Sniff, Sniff, Heavy Sigh

Why do I continue to do this to myself? I spent the afternoon sewing ornaments, listening to a book on CD and wiping tear stains off my glasses.

I should have learned from Marley and Me. I cried for hours during and after I listened to the novel. Months later, I can still tear up just thinking about it. All of the Nicholas Sparks books I've ever read have reduced me to puddles. So, pray tell, why did I put The Last Song on my waiting list at the library. And when it came in, why did I actually pick it up and bring it home?

I do suppose it was not as devastating as Marley and Me. But, it was enough to make me poke my fingers with needles because I was blinded by tears, drip liquids from my nose onto my lap and pretend I had something in my eye when the boys got home from school.

The saddest part? It was a really cheesy, first-love story with undertones of petty criminals, a sick father, a cheating mother and a cute little brother. I loved every minute of it!

So, what have you been reading? Anything funny? I really do prefer those! What about a good mystery? I need some new authors on my list...preferably those who have books on CD since I can no longer hold books for an extended period of time with my arms stretched to their full length. Turning 40 sucks!

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

After reading Marley and Me, I needed to read some funny fiction. While roaming the Audiobook aisle in the library, the cover of this book sucked me in!

I think Dog On It is one in a series of Chet and Bernie Mysteries. The unique thing about this book is that it's written in the voice of the dog, Chet. Chet flunked out of police K-9 School when his last test was infiltrated by a cat and he chose to chase the cat instead of the job. Now he works with Bernie, a divorced father of one, a sometimes heavy drinker, and in debt up to his eyeballs Private Investigator.

They set out to investigate a missing teenager but wind up tangling with the Russian mob in the desert of New Mexico. From the perspective of a dog, the story is very entertaining.

I think I'll check to see if the library has more Chet and Bernie Mysteries. I'd like to hear all of the details of flunking out of K-9 school!

Marley and Me by John Grogan

Since I turned 40, my eyesight has turned horrible. I can't see well enough to read because my arms aren't long enough or stong enough to hold the book at full stretch for an extended period of time. There are about a million books I want to read, so I have become addicted to audiobooks. There are usually about 7 cases in my car at any given time. Thank heavens our local library is well stocked and allows folks to request books on-line.

Last week, it was finally my turn to listen to Marley and Me. I had put off reading this book because I knew how it ended. For this same reason, I didn't see the movie. I am NOT a pretty crier! I figured I could listen to the first 8 out of 9 discs while out and about without threat of crying while driving. Not so! Early on in the book, I was in tears when Jenny had a miscarriage. I was headed to a yard sale while listening and had to get my face straight before getting out of the truck.

I laughed at so many parts of the book because my Riley Dog had done the same crazy thing that Marley had done. Thank God Riley never hung out of the car window while driving down the highway like Marley did! My Riley did eat fire starters not once, but twice. After running through the yard pooping out the first one (he didn't need a match to feel the burn), I was amazed that he was crazy enough to eat another one. Both dogs are afraid of thunder storms. Both have torn up the garage. Both drag themselves along the couch to get a rubdown.

My Riley is almost 10 years old and is starting to slow down. Just the thought of not having him in my life makes me teary. Recently, I wrote about a trip to the vet when another family was bringing their old basset hound in to be put to sleep...http://chickensinthebasement.blogspot.com/2009/02/puppy-love.html It was heartbreaking and I didn't even know them.

When I got to the last CD, I knew it was coming. I took the CD into the bathroom so I could listen and get dressed. I should have known better! I cried ugly, hard, loud tears! There is no way I could have read this in traditional book form. I wouldn't be able to read through the blurr of my tears! The tears and "stuff" that ran down my face would have landed on the book and made the ink run, the pages stick together and way too gross to loan friends and family! Every time I thought I was done crying, I made an effort to put on make up only to cry it off again. The third time was a charm. There was no hope for my red rimmed eyes, though.

It was a wonderful book! All dog lovers should read Marley and Me. Take my advice...Don't read the last few chapters while laying out on the beach, waiting in carpool, or in any public place. Keep a box of Kleenex in your lap!

Riley Dog, you are a GREAT DOG!