OK, Maybe I'm Not So Smooth, I Just Thought I Was...

I went to the doctor yesterday for another injection. About an hour afterward, I could feel an odd buzzy/tingly sensation in the muscle on my collarbone -- a very strange sensation, to say the least. I've had a buzz before, but never in my freakin' collarbone! Dr. Tan told me to see Magic Fingers today, and then come back for another injection on Thursday -- then back to Magic Fingers on Friday for his special touch. OK, he didn't say that specifically, but really, that's what he meant.

So, I went to Paul "Magic Fingers" today. He wasn't too keen on me getting these injections, but agreed that drastic measures are needed to get my neck to move without excruciating pain. I still have some knots, but I'm not sure they'll ever go away. I think all of those years of playing tenor sax has pretty much ruined my neck.

Enough complaining... I thought I'd tell you what I read while I was traveling and had no access to the internets.

• The Camel Club, by David Baldacci -- A story about 4 eccentric conspiracy-theorists who witness a murder in Washington, DC. Baldacci gives a lot of background information about the CIA, FBI, NSA, politics, terrorism, but the plot was just a bit too implausible for me. He tells a good story, though, so it's worth reading just to learn a few things. It was very clear that Baldacci is not enamored with the current Administration. So, I have to like it just because of that! I'll rate this one 3 1/2 out of 5.

• Lisey's Story, by Stephen King -- Stephen King has been one of my all-time favorite authors since I read "Carrie" when I was 17. I love King's story-telling, but this story was difficult for me to grab onto. He's usually got me hooked on the first page, but this time I had to delve deeper into the novel by several chapters. He had me then -- writing about what he knows best, a writer and his wife of many years. It's a love-story that transcends time in a Stephen King kind of way. This one gets a 4 1/2 out of 5.

• 1st To Die, by James Patterson -- My sister had read this paperback and gave it to me while I was at her house visiting. This was my first Patterson novel, so I wasn't sure what to expect. He grabbed my attention on the first page. I like it when that happens. The setting is San Francisco, and a psycho killer is on the loose killing newlyweds. Four women band together, (a homicide inspector, a medical examiner, an assistant DA, and a reporter) to try to stop the killer. I liked this one a lot because the author takes the reader through a lot of twists and turns. This one gets a 4 out of 5.

• Killer Instinct, by Joseph Finder -- I think I bought this at the airport in Chicago because I was out of reading material. Finder is also a new author to me, but I particularly liked this one because the main character in the story, Jason, is a sales rep for a multi-national electronics firm trying to get his foot in the door of management. Jason is young, married a few short years to his wife, Kate, and very happy with his work and life in general. Then, one day, quite by accident, Jason meets Kurt. Kurt is good at everything he does and is only to happy to help Jason in his quest for a position in management. I'll give this one another 4 out of 5.

• Girls In Pants, The Third Summer of the Sisterhood, by Ann Brashares -- Our niece, Alex, loaned me this one because, once again, I was out of reading material. This is the third book in a series, the first being "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". I read this one on the beach in Langkawi. It's a teen novel, but well written. This is another story about 4 young women who just graduated high school. They've been friends their whole lives, but now each is off on a new adventure to college in four different cities. I enjoyed this one, and I know our niece did. I think younger teenage girls can relate to the characters in this story because it's not a fairy tale. Each girl has some serious issues to face. I'll give this one a 3 1/2 out of 5.

I am currently reading "The War of the World: Twentieth Century Conflict and the Descent of the West" by Niall Ferguson. I just started it this week, and it will take me a long time to get through it. This book is well-researched and there are so many facts to digest, but so far, Ferguson makes it interesting and understandable.

In conversations with Patrick, he's mentioned that I should check out Charles Bukowski. While I was in between appointments the other day, I went to Borders and bought, "Tales of an Ordinary Madness" -- a book of his short stories. This guy makes me sad, sick to my stomach, and sorry, yet he can make me laugh too. How come I'm just now finding out about him? If you're not the squeamish type, you should check him out.