Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Reading Update, Hockey, and Coronavirus

I have plans to go to Las Vegas later this month with my daughter (and her friend) to celebrate her birthday (which isn’t until April, but … hockey). We have tickets to three Vegas Golden Knight games while we’re there (the last three of the regular season). We’ve paid for the flight. We’ve paid for the room. And we’ve paid for the games. We’ve even paid for a trip to see the Grand Canyon while we’re there.

But I just read that the San Jose Sharks are considering closing their arena for their last games due to the coronavirus. That they would play without an audience. If Vegas decides to do the same thing, I don’t know what we’ll do. Do we still go? I’m sure we won’t be able to get our money back on anything, not even the hockey tickets since they were re-sells.

This really sucks!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #9

Dates read: February 26-March 4
Title: The Shape of Night
Year of publication: 2019
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Genre: Suspense/Horror
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 268
Paper or plastic: Hardback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book:. After an unspeakable tragedy in Boston, Ava Collette flees to a remote village in Maine, where she rents an old house named Brodie’s Watch.
    In that isolated seaside mansion, Ava finally feels at peace … until she glimpses the long-dead sea captain who still resides there.
    Rumor has it that Captain Jeremiah Brodie has haunted the house for more than a century. One night, Ava confronts the apparition, who feels all to real, and who welcomes her into his world—and into his arms. Even as Ava questions her own sanity, she eagerly looks forward to the captain’s ghostly visits. But she soon learns that the house she loves comes with a terrible secret, a secret that those in the village don’t want to reveal: Every woman who has ever lived in Brodie’s Watch has also died there. Is the ghost of Captain Brodie responsible, or is a flesh-and-blood killer at work? A killer who is even now circling closer to Ava?
My thoughts: This was a strange book. Kind of like a horror. Kind of suspenseful. But it was kind of sexual (sensual?) too. It’s written in first person present tense, which I didn’t care for. I read it because I like this author, but this is not one of my favorite stories of hers.

Book #10

Dates read: March 5-8
Title: The Damaged
Year of publication: 2019
Author: Brett Battles
Genre: Suspense
Series: Jonathan Quinn #13
# of Pages: 221
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book:. Jonathan Quinn is the best at what he does: making bodies disappear. Within the espionage world, his reputation is impeccable.
    There was a time, thought, when that reputation was still being built under his mentor, Durrie. A time when the very man who had taught Quinn all he knew could have derailed the young cleaner’s future.
    Fifteen years ago, Quinn was offered a job. On the surface, a straightforward mission to stop a terrorist. But the client gave Quinn the additional task of taking on Durrie as his number two, as a last chance for the veteran agent to be rehabilitated.
    Durrie had been on a downward spiral, going from being a highly respected operative to an unreliable has-been. These changes threatened to destroy everything—not only in Quinn’s life, but Orlando’s, too. She was Durrie’s girlfriend, and Quinn’s best friend.
    Both she and Quinn were desperate to help Durrie return to the person he once was. They hoped this job would be the answer. Durrie had other plans.
My thoughts: I really love this series (and it’s not even romance—go figure!). Once I open the books, I just have a horrible time putting them down. And it appears this book took the series in an unexpected direction. I’m digging into the next one now!

So … Should sporting events play without an audience? I can’t imagine it would be very motivating for the home team. This Thursday we’ll be going to Columbus to watch the Penguins beat the Blue Jackets (I’m being positive here, not only for the game to go on, but for us to win). I’m curious how many people will stay away. The governor suggests we don’t go (because of large crowds), but we will. I’m hoping the odds are in our favor of not getting sick. Heck, the airport scares me more than the arena does. Go figure, huh?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

8 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That does suck.
For people at risk, the really young, old, and unhealthy, they should avoid gatherings. For everyone else, we should just continue to live our lives, staying healthy and washing often. I'm more concerned what this is going to do our economy more than anything else. The panic is worse than the disease.

Maria Zannini said...

A lot of venues are closing. I'd ask about refunds anyway. Given that it's happening everywhere, the companies might feel pressure to cooperate rather than look like thieves.

We're hunkering down 2 weeks at a time. That's how long our bread and lettuce supply last. Since I'm prone to respiratory infections and we're in the more affected age group there's no point in going out. I have plenty to do at home anyway.

A whole family came down with Covid 19 in a city near us, including a 2 year old toddler. Now they're tracking down everyone the family visited.

Good luck, Stacy.

The Happy Whisk said...

Sorry to read that you may or may not be out of money if you do or don't go. The thing is, to me, a team member with or without an audience should still be willing to play their best and stay motivated to perform their jobs. When I hear sports members say if there's no audience, they won't play, that makes me barf. Do the job, regardless of ego and audience.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Alex - Sometimes the panic is worse, but in this case, I'm not so sure.

Maria - If they close the arena, I'll certainly see about getting a refund. I just won't hold my breath!

Ivy - Yeah, those who say they won't play without an audience are kind of a dick-head, but I can see how fans help motivate players. Without the fans, there isn't much reason to play.

Jennette Marie Powell said...

Ugh, bummer about your trip - I hope you can get some $$ refunded! I can see both sides of the sporting events thing - here's hoping you get to go AND stay healthy!

Stacy McKitrick said...

Jennette - Guess I don't have to worry about Thursday's game. It won't be open to the public. We'll see if Ticketmaster refunds my money.

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