A Song In Honor Of Brooke's 11th Gotcha Day

I wrote this song for Brooke's 10th birthday, but I think it deserves a reboot in honor of her 11th "Gotcha Day," as greyhound adoption people call the anniversary of the day that we brought our beloved hounds home. Not much has changed in the last two and a half years, except that now she begs to have her teeth brushed and I have to beg her to eat most of the time. But she's still my sweet, exasperating, funny, incredibly beautiful, darling girl. She's just such a character, I'm so grateful for every moment that I've been able to spend with her.

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Sung to the tune of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria from The Sound of Music. And heavily lifted from the same:

She runs around and scrapes her knee
She likes to sniff my hair
She barks at me before dinner
And sleeps upon the stair
I'd like to think she loves me
But she really doesn't care
I even caught her trying to run away!

She's always late for teeth brushing
And she sheds a great deal
She's always late for everything
Except for every meal
I hate to have to say it
But I very firmly feel
Brookie's not an asset to the household

I'd like to say a word in her behalf
Brookie makes me laugh

How do you solve a problem like my Brookie?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means my Brookie?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!

Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand

Oh, how do you solve a problem like Brookie?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

When I'm with her I'm confused
Out of focus and bemused
And I never know exactly where I am
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling! She's a demon! She's a lamb!

She'd outpester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle! She is wild!
She's a riddle! She's a child!
She's a headache! She's an angel!
She's a girl!

How do you solve a problem like Brookie?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Brookie?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!

Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand

Oh, how do you solve a problem like Brookie?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
 

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Review: The Dead of Night by Peter Lerangis, Cahills vs. Vespers Book 3

The Dead of Night by Peter Lerangis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This wasn't my favorite in the series. This series is always a bit strange with the author changing every book, some of the books just work better than others, and this one wasn't one of the best. The storytelling was smooth enough, and I felt like Lerangis captured some of the emotional jeopardy and growth that the kids are going through, but it wasn't as exciting as I've come to expect, and the historical content was very disappointing. I still like the addition to the series of Atticus and Jake, and we saw a bit more of Evan in this installation as well. I liked what Ian's story as well. And Dan's continued struggle with his darker emotions was interesting. But this really wasn't the best entry in the Cahill vs. Vespers series or certainly the 39 Clues series. 

In addition, I have to reiterate how disappointed I am that Scholastic chose to print these books in China.

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Review: Undone Deeds by Mark Del Franco

Undone Deeds by Mark Del Franco

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book was a real mixed bag for me. I've liked this series very much and I was really looking forward to this final book. Del Franco writes great characters and I was eager to see how they were doing and what was going to happen next. Not only Connor, but secondary characters are also well developed. There's conflicted cop Murdock, new to his Druidic skills, as are his bitter and angry brothers who are targeting Connor with their wrath. Smart forensic scientist Janey is a treat. Connor's mom was newly introduced but well-used element with her fun, fluttery, but very clever and deeply perceptive ways. Joe is always great, although I missed some of the humor this time, maybe he was just too familiar, but the loyalty was there. Eorla was gracious and charming, as was Ceridwen, who also had a splash of humor. And of course there's Meryl, brilliant, wise, sarcastic, cautiously loving, loyal, bold and sassy Meryl.  And there were appearances by many more favorites including Tibbit, Keeva, Briallen, Dr. Gillen. The vivid and well developed characters helped make the story come to life.

But Del Franco did tend to repeat himself a lot, that got a bit irritating. For example, he mentions the abandoned and fire damaged buildings over and over again. It's nice to set a scene, but I got it the first few times it was mentioned. There were also infodumps about the past books, but the truth is that I did need them, there was a lot of detail that there was no way that I could have remembered. Maybe that means that things were just to complicated or confusing, considering how things turned out in the end, but I needed the reminders so I was glad they were there.  

My biggest issue is what felt like a major change in Connor's direction and character. The series started out with Connor being a down on his luck PI because his abilities were not working. He was investigating cases with Leo Murdock. Then the long story arc kicked in with Vize and the budding war web Maeve, fine, but Connor was still involved as a representative of the government and a Druid. This book took things in a whole other direction with what Connor's roll in everything was. And there isn't much where I can look back and say, yeah, sure, he was laying the groundwork for that there. Things are just suddenly really different for Connor in this book, who he is, who he's been, what everyone else around him has known about it, and what he's going to have to do about it.

And frankly, I really didn't understand a lot of went on near the end of the book as well. We got answers, which was great. But I didn't always understand them or their implications very well. The mystical stuff was odd and confusing more than thrilling. And then there's what should have been a big emotional moment and I totally missed it. When I saw how characters were responding afterward I realized what must have happened and went back to read it and still missed it, not much of a killer climax after all. 

I read a lot of urban fantasy. I like big cool trick-me endings. If he could have pulled something off that felt magical and wonderful I'd be the first to be telling everyone all about it. I really, really wanted to love this book. But I really just didn't understand a lot of the choices and then almost anything about what happened at the end. 

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