Category: Uncategorized

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to read from my TBR bookshelf as much as possible; in the past I have really only managed to add to it, not subtract from it. I am happy to report I am making some progress though not as much as I had hoped. I keep getting good recommendations from friends and wouldn’t you just know it, I end up getting these new titles sent to me via Paperback Swap.
Another resolution I made regarding books is to go through my bookshelf with a critical eye; if a book has been sitting on a shelf for over two years, it needs to go. See in the past, if I found a book uninteresting I would put it back to try again at a later time. Many times the book would “click” with me the second time around, but I am finding I am keeping books after a second and third try. This year I vowed to be brutal in my attempt to clean my shelf. I have already traded several of my unread books and plan to continue with my vow of a brutal attack to clean out my bookshelf, after all a clean shelf needs new books!

Speaking of brutal, our company seems to be winding down; as if our company is its death throes. We are not getting any building contracts as businesses are no longer coming to Nevada in droves looking for new buildings. It is a scary time, and very boring for me. Since the three owners are not doing much, I am not doing much; as their executive secretary, I only have things to do when they do. What is a bored woman to do? Play on the internet! I have spent a lot of time doing things I never thought I would do at work; read The Huffington Post, answer stupid questions on Yahoo Answers, etc. Once my paper work is done (which sadly now takes just a couple of hours) I am free to stare out the window or become an expert web surfer.

While on the internet the other day I logged onto my page at bookblogs.ning.com. I like this site because of its reader’s forum. Readers post questions to each other; I have found some intelligent conversations on this site. I posted a question asking readers for biography recommendations. One lady named Hava answered and invited me to visit her non-fiction review site. I did and instantly felt at home. Here you will find a blog reviewing non-fiction books and an interesting take on working in a library. I highly recommend Hava’s blog.

Yes I would rather be working hard with little time to check my e-mail much less surfing the web, but the way things are going in our business I am grateful to have found blogs like Hava’s and sites like Book-Blog .

How about you? Do you keep books even when they no longer seem interesting or you wonder why you bought it in the first place?

When you are surfing the web, what book related sites do you visit? Why? Help me find new places to visit while I still have a job, or give me something to look at in between sending out resumes.

The Crusades brought The Knights Templar wealth and power more than any other religious order of that time. The Pope allowed the order to forgo taxation, tithing, and encouraged their self governance; because of this many of Europe’s Kings became jealous and suspicious of the order. The Knights had castles all over Europe and after the crusades they split their time between being pious monks and fighting eastern battles. Some European rulers feared a Templar uprising though this fear had no foundation.

By the 1300s Jerusalem was under Muslim rule while Europe was broken up in small and large kingdoms. France was ruled by Philip the Fair (which is an ironic name considering what he did to the order) who needed money to finance his quest to conquer the surrounding smaller countries and become the European seat of power. Phillip knew the Templers answered only to the Pope and any king who wanted complete control had to have the financial means and papal consent. Phillip saw the Knights Templar as a hindrance to his goal so naturally he had to strip them of their power and wealth.

On Friday October 13, 1307 King Phillip had the French Templars rounded up and arrested for heresy and treason. Pope Clement had consented to the arrest after Phillip had falsely accused them of all manner of immoral acts. Almost two years after being arrested most Templars were executed and in 1312 the order was dissolved. The French people were so saddened by the actions of King Phillip and shocked that the holy order was accused of such unchristian behavior that to this day, Friday the 13 is a very unlucky day.

Personally Friday the 13th has been a lucky day for me. Why just day I received a phone call from a employment agency that specializes in white collar jobs. I was shown page after page of good paying jobs I qualify for. Since my job may not be around much longer I felt this phone call was a lucky break.
How about you? How do you feel about Friday the 13th?