Monday Stuff on the Way to Other Stuff: 'Finishing'

Now that I have a little sleep (and one book signing) under my belt, it's time to start cleaning up around here. I only have one appraisal to do -- and big plans to spend the rest of the time finishing unpacking and getting completely caught up on everything before Friday night -- and the next book signing.

     It would be wonderful.

The apples are safely in the fridge now, but won't last -- they got banged up enough in the suitcases, coming home. I need to process them into something... apple pies? Jam? Dumplings?
     First things first, though. Maybe next week.

Meanwhile:

An outstanding autograph/signature auction is happening this week in Dallas. Click on the link for direct access; letters from Abraham Lincoln, Hemingway, Agatha Christie and all sorts of politicos are included. Plus one from my personal buddy, Charles Dickens. (His is going for only $2500 -- actually a bargain for a two-page letter and envelope.) From Heritage Auctions.

Sears declares bankruptcy! This affects not only Sears, but Kmart.

Five movie stunts that went horribly wrong. Did you know Kate Winslet almost drowned while making Titanic? (From Cracked)

Boston Baked Beans.  Perfect for a rainy, blustery night. Think I'll make 'em this week.  (From Hundred Dollars A Month) Speaking of blustery:

What the Wisconsin/Illinois college football game looked like this weekend. Snow!

Jayme Closs's parents are dead... where is she? There seem to be hints that she was involved in this situation in ways that the police are not specifically alleging right now. Curious.

Ten things you didn't know you could freeze. Or maybe you did. (From Moneysaving Mom) And as a side:

Freezing taco meat (one of the 10 things, above): how to do it, how to stretch it, and some good recipes.

Celebrities who've been thrown off or denied entry to planes. The list seems endless...obviously, the "Do you know who I am?" argument isn't working.

An 'inconvenient truth' about the Republican party:

    You can certainly argue with this...but it is historical fact. 


Weird vintage photos of people, places and things...with the flu.

And to finish up -- an interesting threesome from Listverse:

Ten extraordinary dogs -- and the lives they saved.

Strange things that happened when celebrities died without a will. (A good lesson for us commoners.)

Ten intriguing and 'new' discoveries about Neanderthals.


Have a great week.