From These Hollows

Film: Real Steel. (Rock'em! Sock'em! Ding Ding Ding! TKO!)

2012-02-29T01:14:00.000-06:00

So, I finally made myself watch Real Steel, the movie about the robot boxers. Now that the final credits are going...I am sitting here wondering why I was so reluctant to see it when it first came out. I think most of it was that people were telling me it was uber lame. It's about: (if you want to call these teasers, have at it)

A loser pits robots against opposing robots in Earth's new fave sport: robot boxing. His abandoned kid is suddenly thrust in his life. They don't get on well. ("Waaahh! I'm too cool to be a dad!" and "Waaaahhhh, Daddy doesn't love me!") Kid finds a sparring robot and they fight it.

And the movie goes on from there.

I could take or leave the storyline, but finding out the origins of the movie, and then the nods to the original story within, I gained a little more respect for it.

Well. I'm an idiot. Total baka! I should have known I would like it; it has two of my favorite things in it: boxing and robots.

3, if you count cool, good looking Korean (/American) dudes in it (that are playing a Japanese character. What is that all about?!).

Rowwrrrr

But, this movie could have spent the entire time being nothing but a bunch of big, bad robots fighting in a ring, and I would have been happy. To me, that's what makes this a winner. The rest is just extra stuff that was pretty decent to watch.

And, nay-sayers before me....you had me convinced this was just a more technical version of Rock'em Sock'em Robots! For shame!!!

But, now I would like to see a horror version of Hungry, Hungry Hippos.

Hollywood.....make it happen!

Later!

Japanese Drama: Lovely Complex (is so sugary sweet!)

2012-02-27T00:16:00.000-06:00

Rent me. Buy me. I am awesomeness to the core.

I watch a ton of Japanese films, but my favorites (aside from the ones starring my main man....errrrr....monster, Godzilla) are the live actions based on manga and anime (since I am a complete nerd over the two). One that I just watched for the billionth time is Love*Com (or Lovely Complex) based on the manga of the same name. This is a total chick movie (Wait!!! Fellas...hey guys!! Where are you going?!?! Don't leave just yet!) because it is so sweet and endearing, but it is also pretty funny and legitimately makes me "LOL". The storyline is a bit different than the manga and anime, but they can only fit so much into a 100 minute film.

The story is essentially this:

They are high-schoolers. The (absolutely adorable!) girl, Koizumi Risa (played by Fujisawa Ema) is tall and the boy, Atsushi Otani (played by Koike Teppei) is a shawty (that's "shorty" in both southern and ghetto talk). They do not care for one another because they both have complexes about height, but they hang out a lot because they have the same small circle of buds and eventually become good friends. They are teased by their buds that they are perfect for each other and they should go out. But, they "just ain't having it". Apparently, a big height difference (see below) is a thing to ridicule a couple about if you are young ......or, if you are a mangaka who wants to write a love story, but needs some kind of obstacle to add in so it isn't all just fluff.

If she didn't wear heels every day, it might not be that big a difference.
Otani! they're called platforms dude. Chicks dig punk guys over there.

But......

Since this is a shoujo, it's no surprise that things happen. Will the duo get over their complexes? Will they *gasp* get together, even?!?! (if you listen really hard...you might hear me in a fangirl moment going "EEEEeeeeee!" right about now).

Yoroshi-QUEEN!

But, I just adore this film. It's such a sweet story, and there are some seriously silly moments within as well.

A bonus for everyone is that this was also released here in America by Viz so, there is an English subtitled version if you Nihongo ga wakarimasen (no speako japanese--o). Oh!! And Netflix finally got a few copies...again (they used to have it, then stopped having it altogether, and now it is back).

And, a bonus for me (haha...and maybe the other ladies out there) is that the suave character, student teacher Kunimuni Maitake (right) is played by the handsome Tanihara Shosuke (who later went to play in 2 Godzilla films, so I eternally *heart* him!). So, there's some unquestionably legal eye candy on here (they're all adults, but ...come on dude, they're playing high schoolers. That's just gross.)

Well, that's about it. I'll leave you with the trailer now. Oh, and you didn't hear it from me, but the whole movie is on YouTube...for now anyway. I found it when I was looking for the trailer. Just an FYI. (but not from me. From...uhhh...errr...????)

Later!

Yes, That Was Me Breathing Heavily Into Your Phone....

2012-01-23T01:20:00.000-06:00

9 time out of 10, when I get a phone call, I am free to talk. Tonight was a bit different, since I promised the rugrat a night of uninterrupted board game playing. We were playing this one game, Quelf (fun game...I'll include it below) when I got a call that I had to take.

My Partner in Crime

Since this person was totally understanding (and totally used to our antics)...I juggled the two. (And it was great being sly, and reading any trivia questions aloud that I recieved, so I would have an extra brain to help me out. Muahahahahahahaaaa!) I had to keep from laughing though, because every few minutes, I would be like...

"Hahhhhhhhh...Sheeeeeeeee....Huaahhhhhhhh...Sheeeeee....(that's me, being all Darth Vader-like)...Luuuuuke, get off your sister and join the Dark Side."

"Haahhhhhh...Sheeee...Huaaahhhhhhh....What do you mean there are no Sucrets on the Death Star?"

Huaaaahhhhhh....Sheeeeee.....Does this light saber make my butt look big? Sheeeeeeeeeeeeee huahhhhhhh"

^^^^^^^^^^
Cheats at Scrabble
"That sooooo is a word!"

and such.

He was finally like "WTH April?!?!"

I had drawn a card where I had to be ol' Darthy-poo, but, the catch is I had to grumble about stuff. And, I had to do that during the opposite player's turn, every time. (That was a heck of a lot easier than trying to mime that I was trapped in a tree with 5 rabid ferrets!)

But...I mean, I didn't want to blow either of them off, so....we made do!

Do you play board games with your kiddos (if you have the little boogers, I mean)? We like the 'ology games (Wizardology, Dragonology)....but we go old school too, with the likes of Life and Scrabble (OMG if I have to play Mystery Date ONE MORE TIME!!!). We rarely do it anymore (Helloooo Wii and PS3) but it's fun every now and then.

Forever Faithful: The Complete Trilogy by Karen Kingsbury

2012-01-22T01:12:00.000-06:00

Forever Faithful: The Complete Trilogy is written by New York Times best-selling author, Karen Kingsbury. It is a massive book with a little over 1,100 pages, but it contains the three books in this series:

Waiting For Morning

(Synopsis) A drunk driver…a deadly accident…a dream destroyed. When Hannah Ryan loses her husband and oldest daughter to a drunk driver, she is consumed with hate and revenge. Ultimately, it is a kind prosecutor, a wise widow, and her husband’s dying words that bring her the peace that will set her free and let her live again.

A Moment of Weakness

(Synopsis) When childhood friends Jade and Tanner reunite as adults, they share their hearts, souls, and dreams of forever----until a fateful decision tears them apart. Now, nearly a decade later, Jade’s unfaithful husband wants to destroy her in a custody battle that is about to send shock waves across the United States. Only one man can help Jade in her darkest hour. And only one old woman knows the truth that can set them all free.

Halfway to Forever

(Synopsis) Matt and Hannah….Jade and Tanner----after already surviving much, these couples now face the greatest struggles of their lives; parental losses and life-threatening illness threaten to derail their faith and sideline their futures. Can Hannah survive the loss of an adopted daughter? Will Tanner come through decades of loneliness only to face losing Jade one final time?

Okay, here’s my problem with books such as these: You have a writer (a talented writer, to be sure) who makes her living writing Christian-based novels; and this being a series rooted deep in Christian faith….this makes books such as these really predictable, especially if they are based around possible faith-wavering events. While I don’t mind reading the odd “I almost lost my faith, but I got it back in the end” type of book, it was a bit much to read all at once in this massive tome. Fans of Kingsbury will be thrilled with this collection, because it offers up enough of drama and turmoil to test any faith, and the stories were pretty heartwarming around the end. I believe even women (and very, very few men) who are not into Christian-based books would enjoy it if they enjoy chick-lit, because while there is loss and strife, there is also love.

Clearly this is not my genre, however. And while I do believe it to be well written, and worthy of any accolades it receives.....I did find the stories predictable (though, to be fair, most books in this genre are), and in all, not my cup of tea.

3 Stars

I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Legos Are the Shizz

2012-01-16T01:34:00.000-06:00

I was a good girl, and Santa brought me Legos!

I am so obsessed with Legos.....and it's almost to the point where I should expect the door to kick in as friends and family come in with an overly friendly counselor to "intervene".

Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Egyptian, Harry Potter themed.....it's like it's my own personal crack. There's nothing cuter than a little tiny Lego Ewok or Dobby (<--Harry Potter), and though it only takes a few minutes to assemble something that, from the box, looked like it would be totally fun and complicated..., I end up a bit let down but, through my sighs of disappointment, I disassemble it because I resolve to relive the precious minutes of fun I had in its assembly, and start over....and I'm still a fan.

Except of the prices....Geeeeeezzzz!!

And you know what I like to do? I will build up a few Star Wars sets and then some Harry Potter sets...and then I let the Sith take on the Death Eaters in a total epic battle (umm...with my daughter <---she says suspiciously while her eyes bat innocently enough in hopes that you buy it). But that's what I like about Legos. You can build whatever you want, and do whatever you want. You still get that feeling of "I can do anything" like you did as a child. Maybe I like to build tall skyscrapers and then let my rubber Godzilla stomp through there and destroy everything, while little Lego people try and run to safety (which is really hard to accomplish when you only have two hands!). And maybe I like to let my little Lego people ride by in their little Lego cars I build and ruffle some feathers in my daughter's pinkish Lego neighborhood, just for kicks (and then her town's police cars chase them away all high-speed-like). That's just how they roll.

Keep your imagination tank on full.
Never let it get empty.

But so what.........

I get a lot of flack about it (flack = crap, abuse, h8ers drinking h8terade and spewing it onto me) because I'm....well....okay, I'm in my 30's so I'm....old. But, I figure...when you get a certain age, all you have left from your youth is your imagination. And, sorry, but I plan to keep mine as long as I am able to. (Sorry...just got a mental image of someone trying to rip my imagination...as if it were something like a sock or a trinket of some sort that I could hold in my hands....from my hands as I try and fight to keep my grip on it. It made me chuckle and I lost my train of thought. Oh look! A squirrel!)

Anyway...

Legos....

Yeah, I definitely *heart* them. Them, and peanuts ("What's that about?" you ask? Nothing, it's just that lately, I love them too.)

And now for more randomness...
This is what I was...mellowing out....to while posting. Tanoshimu/Enjoy!

(In this Empty Room)

Sharing the Love

2012-01-10T15:23:00.000-06:00

The awesom-fantast-erific guys at the must-visit/worship/&adore blog The Geek Twins hooked me up with a really nice award. And, I get to share it with three people! The choices were hard, but....I'd like to share it with:

Gyran Gymble at Jabberwockery
David at There's Dungeons Down Under
and
Spacerguy at Star Trek-Sci Fi Blog

You guys are Awesome!

Fyodor Dostoevsky by Peter Leithart

2012-01-09T09:20:00.000-06:00

Fyodor Dostoevsky, written by Peter Leithart is part of the Christian Encounters Series from Thomas Nelson Publishing, which is a series of short biographies on various people such as Dostoevsky here, Jane Austen, John Bunyan, and others.

When people see the name Fyodor Dostoevsky, they immediately think of Crime and Punishment. Well, I know I do anyway. He was also the author of work such as The Brothers Karamazov and The Underground Man. While I have read his work, I came to realize that I knew next to nothing about this man, except that he was exiled to a Serbian prison, which allowed him to observe the human condition, reflect, and influence his writing. So, a book such as this one was a welcome read, and one I looked forward to getting into.

I admit, I found it to be a little dull in the beginning, and I had the feeling that I was going to have to push myself to finish it, and then wrestle with myself to find something nice to say. But, as his life went on, it became much more interesting and I found it quite easy to get into. It is written not as a “stuffy biography”, but reads more like any other novel with characters interacting with one another, scenes and actions earning description, and conversation flowing steady. Because of this, I could see it a popular choice for, say, a highschool student who needs or wishes to know more about the man, and it would also be a good choice for anyone older as well because rarely are biographies on such a person (someone literary meshed with political) presented in this way. This is one that doesn’t actually induce sleep. (And, the proposal of Dostoevsky to his Anna is so endearing! Ladies, get your hankies!)

It is a short read, at only 175 pages, but the author does include a list of reference notes, which is great for fact-checking, and he also includes a bibliography which is great for further reading. While it is entertaining, it is not a one-stop type of biography, but it will help the reader understand this literary great a good deal more.

3 & ½ Stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

And now...Something Different

2012-01-07T20:16:00.000-06:00

O-M-G, dude! Can dialup get any slower?!?!

Anyway, so I have been thinking....
I still have two reviews of books to do on here, and plan to bang them out tonight (well...after Big Bang Theory goes off..) and post them 2morrow (here's hoping!). But, I think I am going to cease reviewing books after that. Or rather, I will stop reviewing books that aren't in my preferred genres. You'll no doubt get tired of my fantasy, sci-fi, and manga reviews in the future. And you thought you had escaped...tsk tsk.

I think if I take the "homework" out of doing the blog thing...it might be fun again, and I could drag myself over here more often. But, it seems a lot like work ....and, I already do enough of that. That, and what with language studies, learning a new instrument, being a single parent,.....ugh! Pressure is not my best bud, and I need to take something off my workload.

At any rate....adieu, book reviews. (*holding for applause*) (except for you, awesome sci-fi, fantasy, and manga. You know I *heart* youuuuu!)

And, I promise not to get all girly again (What was that about?!?!) with my posts. I'm kinda excited about this years Free Comic Book Day, the Gundam robot is bad-arse over in Japan, and there are scores of cool things going on in the geek (and nerd!) world .....so, there are loads of things to rave (or rant) about (or, "aboot", if you are in Canada like I soon will be!).

Tootles, and Mata ne! Adios, and...*waves bye bye*<---get it? Sign Language

Randomness...

2011-11-30T17:03:00.000-06:00

So, I've got to write two book reviews for here....will try to get that done tomorrow.

Which are harder to walk in without twisting an ankle....heels or wedges. I'm talking 4.5". I want some sneaker heels but I don't want to crack a skull when I fall. (Note: I said "when" because it is inevitable). So, I want to fall as less often as possible.

Why do you reckon I feel so bittersweet when my bestie (best friend who happens to be a guy) gets with a woman? Understand that I do not, in any way, "want" him and am happy in a relationship myself. I'm thinking it has to do with the fact that he gets occupied and I don't hear from him until she breaks his heart, and then I am expected to console him and be there for him until the next one comes along. I want the best for him and for him to be happy...I'd love nothing more than for him to finally be utterly happy....but at the same time, I get jealous. And it's not of her for him...but more about the time she gets with him that I no longer get. (Of course, I adapt and make no issues and totally disappear until he calls me back, like any friend would do,....but it hurts to get the cold shoulder at the same time because I do love him as I love family). It's a bit of a toxic friendship on both accounts, mine and his, but....lol..he's my crack. But, he does hurt my feelings a lot.

(I did title the post "Randomness" for a reason, you know.....)

Why do doctors insist I eat peanut butter, being hypoglycemic, when it has loads of SUGAR in it?!?!?! I can understand in an emergency because I have used it a time or two when having an episode at a grandparents that came on suddenly....but I don't understand why they'd suggest making it part of a diet. I still won't do it. (Rebels, raise your fists in protest!)

Resurrection! (and Facebook)

2011-11-29T20:17:00.000-06:00

Wow, talk about leaving a blog for dead! I just have had so much going on lately, time has slipped by...and before I knew it, several months have gone by without my stopping by here.

*Clear!* <---this is me using those shocky thingies....to start the heartbeat again.

(My blog is now officially a zombie!!! It's been pretty dead for months but now she breathes again. Sort of. It's a raspy zombie-like breathing.)

Anyway, I also recently discovered the fun of Facebook (I know...and it's not so bad living under a rock, you know. Difficult in winter, but the surrounding rocky earth keeps me cool in the summer.) So, if you want to find me there, you can clicky this---> My FB and add. Though, it'd probably be a good idea to send a note saying something to the effect of "Yo, what's up! This is "insert blogger username", and is not, repeat NOT a creepy random psycho hell-bent on wearing your face as a mask." Just so, you know...I don't think it's some creepy random psycho wanting to wear my face as a mask. (Safety First! Ha)

Anyway....if you're still with me, thanks! U R Awesome!

A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner

2011-09-26T20:22:00.000-05:00

"As a young bride, Susannah Page was rumored to be a Civil War spy for the North, a traitor to her Virginian roots. Her great- granddaughter Adelaide, the current matriarch of Holly Oak, doesn't believe that Susannah's ghost haunts the antebellum mansion looking for a pardon, but rather the home itself bears a grudge toward its tragic past.
　
When Marielle Bishop marries into the family and is transplanted from the arid west to her husband's home, it isn't long before she is led to believe that the house she just settled into brings misfortune to the women who live there.
　
With Adelaide's richly peppered superstitions and deep family roots at stake, Marielle must sort out the truth about Susannah Page and Holly Oaks--and make peace with the sacrifices she has made for love.
----------------------------------
A Sound Among the Trees, a fiction novel written by Susan Meissner, will be available October 4th, and is quite a good read. It was the type of book that surprised me in the end because I thought I had it figured out, but then I found out that I was a bit off-course.
　
This book appealed to me in two ways. The first is the overall storyline which is steeped in mystery about Adelaide's great-grandmother, as well as about the mansion itself. And then there are a few mysteries about Adelaide, such as why her daughter chooses to stay away from her and the home. Because it was so well written, I found myself glued to the pages, awaiting the answers to these mysteries. I was not disappointed in the end. The characters are also well written, and it helped make the story flow as I got to know each of them, and I found myself actually caring about the outcome to their stories.
　
The second thing I loved about this book is that part of it is like a passage back to the Civil War era, via correspondence to and from Susannah Page, Adelaide's great-grandmother and possible traitor. Frankly, the entire book could have been about just this stuff and I would have adored it. For me, this was the greatest thing about the novel. I found these "letters" most interesting and I would readily buy any sort of historical fiction novel from this author if she were to write one. This was obviously my favorite part.
　
It's a really good book. Not one that I would normally pick up and read, but one that I am glad that I did.

4 & 1/2 Stars

Be the People: A Call to Reclaim America's Faith & Promise

2011-09-26T19:46:00.000-05:00

Be the People is written by Carol M. Swain, PhD., and is more or less, a Christian-based political book. Sound tedious? I thought so too, at first, to be honest. I did find it a bit of a dry read, at first, but I got into it after the first few chapters because, while I did not agree with everything the author had to say, I found her research to be pretty thorough and her arguments made quite a lot of sense (especially if in the mindset of a Christian).

　
An excerpt from the jacket:
　
"Without a doubt, America's foundation is shifting. Over time, our nation has adopted policies that have broken out founder's vows of faith. We have educated a generation that does not understand its unique destiny. We have banished the virtues we no longer find relevant. But it is time to think clearly. Who have we been historically, and what kind of nation are we becoming?

Be the People sounds a rallying cry for "We the People of the United States" to stand up and reclaim the life, liberty, and justice envisioned by our forefathers. Drawing on her training in political science and law, author Carol M. Swain, PhD. examines the religious significance and courageously exposes the cultural forces that threaten our cherished values and principles."

　
　And so, the author tackles such issues such as abortion, immigration, racism, marriage, divorce, and homosexuality. I think the author is clever in that, while you can understand her views by the material she presents in the pages, she doesn't really take a firm stance and say "This is what I believe in" in a few sections. Rather, we are given a lot of "expert opinions, theories, or findings" that talk about her given subject. Take homosexuality or same-sex marriage for instance. She doesn't say " Eww, don't do it.", but one can deduce that she is against it from all of the study findings or by quoting others. You know, things such as "Researchers found that even among stable homosexual partnerships, men have an average of 8 partners per year outside of their monogamous relationships". ( To be fair, she also includes a section that is semi pro-same sex marriage, but it's quickly shot down by adverse findings in the same section. )
　
Other sections are brilliantly done and I found myself nodding my head in agreement as I read the passages. Her thoughts and findings on racism for one, as well as some of her thoughts on divorce. As I mentioned, she is very thorough, and includes a massive reference list in the back of the book for everything she talks about which I love, because I can cross-check various facts and findings at my leisure. And also a huge bonus point with this book is that she has included the Ten Commandments, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, as well as the Constitution of the United States.
　
In all, it was an enjoyable read because it did have me involved. You know, it had me comparing my own thoughts and feelings to hers and those she quoted, as well as comparing them to my own interpretation of the Bible. I would recommend it to Christians who care to read about such topics.

3 & 1/2 Stars

These Are So Yum

2011-09-08T13:52:00.000-05:00

I don't have many ....what's the word...."indulgences" maybe?...when it comes to diet. I pretty much eat from the gardens, orhcards, and the forest (oh! and the waters!) here at home, all old-timey like.

Anyway, for....forever probably....I like to drink just water, but I like the MiO water enhancers too sometimes. My kiddo does more than me and it's way better for her than the sugar loaded juices out there (which seem to cancel out any of the benefits of drinking them) or something Gosh-Awful like Kool-Aid. (And there's no caffeine in them, so Double Yay!) (I get overly excited wayyyy too easily, huh?). But, I like to take them with me when we go shopping cause if she gets thirsty, it's a lot easier to get her to quit begging for a soda and drink water instead if I have something like this. Her fave is the Fruit Punch. Mine is the Mango Peach. I think there are 4 more flavors, too.

What's your fave? Have you ever tried it?

Didn't Expect This When Searching For X-Men Cartoons.....

2011-09-02T00:17:00.000-05:00

So, I am looking at various X-men cartoons, typical early morning kinda thing, yes? And, I come across this one video of the adult variety featuring a cartoon Wolverine and a cartoon Rogue doing very adult-oriented things to each other. I don't typically go for that kinda thing,..cartoon or no....(typically), but, I mean come on....it's X-men....I kinda had to watch it, especially after seeing the tons of geeks critiquing it in the comment section (which made it seem hilarious!). Well,

So now I have a bajillion questions.

#1: Why would Wolverine howl like a wolf? Didn't seem right.
#2 I'm left wondering when this is......cause at certain points, she couldn't very well do that with anyone.

I haven't read the X-men comics since I was a kid....but I don't think it was at the point when she was body-snatched sorta by the absorbed Carol-what's-her-face....who was able to touch people with no ill effects on their part, with Rogue's body. (I think there was another one as well who could do that??)

I know there was one point where Wolverine told Rogue he had the hots for her, they played tonsil hockey for a bit until her powers started to whoop up on him, and they had to stop. Couldn't have been at that point because she wasn't in full control of her powers yet.

So, it had to be at the point where she could contain them and turn them on and off at will. But, at that point....really, almost always....she had the hots for Gambit and was with him.

So....what I really left feeling having watched that, is that they should at least make geek....adult-oriented stuff.....more accurate................................................or, Rogue is a bit of a cheating skank.

And also, even if she could contain them.....Wow, what concentration! Seems like there goes half the fun.

What do you think? Could it be possible (I mean, if it weren't a cartoon, and were...(imagination sequence go!)....real? I admit, my X-men inner database has moths flying around the empty filing drawers, (i.e. it's been years since I read any Xmen comics), and I might need a little edu-ma-ca-shun on the subject of Rogue. (All ears!)

(My day to days are getting weirder and weirder)

The Coming of the Light: Guardian of the Seventh Realm III

2011-08-29T23:47:00.001-05:00

The Coming of the Light: Book 3 of the Guardian of the Seventh Realm Series, written by J.W. Baccaro, continues where the second book (Siege of Darkness ) left off, easing us right into Darshun and company's quest. This has been my favorite book in the series, thus far, because we learn more about certain characters, such as the devilishly wicked Talvenya. She has been one of my favorites to read about because she was always so decidedly evil, but this book gives a little of her back-story, and thus confirmed my feeling that there was more to her than meets the eye. I'm anxious to see what fate awaits her as the story progresses in the following books.

I was pleased to find a bigger role for several characters I've grown to care for, such as Kelarin, a kind-hearted healing Elf whom Darshun (the Guardian, a Nasharin) tends to drool over. That's one thing I love about this series: As much violence, death, and misery there is in this series (it is a war, after all), there is also a lot of Light be it in the form of hope, bravery, or even romance and love. The passages with Darshun and Kelarin were touching, and they, among other scenes, have shown how much Darshun has matured since accepting his fate as the Guardian of the prophecy.

There are a few really great battle scenes in the book, total edge-of-your-seat type of scenes, and I enjoyed them because they were filled with blood, death, and destructive magical powers while at the same time not being too predictable. Just when I think one thing is going to happen...Bam!....the author surprises me. While reading the series as a whole thus far, I've learned to question the fate of the characters individually, and as I finish this book, I am left wanting to read the next installments, to see how "my favorites" fare in the end. Will they survive and become victorious? Or will they give up the ghost as the Dark reigns supreme? I cannot wait to find out.

In all, I've enjoyed this book. There are a lot of cool creatures such as a witch, dragon, centaur, and more and more dark elves with other ghastly beasts within the pages, but I still think the Nasharin, with their amazing powers, are still the coolest and most unique characters in the entire series thus far. They really are something else!

4 & 1/2 Stars

You can buy this book, and the previous two of the series, at Amazon.com.
You can read my reviews on the previous two books Here (Prophecy of the Guardian) and Here (Siege of Darkness).

OHHhhhhhhhhhh Nooooooezzzzz! Cry

2011-08-26T11:34:00.000-05:00

Wah! No fair, Mommy!

So, after a lot of looking, hunting, late nights...what-have-you....I finally found a copy of a manga volume I needed to complete a set in an out-of-print series. It was a pricier volume with the standard selling around the tune of $50. So,

Happy Happy Joy Joy! (<---Ren & Stimpy. Remember them?! Yay!)

I find it in the $20 range.

Get it today and guess what?? (You'll never guess! Okay, fine...I'll tell you!)

The post office demons ate it's soul, sucked it dry, and left me with it's little skeletal remains in a little plastic baggie. (In other words, it was severly damaged in shipping). (I think I heard the mail lady squealing out as she got the heck out of there in her truck *evil*)

It's cool, I'm covered.....but....I just *cry*....I just want to ..*sob*...

*Sigh* Oh, Crybaby.....*swoon*

It upsets me so! *hic*

Gah! What a cruddy start to the morning. Hope ya'll aren't gettin' it like I am thus far!

Ta!

(da!) *smile*

Random Doctor Who Thought.....

2011-08-19T16:23:00.000-05:00

I'm just wondering, for those out there who are into Doctor Who, do you get ticked off when a new Doctor is brought in, as well? I confess, I didn't care much for Christopher Eccleston (gasp!), but I did get into him at the end, and then I got a little grr-like when David Tennant came on as the 10th Doctor. It took me a while to warm up to him, but then...I came to think of him as a brilliant Doctor and I swore I would stop watching when his character had to regenerate, because he was my favorite (still is, a little). I was soooo peeved with the current Doctor, Matt Smith, at first, because I thought he was a bit of a clown in comparison. But...it wasn't long before I adored him as well. I don't think I can take another regeration. It's like when a favored pet dies and the world is all gloom....but then, someone thrusts a new puppy at you and you know it won't be the same, it couldn't possibly be. But, eventually, you grow to love it just as much as the first one. But, it eventually has to go away, as well. *gloom*

(I'm antsy for the season to start back up later this month...can you tell?!)

Did you have any of the "who is this clown?" type of thoughts with the new doctors as well....and, did you end up liking them anyway, in the end? I don't think it would work with all shows, though, replacing the main character. This one has enough robots, aliens and stuff in it to keep me watching, but it does stink to have a character I'm invested in leave.

(This is like the one show I am nuts over, so, I mean, that's why I bring it up and, well, I...umm...<---listen to me try and make myself sound not so sad and insane. *cries* Who fans get me! Waah! */cries*

*grin*

Five For Friday

2011-08-19T11:21:00.000-05:00

It's Friday! (I don't know why I'm so excited (@_@;)...go figure)
Anyway, I haven't been faithful to it, but..here are the random 5 questions I pose today....

1. What are you reading currently?

Right now, I am reading the third installment in a really kick-arse series by J.W. Bacarro. The book is called "The Coming of the Light" and it's the third in the Guardian of the Seventh Realm series. (Review coming soon!)

2. What's your favorite food?

It used to be cabbage stuffed egg rolls...forget what you call them, but YUM...but since I am "sick" now and I'm limited to what I can eat...I'd probably go with something like Spanish mackeral or just plain old spinach. My fave snack though is Kashi's Heart to Heart whole grain Crackers. They're like Triscuits, but have a weird kick to them from the tea extract they use. I like them though.

3. Are you a happy-go-lucky person?

I'm content. To be honest, I do not have much in common with the people that are happy all of the time and "the world is sunshine and rainbows" type of people. I do not have anything against them, and sometimes I envy them, but it's because I feel they still have a level of innocence to them. The majority of them just haven't been through anything traumatic or dramatic, or just haven't been exposed to the darker side of the world, or of people....and I hope they never do....but, once you have, that last shred of innocence you were holding onto is forever gone. And, there's just no getting it back. Suddenly, the world, and those in it, just looks different.

4. How many kids do you want?

Just the one kiddo I have now. I wouldn't be opposed to fostering or adopting later on, but...there are way too many bodies on this earth as is. They sure don't need me adding more to it. (My family makes up for it with their large broods) *faints*

5. If you were on a deserted island and could take only three things with you...what would you take?

Anything I want? That's easy! A yacht, a crew, and a Kindle. \\(>o<)//

Thanks for reading...if you want to chime in with your own, feel free to do so! I'd like to hear (or read, rather) what you'd say.

-------
Random Squealy Moment:

Am going to see fireworks tonight. Yay! Is going to be super cool and dangerous because they do it right over our heads and the burn-y pieces fall down on us and singe our clothes. Can't wait! (<--*hearts* fireworks!)
--------

Tunes This Thursday

2011-08-18T01:37:00.000-05:00

It's officially Thursday here in the South as I type this, and right now I am listening to a lot of Gackt. So, for me, the Tunes This Thursday are of lots and lots of Gackt (*swoon*) (and probably some Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra later because I'm sort of craving a little bit of crooning........we'll see how the day goes.....)

Redemption

Ghost

Jesus

To switch it up....
I just listened to this son by One Ok Rock

Keep it Real

and this one is next....

(One OK Rock) Liar

I think that's 5..... (too tired to go and count)

Well, it's nearing 2 a.m., so am about to go to bed. Night all! (or not, depending on which region you are from). *grin*

*yawn*

Peeves Lately

2011-08-16T09:50:00.000-05:00

I watch a lot of foreign film, and I have been so frustrated lately with some of them, because of the willingness to kill off the main character. Well, for instance, I watched a Chinese film not too long ago, and the guy had a total mission set in place, he was kicking butt and taking names....but then he gets poisoned (they always seem to get poisoned). If it were an American film, it'd probably be a few more dramatic moments, and then boom! He's saved and can continue on with his mission. But, nooooooooo, we can't have that, can we?! I have "WTF?!?!?!" moments a lot with those types of movies, and it messes with me (being accustomed to the standard "it will be alright in the end" type of American movies where the bad guys usually give up the ghost in the end). Some of the French films I've seen can be just as bad.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking them, per se....and I like them. But...seriously, the main character??Come on!

Manga frustrates me as well, sometimes. I usually will pick up a first in a series and give it a read, and if I like it, will buy the series. I got into one that's out of print, and usually I just see how many are in the series (there are 15) and buy them at once. Manga 1-5 and 7-15 are dirt cheap, and I figure "wow, I can get the lot for under $50 (with shipping)...Yippee!. But, then I find out manga 6 is rare, so now I'm having to price shop like mad to keep from paying $50 for the one volume. And, I'm grrrr-ing at myself because I can buy volume 6 in Japanese and pay only a few bucks.....but, since I am a (rare & OOP) book collector (just not with manga...(.though looks like I'm about to be)....now I want the rare volume. LoL And what will happen, undoubtably and because I am a sucker, is that I'll buy both; the Japanese version for reading and the English for putting in the "do not touch" collection. Rarity in books is my crack. (Hello, my name is April, and I am an addict)

That happens a lot though....I've even got into one shots (usually split in two volumes) where I can get the first volume for pennies (used), but then the second one is jacked up to collector prices (and the series usually stinks or is unfinished.) I should research better. LoL

What's been making you grind your teeth lately?

Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley

2011-08-11T14:11:00.003-05:00

Breath of Angel: Angeleon Circle, Book One, written by seasoned author Karyn Henley, is a fantasy tale targeted towards the young adult audience.

Book Synopsis (Taken From the Back of the Book):

When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. she discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man.

Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. When Melaia becomes a target, she finds refuge with a band of angels attempting to restore the stairway. But, the restoration is impossible without settling an ancient debt---the "breath of angel, blood of man", a payment that involves Melaia's heart, soul, and destiny.

This book started out, within the first few pages, with a murder and then the story stayed pretty fast paced from there. It had lagging moments in the middle that I had to push through before the action picked up again, but that was fairly brief. There were a lot of things I liked about this book, and only a few that I did not. I enjoyed the various types of angels, and the story behind their mission, but I felt a lot of the angel characters were completely bland and could offer little for the progress of their mission. For me, some of the "baddies" disappointed the most because while they were terribly feared in the book, I ended up feeling there wasn't much to fear.

The main characters were well written, however, and I enjoyed the majority of them and reading as their stories unfolded. Melaia, the female protagonist, started out as a naive chantress, one who trusted too easily and was blind to the evils of the world. But, as she was thrown into the darkness of the world around her as she struggled on with her mission, she became a little wiser and a little more interesting, though I found her to be annoyingly headstrong and unable to listen to the infallible advice from others at times. While there is no romance in the series thus far, there seems to be a budding love connection between Melaia and the male protagonist, Trevin, and I'm curious to see how it turns out between them in the next volume.

The story ended in a neat little package type of way, but, it did leave me wanting and anxious for the next book in the series (due in spring 2012) to come out so the mission to restore the Wisdom Tree can continue to be carried out. I fear it may turn out to be predictable in the end, but.....I suppose I will have to wait and see.

4 Stars
I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Found Me Some Internet Gold

2011-07-27T02:51:00.001-05:00

Okay, not really, but I did come across a couple of early films Stephen Chow acted in that I haven't seen yet, on YouTube. Stephen Chow, for those unaware, is a brilliant actor, director, writer, producer, and comedian from Hong Kong. He was in such films as God of Cookery, King of Beggars, Fight Back to School, and gave us such kick A-word (<--*snicker*) films such as Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle. At any rate, he's one of my favorites and I find his films to be hilarious.

If you haven't seen one of his movies, ......you should really do so. (<--Gah! I sound so pushy! (@_@*)

Here, I'll do you a solid. Shaolin Soccer in 3.........................................

2..............................

1..................................

And for discussion purposes.....

What is your favorite Stephen Chow film, if you have one? Any other favorite Chinese actors, directors, or writers?

Smart French by Jade Gold

2011-07-22T12:33:00.000-05:00

Smart French, written by Jade Gold (and not to be confused with the language learning software program) is a book introducing 1,894 French words to English speaking audiences; but only the words that are incredibly similar to their counterparts in the English language. This book is not meant to be a stand-alone language instruction book, nor should it be used as a form of dictionary since it is literally a list of words, one side in French and the other side in English. And, it only covers those words that are much alike the English ones, so it's a bit useless as anything other than a supplement.

Allow me to give you an example of what you will find in the book:

There are two columns, with one side being a French word, and the other being English. so, you will see something like this:

amusement                                     amusement
anachronism                                   anachronism
analogie                                          analogy
extraction                                       extraction
extradition                                      extradition

and so on and so forth.

They do come in alphabetical order, but the one thing this book severely lacks, and the only thing to make it really useful (in my opinion), are accent marks or stressed emphasis on pronunciation with some of the words included. Quite frankly, everything you find in this book, you will find in a really good English-French dictionary, except the dictionary, you will find more useful.

I think its strength is that it compiles the majority of the words that are the same or similar into one book, which would be great for those who are actively seeking out a book or list of that type of thing. And, using it as a supplement along with a course and a good dictionary, one can kind of cut their workload by scanning this book and seeing that they will already know almost 2,000 words. So, I suppose it does have its usefulness in a way.

I would only recommend this book to someone that is studying French and is familiar with the grammar, and only as a supplement.

2 & 1/2 Stars

You can buy Smart French here.

This book was given to me as part of the Dorrance book Reviewers program, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

Wipes Brow

2011-07-16T20:18:00.000-05:00

It...is....so....flippin' hot! If you're ready for fall, raise your hands....

*Raises both hands*

Come on Old Man Winter! Bring it, already!

2011-07-03T18:39:00.000-05:00

Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me, written by Ian Morgan Cron, is a memoir of sorts, and chronicles the life of the author, thus far. With a series of tales woven together to form a moving story with a Christian base, this book has several main focuses. The first, and my favorite to read, are about his relationship with his father who was somehow a part of the CIA and from the tidbits that the author has fed us (the parts that he knows, anyway), the man must have had a fascinating life. Yet still, Cron didn't have the closeness with him that he wished to have had, and he had to wrestle with his emotions over that, and his father's alcoholism, and eventually, work to understand his father.

The second theme focuses on the author's relationship with God, and how he realizes God was there for him throughout his life, even when times were a little more difficult. This is woven in nicely so that it does not detract from the overall memoir, but enhances it instead.

And finally, the story itself about the author's childhood and adult years is very well written (especially his touching stories about his mother), and I found myself entertained, he being such a good story-teller. I wouldn't call this book a "must read" because I found myself laboring over it in a few sections and would put it aside for days....but, I do think it is a nice read, esepcially the sections about his mysterious and intriguing father.

3 Stars

You can buy Jesus, My Father, the CIA, & Me here at Amazon.com.

I received this book from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

Life, in Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice

2011-07-03T18:32:00.000-05:00

She wanted to die. God had other plans.

Why does my life have to be so painful?
What’s wrong with me?
It’s not going to get better.
It could all be over soon, and then I won’t hurt anymore.

Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook: three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a seemingly bottomless depression.

One January night, the seventeen-year-old decided she no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railroad tracks and waited for a freight train to send her to heaven…and peace.

But Kristen's story doesn’t end there.

In Life, In Spite of Me this remarkably joyful young woman shares the miracle of her survival, the agonizing aftermath of her failed suicide attempt, and the hope that has completely transformed her life, giving her a powerful purpose for living.

Her gripping story of finding joy against all odds provides a vivid and unforgettable reminder that life is a gift to be treasured.

Includes notes of encouragement Kristen wishes she had received when she was struggling most.
----------

Written by Kristen Jane Anderson, with Tricia Goyer, this Christian-based book is the type that should be read by the parents of depressed teens, as well as teens themselves. On the aside, Kristen has written a little about things she wish she had heard when she was struggling with her demons, and I found them quite personal, and were also words I would have liked to hear when I was a depressed teen, myself. It may have put a little light above the darkness.

It was a moving tale; she was depressed, attempted suicide, and now she knows God. This is all told from the beginning, just by reading the back of the book....but, what is found within the pages, her struggles with her emotions and depression, and how she led up to the point to actually lay down on the railroad tracks that night....it's pretty powerful stuff and one cannot help but to feel for her. And of course, there is her journey with God as well; a Christian reader would appreciate her thoughts and feelings about her faith.

The book is well written, fast paced, and was enjoyable form start to finish. I also loved the Afterword, written by Kristen's mother, Jan because it gave a little insight to what the family was feeling about Kristen's depression, and how powerless they must have felt. In all, it was a pretty good read, and one I would recommend.

4 & 1/2 Stars

You can buy this book here at Amazon.com.

This book was provided to me for an honest review by Waterbrook Multomah's Blogging for Books program.

Five For Friday

2011-07-01T10:50:00.002-05:00

Five For Friday
It's Friday, and so here are the 5 for Friday questions.......... (LOL..I felt like just getting to the point, today...)

1) What are you wearing?

A bit creepy, much?? I could playact as alluring and be all "Ooh, a black lace ...whatever...", but the reality is a lot less interesting. I'm wearing demin jeans, white Converse, and a black Darth Vader Tshirt. Dun dun dunnnn! Oh! And a smile.... (^_^)

2) What are you watching right now on TV?

This question would probably get a lot of "nothings" from a lot of people, considering that most people (I assume) do not watch TV while they are on the 'net. But, ...there is actually a Warehouse 13 marathon on right now on Syfy, and so I'm kinda into that at the moment.

3) What are you listening to right now?

Um...I kinda just said I was watching the boob tube, and I may multi-task, but that's taking it a bit far. The last song I heard this morning though...before becoming occupied with other things....was Jay Chou's "Fearless". Check it out, it's pretty awesome.

4) What did you eat for breakfast?

It's kinda depressing......but, alright. I ate an egg, minus the icky yolk, half slice of Ezekiel bread (eww, but you get used to it I guess after a while), and a small portion of rolled oats with flax seed, and a few English walnuts on the side. I have to break my fast with mostly protein because my glucose is under 60 most mornings. (>x<)

5) How are you feeling right now?

Hmmm....
To be honest, I suppose I am feeling bored. The rugrat is at a summer program until the late afternoon, and the house is very empty and.....yawn.

Well....there ya have it. Thanks for sticking through it with me. Oh, and like always, if you want to do these as well, here or on your own blog, feel free! またね!

Tunes This Thursday

2011-06-30T13:10:00.001-05:00

Ughhh...
I haven't been on the blog lately because personal things have cropped up, some illnesses, some death, a little depressing this and that....but the sun has came out, so ....this Thursday, I want to showcase Jpop music, but one duo in particular who I can't get enough of today (or most days LoL)...On/Off.

On/Off is composed of Japanese twin brothers Naoya & Kazuya Sakamoto, and I heard their song "Eien no Setsuna" (Eternal Moment) from the movie Fuma no Kojiro, but I became a fan after they did the openings for Vampire Knight anime. \(^O^)/
So...this Thursday, here are 5 songs I am listening to.....

Eien no Setsuna

(Opening for Vampire Knight \（≧∇≦）/ )
Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi

(Opening for Vampire Knight: Guilty) （＠_＠；）
Rinne Rondo

(My Favorite thus far.. (＾ε＾) )
Butterfly

(My daughter's favorite) (⌒▽⌒)// (Such goofies!)<--I think I made a word!Hanekaesu Yuuki

I think that'll do it.....Next Thursday, I'll probably get my funk on with some George Clinton...need to go through all my vinyl and find them!

Five For Friday (6.03.11)

2011-06-03T03:40:00.000-05:00

On Five for Friday, five questions are posed which are to be answered (by moi, et vous! Should you choose to, of course). They're kinda random....(but so am I!)

1) Do you miss anyone right now?

Right now, as in this very moment, no...not really. But in general, yes. I miss two female friends who were killed by their boyfriends, one especially because we had unresolved issues and a lot of things that needed to be said, but now never will....I miss Byrd, who used to keep me in stitches until he moved off...and Chico, where the h-e-double-hockey-sticks did you go to??

2) If you could move somewhere else, would you?

Yes, I do not like it here in the South. I can't find anyone like me, with the same interests... it's way too hot all the time, there are too many tornadoes and hurricanes, and the mosquitoes are big enough to carry ticks on their backs. (that last bit was an exaggeration, but still....) There is a good hunk of me that is distinctly Southern, but....I just do not fit in here, for the most part.

3) Do you have any friends that you've known for 10 years or more?

Yeah..lol. The majority of my friends were already grown men when I was born. Have known them literally my whole life.

4) Did you watch cartoons as a child?

Cartoons, yes, and I still do. Matter of fact, I am watching Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes, right now. But, I'm kinda just waiting until Aqua Teen Hunger Force comes on.....

Oh, and I watch way too much anime.

Back then, it was stuff like He-man (with She-ra!), Thundercats, Transformers, Ninja Turtles, Muppet Babies, Ewoks, Thundarr, Voltron, and the Thunderbirds. (Wondering if any of those are on DVD...would love to see them again!) Obviously, I was an 80's kid.

5) Do you care what people think of you?

Well, I know we're not supposed to and all, but....well, yeah, of course. I mean, I wouldn't want anyone thinking anything bad about me, assuming something that isn't. If they do not like me, that is fine and I do not fret over that.....but, yeah, I think I'm a pretty decent person, and I'd be bothered if anyone around me thought otherwise.

And so there you have it, the five for this Friday. If you want to answer any or all on your own blog, or here in the comment section....feel free. It's always fun to see what others would say.

Tunes This Thursday

2011-05-26T22:12:00.000-05:00

I cannot function most days without some type of music blasting in my ear, and so I wanted to pick a day to highlight a few songs I am listening to that day, limiting myself to posting only 5. So....This Thursday, these are some of the songs I had playing around the house:

Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen

The Cranberries - Zombie

Bob Marley - Get up, stand Up

Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit

and, this one is a little different, but couldn't get enough of them, and other wizard wrock bands, today....

Draco & the Malfoys - Potions Yesterday

Any music stick out to you, today?

Teaser Tuesdays

2011-05-24T01:04:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I'm feeling really mushy this Tuesday (thus far), and so my teaser is from the screenplay of Love Actually by Richard Curtis (which is also a fave mushy-girl-friendly film of mine):

(Mark, holding up cards to Juliet at her doorway which read:) ".....But for now, let me say without hope or agenda, just because it's Christmas (and at Christmas, you tell the truth), to me you are perfect and my wasted heart will love you until you look like this....(He holds up a picture of a mummified corpse)" --pp. 121 &122.

Please leave a comment with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here. Don't forget to visit the host's blog (link at top) to post the link to your own Teaser Tuesday link.

You Can Win an Awesome Official Green Lantern Costume for an Adult or Child!

2011-05-23T23:34:00.000-05:00

No, really! I know....awesome, right?
Hosted on the incredibly kick-arse blog, Geek Twins, (<---click me), you can win either an adult or a child-sized Green Lantern costume by entering in this contest (<--clicky for linky!)

Only one reader will win.....will it be you? (No, me! ME! Bwahahaha <--evil villain laugh) Head on over there to find out more about the contest, and to enter.

And, also check out the Warner Brothers website (here) to find out more about the upcoming Green Lantern film. (You can see all the trailers here at IMDb .)

A New Name for Worthless: A Hero is Born

2011-05-23T21:56:00.000-05:00

Written and illustrated by Rocky Shepheard, A Hero is Born is a children's storybook featuring a dog named Worthless, and his rescue from his chain by his two friends Otto the Otter, and Sly the Fox. "Worthless" was a name given to him from his owner, the man who chained him up and never showed him any affection. He was miserable on his chain, never knowing what it was like to be able to roam around, or find comfort in shade on a hot day. But, when his friends free him one stormy night, Worthless sets off on a mini adventure that just may lead him to everything he had ever hoped for.

While this story is fictional, it is inspired by a real dog named Worthless (who was renamed Bo once he was rescued) who suffered on the end of a chain for 6 years. The author is very active in Dogs Deserve Better, a non-profit organization who's mission is" freeing Man's Best Friend and bringing him/her into the home and family. The group has freed thousands of dogs from chains and pens, finding them new inside homes and families." And so, this story has a strong "animal rights" tone, but the charming story is told in a kid-friendly way so as not to come off as preachy. It is sure to touch the hearts of children everywhere.

The illustrations are very beautiful, with the animals and scenery appearing life-like and worthy of hanging in the home, but some (such as Otto with a wide grin) have that impish charm that so appeals to me in illustrations for children's stories.

This book would be ideal for both boys and girls. Boys, because of the action within, where they read about Worthless taking a stand; and girls for the endearing moments. Both, for the compassion that the story subconsciously begs of the reader to feel. I would recommend this storybook to all.

4 & 1/2 Stars

You can buy A Hero is Born here at Amazon.com

You can also visit the author's website at: http://www.shepheardillustration.com .

This book was provided by the author for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

Departures: Two Rediscovered Stories by Robin Jones Gunn

2011-05-23T17:12:00.000-05:00

NOW BOARDING AT GATE TEN

After her high school graduation, still aching from Todd's departure, Christy joins her family on a trip to Wisconsin to visit relatives. While there, she reunites with Matthew, an old friend from junior high. When Matthew starts to show a romantic interest in Christy, she realizes this summer vacation could change everything she thought her future would be.
　
IN THE EVENT OF A WATER LANDING
Fifteen-year-old Sierra Jenson can't wait to spend her summer vacation with her friend Jana at a pristine lake in Montana. But when they arrive, it becomes clear that Jana's only interest is acquiring a boyfriend. Sierra just wants to hang out with the guys as friends, but Jana turns every encounter into a possible romantic relationship. As their friendship begins to suffer, Sierra wonders if it's possible to find a Forever Friend who will listen to you, laugh with you, and keep your confidences.
----------------

Written by Robin Jones Gunn, Departures is a short novella featuring two "rediscovered" short stories about two different characters that are featured in their own series: Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen. In this book, we are taken back to the girl's teenage years.
　
The first story featured a character I had already read about once or twice before, Christy. I found the character very believable, in that I could remember myself at that age, and struggling to make sense of things just like Christy did. It is a book with a Christian theme, so there are several Biblical passages and lessons within, but it is done so in a way that doesn't feel forced, and didn't leave me with the impression that I was being "preached to". It's because of this that I feel it would be a good read for a young adult of any faith, and could be enjoyed just for it's simple story-telling. "Boys" seem to be the issue on the plate in this book, and many teenage girls can relate to the feelings that Christy, as well as Sierra later on, share.
　
The second story was about Sierra, a character completely new to me. Not knowing her at all, I found the sudden turn to Christ for answers to appear out of nowhere, and would have preferred the author to have introduced her as a Christian early on. I feel new readers (such as myself) would find the references forced and not as believable to the character, and it left me with a feeling that I had been missing something by not reading any of the other books featuring Sierra. I think this story would be harder for a new reader to just dive into. Still, it was a sweet story, and the boy-crazy Jana was a reminder of my own self back in the day.
　
This book cannot get any "cleaner", so if one is looking for a wholesome book with a moralistic theme for their teenage daughters, this would be a good book to start with. I plan to let my own daughter read it when she is a little older and closer to the ages of these girls (15-ish). I enjoyed it and would recommend others to read it.
　
4 Stars
　
You can buy Departures here at Amazon.com

This book was provided to me by the blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

Rhyming Pretzels: The Word Play Game with a Comical Twist

2011-05-23T01:10:00.000-05:00

Do you enjoy word games and puzzles? Can you tell a story in five sentences or less using words that sound alike? Does your brain need some exercise with a comical twist or a thoughtful surprise? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then Rhyming Pretzels are for you!

What is a "Rhyming Pretzel" you ask? Well, take the ingredients of words that sound alike, form them into a few sentences about anything you like (usually an average of five sentences), then give them a fast "flip", and you have a pretzel that is sure to tickle the funnybone!

Written and created by Delores Curtis.
------------

Reading the back-cover of the book (which you can read, above), this game sounded ideal for me because I love word games and, hey...I love comical twists! But, sadly, I just didn't find it very fun. Sure, it is a game I had never played before; a game where I take a series of rhyming words and make a funny, short rhyming story out of it, but after a few "pretzels" I had lost interest.

The directions are very hard to understand, as they are written, and I learned to play the game by looking at examples in the front of the book. The directions were of no real help at all. Once it is learned, it is an easy word game to play, where the only thing that can make it long-lasting is the amount of time it may take the player to come up with a witty "pretzel", or string of sentences with rhyming words that forms a story. with some of them, I had to really sit and think of a story using the words provided (and make it sing-song like a children's rhyme) and then there's the added task of giving it a comedic twist. Others were really easy.

I think this would be a good "I'm bored, so what can I do now?" type of activity, but it is pretty pricey ($21) considering that once the book is filled in, the word-play for this book is over, unless one takes a scrap piece of paper and writes on the paper instead of in the book. Still, this book might prove enjoyable for fans of word-play. It just wasn't as enjoyable to me as I thought it would be.

2 Stars

You can buy Rhyming Pretzels here at the Dorrance Bookstore.
　I received a complimentary copy of (Rhyming Pretzels) as a member of the
Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com
to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Hassie Calhoun: A Las Vegas Novel of Innocence

2011-05-23T01:00:00.000-05:00

Lovely and talented Hassie Calhoun arrives in Las Vegas to make it as a singer. Her beauty immediately opens doors at the Sands Hotel, but that beauty draws her into a dangerous relationship with her brooding lover, Jake, and attracts the attention of the powerful Frank Sinatra. Like the goddess Persephone, Hassie finds herself torn between the darkness and the light the two men offer. Jake is her personal Hades, whose love borders on obsession, and Hassie's innocence keeps her from recognizing the dangers that she invites.

With her innocence and identity on the line, the road to stardom puts Hassie in several compromising situations. Cory offers a deceptively sophisticated look into the life of an ambitious young woman during the era of the Rat Pack, whose very passions impede her dreams in a way that many women could secretly relate to.
------------

Written by Pamela Cory, Hassie Calhoun, the first of a trilogy, is a gripping tale of a 17 year old girl from Texas who left home to make it as a singer in 1960s Las Vegas. Striking out at the start, she talks Jake, the manager of the Sands Hotel, into hiring her as a waitress in the Copa Room. Her world then starts to change.

I liked Hassie as a character, though she was incredibly naive and made one mistake after another. Endearing her had me turning the pages in anticipation, to see if she would finally leave Jake or to see what she was doing with Frank Sinatra, or more importantly, to see how she fared. Her situation with Jake was troubling, he being manipulative and abusive, and I kept waiting for Hassie to awaken from the spell he had put her under. Jake was a great villain, one that, unfortunately, a lot of women have seen before in their own lives, and one that I kept inwardly screaming at Hassie to stay away from.

It was a wonderful tale, and one that was written well enough that I felt transported to Rat Pack-era Vegas. I look forward to the future releases in this heartwarming and heart-breaking trilogy, and cannot wait to see her story unfold further.

4 Stars

You can buy Hassie Calhoun here at Amazon.com.

This book was provided by the author for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

Soujon's Journey by Marlee Morgan

2011-05-23T00:50:00.000-05:00

This is the story of Soujon, a tale about finding inner strength, discovering
unique gifts and learning to stand up adversity while overcoming almost any
obstacle.
Discover Sky Mountain and the city of Cyane where the laws encompass four
things:

If harm it does none, do as you will
Be kind in spirit
Be in harmony with your surroundings
Be clean in body, mind and spirit.

Soujon's Journey is a book encouraging belief in yourself and your
convictions despite attempts others to dissuade you. The story is a grand escape
to another world, but you will think about and remember the characters for they
will portray your secret feelings and those of other people you will meet.
--------------

Soujon's Journey, written by first-time author, Marlee Morgan, is a story about a young woman, Soujon, and her difficult journey. She starts out a young maiden with a magical ability to heal people. She lives a clean, simple life with the other Sky Mountain people, and life is great.

She meets a man who tricks her into marrying him, and this man, Tourman, comes from Cyane, a place where vermin and filth seem to be the order of the day. He's not a pleasant sort, and though she tries to make her life the same as it was with the Sky Mountain people, it really is anything but. Now she'll have to face escaping the clutches of this dastardly man, while he tries to accomplish his goal: possess the magic of the Sky Mountain people and make both lands his own.

Written with young adults in mind, this charming story is written in the style of a fairytale, and it's the sort of fantasy that has it all: magic, good versus evil, adventure, and with a touch of romance. I enjoyed reading about Soujon and the people around her, as well as the lands they came from which were as different as night and day. Still, I liked that Soujon could touch them, the people of Cyane, and that many of them found her as dear as I do.

The story had a slow start, and honestly, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. But, I'm glad I read beyond the first few chapters, because this was such a wonderful tale, all of the elements within woven together tightly so that the storyline flowed smoothly. I love the life lessons within (finding inner strength, overcoming obstacles, doing the right thing, etc) and would be happy to recommend Soujon's Journey to readers of YA fantasy/fiction.

4 Stars

Buy Soujon's Journey here at Amazon.com.

Tunes this Thursday

2011-05-19T15:20:00.000-05:00

These are the 5 songs I am obsessed with this Thursday......

The Sesame Street Version:

This song, I saw him do in concert. Was my daughter's first concert:

So, that's what I'm obsessed with this Thursday...which tunes are you listening to, today?

The ABCs and 123s of Me

2011-05-11T01:12:00.000-05:00

I saw this elsewhere, and thought it was pretty clever and thought it might be fun. And so, here are the ABCs and the 123s of me:

A: artsy-fartsy
B: batophobia
C: creative
D: dork
E: Europhile
F: farouche
G: green eyed
H: honest
I: imaginative
J: jokester
K: kind
L: largiloquent
M: multifarious
N: nerd
O: open-minded
P: playful
Q: quirky
R: respectful
S: southern
T: trumpet player
U: unique (ha, the world is full of us. So then, are we truly unique?)
V: voracious reader
W: weaver
X: xenodochial
Y: youthful
Z: zany

0: girls I have kissed
1: child that I have
2: friends that have died to violent boyfriends
3: years I've been working from home
4: pets that I have
5: video game systems I waste time on
6: years in a row I've celebrated a 25th birthday
7: first kiss
8: got my first gun
9: years I've failed to get my daughter to have an interest in my geeky interests
10: + family members I have absolutely nothing in common with

Teaser Tuesdays

2011-05-10T00:40:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week, my teaser is from The British: Myths and Legends by M.L. Ebbutt.

"Constantine looked up as the angel bade him, and saw, hovering in the air, a cross; splendid, glorious, adorned with gems and shining with heavenly light. On it's wood, letters were engraved, gleaming with unearthly radiance:

"With this shalt thou conquer the foe in the conflict, And with it shalt hurl back the host of the heathen." ~~page 51

Please leave a comment with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here. Don't forget to visit the host's blog (link at top) to post the link to your own Teaser Tuesday link.

Monster Monday => Smaug the Dragon

2011-05-09T10:17:00.000-05:00

Monster Mondays are all about villains, be they in print or on film. The monster of choice this time will be Smaug the Magnificent, found in Tolkien's The Hobbit.

Smaug was one of the last dragons of Middle-Earth who was eventually killed by Bard the Bowman of Esgaroth, thanks to a grapevine tip by Bilbo Baggins about the one teeny scale missing, exposing Smaug's one vulnerable spot. He was like most dragons (though, more like Beowulf's monster) being all reptile-like and essentially a bad mofo, but he was a little tougher than some because his underbelly was as impenetrable as his skin, thanks to all of the gold and jewels from his hoard atop the Lonely Mountain, that had permanently embedded themselves into his flesh.

As far as dragons go, he was a really cool one (though a bit silly looking in the animated version), and if the world's best marksman (apparently!) were not there, he would still probably be out terrorizing dwarves (like every good dragon should).

Have a favorite monster? Do you like Smaug the Magnificent, or The Hobbit?

Daddy Dates by Greg Wright

2011-05-09T09:57:00.000-05:00

Daddy Dates gives the average Joe easy steps to actively and successfully engage with his daughter and raise a confident woman-to-be.

When faced with the reality of raising four teenage daughters, Greg Wright went on a soul quest.

He came back with a mission: Don’t Screw Up.

This funny, insightful, and relatable book poses the wildly original concept that should be a "duh" for most dads—but isn’t: In order to raise a confident woman-to-be, show your daughter what it feels like to be treated with love, respect, and true interest by a man who loves her.

Daddy Dates shows the average father how to actually do that. It is written in an original voice and will appeal to both men and women. It is the kind of action-oriented "how to" material that guys enjoy, and so many others will recommend to other dads.

When I first glanced at this book, I thought it was about a single father "getting back in the game", so to speak, and how he helps his children become accustomed to the idea, but it's really about a father who wishes to remain close to his daughters and get to know them better, so he proposes they go on "daddy dates". Written by Greg Wright, this is his personal pursuit to stay ingrained in their hearts and minds, forever.

The concept of "Daddy Dates" (days set aside for just Father and Daughter) is a really good one, and Wright includes a list of "Top 15 Daddy Dates" at the end of the book to help guide the readers in the right direction, should they wish to pursue something like this with their own daughters. A personality test is also included, to assess your knowledge of your daughter.

The book is easy to read because it is mildly humorous, and the author doesn't come off as if he is preaching, or is a relationship guru. It's a more honest book, because he doesn't claim to know-it-all, and shares not only the successes of his Daddy Dates, but the failures as well.

Since I am not a father, I wondered if this book would even be relevant to me. But, as a mother, I see a lot of advice and ideas within that I can use with my own daughter whom I butt heads with often, to make us closer. It's a great read, and would make a nice Father's Day gift, or would be a good read for any father of girls.

4 Stars

You can buy a copy of Daddy Dates here at Amazon.com.

This book was provided by Booksneeze.com for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

Tornado Footage

2011-05-08T23:38:00.001-05:00

I did a video of the damage from the tornado that hit Alabama for some of my friends, and thought I'd put it on my blog as well, for those who are interested (see below).

For those who do not know what the heck I am talking about, here's some footage of the tornado that did the damage in the above video. (see below)

Don't forget! Free Comic Book Day, Tomorrow!

2011-05-06T14:42:00.001-05:00

The first Saturday of May, every year is Free Comic Book Day, and like the name implies....it's a day to get free comics all around the nation and in other countries, in comic shops that participate in the event. FCBD this year is tomorrow! *Yayyyy*

It's a really fun event because a lot of shops go all out with people dressed up as characters, there's usually lots of food and drink, the local artists come out, and it's just a lot of fun and a great opportunity to geek out for the day.

Here's a preview of the comics that are offered this year (Use that link to also find participating shops in your area). I will go to every shop in the state just to get a Mouse Guard/Dark Crystal Flipbook! And...The Tick is an offering as well! *Heaven!*

Are any of you going to be at any of the shops in your areas? If so, are you going to dress up? I never do *shy*. If ya go, ya gotta come back here and let me know how it went! *Please*

Mauria by Steve North

2011-05-06T12:25:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder why we humans are constantly torn by love and hate, trust and fear, peace and war? Did all of our ancestors come from Mauria?

In the spirit of Lord of the Rings and Avatar, author Steve North weaves an incredibly original, fascinating, and complex story of love, power, life and death --- that takes place before we existed on Earth.

Mauria is.....

A gripping tale of two races, the Maurians and the Vuervee -- one a food supply to the other -- and so different there can be one shocking conclusion.

An amazing and complex cast of characters, all unknowingly marching toward the same precipice. A wild ride on a cyclone of love, power, beauty, hate and greed -- tamed only by fate....Ours.

I could not wait to read Mauria, Steve North's first novel. The idea that it would be influenced by Avatar, with a smackering of a Lord of the Rings influence tossed in, highly appealed to me. As I began to read, however, I was sorely disappointed.

I believe the storyline is an intriguing one, and I love the contrast between the two races. The Maurians are city-dwellers, more human in appearance and behavior, and more focused on technology, power, and they use the Vuervee as food. They believe life is more a "line". The Vuervee, on the other hand, are more animal-like , live in nature, and believe to kill another is to kill yourself. To them, life is a circle. As I read the story, I began to enjoy the passages that featured some of my favorite characters, such as the half-breed female, Trebel, and the half-breed Dillon, even if I didn't fully understand every single thing they were talking about.

The author invented his own language for this book, for the characters, and throughout the book they are using certain terms that are never really given an explanation or definition of. And so, I felt like I was left guessing, scratching my head and trying to figure out what a certain term means in relation to the story. An example of a short passage is:

"To the Vuervee, the tree was a center of Signs. Many times Tedrin had Mented to the line of this tree that he might sense the ways of the Mauria."

Now, at first glance, that may be confusing. But, by the time I finished the book, I felt like maybe I had a better understanding of what certain terms (like some of those above) meant. And so, I feel with a second reading, my pace would be faster and I could enjoy the book more. My problem is that I want to thoroughly enjoy it the first time without having to stop and do a little homework. It's a nice world that the author has proposed here, but it just isn't painted as nicely as it could have been.

I do not believe this book is "terrible", only that it is "select", and it is not one written for me.

1.5 Stars

You can buy Mauria here at Amazon.

Siege of Darkness: Guardian of the Seventh Realm Pt. 2

2011-05-06T00:13:00.000-05:00

Tragedy strikes Zithel, and the city of monks goes up in flames. The Earth-Wizard Mazarian has disappeared, and the army of Asgoth has taken back the Wizard Crystals of the Elements, ready to deliver them into the hands of their master: the Demon Lord Abaddon, where they will be corrupted and used against the very elements they were created to protect, deforming the world to a blackened void. As Darshun Luthais—the chosen Guardian of Earth—emerges from the mystical Shajin Island, having completed his training, ready to combat the forces of evil, he not only finds himself in the center of this chaos, but is also torn in different directions. Part of him longs to obey the wisdom of the Elders by relocating the crystals and fleeing Asgoth, while his Nasharin nature thirsts for battle, eager to take on the many trials that stand in his way, keeping him from what he desires most, challenging Abaddon, the ultimate terror.

Having enjoyed the first novel in the series written by J.W. Baccaro, Prophecy of the Guardian, I was eagerly awaiting the release of Siege of Darkness, the second novel. In this one, the main protagonist, Darshun, has returned from Shajin Island, his training complete, and is stronger than ever as he continues on his quest to vanquish the Dark.

The action picks up from the start, and I dove right in, engrossed in the scenes involving the Dark characters from the previous novel battling the Light. The fight scenes throughout the book were very well written, and I really loved the addition of magical elements, such as the Nasharin's transformations. Speaking of which, I find the Nasharin to be such a fascinating set of characters, with very unique abilities, and now that the Guardian, Darshun, had fully developed his, I couldn't wait to see how he used his element of fire. He is still young, so he has a bit of cockiness to him (which is also, seemingly, a trait of his kind, the Nasharin), but the author did not overdo that character trait, and it made Darshun come across as sure of himself instead of having an inflated ego. It was very well done, and he makes quite the hero.

While there is a lot of action from start to finish, there are also moments that step away and have lots of dialogue, and even with several new characters that are introduced. There's a lot revealed in this novel. We learn more not only about Darshun, but also his nemesis, Abaddon, and none of it is overwhelming or too rushed; the story flows very smoothly and ended with my anticipation for the next novel in the series.

4.5 Stars

You can read a sample chapter here.
You can buy a copy here at whiskeycreekpress or here at Amazon.

A copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

Tunes This Thursday

2011-05-05T10:30:00.002-05:00

This Thursday....

I am vegging out right now, watching a couple of animes (mainly Darker Than Black, and later, Vampire Knight [because the 2nd Season -Pt.1- is on the way and I want to play "catch up"]) and, will spend the day listening to random music on my mp3 player while I do the mundane domestic thing around the house, like laundry and vaccuuming, and ....*yawn*.

I thought it would be fun to put up some of my favorite songs of the day, and since I want to control myself, I thought it would be cool to just do it on a select day. I used Thursdays for something else...but, I like this better. *indecisive* So, here's some of the songs I will be listening to today, or am right now.... (I'll limit myself to 5....ugh, this will be hard!)

This one is from Darker than Black (the ending song), and is Tsukiakari by Rie Fu

This is the opening song of Season 1 of the anime, Vampire Knight called Futatsu No Kodou To Akai Tsumi by ON/OFF (except, this is not the full version, just the opening title)

I gotta get my blues on later...I love, love, LOVE Howlin' Wolf. Here's my fave, Smokestack Lightning.

James Brown. For me, it's kinda like some people with potato chips...can't stop at just one. So, just..James Brown, in general. Here's Try Me.

and finally....

Blood or Whiskey. Here's Always Remember..

What are you listening to, right now?

2011-05-03T05:19:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This is from an oldie, but one I am reading at the moment:

"You know," said Arthur, "it's at times like this, when I'm trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to die of asphyxiation in deep space that I really wish I'd listened to what my mother told me when I was young."

"Why, what did she tell you?"

"I don't know, I didn't listen."

~~~page 52, The (Ultimate) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

Ugliness is Contagious

2011-05-02T11:35:00.000-05:00

I get a lot of flack about this at home, but I keep reminding everyone, "I'm a girl. This is the kind of thing girls watch, sometimes", but I find myself watching some of the Real Housewives episodes. You know, Real Housewives of New York, Orange County, and wherever they are.

(First of all, the title of the show is misleading because they're not typical "housewives", never being at home, having maids, chefs, nannies for the kids you never see them with, and some aren't even married. Am I alone in thinking that?)

Anyway, last night I was watching one that I am pretty much "over" now, because of the "cattiness" of the women, The Real Housewives of Orange County. Anyone out there seen it this year? Those of you who have raised your hands...have you noticed how much of a bi-atch Tamra is this year? I forget her last name, but she is the blond who's marriage fell apart with control-freak Simon, and she's now in a "buck wild" phase but dating that Eddie-guy.

I kept thinking, especially with last night's episode (though so far, it's been every episode) that, "Wow, she's a really ugly person", and I don't mean her exterior. But, rejoicing in other's misfortunes, using every opportunity to make a joke or insult about another person, playing with people's emotions, and just having nothing but negative things to say about people.....that can make someone extremely ugly. And, I notice that ugliness is contagious. I notice that when you get her, or one of these types of women, together with another who usually isn't so catty (like Vicki from O.C., who's not usually like that) that woman will become just as ugly and catty.

Do you find the same thing? I look at the youth now, kids my daughter's age or older, and I notice that when you have one of those girls....you know the type: alpha, bratty, for some reason the most popular.....who strives to make other girl's lives miserable, they are never alone. There are always flunkies in the wings "yeah! yeah!-ing" everything Head B-word has to say to the poor geek girl. But, when you get one of the flunkies alone and to the side....they are usually genuinely nice people, they just find they are caught up in the ugliness at the moment. We see it in movies, even, where the flunkies end up abandoning the Head Girl because she has become a little "too ugly". So, it's easy to get caught up in the ugly, and I think it's because it's so darn contagious.

There are also usually repercussions to ugliness, as well. I firmly believe that if you do something, anything, considered "bad" such as stealing from another, laughing or making jokes about another's misfortunes....things like that....it will come back on you. So, it's probably best to avoid the ugly, or at least wash your hands really good when coming in contact with it (and do not touch your hands to your mouth, eyes, or nose until you do.) (jokes!)
　
But, what say you? Do you find that people, even if they are attractive, can become hideous once they start acting in such a manner? And, anyone see any of the Real Housewives shows here and there, or watch them regularly? Do you feel me, on Tamra this year?

Birds Can Fly and So Can I

2011-05-01T22:17:00.000-05:00

Birds Can Fly and So Can I (A Giraffe Soars from Dream to Reality) is written by Noa Nimrodi and illustrated by her cousin, Tamir Lichtenberg.

" Birds Can Fly and So Can I is a charming and engaging book about the joy of dreaming and the thrill of achieving cherished goals. With endearing rhyme and spectacular illustrations, this book captivates its readers as they watch adorable animal buddies "clap with glee and chirp with praise" in support of Giraffe's dream to take flight. Birds Can Fly uses stunning artwork and witty verse to deliver its message about developing undiscovered talents. With innocence and appeal, it teaches children to stretch themselves to reach new heights and to cheer others on as they do the same. (Age 3+) "

This is a cute little storybook about a giraffe with big dreams, and children read along as they find out whether she achieves her dreams or not. It's meant to inspire children to reach for their own dreams, and try to obtain their own goals. Kudos to the author for spreading such a positive message to our young.

The story is done in rhyme, and it's not Dr. Seuss, but it's still sing-song enough to appeal to the smallest of children. An example of a verse or two is:

When Giraffe's in flight, her guests cheer "More"
Then Giraffe feels cold, her neck gets sore
The animals use her neck to slide
Thoughtful Bunny helps them glide
To thank Giraffe for a dazzling day
The animals shout "Hip, hip, hooray!"

The charming illustrations by Lichtenberg add to the story, and allow the children who cannot read, to easily keep up with what is going on as the story is read to them. My favorite part of the book is at the end, where we find an image of Giraffe that children can color in, and fill in their hopes and dreams on Giraffe's spot-wings. It's quite a nice addition.

You can read more about the author, as well as purchase this book at her website here.

3 Stars

This book was provided by the author for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

Jake's Pride by B.J. Strong

2011-05-01T19:37:00.000-05:00

The last thing Sara remembered was her divorce. The resulting pain and confusion convinced her she would never allow another man to get close to her again. Jake wanted nothing to do with women after being so badly scarred from his run-in with the woman he had first chosen as his unlikely and inappropriate mate, especially because he had lost his only son in the battle.
　
When these two stubborn people are thrown together by dangerous circumstances, it is not only the sparks that fly, but also the bullets. Charged with protecting Sara from a madman, Jake finds himself attracted to the vulnerable yet powerful woman just as she finds herself drawn to this gentle giant. Will they be able to heal each other, or will their independent natures and willful personalities keep apart these two who are destined to be together?
　
Written by B.J. Strong, Jake's Pride is a romance sprinkled with action and drama that honestly had me tethered to the pages, anxious to find out what the author would add in to the story, next. Because I was so engrossed, I found myself finishing the reading of this book in a few hours. As I continued to read, I kept thinking to myself that the male protagonist, the love interest in the story, is more of a villain than the actual villain that the author had written into the storyline.
　
Sara, the female protagonist, has survived an attack that killed her ex-husband and left her in a coma. Since she survived, she was put into protective custody. Enter Jake McKenna, a rough and rowdy man who hates women and believes them all to be liars and "guilty" of something. He's the one who is to watch over and protect Sara.
　
Sara was one of the weakest female characters I have read, loving a man who is in every respect a terrible person, and not even finding the strength within herself to fight for her child, or her other children. Jake, he is supposed to be a wounded man, one that is commonly found in romance novels, and is one that the female interest has to "heal". But, I believe Strong went way overboard with this character because he is incredibly cruel, downright raping Sara at one point and making her wet herself from fear in another. But, all the while, he is supposed to harbor some type of intense love for her, but a love that he doesn't want to admit? Seriously? By the time it came to the point where he tried to force her to bend to his will by giving her no other choice, I hated the man. I saw in him every manipulative, abusive, and otherwise evil P.O.S. that I've ever had the misfortune to come across, and I couldn't believe what I was reading was meant to be a "romance".
　
As harsh as that sounded, I did also find several things to enjoy in this book. I do like the way the story flowed, and it kept me tied to the pages, wanting to read more, especially about the villains. The villains in this book are incredibly evil, which makes for a good read, but I wish they were in the story more than the few passages they were talked about. There are also several steamy sex scenes, for those who enjoy that, though some may be a little disturbing for some readers. In all, it was a decent read, just one where I didn't care for either of the two main characters, and a book where I was silently begging the female to run far away from the male and never look back.
　
3 Stars
　
You can buy Jake's Pride here at the Dorrance e-store.
　
I received a complimentary copy of (Jake's Pride) as a member of the
Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com
to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team

Z is for Zoot of the Electric Mayhem

2011-04-29T21:47:00.000-05:00

I'm nearly out of time, and want to get this post in ...could not think of a Z topic besides "zoos", and .....I know more about this than those..lol.

Zoot is a blue, blading character that plays the saxophone in the Jim Henson Muppet band, the Electric Mayhem. Of course, the band s full of awesome characters, such as Janice (named after Janis Joplin...see my avatar for image), Dr. Teeth (who's is a tribute to Dr. John, but reminds me of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show), Sgt. Floyd Pepper, my fave, who's influence is pretty evident, Animal, and Lips, the trumpet player.

Zoot was designed after Gato Barbieri, a sax-man from Argentina. He's also a pretty old muppet, as far as the muppets who aren't the main cast (such as Kermit) go, being 35 and still working. His voice is done by Dave Goelz, but he's not much of a talker. But, he's a pretty cool character.

He's got a few running jokes, and one that crops up a lot is that he's pretty much homeless or really, really poor. I think it's the whole "starving musician/artist" thing, but, he's been known to sleep on benches and live in a telephone booth. It's a shame for someone who has had steady work for as long as he has. (Ha)

Anyway, he's one of the least talked about (well, actually, that is Lips), i the band, and so I wanted to make that character my "Z" post for the day.

And now, back to the darkness!! See ya'll real soon.

*gulp* I hope.

(how did people survive without technology and elelectricity? I'm back to cave-woman days with candles and am grilling everything in my freezer and deep freezer because it's all thawing out. I'll be eating meat for weeks! *Grunt*)

Y is for Yoda

2011-04-29T21:24:00.000-05:00

Yoda, of course, is from Star Wars and was a hella cool teeny green guy who schooled Skywalker in the ways of the Jedi. Here's the thing....I wasn't born when Star Wars made it's theatrical debut....yeah, I know, I know..."I missed out!!".....but I was an immediate fan as a young tyke when I did get a viewing at home, and not just because of the sweet galactic wars, the light sabers, and all the coolness involved *minus the ice-skating, sister-kissing Skywalker* (Sorry Luke fans, I'm a Han Solo girl!!) . I was so into Yoda because he was sort-of-kinda-almost a muppet. Frank Oz (Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear) was his voice in the trilogy, that wonderful, backwards-talking voice, and was also the puppeteer. Warwick Davis (Willow!, Leprechaun!) did the walking parts on The Phantom Menace. And then, he was worked on by my fave fantasy artist's wife (who is also the one who built the gelflings in The Dark Crystal<----a Jim Henson "baby"), Wendy Froud, who was on the team who built him.

So, Yoda is cool in other ways, to me, as well.

*Randomness* I had a chihuahua that I named Yoda because he kinda looked like him. Well, in the ears, anyway.

X is for X-treme Devestation

2011-04-28T13:27:00.000-05:00

The tornadoes that came through missed my area by a couple miles again, twice, but it is complete devestation in my town. Millions of dollars of damage, over 250 deaths so far and still counting (total, in whole south), cannot reach 5 different family members on those roads because phones are down and area is so demolished the roads are closed. Hope to hear from them soon.
Friends are hunting their neighbors who didn't get out of area. Found dead man so far and searching for his young daughters, presumed dead. Friends and family lost homes, completely gone. Lots in hospital.

It's just terrible, really humbling, completely sad. Cannot help but cry.

Here's my local paper...will give info and pics on first page today...

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/

Still no power here in home, and about to lose what's left on laptop. Be back whenever power comes back on.

W is for Weather......Again

2011-04-27T00:39:00.000-05:00

Am going to have pretty rotten weather again, so wanted to get a post in early. I think I shared this tidbit about me before, but I am skurrrred of lightning. So, I won't be on my computer with that mess going on outside.

The local news folks are going on about "April's Fury" and I'm not a fan because usually they pet us and give us the old "everything will be alright" vibe. I guess this year it's been worse than it has in a while. I'll just be glad when summer is here.

W is also for Weenie Dogs.

I caught some people dumping three Daschunds out past my house yesterday, but wasn't much I could do about it at the time. People dump out their unwanted pets here because I'm literally inside of a national forest and besides a few family members, there are no neighbors for miles. People just, instead of taking them to the shelter we have, or finding them a home through the papers, they just dump them off to die out here. We get dogs, cats, snakes, and we have even had emus out here.

Anyway, when I saw the little wiener-dogs, I saw they were healthy looking and appeared to be sweet, though they would not come to me when I called them. I left them out some food and all because I wanted to catch them and then take them to the shelter. I figured the coyotes will kill them soon enough because they (the coyotes) pass by my house every night, sometimes coming onto my porch.

But, turns out they're cat killers. I have some feral cats who I feed and care for because they keep the ground squirrels away (which are reason #1 for most people's house fires, out here), and one of them had 2 kittens. Well, I hear a loud commotion on the porch and went to check, and the black Daschund ran away as I opened the door. I didn't think anything about it, and went back in. But, later on, I heard the same kind of commotion and sounded like kittens screaming. So, I ran back out and all three dogs are on the porch and go to run away, and I see one of them has a kitten in it's mouth. I had no idea they were even hidden on the porch by the mother cat because earlier, she had them in a shed. I yell out at the dog and start to chase it and it drops the kitten as it runs.

I take the kitten in the house; it was unharmed, and wait on the mother cat to come back around so she can hide it better. But meanwhile, the dogs came back, as I am inside and watching them through a window, and the one that had the kitten goes back to where she got it from and is looking for it again. Total cat killer. But, they did kill and eat one, and had planned to eat the other. I can't wait to get them little $%#$%#$% out of here now.

W is also for Wednesday, which is today. I hope ya'll have a good one!

V is for Vampires....Blah! I Vant Your Blood! Blah!

2011-04-26T15:15:00.000-05:00

Yay! A real vampire!

I've always had a sort of fascination of vampires, werewolves, zombies, and the like. I love old films like Nosferatu, and the many tributes and remakes of it, the various Dracula films, and any older film starring the night-time leaches. I mostly liked my vampires as true vampires. You know...blood sucking, night-walking, stake-in-the-heart-&-garlic-fearing, coffin sleeping vampires. I liked the fear they would fill their victims with, and the resulting gore as they went fang-deep into a shrieking woman's neck. I loved that sort of stuff.

Sparkles and the Cullen's money
can't help him out. *Has to slip up
on them*

When I was a teen, The Interview with the Vampire came out on VHS (*snicker*) and though Tom Cruise creeped me out (and still does), I was introduced to a different kind of vampire. I began to read Anne Rice's vampire chronicles, all of which are about the kinds of vampires you might actually want to get bitten by. They were a little pretty instead of grotesque, a bit sensual instead of forceful, and had such fascinating stories to go along with them. I know people eat Twilight's Edward Cullen up, but for me, Louis or Lestat were where it's at.

Vampire Knight.

Vampires have changed a lot from the way they used to be. They were a bit corny, granted, in that it's the same old thing over and again. But, films like Blade or Van Helsing (or my teenage favorite "From Dusk Til Dawn") were just .....well, COOL. (And, here's a must see vampire film for you: The Fearless Vampire Killers. Hi-lar-ious!) But, nowadays, vampires sparkle and are just incredibly angsty. They also try and find ways to cop out of feeding as well.

Blah! I Vant to suck Yer Blood!

It's not just Twilight. Take my favorite mangas for instance. Vampire Knight, while brilliant, features vampires that take blood capsules, mainly because they want to co-exist with the humans. *Yawn* (It's still brilliant..*ha*)

He's a bad mamma-jamma.

Or, Trinity Blood....those vampires aren't really even vampires. Not in the traditional sense. They are Methuselah which makes them part alien (part human). But, they suck blood...so, let's call them vampires. *whatev* (I knock it, but it is another great serial as well)

There are many cases of vampire + love of non-vampire, in mangas (and novels) such as Rosario + Vampire, Millennium Snow, Chibi Vampire (which has a vampire that doesn't drink blood, but donates it), and etc. But, there are a whole heap of really good vampire mangas out there that feature true blood suckers, and though they may not be afraid of stakes, or sleep in coffins and such, they have no qualms about sinking their fangs into a neck.

One..One vampire fan. Now we go for two....
Ah, ah ah! *thunder boom*

I'm about ready for another really good vampire film now. But, I want one that will make me sleep with the lights on at night!

Any vampire film/book fans out there?

The Social Climber's Handbook by Molly Jong-Fast

2011-04-26T14:42:00.000-05:00

HIGH SOCIETY CAN BE A KILLER.

Upper East Side socialite Daisy Greenbaum is accustomed to the finer things: designer clothes, summers in the Hamptons, elite private school educations for her daughters, and a staggeringly expensive Park Avenue apartment. But Daisy finds her well-heeled lifestyle on precarious footing after her husband, master of the universe Dick Greenbaum, learns about some shady dealings that threaten his position at The Bank.

Daisy refuses to allow her family to slip down the social ladder, so she devises a madcap plan: Anyone who jeopardizes her place at the top will simply have to be dispatched six feet under. From Dick's arrogant boss to his scheming former mistress to a pair of nosy bloggers, Daisy's hit list is a who's who of big names with even bigger secrets. But with the body count rising as the Dow Jones falls, can Daisy really get away with murder?
　
The Social Climber's Handbook, written by Molly Jong-Fast, starts out at a fast pace and there aren't many chapters before the real action starts with Daisy beginning to whack anyone who stands in the way of her husband's success or her way of life.
　
As I read the book, I found myself waiting for the story to lighten up, or become as funny as the quoted reviews claim it to be. But, I never found that, in this book. Sure, I understand it is satirical, that it is poking fun at the author's own world, the world of the Upper East side and it's socialites. But, any attempts at humor by the author were lost on me.
　
What I did get a sense of, in this book, is how unlikable I found not only the majority of the minor characters, but the main protagonist, herself. It seems in the character's world, the only things that matter are money and greed. They're well written characters, yes, but as a whole are inherently shallow and incredibly void of any redeeming qualities. This makes for a hard book to read, and one that seems almost like "work" rather than enjoyment. With the story happening so fast, and things being so rushed, it was hard to sit and completely absorb all the events as they happened, and to fully appreciate the story-telling.
　
The one thing I did seem to enjoy about the book is that the author seems to know what she is writing about, the lifestyles of people found in the Upper East side. I didn't feel like that was forced and it gave an element of realism to the story.
　
But, there is no real mystery here; we know who the killer is just from reading the book blurb. There are still unanswered questions, mainly "will she get away with it?" and "is it worth it, in the end?" to find the answers to, and I did enjoy reading about why Daisy went after certain people, though, in my opinion, it was always for the same reason: her lifestyle. This is a book that may be an acquired taste. For me, it was a decent read, but not one I would place on my library shelf with anticipation of a future reading.
　
3 Stars

You can buy The Social Climber's Handbook here at Amazon.com.

U is for Uncle Deadly

2011-04-25T20:58:00.000-05:00

Uncle Deadly was always one of my favorites of Jim Henson's muppets. He's a blue, dragon-like monster who is the Phantom of the Muppet Show. This character made its first appearance with none other than the great Vincent Price in episode 119 where the duo sang "You've Got a Friend". It's one of my favorite episodes because I adore Vincent Price, and Uncle Deadly always reminded me of him (in the best ways possible, mind), and it was just a wonderful skit overall with the large organ, the flying ghosts, and the remaining campy spookiness. (I say Deadly reminded me of Price, but he was actually a tribute to John Carradine)

Uncle Deadly, you see, (as it's told) used to perform at the Muppet Theatre where he played the lead in Othello, until he was killed by none other than his critics. So, technically, he's dead. The other Muppets would report to Kermit the Frog that they have seen a phantom wandering about the theatre, but Kermit never believed them until he saw the phantom for himself. Thank goodness he did, too, because we got a few more episodes of Uncle Deadly and usually singing musical numbers, out of it.

Anyone out there remember Uncle Deadly? He's not my absolute favorite muppet character, but he's right at the top.

T is for The Tick

2011-04-25T00:47:00.000-05:00

(Posting my "T" post today, because I didn't feel too much like it yesterday)

I was such a fan of The Tick because the comics were pretty hilarious. He's such an unlikely hero and the super villains were cheesy and completely un-scary. It was like a much-needed break from the flying testosterone and constant "Ka-pow!s", "Bam!s", and "Zing!s" I'd get from my other comics. I was into the comics as a kid, and then they made a cartoon out of the premise, and my dorky, young teen self mused, "Ahh, so this is what heaven must be like." To me, The Tick was just hilarious. (And then they made a TV series out of it and ruined the whole thing for me *groan*)

I love the story about the creation of The Tick because what's more fairy-tale-like (for comic fans) than an ordinary teenage comic geek creating a mascot for his favorite local comic store, and then it blowing up from there into this big thing? It's pretty "Bippidee-boppidee-boo" if you think about it.

His powers are things like "nigh invulnerability" which is this power to be able to crash into things, over and over like a bumbling idiot, and suffer no injury, he has super strength, and when a situation gets more intense, his powers will increase. His weakness is that he cannot keep his balance if his antennae are removed. His war cry is "Spoon!" which is deliciously random. Arthur, his looks-like-a-bunny-but-is-really-a-moth-costumed, ex-accountant sidekick has only one power....he can fly in his moth suit. His battle cry is something along the lines of "Not in the face!"

Anyone here ever a fan of The Tick? Ever read/watch the character before?

Maybelline Super Stay 24 2-Step Color

2011-04-25T00:17:00.000-05:00

Because I am a member or BzzAgent.com, I was able to try the new Maybelline Super Stay 24 color stay lipstick, and for me, it was a first. I've tried a color stay type of lipstick beforehand, of course, but I had never tried this one before.

It's said that "after 5 years of research and 10 patents, Maybelline's revolutionary micro-flex technology allows the New Superstay 24 Color to stay put all day; no caking, no fading, no feathering, no transferring. so, your luscious lips survive everything from eating to running, partying to kissing, and even sleeping."
It's a two ended lipstick, one side holding the lipstick and it's applicator wand, and the other end being a clear moisturizing top coat balm. It's really neat in the way it's together, and it's still small enough to place in a pocket or in a purse. There are 30 shades in all, and they all have cute names such as "Always Hot Chili" or "Keep Up the Flame". The colors are divided into Reds, Plums, Pinks, and Naturals.

This lipstick is supposed to last the entire day, and it actually does, though by the end of it, it needs touching up. Even with eating, giving the kid a smooch on the cheek, or just running around drinking coffee or whatever....it seemed to last. Applying it is easy thanks to the applicator. I thought the lipstick felt a little sticky once it was on and I was allowing it to dry a little, but once I put the top coat on, it was no longer sticky at all, and remained glossy and shiny.

I think the most impressive thing about the lipstick is that it did not crack on me. With this one, I haven't had to constantly reapply throughout the day, just once was enough. It doesn't look caked on like some brands, and it even smelled quite nice, almost like berries!

I suppose the skinny is that I quite liked it, and it's first impression was a lasting one. I'd wear it again and again and again, and encourage others to do so. Seriously though, it's pretty slick. Have any of you ever tried it?

L'Oreal One Sweep Eyeshadow & More

2011-04-25T00:15:00.000-05:00

As a BzzAgent with BzzAgent.com, I get to try products every now and then and share my opinions about them with others. I recently received some makeup to try , and so I thought I would make them my "L" post for the day. So....L'Oreal One Sweep Eyeshadow and the L'Oreal Double Extend Eye Illuminator Mascara.....anyone ever tried them?

The One Sweep Eyeshadow I thought would be a killer product, and I do think it's a great concept. See, the palette has three colors and one eyelid-shaped brush. Swipe the palette with the fat brush in one sweep, successfully picking up all three colors (light to dark), and then sweep it over the eye in one swipe. Voila! You have a perfectly shaded eye!

Except it wasn't always perfect with my application. Usually, I could not get enough of either outer color on the brush to be noticeable on my lids, and sometimes, one swipe did not seem to do it, but applying another would make the colors blend too much. If I was extremely patient (which I am not), I could make it work for me. But, I just kept thinking it would have been easier to just apply three separate colors.

The Double Extend Mascara, however, I loved. It dries pretty fast, so I had to work quickly if I didn't want clumps (I find that with most mascaras), but it really made my lashes look thick and almost unnaturally long (they're already pretty long, but this made them freakishly so.....it looked cool!) It doesn't run with tears, doesn't cake or flake, and is easy to apply. The flip side of the mascara houses an "illuminating topcoat" infused with "light reflecting pearls" to really enhance the lashes. This wand has a bulbous end and the pearls are golden in color (on mine). I comb my lashes with this wand, and it leaves subtle glittery flecks on the ends which make my eyes seem to sparkle more. It's a really cool effect. I was putting it on my daughter though and accidentally got it a little in her eye (Oops!). The way she carried on, it really burns, so .....you might want to avoid that. *oops*

For me I thought one was a miss, (more like a foul, really, because it isn't a terrible product, just one that requires a lot of patience) but the other was a home run. The Double Extend I may start buying to replace my regular mascara....the pearl flecks kinda sold me. The only weird thing is that I can see gold sparkles out of the corner of my eye and it's a bit distracting..lol.
　
　

S is for Shots.....YeeeOoowwwch

2011-04-22T13:24:00.000-05:00

I cannot think of an "S" topic I want to talk about. *Frown*

I keep thinking about shots because I got one the other day that is still kicking me in the butt. Almost literally.

Shots have never bothered me and I've always asked for them because they make me feel so much better. I kinda like the way my body reacts with the endorphins, or is it adrenaline?....whichever, the way they charge forth and present that tingly feeling under my skin so I won't feel any pain from the prick of the needle. It's almost like a high.

(Hmmm...that sounds a little weird as I read it back. I'm just trying to say, "shots do not bother me")

Anyway, I went in for one the other day and I took it in the hip. I've never had one like it ....was some antibiotic that's really strong, forget the name......it took almost a full minute before he was done pushing the medicine in; it was so slow. And, that son of a gun felt like it was perhaps syrup, that thick gummy type, and was trying to claw it's way through my hip and into my system. It almost had me crying out, it was so unexpected with the pain of it..lol.

Well, it's two days later and that area is still sore to the touch, has a ginormous bruise and a big ol' knot on it. Owwie!

So, shots.....

Anyone out there afraid of needles? I hear I was as a kid, but I guess I grew out of it. My daughter is, big time. Ever had a shot that made you feel like you were stabbed instead of injected? That's how I feel about now.

(*feeling guilty* Sorry for the short post and "plucked from the air" topic....I am still feeling poorly and want to go back to bed. I will play catch up on everyone's blogs in a few days. *Thanks!* )

R is for Raynaud's Phenomenon

2011-04-21T09:54:00.000-05:00

Not my hands, but an example of what it can look like.
Mine resembles the top two. Oooh..Creepy! Bwahahaha!

Raynaud's Phenomenon or Raynaud's Disease is one of the most inconvenient and irritating illnesses I can think of. It's a vasospastic disorder that decreases blood flow to certain parts of the body when the tiny blood vessels spasm and become clamped. When a person is cold or catches a chill, their body's natural response is to try and warm the body and in the process, vessels contract and spasm...but in sufferers of Raynaud's, the smaller vessels sort of "clamp shut". This mostly happens in the fingers and toes, but can also effect the ear lobes, the nose, and the lips.

I've had mild Raynaud's since I was around 15 years old where it only affected the very tips of my toes and not my fingers. But, over the years it has gotten worse and now it will affect both (and only) the entire fingers and toes (not just the tips). What happens is, every time I get a slight chill, or get a little cold, my fingers and toes will stop their blood flow and as a result, they turn yellow and then stark white. It's very painful and can be dangerous if out in the elements (say, snow....which we never get here) because it can lead to frostbite easily. But, there are two kinds...primary, which is just the disease itself, and secondary, which is the result of a bigger issue such as sleroderma. I have primary Raynaud's. It affects women more than men, and affects 3% to 5% of the general population.

To bring my digits back, so to speak, I usually place them in warm water because it's the quickest way to do so. If out and about where I cannot, I just flex my toes in my shoes and rub my fingers or place them under my arms until they gradually warm themselves. But, when they "come back" they are bright red because of the rush of blood flow into them. then, they gradually turn "normal".

I'm the first in my family, unless it has skipped several generations, to have it, and it frustrates me some of the things they say about it in way of suggestions. When saying I could not go to a 2 hour parade where I'd stand outside in the 40 degree windy weather, I got the old "I don't see what's the big deal. Wear a coat!"

Folks, the "big deal" is that even if I bundle myself from head to toe....and this has happened to me plenty of times....when I open that door, if the wind hits my face and I give the slightest of shivers, my Raynaud's acts up. Then, I have to go back inside, unravel 50 pounds of clothing, and then deal with my digits. We have to do certain things that make life manageable, or rather, we have to do certain things that allow us to rule over the Raynaud's and not let it rule over us. I always wear warm socks because hardwood floors affect me. In the winter, I slip on some gloves before handling cold packaged foods in the refrigerator or freezer. I have to have "me" time because stress upsets it. Vibrations upset it, so I have to take lots of breaks if using a saw. Just, things like that.

It doesn't stop me from going out or anything and it only affects me during the cold months such as late fall or winter. And, more on the "plus side", I have something with the added word "Phenomenon", so it sounds like I have a cool super power or something. *Silver Linings!*

Anyway, "R" is for Raynaud's. Do you have it, or know anyone who does?

Q is for Quests, Epic or Otherwise

2011-04-20T11:40:00.000-05:00

I love a good quest, whether in literature or on film (or video game), and I sat here and wondered why that is. A quest is essentially a journey towards a goal, or getting from "Point A" to "Point B" because of "C". In other words, it's a whole lot of just......walking. (Or riding, if the character is fortunate enough to have a horse.) Sounds a bit *Yawn*-worthy.

But, I realize that it is the stories and adventures that surround the quest that I enjoy. I love to read about the trials and hardships they endure as they push forward, determined to stay on their path and succeed. I love the creatures and characters that may spring forth in some tales, determined to stop the hero. If in a fantasy, I love the world the author has created, and learning about and envisioning the terrain and sights as the hero makes his way towards his goal. And, by the time the quest has come to a close, and the point of interest is just around the bend....I've already settled in the hero's corner and am rooting him on, urging him (internally...because, it would be weird to do so aloud) to keep pushing forward. ("You're almost there, you lug! Don't give up now!") Personal quests help to enrich a story in some instances, such as in W. Somerset Maugham's "The Razor's Edge" where a war pilot goes off in search of enlightenment, but I much prefer the more adventuresome quests such as Frodo Baggin's journey (in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, of course) to destroy the One Ring, or the Arthurian legend's quest for the Holy Grail (or Odysseus's journey home in Homer's, The Odyssey) (I could go on!).

Even something like Dorothy and those three misfits she picked up on the yellow brick road in Oz.....that's such a wonderful quest (with fun musical numbers, to boot!). Or, how about that Harry Potter, and his quest to find the Deathly Hallows and Horcruxes, to rid the world of Lord "Moldy-Voldy" Voldemort? I quite enjoyed that one, as well.

[side tracked] Hmmm...have you noticed the large amount of quest-stories that have a central theme of friendship in them? [/side tracked]

Do you have a favorite adventure or personal quest-type of story? What do you like best about these type of stories?

P is for Pretty Puddy-Tats Doing Star Wars Thingzz

2011-04-19T10:06:00.000-05:00

The Blogger Demons have taken my post, and I am too ill today to suffer through it again....so, what I'm going to do today is just post images. So, for the letter "P", I bring you "Pretty Puddy-tats Doing Star Wars Thingzzz".

Not real kittez, but I think this pic is adorable.

Thanks for coming by, all!

O is for Ood, Those Inside-Out Looking Creatures!

2011-04-18T11:01:00.000-05:00

From Doctor Who, the Ood are a humanoid alien race from the Ood Sphere. They're right ugly beings, looking like their faces were disemboweled...if their faces were full of intestines. They have these tentacle things hanging out of their mouth area which makes them very unbecoming. Take a look:

They communicate by telepathy, and had two brains, the hindbrain being held in the hand. But, when they became servants to the humans, their hindbrains were removed (possibly because they're gag-worthy enough without a second organ sitting outside of their body. Imagine the appetites that were lost when Ood were bringing forth a cheeseburger in one hand, and holding a brain in the other.), and replaced with a translation sphere which has a tube that runs to their mouth-area. It helps them talk to the humans, and a glowing sphere probably takes a little attention away from the giant earthworms hanging out of their mouth-areas. (So, it may have been something they signed up for!)

The Ood don't get a lot of screen time, but they will get a little time in Series 6 where they'll have green eyes, instead of red. Ooh, mysterious!

I think the Ood are funny though because certain things pop in my head when I look at them.

Things like what it'd be like if they partied too much at night:

Or what it'd be like it they went fishing:

And, I wonder if Doctor Zoidberg from Futurama has a little Ood in his genetics:

Or Davy Jones.

But....the Ood. Coolest aliens around....or the lamest? What say you? Personally, I wouldn't have one around because, well, EEEEeeeeeWWWWwww!

Awards Are Cool Part Deux

2011-04-18T09:49:00.000-05:00

I just got a Stylish Blogger Award from Giggle, Laugh, Cry, and it has some rules attached to it. By the way, if you haven't already, check out her blog. She has a great sense of humor and is such a joy to read.

The Rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person giving you the award. (Much thanks!)
2. Share 7 Things About Yourself.
3. Award 10-15 Blogs Who You Think Deserve This Award.
4. Contact these bloggers and let them know about the award.

Okay...here we go.....

7 Things About Me:

1. I wrecked my first motorcycle at age 7. (lol..I don't wreck anymore)
2. I like to study the messed-up mind (abnormal/criminal psychology)
3. I am a nerd for science fiction.
4. Brian Froud is my fave fantasy artist, thanks to Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal.............
5. ...........which I love.
6. I probably have every Michael Jackson song, ever. (don't judge me. lol)
7. Dave Matthews, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin, too.

Bloggers (if I name someone who does not want a reward of any type, I soooo apologize!):

1 Wasabi Mommy
A Storybook World
and then my heart smiled
Recipes That Please With Ease
Bards & Prophets
There's Dungeons Down Under
Wanna Buy a Duck
The Lands of Ara
The Clash of Spear on Shield
Star Trek - Sci Fi Blog

When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall

2011-04-17T16:48:00.000-05:00

After receiving a desperate and confusing call from her sister, Hannah Lapp reluctantly returns to the Old Order Amish community of her Pennsylvania childhood.

Having fled in disgrace more than two years earlier, she finally has settled into a satisfying role in the Englischer world. She also has found love and a new family with the wealthy Martin Palmer and the children she is helping him raise. But almost immediately after her arrival in Owl’s Perch, the disapproval of those who ostracized her, including her headstrong father, reopens old wounds.

As Hannah is thrown together with former fiancé Paul Waddell to work for her sister Sarah’s mental health, hidden truths surface about events during Hannah’s absence, and she faces an agonizing decision. Will she choose the Englischer world and the man who restored her hope, or will she heed the call to return to the Plain Life–and perhaps to her first love?
　
When the Soul Mends, written by Cindy Woodsmall, is the third and final book in the Sisters of the Quilt series. It's a sort of crossroads story for the main character, Hannah, and while she is dealing with complex feelings while having returned to the Amish world, she must decide whether or not she will remain, or return to the Englischer world. For a bonus "issue", she must also decide whether or not to start something up again with her old Amish beau. While the potential love interest addition was well written, though slightly predictable, I was much more interested in the issues with Hannah's sister, Sarah who had mental issues. This addition brought a lot more depth to the characters involved, and made them entirely likable, especially Hannah, whom I found myself cheering on throughout the story.

The central theme in this book would be "forgiveness", or rather, "the importance of". It's flying all around in this book because there are a lot of old hurts to overcome. Even though this was a fiction about the Amish way of life, the religious tones were very subtle, making this a potentially enjoyable book for anyone of any religion. The author was able to pull together a wonderful story, and bring about a nice close to the trilogy. Fans of the Sisters of the Quilt series will enjoy When the Soul Mends, and I would recommend it as a light read.
　
4 Stars
　

You can buy When the Soul Mends right here on Amazon.
I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

Unbelievable Adventures of a WWII German War Bride

2011-04-17T14:09:00.000-05:00

　
Ingeborg M. Balendat's German youth was dramatically changed because of World War II. During the war she served as a teenage nurse in war-torn Berlin, administering to wounded German officers while planning to escape with her mother to the American front. In this heroic and compelling story, readers learn how Ingeborg M. Johnston, eighty-five and the last survivor of her immediate German family, escaped into and out of East Berlin, took on the president of Daimler-Benz to save her father's life, carried to America a Nobel laureate's scientific discoveries, won the first Mrs. Philadelphia contest, survived Hurricane David aboard her sailboat, and became a valuable member of the U.S. educational community. In Unbelievable Adventures of a WWII German War Bride, we are reminded of the generosity of strangers, the need to live every day to its fullest, and how one young woman lived to share her extraordinary story of survival, love, and American patriotism.

This is the story of Ingeborg M. Johnston, the author, an incredibly fascinating woman. In this book she shares her experiences as a nurse during WWII, and it was quite an adventurous story which left me amazed at how courageous she was. She was at risk from raids, bombings, and for six years, her life was in constant danger. The book is written in the first person, but, the lack of descriptive narrative in sections makes the book read not as gripping as it possibly could have. Still, the author is able to briefly convey her emotions during these chapters as she struggled with and overcame her early life's obstacles.

　
Her story doesn't stop there, however, and the author takes us through her adventures in the United States as she grabs life by the horns and takes up sky diving, motor cycling, or at the age of 79, took Aerial Combat Training in a T-34 Navy Training Plane. The central theme to her story is "kindness", acknowledging that without it from others, she may not have ended up where she did today. She also inspires and encourages the reader to adopt kindness in their own lives, and hand it out freely.
　
Inge Johnston has such a wonderful story, and she kept me interested from the first word to the last. The inclusion of her family photographs, as well as the Index which showcases her many adventures, are welcome additions and add a little something special to the story. This book's little faults in the story (whether it dragged in sections, or moved too fast in others) are erased by the overall, engrossing storyline. And so, it is one that I would recommend to most readers, especially if one wants to read about an adventuresome, inspiring woman.
　
3 & 1/2 stars

You can buy this book at Amazon right here.

This book was provided by the author for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

N is for ....Nothing

2011-04-16T08:40:00.000-05:00

You know, I was going to post about Naija music but then I told myself, "Self?"...with which I answered "Oui?" (because my imagination has a French accent)....."If you do that, you'll have to work in Norwegian metal, New Zealand rock, and boerenrock from the Netherlands...among others."

"Oui. You best leave dis ..Nigerian music post...how you say....seul. Alone."

I agree. It sounds like a lot of work and I have so many errands to do today. To get to the skinny of it...I was going to say..(and this is in the most compressed version possible) "I like it. A lot. Tuface Idibia rocks. Except, he doesn't, because he sings R&B and hiphop."

So, today's post is about ....well....nothing. Nothing in particular, anyway.

Yesterday, we had loads of bad tornadic weather and I saw one pass by the house, but off to the east. That was pretty trippy, but I've seen them a couple of times before. They never get less scary. But, that pretty much went on all day and through the night, so I didn't get to town to buy the new Harry Potter film (um...for uh... for my, uh, my daughter), so am going to do that today. Will also go and bike on the grounds of an ancient civilization (for shiz!)...and the tooth fairy came to my daughter last night, so we're going to the toy store and go crazy.

I have "grown up" errands to do as well, though. But..... *Yawn*.

Well folks....thanks so much for coming by! I'm sort of running on empty today. I should probably leave you with a question, to make this random post more interactive.....

Tornadoes....do you get them where you live? Ever seen one? Been in one?

M is for Monty Python

2011-04-15T12:47:00.000-05:00

Yet again, I had a topic in mind, but have scrapped it for this instead. The Monty Python crew need no introduction, and I'm sure most people know who I am referring to. So, since I'm opting out of giving a drawn out history lesson, I've decided to do something lighter, and just post some of my favorite quotes from the various shows and films.

My favorite Monty Python film is "..& the Holy Grail". [memory] I was on this crew to make PowerPoint "Class of 98" videos for my graduating class back in the day, anyway, long story short (trust me, it's a kindness..LoL), we thought it would be funny to insert in there the scene with the Black Knight and the cutting off of the limbs. It ended up mostly just being a video about Monty Python & the Holy Grail and less a video about my graduating class. It was probably the worst "Class of" video ever, but I thought it was kinda cool. LoL [/memory]

Anyway...to the quotes!!

(Monty Python & the Holy Grail)

French Soldier : I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.

Sir Bedevere: What makes you think she's a witch?
Peasant: Well, she turned me into a newt!
Sir Bedevere: A newt?
Peasant: [after a long pause] ...I got better.
Crowd: [shouts] Burn her anyway!

Man with Dead Body: Who's that then?
The Dead Collector: I dunno, must be a king.
Man with Dead Body: Why?
The Dead Collector: He hasn't got sh*t all over him.

King of Swamp Castle: We live in a bloody swamp. We need all the land we can get.
Prince Herbert: But I don't like her.
King of Swamp Castle: Don't like her? What's wrong with her? She's beautiful, she's rich, she's got huge...........tracts of land.

(Monty Python's Flying Circus)

Mr. Praline: It's not pining. It's passed on. This parrot is no more. It has ceased to be. It's expired and gone to meet its maker. This is a late parrot. It's a stiff. Bereft of life, it rests in peace. If you hadn't nailed it to the perch, it would be pushing up the daisies. It's rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. THIS IS AN EX-PARROT.

(Monty Python's Life of Brian)
Reg: All right ... all right ... but apart from better sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order ... what have the Romans ever done for us?

And now for something completely different....

Do you have a favorite Monty Python quote? Or...which is your favorite Monty Python moment?

Awards Are Cool

2011-04-15T10:41:00.000-05:00

Two really nice ladies gave me some awards, one of which I am to "pay it forward", and I wanted to show my thanks by name-dropping and suggesting you visit their awesome blogs.

The first was from A Storybook World , which you'll probably become familiar with if you are in the A to Z Challenge because, if I am not mistaken, she is planning to visit every participant and award them an award. Reading her blog, I discovered she makes them herself with her own artwork, so, she's pretty talented.

The second award has rules and I'm supposed to award it to others as well. This one came from Giggle Laugh Cry , a blog you should check out because she has a great sense of humor, and her postings are always so interesting.

Winners of this Award, you can right click and save the image to your computer if you choose to accept it.

The Rules:

#1 Link back to the person who gave you the award. (you can do so in a post like I did, above)

#2 Tell 7 Things About Yourself

#3 Award 15 Recently Discovered Bloggers

#4 Contact the Recently Awarded Bloggers and Let them Know They've Won

7 Things About Myself:

1. I used to rehab wildlife. Now it's very hard to get licensed, so....no more.

2. I have green eyes.

3. I am super scared of lightning.

4. I make my daughter act out various Sondheim, Williams, or Shakespeare plays with me.

5. She hates it.

6. I tell people I am 20-11, because I refuse to hand over my youth completely. I still watch morning cartoons, for Pete's Sake!

7. While writing this list, I have discovered that I am super lame and a little weird, as I went over each consideration and backed out wildly, proclaiming "Oh heck Noooz! I can't tell them that!"

Winners:

Time for a Bucket List

Better is Possible

Read My Books, Lose 10 Pounds

The Tales of Sirius the Dragon

The Movie Muse

The Giraffability of Digressions

The Making of a Moaner

L is for Lists

2011-04-14T08:11:00.000-05:00

I was going to write about something else but, as I am often wont to do, I have changed my mind and have decided to be deliciously random, this morning.

Do you ever receive funny or informative lists in your email's inbox, or on forums? I get them fairly often from friends, and have received one of those "About Me" lists today, and it got me to thinking about them.

There are all sorts of lists out there! There are the "Lists of Truths" which list such things that are essentially, and oftentimes unfortunately, true. Things such as:

- a 2-year old's voice is louder than 100 adults in a crowded restaurant
- a ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way
- when you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh", it's too late
- garbage bags do not make good parachutes (they really don't)

One of my favorite types of lists are the ones that have points to ponder. Lists that include questions or statements such as:

- Why are there Braille signs on drive up ATMs?
- If white wine goes with fish, do white grapes go with sushi?
- What's another word for synonym?
- Why do we play in recitals, and recite in plays?

But, perhaps the most revealing are the lists that people do about themselves. I could be asked for a list of my "5 Top Characters From Literature or Film", and I would say, "Are you mad?! 500, perhaps!" as I ramble on about Han Solo, Robin Hood, Fitzwilliam Darcy, King Arthur, Severus Snape, any Monty Python character, and scores more, forcing the reader to say "Fuhgeddaboudit" and move on. A music list would be equally as difficult, and would find me staring at it for hours, as I tried in vain to place my favorite bands and musicians in order. No, the best lists about individuals, in my opinion, are the random ones which list various things about the ...well, about the one being asked to share the random things. Here's mine:

1. I was in a parade as a gorilla once. I was slated to be a triceratops, but we visited a nursing home beforehand, me dressed in a ginormous triceratops costume that I could barely hold up.....and when I walked into an elderly woman's room to greet her, she backed up against the wall and began to scream wildly. This of course broke my heart and I could no longer continue on as a triceratops.

But of course, as a gorilla, I scared about a hundred different kids as I went up to them to give them candy. You can't win for losing.

2. My worst day ever was when I was 11 or 12 years old. I was at a "forced upon friend's" house (you know the type, the one that your parents make you play with because they are friends with the parents. But, you hate her.). Anyway, long story short, I ended up getting impaled completely through the hand with a large nail and went bleeding to the ER to get 16 stitches. I also got a tetanus shot which locked up my arm. The day got a little better as I was about to go home because they had given me a kitten because they felt so bad, though it wasn't their fault.

The cat threw up on me on the car ride home.

3. I love music and I've learned to play jazz on the trumpet, can play the other brass, violin & piano (to get by, mind)...but I still have trouble with the guitar. Mainly it's that I'm right handed, but can only do a lefty's guitar. I do not know why....it's just one of those weird things. But, my brain has trouble telling the opposite hand "Hey, you're in charge here! Get to it!" sometimes even though it must be that way because my other hand refuses to do chords. It's weird.

4. My interests are so varied, I have a little something in common with most people. I did say "most", because I have excluded serial killers and other sickos. Not too much in common with those sorts.

5. I have a complex because everywhere I go, toddlers and babies go out of their way to stare at me. They just....look. And....look. And, it creeps me out because I can't figure what they're on about. I was at a circus once which is pretty trippy in and of itself, but this 3 or 4 yr old kid in his mother's lap in front of me....he just would not stop staring at me. I tried to watch the creepy clowns and the smelly elephants....but my eyes kept straying to this kid who's own half-lidded eyes were beginning to burn a hole in me. It went on for over 2 hours. I was seeing evil little blue eyes in my sleep that night.

Kids can be really creepy.

Want to share a random thing about yourself? Please, do!
　

K is for Karl Pilkington

2011-04-13T08:06:00.000-05:00

Karl Pilkington, I became aware of by the Ricky Gervais Show podcasts, but became a fan of because of the recent An Idiot Abroad series that aired on the Science channel here in the United States. The show had Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant sending Karl all over the world to see it's seven wonders, and there was hilarity in every episode.

Pilkington is the butt of Gervais's jokes often, but honestly, all Gervais has to do is set him up, and a gem will come out of Karl's mouth all on it's own. Karl has sort of a deadpan comedy thing going on, and though it's "sworn to be genuine", I wonder if he's really like that off-camera in his personal life. If not, I would call him a comedic genius. But, if so, then I would call him the world's most unintentional funniest guy alive. Either way, the guy can bust a gut, and I watch not only to hear his viewpoints or anecdotes, but to see the "can you believe this??" or "fed up" expressions he has.

[Telling a story about bad vibes, when visiting a home that was once a mental facility and hangout for drug addicts]

" ....then I see there's loads of bits of paper on the floor. I picked up this bit of paper, right, and it had written on it, "Need nappies, dummy, blankets" - and I turned it over right, and it said, "None of this now needed - baby dead". Now, that's weird, innit? That's what I'm talking about when you get a bad vibe."

Karl Pilkington is just super funny, and if you are a fan of either Stephen Merchant or Ricky Gervais, then he'd probably be right up your alley as well since their humor is really similar. Gervais jokingly calls Pilkington an idiot.....and he may right well be, who am I to know, I do not know the man. But, I think he's less of an idiot and more of a comedic wizard. It's a select humor, but he always gets me laughing.

J is for J.M. Barrie

2011-04-12T09:33:00.000-05:00

Even if it should be used as a "B" word, for Barrie. *shrugs*

Sir James Matthew Barrie is one individual who was pretty interesting. He was, of course, the creator of Peter Pan and several other plays/novels. I'm in the opinion that Peter Pan is perhaps the greatest adventure story ever told, and so therein lies my reason for picking J. M. Barrie as my "J Topic".

I think the one part of his life he shared that really bothered me was when his mother's favorite son died, and to help her out of her depression (and to get a little affection himself), Barrie would dress as the deceased boy and whistle as he did, around his Mom. It seemed to comfort the mother, but it seemed to "screw up" a part of Barrie, didn't it? I mean, he was an incredibly talented individual, but he was "different" from other people in his social circles.

What a social circle, though! Imagine to be surrounded by such greats as Arthur Conan Doyle, George Bernard Shaw, A. A. Milne, H. G. Wells, Thomas Hardy, and more. He also told stories to Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret in their youth.

He was married once, but it was widely reported that they never consummated the marriage, and they eventually divorced. It's pretty known that Barrie was somewhat of an asexual person, not having the desire nor inclination to have sex and preferred to hang out with kids. This of course, started speculation that he was a pedophile (much later in life), but the children he had in his ward vehemently denied it. I figure it was his mother that did it from the beginning, setting a wheel in motion. I don't think there was anything "wrong" with Barrie, but I do think if he hadn't felt the need to emulate a deceased "boy who will never grow up" to become better loved by his mother, he may have turned out differently. (which would be a shame, since without his early life as was, we wouldn't have Peter Pan).

Peter Pan, though he wrote it to amuse the children in his ward and made it feature those children, had tidbits of his own life in it. His mother referred to David, the deceased son, as "a boy who would never grow up" (finding comfort in that), Barrie play-acted pirate adventures a lot as a child (as did the Davies boys he had in custody), and I wonder if he put a little of himself into the character Pan, or any of the other child characters he wrote about in other plays and novels. He seemed to never have lost his child's wonderment and maintained a smidgen of a child's innocence, something that most people say Adios! to before they leave their grammar school years behind.

I just find him fascinating, and I love his works. Peter Pan though, that will probably always be my favorite adventure story. From beginning to end it was simply brilliant.

Admirer of J. M. Barrie, or find him a bit of an oddball? What say you?

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

2011-04-11T11:02:00.000-05:00

Synopsis:
This is humanity's last chance. Centuries of greed, pride, and hate have sent mankind hurtling towards disaster, and far from it's original purpose. there is only one solution that can reset the compass and right the ship---and that answer is only two words.

With time running out, it's up to David Ponder and a cast of history's best and brightest minds to uncover this solution before it is too late. The catch? They are allowed only five tries to solve the ominous challenge.

This book follows The Traveler's Gift, also written by Andy Andrews, and is one that once I started reading it, I was able to breeze through it, not wanting to put it down until the last page was turned.

It's quite a unique concept, this storyline, introducing several historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Joan of Arc, and more as part of the summit, or panel that the main character, David Ponder, was a part of.

The dialogue between all of the central characters, including Gabriel, was very engaging and was what made this book such a page-turner, for me. It was quite insightful, the answer they came to.

The author is quite talented, and is able to write a thoroughly enjoyable tale which is both inspirational and not overly so (so as to alienate others of different religions who may want to read this book). I would suggest reading The Traveler's Gift first, but definitely give this one a try.

4 Stars

You can buy The Final Summit here at Amazon.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://booksneeze®.com/> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own

I is for Icky Things

2011-04-11T09:03:00.000-05:00

I'd be willing to bet that we all have a list of "icky things". I know I sure do. Icky things can be objects, certain animals, actions of others, certain foods...anything. There's a lot of "ick" out there, and these are some of the things I find ickier than others.

Anything that comes out of a nose would be the number one icky thing on my list, stomping all others and leaving them behind in the dust. "Nose things" just repulse me and cause my cringes to cringe. But next to them on the human-body-ickiness list would be eyeballs. I think they're wonderful, and love to admire a set of beautiful specimens with long lashes. But, it skives me out to see people touch their eyeballs, or do that thing that little brothers like to do....you know, where they pull down their lids and chase after you. Ugh! I just cannot take it. (Those that can shoot out milk from their eyes....*faint*)

Dirty water, and this is a weird one, but I cannot put so much as a digit in it. It doesn't even have to be society's concept of "dirty", it can be something like a lake, the ocean, or a river. Just the fact that there are fish in there, and I cannot see through it, it just creeps me out. Dirty dish water, dirty bath water, just any dirty water. Well, that's not entirely true, and this is why I consider it "weird".....I am perfectly fine with creeks and mud puddles. Creeks have just as much fish in it than a river, but I could swim all day in them without a hint of repulsion. Mud puddles...I find myself stomping in them with boots on, but it doesn't repulse me. I'm not sure why I'm like that since it just developed. I used to spend my summers at the river or swimming in lakes, but I just cannot fathom the idea today.

Moths are super icky. Butterflies I have no issue with because they tend to keep to themselves. But moths....eww. They're hairy and ugly, and they like to swoop around and bump into my head as I enter the house at night after being out. They used to be wormy things, for Pete's sake! Unless they're the Transformers, things that transform creep me out and I find them majorly icky.

The things that should be icky aren't, to me. Things like blood and guts, or brains, for instance. But get me anywhere near a small child sucking on a rag or blankey and I'll climb the walls. It's just the way I'm wired, I guess.

What can be found on your icky list, if you have one?

H is for Hypoglycemia

2011-04-09T09:47:00.000-05:00

Hypoglycemia is a condition like diabetes except it's the opposite. A diabetic produces not enough insulin, but a hypoglycemic produces too much insulin or too little glucose (under-sweet). Hypoglycemia could lead to diabetes, if the sufferer does not dramatically and permanently change their diet, exercise often, and stay away from triggers such as stress. But, even if you are utterly dedicated to your diet regime with hypoglycemia, it could still lead to diabetes. It's all a crap shoot really.

I've had it for 2 years because I've never eaten correctly and only once a day. You cannot get it just from sweets or bad foods. It can be a result of some other complication, it can come from bad eating such as skipping meals or starving oneself, or it can come as a warning that diabetes is just around the corner. It's manageable, but you may find that food will become the center of your universe and the hypoglycemia is like a heavy load on your back that you always carry around with no rest.

With a hypoglycemic, and with myself personally, the blood glucose drops lower than the normal range 2 hours after eating. In order to bring it up, or stay stabilized, we have to eat. So, in other words, I eat every two hours (though, I can now get by with every 3 hours unless I have a bad day). Of course, the meals are different now. I eat "snacks" every two-three hours, or I will eat 3 very small meals a day with snacks in between. It all depends on my day's activities, and oh yes...you have to plan your days around food. You never want to be caught out somewhere without a snack on hand. I did that once and had a full blown panic attack caused by a dramatic drop in my glucose. It can, of course, get worse than that. You know, like coma or death. (So, never go out without a snack on hand!)

Diet is different as a hypoglycemic. No more sugar of any kind (even so-called "sugar-free" products because they aren't, to a hypo), which means most, if not all, of the processed foods out there are taboo. No juice, no drinks other than water, really. (Especially no alcohol or caffeine). No white breads or flours, and some, like me, find they cannot even tolerate dairy without a crash. Basically, I eat raw veggies now (and, no root veggies! They're now bad. As are beans such as peanuts, soy, and others. No rice. No potatoes. No corn. No starches, period.), and I'll also eat cooked veggies such as eggplant, brussel sprouts, etc, usually plain because I cannot have certain spices. As far as meat, I'll eat game meats because they are wild and contain no hormones or icky things that are bad for the "broken body", and I'll eat organic chicken. I cannot even tolerate beef unless it is organic and really lean, otherwise I'll have a crash. Basically, we need a percentage of protein every day mixed with a large percentage of healthy "good" carbs. For snacks, I eat nuts and seeds. Whole grains are also allowed. (Good thing, because I heart them). I also eat some fruit daily (but there are certain fruits we have to avoid).

Basically, it's a healthy diet and one that people should probably eat anyway. Some good can come from it though. Weight comes off fast and easy, if you have it to lose. Years of no sugar has healed my taste buds where I can taste how great fresh veggies are, and I can now pick out all of the spices in a dish as the scent fills the air in a market when I couldn't before. But, eating out is all but impossible. It has it's merits though....I save a lot of money by not going out to restaurants. Silver linings!

The downsides are the way a mind can go bonkers. I forget things easily because maybe it was told to me when I wasn't at my clearest. Mood swings come and go, as do the occasions I might scare others by talking out of my head. And, I hate how one bad day (where maybe I went further than I should have before eating) can take a week to recover from. I do not like how I cannot go out and run around with my daughter outside because the exertion and the heat make me crash. And, I do not care for the fact that it's something I cannot take a break from; it's always there, and always affecting me. Sometimes I get tired and want this monkey off my back. But, other times, I just say to myself, "Hey, it could be worse. At least you're alive. Yanno?"

Anyway..."H" is for Hypoglycemia, a big ol' pain in the derriere. Do any of you have it, or know of someone who does?

ignore this

2011-04-09T00:54:00.000-05:00

Get your mom a plastic spoon

G is for Gene Kelly

2011-04-08T09:21:00.000-05:00

Gene Kelly has always been one of my favorite actors and entertainers, and though I respect and admire Fred Astaire's work, I always thought Gene Kelly could dance circles around him.

He has had some of the suavest characters, and though they pranced around in a ballet-tap-soft shoe-etc dance number often (with a song to go along), they still radiated masculinity. (*snicker*) His musical films spanned from 1942 to 1980, and I enjoy a bulk of them. There's very few actors that I can say I love the majority of their work, but Gene Kelly is one of those actors.

I loved his films with Frank Sinatra (who was almost my "F" post, LoL), especially Anchors Aweigh in which he plays (surprise!) sailor Joseph Brady. This is his epic film where he danced with the animated Jerry Mouse from Tom & Jerry. That is a favorite scene for many people, but one of my favorite song and dance scenes of his is from Summerstock with Judy Garland where he danced simply and solo with a newspaper and a squeaky board on the stage floor. The song he sang in that number was You, You, Wonderful You. It was so simplistic but so dynamic all at the same time.

It will sound very cliche, but besides An American in Paris, my favorite Gene Kelly musical is Singing in the Rain. It's one film where I love all of the musical numbers, all of the songs are so catchy, the dancing is terrific, and it's laugh out loud funny in some scenes. It's just a wonderful, wonderful film and one that will live on through the ages as part of iconic film history. If you've never seen it.....do so.

They just do not make films like they used to, nor actors. Gene Kelly died in 1996 at the age of 83. Not many iconic actors are left, actors that were a part of the changing ways that films were shot during changing times. Films today are still a lot like they were when I was a kid (but with better CGI), and a large bulk of today's actors...nobody will be talking about them in 50 years. But, they'll still be talking about the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Gretta Garbo, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Buster Keaton, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and others of those eras. Gene Kelly though, with his million-watt smile, and his rhythmic moves, was one of a kind and remains my favorite musical star. If you've never seen any of his films, I encourage you to do so. You may find you like them!

G is also for Gandalf, Gringott's Bank, Gonzo, Gobots, General Grievous, Gorkon, and other cool things. Oh, and Goobers, that yummy candy that I miss so much.

Any Witch Way by Annastaysia Savage

2011-04-08T08:52:00.000-05:00

Enduring the teasing and ridicule of her school mates, Sadie struggles through life as a pre-teen on the eve of her 13th birthday. Three years ago, a car crash took her mother, but Sadie never saw her body. She refuses to believe her mother is really gone. Holding fast to that feeling earns her the nickname "Crazy Sadie."

Despite her one wish to be normal, Sadie only finds solace with a small group of unusual characters. These unlikely friends give her a "semi-normal" life outside of school in a bookstore where strange and mystical things seem to happen. In fact, if Sadie entertains her deepest suspicions, her friends are a little mystical.

When her birthday arrives however, Sadie finds herself whisked into a magical world that swirls just under the surface of normal, everyday life. Not only does she learn she’ll soon become a witch, but she also discovers she must battle The Syndicate to save her new world.

Faced with fantastical encounters, unexplainable transformations, and startling fears, Sadie struggles against an unknown evil – all while searching for her real identity.

This short book marketed for tweens or young adults has all the makings to become a popular series. It includes a popular theme (magic) without gleaning off of other popular series, includes issues that children Sadie's age may also deal with emotionally, and there is a lot of adventure and action within the pages.

I enjoyed it, though I felt the middle dragged a little and there were moments I was unsure of which realm the characters were in. But, the story did pick back up, making me forgiving of the earlier passages. The author is quite talented with descriptive passages, allowing me to easily envision how foul something is, or how beautiful just by the descriptions of such things. The characters are also well written, and though there are a lot of them, each is a developed personality and bring something special to the storyline.

There is enough action in the story, thanks to a war, that kept me from getting bored with the story, and for young readers, it may have them turning the pages in anticipation, wanting to find out how things turn out for Sadie and her magical friends. When the final words were read, I was left hoping that there will be more Sadie books in the near future. So, I would have no qualms about recommending this book to any tween out there.

3.5 Stars

You can buy Any Witch Way right here on Amazon.

A copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

F is for Flip UltraHD Video Thingy

2011-04-07T12:07:00.000-05:00

Have any of you heard of, or have any experience with, BzzAgent.com? It's sort of a word-of-mouth marketing company and they give the members products to try in exchange for talking about said product and how we feel about it, good or bad. I just got a Flip UltraHD Video to try from them, and so far, I think it's pretty cool.
　
Since my previous attempt at an "F" post (which was "Future", which ended up talking about the ultimate future = death....) was uber depressing, I scrapped it all and thought I'd talk about this Flip UltraHD Video thingy.
　
I've seen them on TV and they looked cool, but it wasn't something I "had to have" (it wasn't a Doctor Who or Muppet action figure, for instance LoL), but now that I've played around with it, I think it's dead useful. It's really small compared to my video camcorder (which records on disks. The Flip stores video for uploading to a computer) which means I can take it around in my pocket. It's a little over 4 inches tall by a hair over 2 inches wide.
　
The one I have is 4 GB and will hold an hour of video. There is also an 8GB version. It works by the touch of a button and visibly counts down to how many minutes/seconds are left for recording. The screen is tiny (little over an inch), but decent enough to see what I'm filming. Also, the zoom is easy to operate, and the audio is fairly decent. It even has an HDMI port.
　

It's cool and all, and great for random filming of the kiddos or whatever strikes your fancy. I had a video I was going to use to upload here of the 3rd Doctor (Who) fighting Pigs in Space's Link Hogthrob (action figure versions, of course) but I didn't want anyone to laugh me out of here. So, below is a super short random-nothingness video I just did strictly for the point of showing what the film quality is like (but, from across a large room). From across a big room, it's not stellar. It's so much better though, a couple of feet away. Don't get excited because it is just a few seconds worth of me pointing the Flip to my TV (I'm on *cough* dialup *cough* right now, so a longer video of anything would have been out of the question! (I'd like to get it uploaded before the day is over!)

Do any of you guys use a Flip? What do you think of yours?

E is for Effing Great

2011-04-06T10:21:00.000-05:00

How many times have you heard someone belt out "That was effing great!" or "Sugar snaps!" when it was another "S" word they had in mind to use. Do you do that, yourself? Use substitute words to express an emotion or anger, instead of using the dirty "4 Letter" kind?

I am guilty of saying words like "Dangit" and "Shoot" quite a lot. I figure, with an impressionable child in tow, they seem like safe alternatives. Get me riled up though, and I can make a salty sea-dog blush with offense. I think my biggest vice is the "F Bomb", but I've been trying to use the word "effing" in it's stead. (I used it today, is why I made my "E" topic on this subject. It made me think on it.)

Still though, I wonder if the alternative words are really any better? I mean, sure, they sound somewhat better to the ear and aren't as offensive. But, to hear a kid go around saying "eff you", or "biatch" or something akin to "I'm gonna flippin' kick that danged dinosaur's butt!" (I made that one up).......it still sounds a little vulgar to my ears.

They're just words. That's my take on the whole issue. I figure, if you're going to use a certain alternative word with a certain intent, you may as well use the correct/original one. The intent is just the same. The intent is what makes the word so foul in the first place.

I just find it odd that, with that belief, I find myself censoring myself when my child is around. But we do that, don't we? (Some of us, anyway) I would hate to call myself a hypocrite, but I am, I suppose. I use the language, though I try and give it less color, yet I would be appalled if my child starting using it. I would be flippin' mad.

I suppose the lesson I learned today, is that while words are just words and it is the intent that does the actual harm to the subject's ears......we shouldn't do things that we wouldn't want our own kids to do. So, I'm going to try and sugar-coat my "bad words" from now on until I eliminate them altogether. I figure it'd be a lot like stopping smoking. Use the patch and wean yourself down until you stop, and there's less of a chance for a relapse than if you stop cold turkey.

This will be freaking hard.

Teaser Tuesday

2011-04-05T10:08:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I've decided to cheat a bit and use a manga because that's all I'm reading at the moment. From Vampire Knight Volume 3, mid-book (no page #s), my teasers are:

"(Kaname the vampire to Zero the vampire/vampire hunter) By the way, I never told you...why I'm pretending not to notice what has happened to you. I know how precarious the peace is here at Cross Academy, so I thought about who could act as Yuki's shield in this place. You will not double-cross her.....because you owe her that much. That is why....I'm.....allowing you to live."

D is for Doctor Who

2011-04-05T09:53:00.000-05:00

Doctor Who is a Guinness World Record holder for the longest running science fiction series, and it's a BBC broadcast featuring a Time Lord, know simply as "the Doctor" as he travels through space and time in his TARDIS, which looks like a 1950s blue British police box. He usually has a companion or two with him, just for giggles really. The TARDIS is really cool because it has seemingly unlimited space within. There's a control center, a living center, and with the 11th Doctor, we see there's also a swimming pool inside.

There have been 11 Doctors so far, but the 10th (David Tennant) and the current Doctor (Matt Smith) are my favorites. The Doctor, see, can regenerate when he's expiring so it's not much of a big thing when a new actor comes in to play the part. Well, it can be a big thing personally, when you become attached to a particular actor in the part and do not want to see him go. But, the producers take the gig seriously, and usually find a worthy replacement.

Since the Doctor part changes actors, he has shades of differences in the portrayals, but the majority of them are what I call a "bumbling genius". I mean, with the last Doctor and the current one, they're a bit goofy, yes? But, the Doctor is still the baddest being in the galaxies, and saves man- and alien-kind over and again, always foiling the "baddies" plans.

He has a lot of cool enemies, such as the Daleks which bot around yelling "Exterminate!" as they zap a laser at random people, or the Cybermen, those weird metallic humanoids who the Doctor keeps defeating. He's outwitting vampire-like aliens, underground lizard aliens, giant eyeballs, and more.

I'm not sure why I'm so into Doctor Who because if I'm honest with myself, a lot of the earlier books and such are really cheesy. But, something about the retro science fiction novels just grabs me, and that quirky Doctor just gets into so many adventures with so many different adversaries, that I cannot help myself from turning the pages. It's worse, with the newer books featuring the latest Doctors, because I was around to see them when they were playing the parts as they first aired on T.V. So, I can get into the books a lot heavier.
Don't get me wrong, I adore the series on television and never miss an episode (and am counting down the days until the new season airs!), but I am utterly addicted to the books, both older and the latest batches.
The companions are really cool, too, though some I like more than others. I really like the current Scottish companion, Amy Pond and find her as "take charge" as the Doctor, himself. Before her, I enjoyed Rose, Martha and Donna (Donna the most).

So there you have it..........a little fun fact about me. I am really into Doctor Who. (Just don't tell too many people.)

Roses for Megan by Wanda L. Dooley

2011-04-04T22:37:00.000-05:00

Synopsis:

Megan is alone when fate, in the guise of a snowstorm, delivers an injured stranger to her door. She nurses him back to health, only to find that she is falling deeply in love to a man who cannot remember anything else about his life. The day comes when Megan makes the decision to let him return to his wife and family. Devastated, she insists they promise to never try to find one another again.

When she discovers she is pregnant with his child, Megan takes on her biggest challenge yet. She decides to raise her daughter alone, refusing to disrupt Logan's life and treasuring their child as a symbol of the love she knew so briefly.

Megan's tale is one of a thwarted love that never loosens the bond between two people forced by circumstances to live apart. Tragic and romantic, heartbreaking and touching, Roses for Megan is a love story that will strike an emotional chord with anyone who has loved and lost, and it reminds us that this truly is better than to never have loved at all.

Roses for Megan, written by Wanda L. Dooley, I found to be a disappointing book in many ways. Being a romance book, I expected it to follow a certain tried and true formula, but this is one that the author has strayed far from. The heroine is anything but, in this short novella. It was almost depressing, in a way, to read about the things she went through to get to the heart of the story. And, once there, I felt betrayed.

I could also turn around and say that it is refreshing to see a story where everyone doesn't have a "happily ever after", and perhaps many readers out there will enjoy that. I found the story to be unique to any I have read thus far, and the characters are likable enough. I just wish the author would have stretched the story out to make a longer novel, so the story would not have seemed so rushed.

The story is a short one, the book being only 52 pages. The heart of the story, the one described on the dust jacket, doesn't begin until more than halfway through the book, so there were a lot of instances that felt completely blown through to get to that point. And, once there, the experience was short lived.

At the end of the day, this is a book I would probably not pick up again. If you want to give it a try, you can find this book at the Dorrance e-store here.

1 & 1/2 Stars

I received a complimentary copy of (Roses for Megan) as a member of the
    Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com
    to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Monster Monday

2011-04-04T22:19:00.000-05:00

I'm not so loyal with these weekly memes, but things do come up. I will try harder! Monster Monday is all about Villians, the often less-celebrated stars in much-loved books. Imagine how lame Harry Potter books would be without Voldemort! Peter Pan would be a flying nobody without Captain Hook! Books in general would be awfully dull without their villians. So, today's villian is a Dalek, from the Doctor Who books which so happen to be my favorite Doctor Who villian.

Daleks are an alien cyborg race from the planet Skaro, and found in the Doctor Who television and book series. One book that stars the Daleks (that I adore most) is War of the Daleks (by John Peel, starring the 8th Doctor).

Daleks are jerks, as such, because they have no compassion and would rather "Exterminate!" every being in the Universe just so that they can rule every particle in the galaxies. They're pretty tough, and they're fairly smart and can manage to surprise the Doctor (if only for a moment) every now and then.

They even managed to win out against the Time Lords during the Time War....but, they are still no match for the Doctor!

So, there is the villian of the day....the Dalek. Not much of a defense against them once they decide to Exterminate!

365 and a Wake-up by Frank Jolliff

2011-04-04T22:04:00.000-05:00

Do you enjoy reading true accounts from war veterans? Like reading stories from the Vietnam war, written by those who bravely fought in it? So do I....which is why I was thrilled to read Frank Jolliff's 365 and a Wake-up: My Year in Vietnam (Jan 1968 to Jan 1969).
　
Jolliff spent a year there as a combat medic, trampling through the rice paddies, throughout the jungles filled with Viet Cong, and dodging booby traps, and came home with several medals including the Silver Star. This story follows his experiences as a fresh draftee, and he takes us on his journey, his way of drawing the reader in making it seem as if I were in the foxhole with him, seeing the things he saw, feeling the emotions he felt.
　
The story is not all adrenaline and gunfire, though. Several of the chapters were a little light-hearted such as a chapter entitled "The Mummy" where the author tells us of an incidence on a naval ship in the South China Sea. Such anecdotes within make the overall story more enjoyable, as do the author's interactions with the others of his platoon.
　
I do fear this book is suited for a particular audience, but I feel it's a wonderful book for those who like the type of content. The Vietnam war is one of the more interesting ones to read accounts from, and Jolliff doesn't disappoint. He also includes a very useful glossary of terms in the back, to make absorbing the passages easier. It was well written, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading true accounts from veterans of war.
　
4 Stars

You can buy the book here at Amazon.
　
This book was provided to me by the author for an honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

A Conversation with God by Alton Gansky

2011-04-04T21:52:00.000-05:00

A Conversation with God: If You Could Ask God Any Question, What Would It Be?, written by Alton Gansky, is a book containing questions and their answers that Christians/people may wish they could ask God. Each answer is drawn from the Bible and each topic comes with spiritual references so they can be read directly from the source.
　
What I like about this book is that while it is great for solo readers, it is also suitable for groups. The book is split up into 55 questions, and each one is written as if answered by God, Jesus, and whomever else who could add any insight (such as Peter, Job, John, Simeon, etc.). The length of the answers to these questions, as well as the discussion that can be derived from them makes each question suitable for a weekly group reading/discussion.
　
The topics range from talking about hell, heaven, the sexes, forgiveness, sin, the end of the world, and more. Each answer, while written in the first person, is taken from the Bible and I think the way they are written (not in verses, but as if the speaker were having a conversation with the reader) will appeal to nearly everyone. One thing that could prove to be a negative, however, is that because of the way it is written, this could be considered "Gansky's interpretation of what the Bible says" and there may be some out there who would disagree with any of the question and answer sessions. I know that for myself, while I did not disagree with the words he had written, I did disagree with the "tone impression" they were leaving me with. In my mind, the main speaker (God) should be a little more authoritative (yet loving), yet each speaker had the same voice.
　
A Conversation with God would make a nice gift book, or a companion (not replacement) to the Bible. You can find it for sale here at Amazon, and at other retailers.
　
3 & 1/2 Stars
　
This book was provided to me as part of the Booksneeze program on Booksneeze.com, in exchange for my honest review. The opinions in said review are entirely my own.

C is for Charlie Chaplin

2011-04-04T09:11:00.000-05:00

As a child, I enjoyed silent films, and especially those with the likes of the great Buster Keaton and the comedic genius Charlie Chaplin starring in them, and this is something that has grown with me as an adult.

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin was an award winning English actor, director, writer, and composer that brought laughter to the masses during the times a little laughter was direly needed what with the wars, the Great Depression, and all. He is best known for his character "the Tramp", a sort of vagrant that is somewhat like a gentleman, what with his manners and style of clothing (though his pants and shoes were entirely too large and his jacket and derby way too small). Chaplin tossed in a whangee cane and a small moustache, and the Tramp was born.

The Tramp is a genius character because he never even needed any words. He could convey any emotion just with his expressions, and they always had a story behind them, for the character. Take The Kid for example. His expressed horror in seeing the kid was taken, and his determination to rescue him from the orphan truck spoke a lot about how he had bonded with the kid during their time together. Who needs words?

But, he could also pull a laugh with his antics, and there were many in his films. I laugh my way through Kid Auto Races at Venice (which was where the Tramp debuted), both Sunnyside and The Vagabond were great, and more. But, not to sound totally cliche, my favorite Chaplin film will always be The Kid. It's just such a wonderful film, innit? It's described as "A picture with a smile.....and perhaps a tear" which I find to be quite acurate. He seemed to portray the lower class during hard times (such as during the Depression) quite a lot.

Chaplin has made a few "political" inspired films as well, such as The Great Dictator, acting out against Nazism, and that particular one earned him an Academy Award nod. Of course, his "Depression era" films could be considered political as well, such as his film Modern Times which was seemingly about poverty among the working class. He also made a film criticizing capitalism, as well as one that was satirical about his exile from America.
Offscreen, Chaplin was a bit of a ladies man and was connected with and married to multiple women (preferring them much younger than himself) at different times in his life. In the end, he fathered 12 children with three of them (and a 13th is disputed), and fathered his youngest at the age of 73. Can you imagine?! I would find that to be a nightmare, personally.

But, he was a master of his trade, and will forever be immortalized in his films, and I for one, will continue playing them in my home.

Any Chaplin fans out there?

From These Hollows

Film: Real Steel. (Rock'em! Sock'em! Ding Ding Ding! TKO!)

Japanese Drama: Lovely Complex (is so sugary sweet!)

Yes, That Was Me Breathing Heavily Into Your Phone....

Forever Faithful: The Complete Trilogy by Karen Kingsbury

Legos Are the Shizz

Sharing the Love

Fyodor Dostoevsky by Peter Leithart

And now...Something Different

Randomness...

Resurrection! (and Facebook)

A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner

Be the People: A Call to Reclaim America's Faith & Promise

These Are So Yum

Didn't Expect This When Searching For X-Men Cartoons.....

The Coming of the Light: Guardian of the Seventh Realm III

OHHhhhhhhhhhh Nooooooezzzzz! *Cry*

Random Doctor Who Thought.....

Five For Friday

Tunes This Thursday

Peeves Lately

Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley

Found Me Some Internet Gold

Smart French by Jade Gold

*Wipes Brow*

Life, in Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice

Five For Friday

Tunes This Thursday

Five For Friday (6.03.11)

Tunes This Thursday

Teaser Tuesdays

You Can Win an Awesome Official Green Lantern Costume for an Adult or Child!

A New Name for Worthless: A Hero is Born

Departures: Two Rediscovered Stories by Robin Jones Gunn

Rhyming Pretzels: The Word Play Game with a Comical Twist

Hassie Calhoun: A Las Vegas Novel of Innocence

Soujon's Journey by Marlee Morgan

Tunes this Thursday

The ABCs and 123s of Me

Teaser Tuesdays

Monster Monday => Smaug the Dragon

Daddy Dates by Greg Wright

Tornado Footage

Don't forget! Free Comic Book Day, Tomorrow!

Mauria by Steve North

Siege of Darkness: Guardian of the Seventh Realm Pt. 2

Tunes This Thursday

Ugliness is Contagious

Birds Can Fly and So Can I

Jake's Pride by B.J. Strong

Z is for Zoot of the Electric Mayhem

Y is for Yoda

X is for X-treme Devestation

W is for Weather......Again

V is for Vampires....Blah! I Vant Your Blood! Blah!

The Social Climber's Handbook by Molly Jong-Fast

U is for Uncle Deadly

T is for The Tick

Maybelline Super Stay 24 2-Step Color

L'Oreal One Sweep Eyeshadow & More

S is for Shots.....YeeeOoowwwch

R is for Raynaud's Phenomenon

Q is for Quests, Epic or Otherwise

P is for Pretty Puddy-Tats Doing Star Wars Thingzz

O is for Ood, Those Inside-Out Looking Creatures!

Awards Are Cool Part Deux

When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall

Unbelievable Adventures of a WWII German War Bride

N is for ....Nothing

M is for Monty Python

Awards Are Cool

L is for Lists

K is for Karl Pilkington

J is for J.M. Barrie

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

I is for Icky Things

H is for Hypoglycemia

ignore this

G is for Gene Kelly

Any Witch Way by Annastaysia Savage

OHHhhhhhhhhhh Nooooooezzzzz! Cry

Wipes Brow

F is for Flip UltraHD Video Thingy