Book Review - The Shattered Spire by Ted Cross

 This book took me way too long to read. No fault of the book. Too many headaches.

This was a really good book. Fast paced. Likeable characters. Great world building. And of course, it has a dragon. 

The point of view changes with each character, so you know what's going on at that specific time. I've read many books like this. I enjoy it. You get to know the characters better. 

The dragon. It's big, huge and black. Nasty bugger. 

The world. It's not Earth, as it has three moons. This world was well thought out. 

I recommend this book, especially if you enjoy reading about dragons and sword fighting, kings and knights. This book had it all. Oh & that cover. It is amazing.

Book Review - MANY WORLDS - The Novelettes of T. E. Mark - Vol VIII

 Well....where to start. Let's start with the first story, SIM

SIM

The story is fast paced. The characters are likeable. It has a unique story. The one thing that I didn't enjoy in it, was the way it jumped back and forth from the SIM to the present world. It if would have been written with chapters, it would have been less confusing. After awhile, I got used to the way it was written. It didn't bother me quite as much. I did end up enjoying the story. The ending was fitting to the situation/plot. 

VINDICATION

This story too was fast paced. It had good, well developed characters. I had an interesting plot. This one wasn't as confusing as the first story. The future world was quite interesting. The ending was good. It had a happy ever after. 

 

MANY WORLDS

I didn't care, in the beginning, about this story. I found it difficult to like the characters. The story itself was good. It was a bit slow at first. After the climax, the story pace really picked up and I enjoyed it a lot more. By then, the characters became more likeable or disliked, depending on the said character. The ending was good. Everything seemed to have been resolved.

 

In summary, the stories themselves were all interesting and well plotted out. They were all resolved at the end, which each ending satisfying. I did end up enjoying these stories. Yet, I'm still not a fan of short stories.  

Book Review: The Next Time I Die by Jason Starr

 Well...that was a good read. What if? What if there are multiple universes and that when you die, you get placed in a different universe? What if...

That is the premise of this book. It was very well executed. The author did a great job at creating alternate universes. The characters are well developed and change along with the universe. 

What if, you woke up after something tragic happened to you & you were the same, but everybody else was different? This happens to our main character. He goes through his life, like nothing has changed, only things have. 

The story itself has a good pace to it. A little bit slow for the first few chapters, but once it picks up, it picks up. It keeps at that pace right to the end. With that happening, you keep on wanting to read to see what happens next. 

I really enjoyed this book. It was a good read. A bit of a mystery with some science fiction mixed into it. Things I enjoy reading. Read it. You won't be disappointed. 

Winter Storm Warning

 

4:27 AM CDT Tuesday 12 April 2022
Winter storm warning in effect for:

• Mun. of Emerson-Franklin incl. Roseau River
• R.M. of De Salaberry incl. St-Pierre-Jolys and St. Malo
• R.M. of Hanover incl. Steinbach Niverville and Grunthal
• R.M. of La Broquerie incl. Marchand
• R.M. of Ritchot incl. St. Adolphe and Ste. Agathe
• R.M. of Ste. Anne incl. Richer
• R.M. of Stuartburn incl. Zhoda Vita and Sundown
• R.M. of Tache incl. Lorette Ste-Geneviève and Landmark

Hazardous winter conditions are expected.

Major spring storm poised to wallop southern Manitoba beginning overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning and lasting until Friday morning. Widespread snowfall accumulations of 30-50 cm accompanied by northerly winds gusting 60-70 km/h giving zero visibility at times in snow and blowing snow.

A Colorado low will move towards Minnesota Tuesday night bringing a heavy swath of snow through most of southern Manitoba. The snow will start early Tuesday evening near the International border then push northward throughout the night. By Wednesday morning heavy snow will be falling in much of the area as the storm continues to push northward. Strong northerly winds will develop with this system and persist into Friday morning as the low slowly pivots through Minnesota on it's way into northwestern Ontario.

For the City of Winnipeg and points southeastward, a break in the snow may occur on Wednesday afternoon or evening before snow re-intensifies overnight into Thursday. 15 to 20 cm is likely by Wednesday afternoon, with a further 15 to 20 cm likely with the second area of snow overnight Wednesday through Thursday and Thursday night.

By Friday morning, widespread snowfall accumulations of 30 to 40 cm are likely.

Travel will become increasingly difficult as the day progresses Wednesday, with widespread highway closures a near-certainty. By Wednesday evening even travel within communities may become impossible as the heavy snow and strong winds continue... and more of the same is expected on Thursday.

Do not plan to travel - this storm has the potential to be the worst blizzard in decades. Stock up on needed supplies and medications now. Power outages are likely, rural areas in particular should be prepared for extended outages.

Conditions should begin to improve on Friday as the winds taper off and the heaviest snow moves into northern Ontario...although the clean-up after this storm will likely last well into next week.

Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. Rapidly accumulating snow will make travel difficult. Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas. Heavy snowfall accumulation combined with strong winds may cause damage to trees or other structures. Poor weather conditions may contribute to transportation delays.

Winter storm warnings are issued when multiple types of severe winter weather are expected to occur together.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to MBstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #MBStorm.

 

 

And So It Begins...

 

And so it begins...If we're going to start winter, we might as well do it all at once. In one or two days. 😳

 

4:22 AM CST Tuesday 09 November 2021

Special weather statement in effect for:

Mun. of Emerson-Franklin incl. Roseau River

R.M. of De Salaberry incl. St-Pierre-Jolys and St. Malo

R.M. of Hanover incl. Steinbach Niverville and Grunthal

R.M. of La Broquerie incl. Marchand

R.M. of Ritchot incl. St. Adolphe and Ste. Agathe

R.M. of Ste. Anne incl. Richer

R.M. of Stuartburn incl. Zhoda Vita and Sundown

R.M. of Tache incl. Lorette Ste-Geneviève and Landmark

First winter storm of the season for southern Manitoba...

One last day of pleasant weather is on tap before an approaching winter storm brings an abrupt return to reality later this week. Sunny skies and mild temperatures today will give way to increasing clouds tonight and then rain mixed with snow on Wednesday.

Wednesday will be a messy day, with a rain/snow mix over much of the region accompanied by a risk of freezing rain. Air and ground temperatures a bit above zero should limit snowfall accumulation during the day, however colder air wrapping into the system late in the day will change the precipitation completely over to snow, and accumulating snow is expected to continue through Thursday.

Widespread snowfall accumulations of 10 to 20 cm are expected by Friday morning, with greater amounts over higher terrain and in localized areas downwind of the Manitoba lakes, which are expected to enhance snowfall amounts. The greatest accumulations will be over the higher terrain in the Parklands region of western Manitoba, where 50 cm is possible by Friday morning. A winter storm watch has been issued for this region.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to MBstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #MBStorm.

Hilarious - Lena and Ole Joke

Lena is pregnant with Ole's child. Late one night, Lena wakes Ole and says, 'I tink it's time!' So Ole fired up the John Deere tractor and took her to the hospital to have their first baby.

She had a little boy, and the doctor looked over at Ole and said, 'A son! Ain't dat Great!' Well, Ole got excited by dis, but just then the doctor spoke up and said, 'Hold on! We ain't finished yet!'

The doctor then held up a little girl.. He said, 'Hey, Ole! You got you a daughter!' She's a pretty little ting, too.'

Ole got kind of puzzled by this, an then the doctor said, 'Holey Moly Ole, we still ain't done yet!' The doctor then delivered another boy and said, "Ole, you yust had yourself another boy!" Ole was flabbergasted by this news!

A couple days later, Ole brought Lena and their 3 children home in the self-propelled combine. He was real serious and he asked Lena, 'How come we got tree on the first try?'

Lena said, 'You remember dat night we ran out of Vaseline and you vent out in the garage and got dat dere 3-in-1 Oil?'

Ole said, 'Yeah, I do.. Uffda! It's a darn good ting I didn't get the WD-40!!

 

The Death of Common Sense

 This still holds true today with Covid being around

THE DEATH OF COMMON SENSE

 Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend by the name of Common Sense who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

 He will be remembered as having cultivated such valued lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird get the worm and that life isn’t always fair.

 Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge). His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

 Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition!

 It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

 Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became business and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, spilled it in her lap, and was awarded a huge settlement.

 Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

 He is survived by two stepbrothers; My Rights and Ima Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

 If you knew him pass this on, if not you can only give him a second death. Rest in Peace Common Sense, We're gonna miss you.