Progress Marches On

So, I'm going through my clothes and finally letting go of some of the old ones, even if they're really super cute.  You see, chances are the cutest clothes I have are from right off the mish and I really doubt being able to fit into those for a while.  So, box of jeans I once loved and planned on loving again, it's either off to Goodwill/DI/Salvation Army for you or... denim-fleece blanket???


Monday we had Bai and Spenson over for a fried chicken and ended it with a friendly game of Munchkin.  I tend to do weird stuff to fried chicken because I have yet to successfully pull off the traditional kind, so this time it was Cheezits.  Last time was Goldfish.  I like the cheesy crackers apparently, and I've decided the fishes is where it's at.


And in awesome news:  I won a signed copy of Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder!!

Originally, her email didn't have my name in it (she holds quarterly drawings and one person gets one of the books) and I emailed her thinking she'd accidentally sent me the notice instead of the actual receiver.  Turns out she'd typed one person's name twice and I'd won!  Yay!
I love her books, because her characters are strong, willful, flawed, vulnerable, and her world is so real (when it comes to instability, complacency, politics, etc).  So often in fantasy works the suspension of disbelief must be stretched a little too far, and Miss Snyder is very adept at making the Study and Glass books very real.
For anyone interested, the series begins with Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study then moves to Storm Glass, Sea Glass, and ends with Spy Glass.


Eek!  I love it!

Thank You, Mom

My deepest gratitude to Mom for forwarding this to me.  I laughed SO hard!

Unavailable?!

Frustration!!  I thought I was ending a series, only to find out that there are yet two more books, neither of which is available yet!  Why do I have to love Australian authors?


And even more curiously, why did Penguin publishing neglect to list all the 6 available books by leaving out the true #5 and claiming #6 is actually #5 in its place??


Some people's kids.


Anyway, check out the Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody.  You won't regret it (unless you get to my point where you're dying to know how it ends and there's still two books yet to be released!!  Oh, the inhumanity!).

P.S.

I've decided to name the bike Penny (thanks Megan!), because she shines like a bright new copper penny.  And I like the name Penny (short for Penelope, of course), so there.  Welcome to the wood, Penny!

Amazing What You'll Find At The Library!

This was in one of the books I checked out hoping it would help with my capstone research paper:

Of course, what caught my eye first was the awesome eagle with the book in its talons, then I noticed the inscription on the banner: "Books are Weapons in the War of Ideas."  How awesome is that?!


Then came the italics: "This complete edition is produced in full compliance with the government's regulations for conserving paper and other essential materials."


My curiosity was piqued, to say the least.


Of course I then looked at the top of the page to see this was a first edition copyrighted in 1944!!  EEK!  I felt like I'd stolen something, but also felt the awe of holding - not only a first edition, but a wartime one! - a piece of history.


It occurs to me that we should feel like that more often as we handle books; they're pieces of history, records of our past, whether they're fiction or non-fiction.


Then, even more profoundly, it dawned on me that we are pieces of history, too!  So there's that to think about as well when we're trying to treat others as we would be treated, see them through the Lord's eyes, etc.


So as you go about your day and interact with friends, acquaintances, and strangers, please remember: Handle with Care.


Bayou, Roo


(Coincidentally, that book is practically useless as an historical source for my purposes.  Too sentimental and flowery.  Go figure.)

Are Children ‘Infected’ by Judeo-Christian Values? - By Paul Diamond - The Corner - National Review Online

Are Children ‘Infected’ by Judeo-Christian Values? - By Paul Diamond - The Corner - National Review Online

This is very interesting and - well, scary. I've been griping about stuff like this for a while, but here it is happening. Just not locally. Yet.

And That's Why I Don't Have TV

Rarely do I catch up on the news other than what is relayed to me via friends and conversations, but most often by Mom.  So, when I went on campus today to chat with my financial aid advisor (a sweet man who was kind enough to blunder through my issue with me [despite the fact that apparently fin aid doesn't actually cover what my problem was] until we found someone who knew what they were talking about) and was super early, I decided to grab some breakfast and watch the news before my appointment.


I'm not entirely out of the loop; I know about the earthquakes and the tsunamis and how many people are suffering.  I did not know about the nuclear power plant explosions and the thousands evacuated and warned to stay indoors with windows and doors closed to prevent contamination during a power outage after having watched their loved ones washed away by the tsunami waters right out of their hands.  And I most certainly did not know about the various responses by (I hope only) a few Americans to the plight of the Japanese.


More evidence that fame, fortune, and especially Twitter are just about the perfect ways to show the world what a unfeeling, selfish, ignorant creep you are.  Thanks, America, for reminding me why I hate watching the news and making me so mad I almost cried.

Introducing...

I don't actually have a name for it yet, so... yeah.  I'm working on it, though.

Ain't she a beaut?!

Book Review: Witch & Wizard

So, first - on a completely personal note -, I would like to testify of the power of positive thinking.  I won't go into details since it is really personal and really only my mother and Pooh would want to hear about it.  Mom because she brought me into this world, and Pooh because he (foolishly) decided to spend the rest of my time in it with me.  


Sucker.


But anyway, positive thinking people.  It works.


On to the review!


So, Witch & Wizard by author of the year James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet, YA fantasy/fiction.  I'm always up for a bit of sorcery and, despite the vaguely creepy cover, decided to try it out.
James, James, James.  I really enjoyed When the Wind Blows and The Lake House, so what happened?  Is it the excursion into YA?  Is it the co-writing?  Because this honestly feels like a first-timer's attempt at a fanfic that wasn't beta'd before it was posted (yes, I know fanfic lingo. I know I'm nerdy and I embrace it).


Case in point: dystopia overnight.  The book begins with soldiers busting into this quiet suburban house and arresting the teenaged brother and sister after they were informed on by an overly-stereotypical sleaze of a kid from their high school.  They're accused of witchcraft, which throws the kids for a loop and they're terrified and convinced they're dreaming because, seriously, witchcraft?  This is modern-day suburbia, for crying out loud, not 1692 Salem.  Apparently, some elections were held and the New Order Party won out and suddenly the country is turned into a totalitarian state with a theocratic twist.  Basically, Puritanism is back!  
No one seems to have noticed this, at least, the kids sure haven't.  Arguably possible, because what teenagers pay attention to politics before they're old enough to vote?  But for a change this drastic, you'd think someone would've heard something.  And it's progressed enough that when the kids are brought to trial (sans lawyer, due process, etc.), a nearly arena sized courtroom is filled with people screaming for the blood of these two kids they've never set eyes on before.


Which brings another question:  where did these people come from?  What demographic is supposed to make up the New Order party members and the various soldiers who are constantly bullying the kids and calling them "witch" and "wizard" as a derogatory term, not at all masking more common swears used today; they actually mean it.  These kids are magical and therefore... what? Disgusting?  There's a lot of venom and loathing expressed by everyone and no explanation why.


Which brings us to our next issue: excessive use of childish insults and religious exclamations does not a clean book make.  You'd think that, what with a large percentage of the population practicing Christianity, the 3rd commandment would get a little more respect, if only from people who are obviously trying too hard to make this a clean read for all ages.  I honestly had to stop reading after an insult.  I couldn't make myself anymore.  In no world does a high school kid says "what do you think of that hot pooping scoop?"

And the childish taunts are not reserved to the kids and they're traitorous peer.  Although the most mature people in this book are the two kids.  I know that's every teen's conviction (that we're the unbalanced ones), but this is going to extremes.  When "The One Who is The One" (dude in charge) gets in the girl's face (who's name is Wisteria) and says "Witcheria, is there anything you would like to say? ... Well, you know the famous saying -- of course you do -- 'TRICKS' ARE FOR KIDS!  Get them both out of my sight!" well, I should have stopped reading right then and there.  My suspension of disbelief can only take so much.

Speaking of the head honcho; Hitler much?  Immediately after that gem he disappears in a hurricane of wind from inside a building.  So, is it a "hate what you are" scenario?  And in front of a courtroom full of his devotees, how does he get away with running around testing kids for magic and executing them while performing magic himself?  And we can see, he doesn't exactly have the charm and speaking abilities that Hitler had...

So, I made it to page 125, and that was only because the average chapter length is two pages and they have no qualms starting each chapter halfway down the page.  Poor trees.  PS, the next book was co-written with an entirely different author.  Talk about continuity and voice issues...

One star.  Maybe a half.  Eh, I'll give it one.  I'm feeling generous and still buzzing on my "thinking positively" experience.

Happy Birthday Bai!

So, it was my sister's birthday friday and she (or her future in-laws, whatever) invited us to her big Sunday birthday dinner with said future in-laws.  It was a shrimp extravaganza!  So yummy!  I wish I'd taken pictures so I could show you and say "Take that, Red Lobster!", but you'll all have to be content with me just saying it.


Spenson has a large family (compared to ours) and they are quite fun, I must say.  I really enjoyed getting to know them and seeing that my lil sister is acquiring a good secondary family.  She is in good hands, y'all.


Spenson's mom made this Memory-type game based on questions she had Bai answer like "where were you born?" "what's your favorite color?" and you had to match the Q with the A.  Very fun, and despite my obvious advantage, the Memory-style game gave me a definite handicap and Grandma won.  There's always next time.

Also, since the house is the location of the wedding reception, I took the opportunity to ask if I could do this

(yay bang braid!) to my hair for the big day.  I sweat.  I need to look pretty for her pictures.  It'll be July.  


And I'm proud to say all my practicing paid off!  I got the green light from hair/style goddess Bai!  Wahoo!


Bayou!

Price of a Gallon of Milk: $2

Watching your husband chug the final inch out of guilt because you'd caught him drinking straight out of the jug:

Priceless.

Talk About Bountiful!

So, we occasionally participate in Bountiful Baskets, and in the past it was cool, but never THIS cool!!

Ok, going left to right, because that's how I roll:

1 bokchoy

1 nappa cabbage

several snow peas

1 hunk of fresh ginger

1 bundle of green onions

1 thingy (bulb?) of garlic

1 bunch of basil

6 tomatoes

3 winter squash

1 heaping bag of green beans

7 bananas

1 pineapple

5 regular apples

9 oranges

1 bag of new potatoes

3 Guatemalan mangos

1 acorn squash

3 turnips

and up front, 4 loaves of 9-grain bread*

*not pictured are 1 loaf of 9-grain bread and a bunch of "real" spinach (none of that baby stuff) - they were given to my SIL, Hamlie.

This was an awesome haul!  Now, admittedly, I don't think we'll do the bread thing again.  It was a bit on the pricey side for my taste (course, I haven't actually tasted it yet. I might change my tune), but for the price we paid, this was super awesome!  And totally worth the drive + temporarily getting lost in a suburban area I've never been to because we (me, Hamlie, and Pam'lepuff) were all excitedly talking and not paying attention.  After that we got out fine.

If anyone is suffering from scurvy... Let me know;  I's got the hook ups.

ps - I figured out how to upload pics! Email them to myself! Yay! In celebration, enjoy this bagpiper from the Las Vegas Strip.  With a TIE fighter pilot in the background.

As they say in New Orleans: Bayou!

You Got Some 'Splainin' To Do!

Dear Body,

I don't know if it's just a factor of these taste buds' 7 years being up or what, but I would've thought we'd be on the same page here.
Every time I've had pizza for the last month or so, it hasn't set well.  Can't eat more than a slice about every 1/2 hour (which, is honestly good for the diet, but not so nice for the taste-buds).
I thought pizza would be something I could always count on; something I could always eat.

So it seems I will have to change my evil ways.  I'm putting this out there in cyberspace so that people can call me on it, remind me.

Ok. Here it is.

Here it comes.

Honestly.  I'm gonna say it.

Here we go.

(deep breath)

No more pizza.

Woo!  There, I said it.
It's cruel, but I believe in the curlicued whimsy of fate, and apparently that curlicued whimsy wants me to not enjoy a food that I love.

Oh well.  As they say in New Orleans: Bayou!

Roo

Minutiae

First of all, this is why I fear for the upcoming generations:

book setting somewere close to england awile back around the time of the wright brothers or somthing about a regular peasent who is freinds with the kings daughter they are both young later the boy is turned into a knite and has a teacher that teaches him how to fight and also about aviation the king is killed the main charachter is framed and sent to prison the guy who killed the king trys to become the king while the main chacter is in prison the prison makes the inmates dig diamonds from the ground the main character makes a glider and escapes the prison and later comes back to retreive some hidden diamonds and in the end he defeats the wanna be king and is the hero.


Despite the fact that this person is an obvious reader, the spelling, grammar, and almost complete lack of punctuation is... well... frightening.  (I say "almost" because he did include a period at the very end.)


Secondly, I realized last night that the first and so far only "Soundtrack to my past" post was lost along with my old blog.  I can't be too upset as it was due to user error...  But I am upset!  So I will most likely do a quick recap of the first posting sometime, and then continue on from there.


You have been forewarned.