean tough gal image, huh?
November 11th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Ok so I’m going to have to try the new Aquafresh! Nice! I thinking here. I have kept children’s books through the years. Peter rabbit, Winnie the Pooh and some Judy Blume’s. as an adult…I have some autographed ones that won’t go anywhere and the Bridges of Madison county has alot of sentimental value to me! I still reading you blogs and have not gotten to the chocolate….gasp…must get chocolate…must get chocolate oh and coffee refill to!
November 11th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I’m a Crest user. I just purchased a new tube and was astounded at the choices just for Crest. I just wanted plain old Crest, which I eventually found. Searching through all the different Crests gave me a headache.
I keep most books (ask Ter, she’s seen my house!). I love Dracula by Bram Stoker and Mary Stewart’s Arthurian series (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment, and The Wicked Day). Also love H.P. Lovecraft, William Tenn, and Peter S. Beagle. I read all of these when I was a preteen and have read these authors’ books several times.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
I am a Colgate user.
I have very few books that I consider keepers. Stephen King books are my keepers, the Harry Potter series and Tolkien.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
OMG I loved A Knight in Shining Armor! So much that I swore if I ever had a girl I’d name her Douglass. So good!
November 11th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I have such a hard time getting rid of books. I am getting to the point where I have no more storage, then I’ll decide but until then, just about every book is a keeper.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I love cinnamon flavor creast. I also tried the new sensodyne Pronamel and I love it. I can actually eat ice cream without my teeth hurting. I have so many books I tried parting with some of them but it’s so hard.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I agree with Kimmy, cinnamon flavored Crest is the best! There are very few toothpaste options for those of us who don’t like mint. The cinnamon goodness rocks my world! LOL
November 11th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
The cinnamon crest sounds pretty good! I have toothpaste because to me it all makes liquids taste nasty…but, I do brush my teeth. I luv the visual of you foaming at the mouth….I read and keep just about every book I ever bought…several years ago I gave away about 250 books (didnt put a dent in what I still had) and it about broke my heart. I have collected all of Dorothy Garlock’s books, Judith McNaught, Valerie Sherwood (dating myself, yes I am older than you). Also, I have discovered and acquired all the books in Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake series and am working on the Meredith series. Thanks for the fun chat.
jo
November 11th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Michele I agree with you that Aquafresh is awesome. My oldest think what catches my attention sometimes is hysterical. The first time I purchased Aquafresh I spent the rest of the day asking everyone opinion how they thought the stripes were put in the tube without squshing them and they came out so perfect!
November 11th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Hi Michele
My keepers include 100s of novels.
King of course, and George R.R. Martin.
Thanks for sharing,
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
November 11th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
My Keepers are all the Books by Christine Feehan,and a hole set of books by Lynn Kurland a time travel series,and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter Series.and I can go on and on.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo(dot)com
November 11th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
I have a bunch of keepers going back years, so totally depending on my mood I can reread something I loved.
I am going to have to try that new Aquafresh. I havent seen it but it is the brand I usually get.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:34 am
I am still in love with the Aquafresh. It’s kinda silly how much I like brushing my teeth now. LOL.
So glad to know so many of you loved KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, too. And wept, too.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:48 am
I love aqua fresh lol great minds as for my keeper shelf i fell in love with Linda howards After the night her books rock btw but that book ive read at least 12 times it never gets old i save all my books Nora Roberts and linda howard get their own shelf on my bookshelf tho. I get greta deals when i shop at the dollar saver mani love that store i baught 5 pairs of fuzzy socks for 5 bucks yeah its my fav store on the planet
November 12th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I got the free Aquafresh too and I also had the rabid, foaming experience. Who knew a little went a long way…..LOL.
Of course all your books are on my keeper shelf. I still have some of the Nancy Drew books I read as a kid and some seriously old books that were my Grandmother’s like a gorgeously illustrated copy of Little Women from the 1930s.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Wow, Kathleen Woodiwiss, that brings back memories! I was a BIG Barbara Cartland fan! My favorite shopping triumph took place a couple of years ago.
The company I worked for gave all employees a $100 bank gift card. Of course, I headed over to Amazon and loaded up with as many “buy 3 get the 4th free” books. Once I finished, I was left with $1.96 on the card!
Thanks,
Tracey D
November 12th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I had a shopping triumph at a charity thrift store a few months ago. I always check out the book section first (surprise! LOL!), and I found a huge amount of YA fantasy novels I wanted! It looked like someone’s whole collection, and the lady who worked there told me they had just come in, so my timing was great! To make it even better, it was their sale day for books, and hardcovers were only $1.00 each, and paperbacks were 50 cents each! Score!
November 14th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Johanna – My keepers include the Anita Blake Series as well.
Karen – My local Salvation Army also seems to have an awesome rotation of books… at Ninety Percent OFF cover price
I keep most books I read BUT my fav romance that I got addicted to as a preteen were Julie Garwood’s Guardian Angel from the Lyon Series.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
well thanks alot for making me remember Laurie McBain! Sheesh, like I need to make time to go rummaging through the boxed books looking for hers! I LOVED them! Whatever happened to her?
November 16th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I use Sensodyne myself
However we do have to buy various types and flavors of toothpaste to keep my 4 year old interested in brushing her teeth! Right now she like his free sample of kids paste we got because it’s blue and has sparkles in it. She thinks it’s glitter and after she brushes her teeth asks if we can see the glitter on her teeth! I will do whatever it takes to keep that girl brushing her teeth!
November 17th, 2009 at 12:24 am
I am a book hoarder. I have kept every book I have ever purchased and I have been buying books for a very long time. I really treasure my Kathleen Woodiwiss and Johanna Lindsey collection. They are older books, but still great reads.