We've been going to the pool once or twice a day, and some of that time I have to spend in a lounge chair, lounging. I think it's a law or something. I'll look it up later. Also, I think I'm breaking another law that requires a piña colada or margarita or something to be in hand, but I'll have to look into that, too.

But sitting in a lounge chair poolside also requires something else (well, two something elses if you count a sexy pool boy, but I am not holding my breath for that one): a cheesy, juicy, non-taxing novel to read. Since I'm not a fan of traditional romance novels and I've never read any of the Sookie Stackhouse books, I decided to start there.

The only problem is, I loved it so much I devoured it in a day and a half. Now I need more.

I also decided to check out the HBO series based on the novels, True Blood. I couldn't wait to see if HBO could live up to the sexy vampire image embedded into popular culture by Count Floyd. I know people just rave about that show, so I had high expectations.

First, the good. I like the casting. The parts that followed the book were well done. I like the vampires, and the fangs are pretty realistic. I also like Chris Isaak.

But I don't like several things. For one, I don't like the fact they added that new "sassy black best friend" character, I don't like that she's a cliché, I don't like how much of the series is spent on her back story and story line trying to prove to us that she's not a cliché, and I especially don't like that she's having sex with Sam.

Part of the beauty of the novel was that sense that life isn't fair. Sookie's virtual friendlessness was part of that, as was Sam's involuntary celibacy as he worshiped Sookie from afar. You ruined that.

I also don't like the beating us over the head with the sex scenes. I get it, you're HBO, you can get away with stuff the networks can't. I also get there's eroticism involved with vampires. But give it a rest already. And Dawnette was supposed to be dumpy; what's the matter, HBO? Can't bear to show a dumpy person having sex? Most of the world is dumpy. And we have sex, believe it or not.

And, you made it seem more likely than not that Jason did it, when in the book it was always nebulous. But that's more of a quibble.

So I really like the books, and can't wait to get the second in the series. But I can do without the series. Sorry, fans.

(On the side topic of Count Floyd, I can't believe I never knew about this.)