Do you know what my favorite part of my days off are? No, it's not that actual day off, although nice… it's the night before my day off. When I get home from working 8 hours knowing that my entire day is behind me, that I got paid for it, that I made it through and that I don't have to go back to work the next day. The night before a day off is when I can really relax and not think about work looming in the not-so-distant- future. I can stay up late if I want to… it is filled with endless possibilities. Well, providing I get home at a decent hour and I'm not working a closing shift the night before my day off.
Speaking of days off, it sucks to have a cold and feel like crap when 2 days in a row roll around. I guess though, in the long run, I'm glad that if I'm going to be sick, I'd rather do it on my days off than to work when I feel crappy or even worse, to call in.
Nothing much has been going on here other than I'm working about 40 hours a week, which is good because we SO need the money. The Hunk has applied at my work as well and they might hire him on as seasonal help but it's still a good way to get his foot in the door, you know? We'll see how it goes. There are circumstances that could jeopardize his chances so… we'll see. If he could get hired on as overnight help though, it'd be perfect that our hours would work out so that we wouldn't need daycare (which we can't afford) because one of us would always be home.
In other news, I've finished the Outlander series (the books that are currently out) and I must say that this series…. God. I don't know. It might surpass A Song Of Ice And Fire as my favorite book series. They are both written so differently though that I really can't say, all I know is that I have never mourned finishing a series as much as I'm mourning this one. Normally, when I read a series of books and I come to the end of the latest release, I'm of course eager to read the next and sad that the storyline, at least for a time is suspended. I have SO many other books and series to start reading though, that it's never really been an issue beyond that. I've always been eager to start reading new books, having them already outlined of what I'd start next even before I finished the last book of the current series I'm reading. This book series though… I couldn't bring myself to start reading for a few days. Seriously unlike me! The characters feel like very close friends, family even, and the beauty (and sometimes aggravating) style that Gabaldon writes in, you really DO feel that you've traveled a million miles and many years with these people. After each book, I'd always have to take a little break just because I felt so weary and aged by the time I got finished. It was great!
To say that this series is a time travel genre book is just too simple. It's everything. There has been no greater hero written, in my opinion, than Jamie Fraser. He's every woman's dream in a very, very real sort of way. I love that he's sensitive, strong, and honorable and undoubtedly flawed (much having to do with said honor). I don't think that there's any other book character that I love so much as to even excuse the fact that he gave his wife a good 'thrashing' with a belt and I still forgave him. Diana Gabaldon has written not only a romance novel but she's re-written the whole concept of book romance in my opinion. She's taken the formulaic way of "boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy and girl give into lust, boy and girl live happily ever after" and has actually written a story about the marriage. About how two people can meet and be thrown together, fall in love and overcome tremendous obstacles while actually growing, and moving beyond the 'infatuation' of each other into a deep and comforting love that still sizzles.
I'm sure that the experience of her own successful marriage gives truth and some commonality to Claire and Jamie's marriage that we all share. I remember reading a part where Claire, for whatever reason, was awake at night while Jamie was sleeping soundly. She knew the distinct way he breathed when sleeping and laid there listening until he rolled over and farted in his sleep. Real romantic huh? Hehe, no but it is very true for anyone who's slept next to a man long enough.
For the most part, once I read a book, I don't find as much enjoyment in re-reading it. In fact, I don't think I've ever been able to read a book all the way through twice. When I know what happens, I know what happens. Outlander though seriously has me wanting to read it again. I miss the characters. I think about them a lot. I hear their voices going on in my head (no, not in the crazy way… I don't think…) and I just plain miss them. I miss the way that Jamie shows his love to Claire, his words, his actions. I miss Roger and his struggles to feel adequate as a man, husband and father. I miss Brianna and her growth as a woman and feeling a bond with her through motherhood and all the emotions and feelings it brings with it. I miss the humor, like when Claire tried to explain 'sperm' to Jamie and showed him what they looked like in the microscope (to this he clutched his crotch protectively) and all the underlying story plots that are still going on.
I know there are some people who have stopped reading the series because they grow tired of Claire and Jamie never getting that 'happily ever after'. I don't see it that way. They had to overcome 2 centuries worth of being apart and I think that no matter what comes their way, they are together. They are living the Happily Ever After, it's just not all roses. I personally like seeing them overcome their trials because Gabaldon has a way of writing that doesn't make you feel like, *groan* "How much more can these people take? This is depressing." Well maybe it was depressing at times but that only made the sweet times all the sweeter.
Anyway, for those of you who like really in depth books about more than just 'time travel' (which honestly is a secondary plot device, secondary to the characters) and more than just a 'romance' novel, but like characters that you laugh and cry with, mystery, murder, war, family, and people that you fall in love with, I highly suggest this series. Highly. It's just that good.
Book 7 is in the works, but it takes her 3+ years to write a book between research, writing, and the travel that her publishers put her through. So far, she's got the first line so… it looks like I might be waiting a while to find out what Claire and Jamie are up to next. Trust me, I simply can't wait.
To bide my time though, I've picked up The Pride of Lions by Marsha Canham. It's a historical romance set in Jacobite Scotland during the Rising. This is also a time period that the first Outlander book took place so it's kind of cool to see another writers take on it. I'm also finishing the Highlander series by Karen Marie Moning. They are excellent romance books for those looking for light, romantic with some sizzle. I won't go as far as to say they are 'fluff', but after reading Diana Gabaldon… they kinda are, but still very, very good. I still have the "Dark" series (Carpathian Vampires) by Christine Feehan to start and also another vampire series called The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. R. Ward. Ever since starting Sherrilyn Kenyon books, I have a new thing for vampires. As long as they are well written and not 'cookie cutter' vamps, I'm happy. I also have the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton to start on but I don't have all the books in the series yet, and I hate, hate starting a series that I can't read through. It isn't vampires but a story of a Fairy princess who's a private investigator. Yeah… I'm not too sure about this series either, but I hear it is good and I love/hate the Anita Blake series by the same author, so we'll see. I have about 60 other books to read too so I'm sure that I won't be at a loss for anything to read before the next Outlander book. Still though, I know that when it comes out, I'm going to drop whatever I'm reading for that one. J
Ok, I'm hungry so heading out. Later taters!
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