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A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell

Hmmmm...I'm having a difficult time collecting my thoughts on this one. It was the kind of read that left you all squinty-eyed, with your head cocked to the side going "Ehhhhh." Not sure if I can put my finger on it exactly but something in this book was off and well- I'm disappointed in it.

It was a beautiful premise. A family struggling in the wake of an untimely death, parents broken, a sister left neglected and forgotten and how art helps them heal. Nate Bradley was an angry teenager, given to senseless acts of vandalism and unkindness to his family. Once he was a delightful little boy, the hero of all his little sister's adventures. When Nate dies in a car accident, caused by his own reckless driving his family is torn between loving the sweet boy they lost, and mourning the opportunity to ever understand the angry boy their son had become.

His younger sister Cora is entering her first year of high school at the same school where Nate would have been starting his senior year. To the students and faculty Cora is the odd, sad little sister of a trouble-maker who died a senseless death for his irrational behavior. She is understandably self-conscious, since her peers expect her to either break into a million pieces or follow in her brother's footsteps and be a disruptive presence in the school. For escape, from school, from emotionally dead parents Cora sketches scenes from countries on her wall map, places she'd like to visit, exotic far away lands that offer a much different life for her. When Cora befriends Damien, Nate's partner in crime as well as the one that walked away from the car accident unharmed, he shows her Nate's secret- a special workshop where he and Nate made fascinating artwork out of an eclectic mix of scavenged media. The studio starts to answer many questions for Cora about who her brother had become and what he wanted from life. An unfinished work inspires Cora to use her own artistic abilities to map the places she and Nate were happiest and through the project she finds her own peace about her brother's death.

I wanted to read this book so badly! It's a wonderful concept- the healing power of art. The map of her world, the description of her sketches, the scenes from the many countries she visited in her imagination. Unfortunately I could never quite join her. The writing was overly descriptive to the point of distracting and the relationship between Damian and Cora was bizarre and unrealistic. The vocabulary and emotional expression was so over the top poetic that it felt like they were reading from a movie script. I myself have been known to abuse the comma, I'm not a writer so it's ok, but Sandell beat her story to death with really long strings of imagery in which she wanted you to feel SO much, instead you got lost wadding through all that potpourri. That's it, it's like she took a whole bunch of flowers and mushed them around on the page- if that makes any sense. I also can't even begin to understand what she was trying to convey with Damian's character. I think she meant him to come across self-conscious and shy and his relationship with Cora was meant to help them both deal with Nate's death but instead I just wonder if any second he was going to turn psycho.

Argh. I wanted to love this book.

Penny for your thoughts?

Bookwork 6/28-7/4

Have you started stalking Ms. Cullen at Bloody Bookaholic yet? If you haven't please take a moment to go and spy on her. She's fabulous. She's also added to my to-do list for this week's bookwork by giving me some really great awards!

Since the people would probably be the same for both awards, I'm going to put them together and woot- you get double the recognition!

1. Ms. Cullen Bloody Bookaholic
2. Mandi Smexy Books
3. Melissa Book Nut
4. Alaine Queen of Happy Endings
5. Bella Bellas Novella
6. Ladybug Escape in a Book
7. Shelley Book Fanatic Although she's more easily stalked on Goodreads.

This one comes with homework and you have to list seven of your favorite things and nominate seven people. Here it goes:

7. Little hole in the wall used bookstores
6. My blackberry
5. Hooker shoes
4. Revive Vitamin Water
3. Expensive sheets
2. AM coffee
1. A five star book.

Those aren't really in any sort of order now that I look at it because I wouldn't care about any of those things if I didn't have AM coffee. The seven people are, the same seven fabulous people from above because it makes things nice and neat which soothes my OCD.

This past Saturday's Vampire Movie Night featured episodes 3 and 4, Season 1 of True Blood which I have become totally addicted to. I'm am so freakin' excited because

THEY'RE HERE!! I almost want to drop everything and start reading RIGHT NOW but I'm going to hold off and finish the Black Dagger Brotherhood series before I start this one. SCREAM!

Edward who?

Kindle my new BFF was kind enough to give me Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward and The Graveyard Book by my secret boyfriend, Neil Gaiman. Looks to be a good book week!

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward

I don't know if it was because Lover Awakened was such an outstanding book that was a hard act to follow or if it was just that this book truly was just so-so because I have to tell you, I was bored.

We first met Marissa in Dark Lover, she was the unwanted shellan of King Wrath. She was the female that had been chosen to help him through his transition and they were mated for many many years. Wrath released Marissa from their union after he found Beth, and because of her unconsummated marriage and the fact that she was never wanted Marissa became an outcast from the aristocratic society that she was born into.

Butch O'Neal is your standard hard-ass, tough city cop. He became involved with the brotherhood when he followed Beth into their world. Rather than eliminate him the brotherhood befriended him and kept him on- a very rare occurrence since they typically do not mingle with humans.

This fourth book is Butch and Marissa's story, and though it features a rather interesting turn of events in regards to the brotherhood, I found it rather dull. Marissa is still untouched (a virgin) and Ward flip-flopped between her being a damsel in distress to a Miss Independent so often that it left me rather unattached to Marissa and a little annoyed. She also beat the "scared virgin" persona into the ground and I was equally put off by Butch's dialogue. I get that she was trying to put together two people from the opposite end of the spectrum and really showcase their differences but unlike the previous books, I couldn't really feel the connection between them. You knew that Zsadist and Bella belonged to each other, but I never got the feeling that Butch and Marissa did.

On the flip side, the lore in this book was outstanding! The new involvement with the Omega was very interesting and I am about to die to know exactly what Vishous is. And ooooh doesn't John's story just hurt your heart? Oh please let something wonderful happen for him.

I'm giving this book a "It's not you, it's me" reprieve because the series is so fabulous but I seriously hope the next book is better.

The Bachelorette Party by Karen McCullah Lutz

     "Still, engagement or not, that's plenty of time for some guy to snatch you up. Are you sure you didn't go lesbian for a couple of years in there somewhere?" He laughed as if this were the wittiest bon mot ever tossed across a dinner table. Zadie took a deep breath, getting ready to retort. Nancy put her hand on Zadie's arm, as if to say "Easy."

     ""Well Doug, there've been some nights where I've had more cocktails than I should have, but I'm pretty certain that I didn't 'go lesbian' at any point in time. How about you? Suck any cock that I should know about?" She took a sip of her wine, just as demure as can be."

Not wanting to let go of my hilarity high left over from Finger Lickin' Fifteen, I chose to dive into this little read because it promised to be extremely funny. It did not disappoint.

Zadie is a recently jilted, understandably bitter ex-fiance of a minor soap opera hunk. After the mourning period was over and she'd sent enough door to door dog poo packages and paid a bum to pee on his car it becomes apparent to her that just maybe it's time to move on. Easily done when you have a fabulous best friend who's a hot shot Hollywood attorney who loves to take part in your latest scheme right? But when her best friend Grey announces that he and her cousin Helen have decided to tie the knot Zadie feels jilted all over again. Not to mention that cousin Helen is picture perfect and pure, far from how Zadie sees herself. She and Grey won't have the good times anymore now that he'll be an other half. But when Grey asks Zadie to get Helen to loosen up during her bachelorette party, no one could have predicted just how loose things would get and Helen may not be so perfect after all.

This was the funniest story. It was raunchy, scandalous and in some cases (Trevor...yum) bordering on obscene. I was fully expecting it to turn into one of those I-must-convince-my-best-guy-friend-to-marry-me instead scenarios but thank goodness it took a totally different direction.

Very quick, hilarious read.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

"The upstairs master bath had a crystal chandelier and a bidet. I knew the purpose for the bidet, because I had seen Crocodile Dundee about a hundred times, but I wasn't sure how one actually used a bidet. I mean, does it shoot water up your cooter or do you splash it around? And I thought I might have issues with the crystal chandelier. I wasn't sure I could do number two in a room with a crystal chandelier."

First let me say that I read this book in like 5 hours from start to finish because 1, I've been looking forward to it for a whole year and 2, IT WAS THE FUNNIEST ONE YET. Could not put it down. I don't think I've laughed like that in awhile.

Stephanie Plum, I-Love-Lucy becomes a bounty hunter, has been getting herself into some seriously deadly binds and blowing up her vehicles for 14 straight books now. You can count on Janet Evanovich, she will always give you at least one death, many death threats, one cross dresser, several acts of unwanted nudity, a spandex clad oversized ex-prostitute, a car bomb, a hamster and two of the hottest men ever written in each and every book. You can bank on it. Only this time, the death, the death threats, the cross dresser, the car bomb all revolved around Lula- the spandex clad oversized ex-prostitute. It must have been a nice change for Stephanie who has almost died fourteen times now. The repetition in the series isn't a hindrance, it's a selling point since it's the most entertaining mix of circumstances. Evanovich always delivers and bless her heart, Stephanie always gets her man (maybe even two of them).

Lula witnesses the brutal murder of a television chef famous for his smoking hot barbecue sauce. When the killers find out that there was an eye witness to their dirty deed Lula becomes their next target. Any rational sane person would be scared witless and hiding out to save her ass but not our girl. She enters the barbecue sauce cook off that Chipotle (the chef) was suppose to enter in hopes of catching the murders who have a very nice one million dollar finders fee on their heads. Bless her.
Stephanie and Morelli are not currently speaking to each other, having had a very heated discussion about peanut butter and what should be in it that lead to their most recent separation. Short on cash, Stephanie returns to Rangeman, the security service company owned by the mysterious, elusive DROP FREAKIN' DEAD SMOKIN' HOT Ranger, to do a little inside snooping. Several Rangeman accounts have been compromised and if he doesn't put a stop to the leaks fast, it could put a serious damper on his business.

Throw in a fireman in a Julia Child outfit with a dash of Grandma Mazur and you've got five hours of hysteria that might just upset your neighbors.

The worst part is, now I have to wait until this time next year for another one. She always releases one around my birthday- just for me. Enjoy!

Not a book related post....

Today, June 23rd, is a great day.

Today I renew my love for Jason Mraz- something I do at least weekly but today it's special because it's his birthday!

If you don't already, you might think about following his blog. He has a very unique view of the world. He's either much more aware of the all encompassing "it" than the majority of us or a completely bat shit crazy tree-hugging hippie (both of which are a compliment). Regardless he's a treasure with an interesting style of writing that never fails to entertain. Go ahead and lurve him.

Hunted by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Last time on Days of Our..er...wait...wrong post.

But doesn't it annoy you when you have to spend the first 6 minutes of any new episode of a series recapping what happened last week? I get so angry because I'm thinking "I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED YOU MORON I WATCHED THE SHOW!" and now they are taking away precious new episode time showing scenes from the old episode.

That's how I feel with HoN. You are guaranteed a lengthy recap at the start of each book in the series. You'll find out what happened most recently and often as far back as what took place in the first book in the series. You'll also be reintroduced to each and EVERY character in the story- Team Cast feels we all suffer from short term memory loss. Maybe they were trying to make the story as accessible as possible to increase revenue- a thing that Team Cast refers to in this book when Kramisha says "Thanks, I told you I'm gonna be an author. A famous, rich one with major gold card power." It's funny, when I think of becoming rich I think of winning the lottery, finding oil in the backyard, coming up with the next computer gadget...marrying a plastic surgeon...all those things come to mind but never an author. I know, I know, authors do get rich and famous- but mostly they are just creative, imaginative people who write books. So were they being sarcastic or are their heads really so far up their own asses that they believe their own hype? Ok, that was mean. I'm sorry, these books are just awful and it really isn't often that they come across as taking themselves too seriously, most of the time I even feel that they are in on the joke but every now and then I just can't help but scream "ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME!?"

It's probably best that this series and I are parting company at this time. We don't have to be friends but it would be nice if we could be "polite" to each other when we pass in the bookstore. No awkward moments, or hiding behind shelves.

All that having been spewed, I have to say this book wasn't half bad (the rest of the knee slapper goes "It wasn't half good either!") and I'd actually like to give credit where it's due: Team Cast, and I'm going to assume that it was mostly the work of P.C. since she's the one that writes the series about the goddesses, put a lot more emphasis in the lore and legend that's a part of this story than she has previously. The mingling of the Cherokee legends with the darker teaching of the vampires' Goddess Nyx bordered on poetic. The effect was a much more magical feeling throughout this last book than in some of the earlier ones. It may have a lot to do with the fact that Zoey is forced to actually act like a High Priestess now that everyone is serving her as one. Despite the ongoing boy drama (she still be a ho) Zoey reached a new level of maturity and I was rather proud of her. Oh and I am definitely Team Stark! He has so much more appeal than Erik, Heath or even Loren ever had.

Now I'm not going to write a summary of this one, you would have to follow the story to even get the gist of what's happening (and/or read the first ten pages) and I would hate to give something away to anyone reading it. Don't get me wrong, as difficult as it might be to understand, what with all my blatant HoN flaming, I have really enjoyed the series. They are very entertaining, imaginative and in some places, cute. I just haven't been able to form a single attachment to any of the characters because the writing is well...horrid but I would recommend them for anyone who doesn't care how a story's written just as long as it is an easy, suspenseful, light read that doesn't require any kind of commitment from the reader.

I am aware that Tempted the sixth HoN book comes out in October of this year. Will I read it? You betcha. I will indeed and love/loathe every second of it.

I can't commit to all the different "This on This Day of the Week" and I would feel guilty saying "In My Mailbox" or "Library Loot" when all my books come from Kindle downloads, the store or Pril's house so I thought I just sum it all up in Bookwork, where I'll be takin' care of book bidness.

Saturday was Vampire Movie Night and we watched the first two episodes of True Blood and oh wow was that ever good. The birthday book fairies gave me a happy Amazon gift card so I bought:

They'll be here in 5-9 days and I can't freakin' wait.

From Pril's House I borrowed:

1.) Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin
2.) The Bachelorette Party by Karen McCullah Lutz
3.) Sleeping Arrangements by Madeleine Wickham
4.) This Charming Man by Marian Keyes
5.) Second Chance by Jane Green
6.) The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner

Those can all be added to the To-Read shelf along with Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward and The Luxe by Anna Godbersen that I just downloaded from Kindle.

Woohoo! All that combined with my last Bookwork update makes for a grand total of 18 books sitting on the shelf, staring at me accusingly.

I'm about to finish Hunted by Team Cast and I might actually have something nice to say about it tomorrow.

Comes out this Tuesday, June 23rd. START SCREAMING NOW!

Nation by Terry Pratchett

I've been hesitant to read this book simply because it wasn't a novel of the Discworld. I don't know why that should matter but it did- I was kind of pouting because it wasn't.

Nation is well, truthfully, a very complex story of faith, of coming of age, of learning that sometimes in life you must simply do things that need doing. It's about the birth of a nation- and how the need to belong to something makes a people. It's about us, all of us.

Mau is only a boy, and as a boy he must complete the trial that will bring him back home as a man. When the trial is completed and Mau is a man a big wave comes and washes away his world and he must go home as a boy because there is no one there to see that he has returned as a man. Alone on the island, the Nation, Mau the boy is now the chief and the gods demand that he restore the land.

The wave brought ashore the wreck of the Sweet Judy a large ship from an England that is not our England and the only survivor on the Judy is a trouserman (just what it says) girl who will call herself Daphne.

"One person is nothing, but two people are a Nation."

And more people come whose homes have been taken by the wave and they simply want to belong. The people are tired, and they are sad over the death of love ones who were taken by the wave. Mau asks the question "If there really are such things as the gods, how could they do such a terrible thing", and because he would dare ask, to himself and to the people, he has no soul. So Mau the boy with no soul must lead the people who have come to the Nation, because it has always belonged to his people and so it is his.

It's one of the most remarkably spiritual books I think I've ever read and I'm proud to say it doesn't contain one ounce of religion. Pratchett tackles some very tough subject matter in this seemingly light-hearted book marketed as young adult. It's written in his usual warm, humorous tone and is yet another example of the power of stories that he writes about so much but what he really wants you to think about here is what makes you you and what makes you a part of an "us". He wants you to know that it's ok to question your beliefs because through questioning you may actually discover what it is you do believe in. Pratchett always, always wants his readers thinking.

As I read Nation I start to think about what it and his other young adult novels (Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith, Maurice and His Educated Rodents) mean. Though they exist within his Discworld (with the exception of Nation) they are something entirely different, and yet comfortably the same as his primary novels. I've thought about it and what I've decided is he's leaving a legacy. These books are guides on how to grow up and for those of us that the world already considers to be grown up- how to be better at it. Pratchett has a very selfless view of mankind that is increasingly rare. He wants you to look at the people around you. His Discworld is a parody and a direct reflection of the world in which we live. His neighbors are our neighbors, our citizens are very much the same as his, only he can really see them. While we all may love our lives, and hopefully we even have a few people in it whom we love, Pratchett simple loves people. Collectively. I think he's one of the nicest people the world has ever had the privilege of holding.

Some of you may not know it, but in 2007 Terry Pratchett was diagnosed with a rare form of early onset Alzheimer's. Though his disease isn't far advanced and in all probability he may have a million stories yet to tell, I worry for him as I would a member of my own family. He is a very gifted man and the world will lose something very special when he leaves us. We will lose one of our god anchors.

Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

Ok so I'm going along, reading my little paranormal romance/vampire semi-erotica novels, and yeah they're action packed and suspenseful and entertaining and surprisingly well written but first and foremost- total escapism, when Ward decides she's going to do something very heartless. She's going to go and write a really good BOOK- One that forces you to care for the characters, feel their pain, relive their histories and cry like a baby when one of them is lost. I didn't want a REAL BOOK, I wanted trashy romance! I feel cheated but I'm very grateful.

Zsadist is the black sheep of the brotherhood. Even his own brothers question his loyalty...and his sanity. The rumors that surround him are the stuff of nightmares and no one doubts that they are true. His place amongst the warriors is only tolerated because of Phury, his beautiful, kind, loyal twin brother. Zsadist owes his twin his life and Phury would give his up if it would undo the horrors that Zsadist was forced to live through.

Bella is a citizen, one of the lives the brotherhood has sworn to protect. When Rhage fell in love with Mary, Bella was the reason they even met. As a member of the aristocracy and friend to Rhage's mate, she is one of the few vampire citizens who have even seen the brotherhood, and one of the few people who haven't run away from Zsadist in fear. She is the only woman, Zsadist has ever wanted.

The lessers are kidnapping and murdering citizens in an effort to gain information concerning the whereabouts of the brotherhood. Since hardly anyone knows the actual identity of the brothers, the captured citizens are horribly tortured and put to death for their inability to provide any details. When Bella is taken by the forelesser (the leader), a very disturbed man named David, he keeps Bella as his "wife" because of her resemblance to his dead love.

Now you know what happens next. Zsadist HAS to rescue Bella because she HAS to be his. Standard stuff. But what follows is Zsadist's actual story, his history, his twin's involvement and their separate and shared suffering. Your heart just hurts for them, but I think I mostly felt sympathy for Phury who in addition to having to shoulder all that burden, also lives with unrelenting guilt because it wasn't him that was hurt instead of Zsadist.

Then there's the part that I can't talk about because it would ruin the story for anyone planning on reading it- but I am heartbroken over Tohr, Wellsie and even John, who only just finally found them. I'm in denial, and I refuse to believe that what happened actually happened. But it made me cry :(

I like that Ward gave Zsadist a mate that was his equal. With him being a tortured badass you would expect either a mousy little thing who's sweetness and light would eventually melt his cold heart (gag) or a real ball buster who just finally breaks him down. Thankfully neither of those characters showed up. Instead, we get Bella who like Zsadist before he was taken from his family, was an innocent. She was captured and subjected to some rather cruel, perverse treatment that while it wasn't nearly as horrible as what Zsadist suffered it molded her into someone who was similar to him.

So yeah, it was a good book. Don't do it again. Trash only please.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

The cat stopped walking, sat down, and began to wash itself thoughtfully, apparently unaware of Coraline's existence.
     "We...we could be friends, you know," said Coraline.
     "We could be rare specimens of an exotic breed of African dancing elephants," said the cat. "But we're not. At least," it added cattily, after darting a brief look at Coraline. "I'm not."
     Coraline sighed.
     "Please. What's your name?" Coraline asked the cat. "Look, I'm Coraline. Okay?"
     The cat yawned slowly, carefully, revealing a mouth and tongue of astounding pinkness. "Cats don't have names," it said.
     "No?" said Coraline.
     "No." said the cat. "Now, you people have names. that's because you don't know who you are. We know who we are, so we don't need names."

Ok so don't laugh but I think maybe I have a tiny bit of a crush on Neil Gaiman.

As OCD, vampires, and rants, oh my! very eloquently put it:
"Neil freaking Gaiman, the rockstar of the literary world."

To go from Stardust where he paints a picture so textured and vivid you can actually feel it to Coraline where he reduces life down to the scale that a child would experience it, is truly amazing. The sights, smells, the reasoning he gave to Coraline were so perfectly natural. It's rather amazing when one can take the matter-of-fact and turn it into a matter of fantasy without losing any of the practicality. Coraline is a very simple story without being overly simplified. If that makes sense.

Coraline is a young girl, on holiday from school, who has recently moved into a new house. She is under-stimulated and bored as children often are when faced with added free time and little scheduling. In Coraline's eyes her parents are always working and far too busy to entertain her. Now you mustn't think that this is a story of a poor neglected girl. Keep in mind that she is out of school, during the summer and our story covers what, two, three days maybe? Her perception of "always" is exactly how a bored child would see it.

Coraline is a great explorer and she covers and catalogues her little world (her yard and house) and all the people and things in it. It contains the requisite absurd neighbors as well as her awkward, well meaning parents. It also contains a large door in the drawing room that when opened, at first reveals only the brick wall that divides her apartment from the one next door. But when Coraline looks again it actually opens onto a dark hallway, and a world that is the mirror image of Coraline's. Almost. Inside this other world is her other mother, her other father and her other absurd neighbors. These others want to play with Coraline, are never to busy to entertain her and cook all her favorite foods. Just what a bored little girl who's feeling a little forgotten thinks she would like. Coraline quickly discovers that all is not perfection and in fact the others want to keep Coraline and will go to any lengths to do so. Now she must be a real explorer and discover the secrets that will lead her back to her real life.

It's a very charming little story which proves the old adage that "the grass is not always greener on the other side". I really enjoyed it and continue to be in awe of Gaiman.

I haven't seen the movie version yet but I already wonder if it can live up to what I picture. All I can see is a world created by Tim Burton, who apparently didn't do it. Pooh.

More Bookwork

I am listing the books that I currently have on my to-read shelf as a big slap in the face reminder that I do not need to purchase additional books at this time. All these lovely books that I want to get to know and perhaps love and they go neglected because I am an unfaithful greedy bookworm. I can name another thirty that I'd love to run right out and buy RIGHT NOW but I really should start with my current stack.

Atonement by Ian McEwan
Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Hunted by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Greywalker by Kat Richardson
Stardust of Yesterday by Lynn Kurland

Unclean Spirits by M.L.N. Hanover is in limbo at the moment. I plan on giving it a few more chapters to improve and if not I'm tossing it in the to-trade pile.

I am also officially abandoning A Wrinkle in Time, regardless of the fact that it makes me an ungrateful, wicked girl to toss aside a book considered by some to be a classic, I'm not going to make myself read something I find so very unappealing. Faith and religion are two entirely separate concepts.

To tell the truth, Atonement has been on that shelf for over a year. I read a few pages into it and I just don't know. I always feel pressure to like a book when it is hailed by so many as a must read but I remind myself that my tastes are not yours and vice versa. Maybe it's ok for me not to like it and that's the reason I haven't finished it. I haven't decided on this one yet.

I tell ya though, I'm going to drop everything and RUN to the store when Finger Lickin' Fifteen comes out. I'm so excited I almost can't stand it. You know exactly what you're going to get with a Stephanie Plum novel, and though they may be a bit repetitious, Evanovich always delivers. I am also on the edge of my seat over Eyes Like Stars which I have been unexplainably drawn to since the first I heard of it.

Anyway, the point is boys and girls is that goodreads.com is the devil.

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

Mary has had more then her share of hardships. She spent a large portion of her adult life watching her mother succumb to a long, cruel, debilitating sickness. Close on the heels of her mother's death she was diagnosed with Leukemia and had to endure the pain, suffering and disfigurement that accompanied her fight with cancer. Two years later, her illness has returned, bringing with it another war for Mary to wage.

Rhage is the stunningly handsome, physically flawless warrior of the brotherhood. Within him lives a beast with an insatiable appetite that is only quelled by chaos, carnage, blood and sex. For a century Rhage has not only battled the forces that threaten his people but has endured the ceaseless struggle of controlling the beast within.

In this second tale of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, two hardened, battle-weary warriors come together in their biggest campaign yet- the fight to save each other. Cue music...

Ok so the cheese factor was a little high in this one and the ending was blotched and rushed but I'll forgive Ward anything because she only did what I silently asked her to do which was write another suspenseful, action packed, romantic story in which there is phenomenal vampire sex. I like her take on vampire legend and lore. The rituals of the brotherhood and the character of the Scribe Virgin are a nice change from your standard issue "undead blood suckers who prey on cheerleaders" stereotype. Even Rice wrote her vampires as dirty evil playboys who just roamed around sucking on people. Ward's vampires are a very spiritual, ritualistic people....who just so happen to listen to rap music and drink beer.

I liked this book but I didn't love it. Something was just missing. I'm not sure what- maybe it was the over-description of Rhage's hawtness that occurred every 2 pages. It became a little repetitive. I did have a little cry when Rhage viewed Mary's treatment scars. Reality kind of crept in during that scene and I say kudos to Ward for doing that.

Still unquestionably devoted to Ward but while I wasn't disappointed in this book, I wasn't overwhelmed by it either.

Untamed by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

The fourth book in the House of Night series and thankfully it was just standard issue HoN bad and not redefining bad like Chosen.

I could have simply stopped reading after the last one but I don't know what makes me keep going! Like I said, these books are bad bad bad but SO VERY entertaining! How can that be? I guess the best way I can describe them is "guilty-pleasure-crap-reality-tv-like-Rock-of-Love Reading". You know that you shouldn't be watching but you HAVE to in order to see what the stupid people do next.

Zoey "OMG I'm a ho" Redbird is still at the House of Night school for fledgling vampires. It has only been what, three months since she arrived and already she has saved her ex boyfriend from ghosts, overthrown the misguided leader of the Dark Daughters, dated three guys at once, made out with half the school, broken hearts, lost her best friend, found her best friend, slept with a teacher, pissed of the school's High Priestess, discovered her affinity for all five elements, been blessed with unheard of power by the Goddess Nyx, made new friends, become friends with someone who was once her enemy and she got a cat.

In this book, in an effort to improve vampire/human relations, she befriends the nuns that run the Street Cats charity. That's our Zoey. She's open minded and such the little joiner. Erik Night, newly changed vampire returns to the HoN as the new Drama teacher, and on the very first day of class, you guessed it, Zoey makes out with him. Oh yeah and she makes out with the new kid, Stark (who is no doubt going to be back for another make out session in book five) as he DIES- but not in the sweet last kiss with your true love who's dying way- but while he's spitting up blood and his body is rejecting the change. Aphrodite who ran off at the end of Chosen returns to us as a human, but continues to attend the HoN as a fledgling vampire by painting on her Mark with a blue eyeliner that she found at Target (check payable to Team Cast courtesy of Target to follow). As for other endorsements Zoey is reading Inkexchange by Melissa Marr which if you stick around for a minute will turn into an entirely separate rant. Team Cast also pushes the Ipod Touch and made a reference to the Nephilim which I am choosing to ignore on the off chance that she didn't mean to reference Mortal Instruments or I am going to TOTALLY FREAKING LOSE IT.

And what's with them having to mention EVERY five pages that Damien and Jack are gay? I mean we know that by now, it's not shocking and it's really tacky to keep bringing it up with wise cracks like they mean it to be shocking.

Regardless, this book was a very entertaining, quick read. Neferet and Zoey finally have the major show down that's been coming and the book ends with a nice (if not neat) little cliffhanger. I found Untamed to be on par with Marked but nowhere near as good as Betrayed which bordered on being an actual book.

Ok so the Melissa Marr push- First let me state that I don't find it flattering, even though Melissa might, for her to be mentioned by Team Cast in HoN. Melissa Marr is a good writer and her books are really good. Having her praised in HoN is like going out all dressed up and looking hot only to be hit on by the ugly short guy. It seems to be popping up more and more, that all the new YA authors are advertising for each other. Is this a campaign launched by their various publishers or are all these people friends (or at least pretending to be)? I just find it a little disconcerting.

I think I have gotten ranting about HoN out of my system and I promise that if the fifth book isn't remarkably better than this one I will do as I have been taught and if I don't have anything nice to say, I won't say anything at all.

Just keep reading...

I apologize for the lack of updates. I started a new job :) This "work" thing is strange and foreign to me after being in school...

Moving on. So there have been two books that I have wanted for quite some time now but for some reason, no matter how many times I frantically press the "I'd like to read this book on Kindle" button on amazon, Scholastic Press won't show me any love. I had to break down and do exactly what they wanted me to do, which was go out and buy the hardbacks of:

So Scholastic-2 Me-0. I don't doubt that I will end up feeling that buying the hardback of The Hunger Games was a really good decision and I am hopeful about A Map of the Known World.

Mum left on my pillow and I have faith that it will far exceed any and all expectations.

Yessssss...I am going to finish the House of Night series. I DO NOT KNOW WHY.

Chosen by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

I apologize if there are any typos but I am typing this by repeatedly banging my forehead onto the keyboard.

wef;oij;awoeif oaei;fjoaewijfwa odijf;awoefji;

Team Cast? Guess what?

Bunny sad

Would someone please tell me what the hell that was all about? Better yet could you offer any insight as to why I read it? Or worse- why I'm going to read book four?

I've never seen so much senseless drivel on one page before. This book existed on a whole separate, new, just discovered plane of SUCK.

Please don't let your children read this and grow up to be stupid, immature ladies of negotiable affection. Promise me the next time your adolescent uses cool, like, totally, awesome, omg, poo, dang it, and ummmm all in one sentence that you WILL smack her?

I want to throw this book but it's not mine and it would be wrong to punish the innocent paper. It's not the tree's fault that it was murdered to PRODUCE CRAP.

Now a moment of silence to reflect on the downward spiral that is my current taste in fiction...

Betrayed by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

I swear my IQ dropped 10 points when I made the decision to read the second book in the House of Night series. There was very little merit in Marked but yet, I'll admit I have the whole set setting in a stack on my night stand. What gives?

Well I'll tell you. These books are FUN. They are fast paced, suspenseful, very entertaining and well, not to sound like a gum smacking cheerleader but "totally cool". It's sad sad sad because the writing is almost inexcusable- more specifically, the dialogue. It actually made me cringe in places, but I kept reading because I actually wanted to.

Zoey Redbird is the most gifted vampire fledgling the House of Night has ever seen. After she discovered that the Goddess Nyx had blessed her with an ability to not only call the five elements, but have them readily answer it became apparent to students and faculty that she was destined to some day lead as High Priestess. Now Zoey is the leader of the Dark Daughters, an organization within the House of Night dedicated to the Goddess Nyx. While trying to adjust to her new role, and prepare for the upcoming full moon ritual, Zoey's new abilities are revealing things about the House of Night that make her wonder who's side the school is on. Local human boys are disappearing and someone is trying to make it seem like the House of Night, and the leader of the Dark Daughters, are involved.

Poor Zoey, trying to juggle phenomenal cosmic power, boys and adolescence all at the same time. Oooooh the angst!

I couldn't put this down! What is wrong with me!? I loved it. I had to know what was going to happen next- and SO much happened. It even had me bawling my eyes out at one point and then cheering when Zoey was able to verbally bitch smack her nemesis. Zoey's group of friends are just adorable, her boyfriends (all of them) are hot, and well....there's a cat in this one too.

I'm going to read the rest of them...as long as no one sees me do it.

Just when I thought LFG had taken an irreversable turn for the suck....they give us this:

#258- the latest

Looking For Group is a freakishly funny and entertaining comic that appeals to gamers and my fellow WoW rejects.

Thank you for blogging...

You know what I'm doing right now? Well I'll tell you. I'm sitting here, on this lovely Sunday afternoon, reading your blog. I don't have to rush off any place. I'm just going to finish my coke and read book reviews. How freaking cool is that? How fun is it that the book blog world exists and I can do this?

If I've put you on follow, I visit you every new post you make. I'm your blog stalker- in er, a good way. Some of you I go to and read through your reviews before making a book purchase. Did you realize how important you were when you got up today? You might have personally saved me $7.99 and for that I thank you.

I'm rather chipper because Ladybug at Escape in a Book has given me a blog award.

It's the The Heartfelt Blogger award. Thank you Ladybug!

Now let's give back shall we? I'd like to pass this along to Today's Adventure because you can always count on Vanessa for excellent conversation and discussions.

Mandi at Smexy Books, who understands the importance of a bit of page porn mixed in with romance, gave me this little love:

And I'd like to pass it on to Melissa's Bookshelf for wonderful reviews, a nice archive, and not being afraid to tell you that a book sucked. (and it's pretty)

Then the very nice J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog was kind enough to give me this:

I would like to send this one out to Melissa the Book Nut. She has an extensive site, that is easy to search, with an astounding amount and variety of reviews. If you don't know what to read, go dig through her stuff.

Sorry that it has taken me so long to acknowledge and pass these on. The NCLEX kicked my butt. It's over btw, but we are not going to talk about it until the results are in. Anyway, I appreciate the awards. More importantly I appreciate ya'll for book blogging. It's probably really selfish but I enjoy the many great book blogs out there so much that I've just decided to believe that you're all blogging for me.

Book Work

Posts will be rather scarce (which is an inappropriate use of the word because what I really mean is none at all) for the next few days. I'm not reading anything other than my Hurst Review for NCLEX-RN workbook. I take state boards on Sunday (strange testing time) and I can't concentrate or enjoy a good book while I'm FREAKING out.

Several lovely people have been kind enough to give me some blog awards and I promise I will acknowledge those and pass them on when this test is over. I want you to know that I really appreciate your giving them and when I am once again capable of coherent thought I'll tell you how much.

In the meantime, read something sensational for me!

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

So we've all been reading paranormal/urban fantasy romance right? A lot of it has to do with the resurgence of vampire craze brought on by Twilight and if only for that, we are thankful to Meyer. We're reading all this because we're craving a love that is darker, deeper, more intense than what the real world has to offer. Face it, we marry Bob, who is now a slightly over-weight, balding accountant who is a great husband, a wonderful father, our best friend and a terrific companion- and he takes the trash out now and then. We are happy with Bob. But now with all this eternal, star-crossed love resurfacing and in a much hotter package than Romeo, we're looking for a little more variety in our romantic reading. Passion, adventure, a love to die for...

I call bullshit.

What we're really looking for is HOT VAMPIRE SEX.

Beth has a dead end job working for your typical pig boss. She's underappreciated, underpaid and mentally understimulated. With no family, no love interest and no prospects Beth is just hoping for a change, an adventure. After she is physically assaulted by an arrogant, over-indulged, would-be rapist frat boy, adventure shows up slap dab in the middle of her living room in a six-foot-six, dark, sexy, dangerous package.

Wrath is the most fearsome warrior the vampire race has, he is their reluctant king and leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, a unit of deadly fighters who protect the vampire race. With the untimely death of one of his brothers, Wrath must honor the fallen's last wish and protect his daughter Beth as she prepares to enter a dark new chapter in her life.

Oh boy you betcha. J. R. Ward will give you what you want, even if you're too shy to ask for it. But I don't want you to leave here thinking that this is book smut. Ward delivers on so many levels- action, adventure, suspense, mystery, horror, good-cop, bad cop, money, broken hearts, "Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles... " and a side order of steaming hot vampire sex on a platter.

Hell there's even a cat.

I was hooked three pages in and before I knew it I was on chapter 12 before I even looked up. I can't wait to pick up the other books in this series, in bulk.

Don't be a greedy reader. When you go and pick up your copy of this book, get one for a friend. You'll thank me, she'll thank you, we'll all thank J.R. Ward.

Note to self...

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About Me

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Laura @ A Jane of All Reads
I read excessively and hoard books like a greedy dragon. Theoretically, I also plan to use them to barricade myself against the forthcoming zombie apocalypse.

I accept books for review as long as they're good ones. Review Policy
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Civilian Student FAQ

Why should I attend Norwich as a civilian student?

Norwich University is a small, private college with the amenities to compete with much larger universities. We feature over 30 academic programs, 20 varsity sports and a surprising variety of student clubs and organizations. We are recognized throughout the country for many of our academic programs, including:

Does Norwich provide a supportive academic environment?

Absolutely. We give our students the kind of attention they need to succeed by maintaining an average of one faculty member for every 12 students. Additionally, our Academic Achievement Center is staffed by professionals who meet with students on an individual basis and lend support to all facets of academic life, from improving study skills to tutoring sessions in a specific academic area. Staff members are trained to help meet the specific needs of students diagnosed with learning disabilities.

Will I be taught by teaching assistants at Norwich?

Norwich University does not use teaching assistants. While use of graduate students as teaching assistants is common in many institutions, all instructors at Norwich University are faculty members. Our small student-to-faculty ratio allows each instructor to get to know students on an individual basis and be readily available to provide assistance.

What opportunities are there for civilian students to gain leadership experience?

All students, Corps and civilian, have opportunities to develop leadership skills through the Leader and Character Development Program, community service, clubs and organizations, athletics, and other areas of campus. Opportunities in the Honor Committee, Student Government Association (SGA), Residence Life Staff, Campus Activities Board (CAB), New Student Orientation Staff, and numerous others provide valuable leadership skills and experiences that can be used in future careers.

How integrated are the civilian and military students?

All of our students are completely integrated in the classroom, on the playing field and in extracurricular activities. However, civilian students don’t participate in Corps of Cadets’ military training and the two lifestyles have separate residences.

How safe is the campus?

Norwich has one of the safest campuses in the country. Vermont has a very low crime rate to begin with, combined with a consistent military presence and the University’s security force. Students can feel comfortable walking on campus, going to the library or returning from a night workout at the gym. For up-to-date information on campus safety and other information critical to deciding which college to attend, please visit our Student Consumer Information site.

What kind of extracurricular activities are available?

Norwich boasts 20 varsity sports, club sports and more than 80 student-run club and organizations. Our students are active participants. More than 90 percent are involved in at least one activity outside of the classroom.

What athletic facilities are available?

Norwich offers sports facilities comparable to those of much larger schools, including:

  • Two complete gymnasiums
  • Playing fields for football, lacrosse, soccer, rugby, baseball and softball.
  • Weight and aerobic exercise rooms
  • Indoor swimming pool
  • Ice hockey rink
  • Climbing wall
  • Wrestling facility
  • Indoor tennis courts
  • Paine Mountain CrossFit
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Friday, September 26, 2008

Swirly, sparkly, addicting things

Is it normal to feel so bereft after being practically done with the project that has consumed every free minute of my life for several months and that has haunted me (the guilt, mostly) for years? I feel out of sorts. I keep thinking of things like public space, private space, house as a symbol of (fill in the blank). That's not just a "green home"--that's a political stand, a sign of the times, a vote with dollars. But maybe it's just a cool house with a living wall and roof, graywater processing system, and solar panels, all backed by someone with more time and money than he/she knows what to do with. Perhaps some things are not more than the sum of their parts.

We have fun family or mama/SB things planned all weekend. I have a stack of magazines, all glossy and undogeared, waiting on the coffee table and nightstand. I even bought two brand-spanking-new books, which I never do, cheapskate that I am (Plenty and House at Sugar Beach). Yet, I'm fighting the urge to sit at my computer or scribble notes on scraps of paper. While eating lunch with SB, I got up and wrote the following on a Working Assets pad of paper I found in the debris of my desk: "Public v. Private lives. Milk on porch. Internet. Green parenting. Risk private for public? Holloran. Losing data and identity theft. Embrace public." Good grief, woman. Let it go for a couple of weeks.

But I'm Type A--can't sit still, have to stay busy. Which is a kind of sickness. Or is it that cliche about scratching at a long-ago amputated limb? One day, if I'm lucky, I'll forget about it. But that day is not today.

When we were out celebrating Alex's birthday the other night, he asked, "So, what are you going to do now that your thesis is mostly done?" I was supposed to say, "I'm going to Disneyland!" but instead my shoulders seized up and I felt a flush of panic flood my body. What am I going to do with all my newfound time?

My acupuncturist says to maybe just let the rest of my life, the stuff that's been crammed into the tight corners of my days, stretch out a bit. Don't fill yourself up again, she gently warned me, as she stuck me with about thirty needles meant to beat back an encroaching cold and get rid of weeks of stress. But she's not like me. She's a mellow, relaxed person. Just being in the same room as her makes me sleepy. I might be lazy, but I'm rarely ever relaxed.

The thing is, I remember a time before full-time work and family and trying to live a greener life and writing in the spare minutes of a day and hanging out with friends. I had less to do, I was more relaxed, but some days, I couldn't even get out of bed. There was nothing to yank me out of own head and into the world. I cried a lot and felt sorry for myself. That was a crappy time of thinking too much and doing too little.

The swirl of sound and color and motion—of SB and her friends running through the house while unwinding a ball of yarn, of jam burning on the stove, of hooting and moaning at the Daily Show, of Twittering about Project Runway, of newspapers and magazines slipping off of every flat surface in the house, of weekends so full that they feel like weekdays—that mess of parts equals the sum total of my life. The energy of this crazy book project can't just disappear, so where will it go? I'm not worried: something else equally sparkly and distracting and addicting will come along. And honestly, I can hardly wait.

melissa s. said...

i like to think that now that my free time is more limited, i'm more selective about the projects i start, books i read, etc... but i can't say that's actually true. but it's a nice thing to tell myself.

i am off to check out the 'women against sarah palin' link on your sidebar. now THAT looks like a good use of my time!

Susan Denning said...

Who do you think will win on Project Runway? I like Kenley's designs but I think her attitude will hold her back from winning it all.

Rebecca said...

Well, I think it's obviously time to seek out literary agents, get that thesis published, go on talk shows, embark on a book tour, sell the movie rights, star in the movie yourself, etc. That should keep you busy. Congratulations and good luck finding your next obsession!

DomaMama said...

Mel: I think it's true that our lives fill up on their own, whether we want them to or not. I'm resigned to it.

Susan: Thanks for the congrats! I have no idea who's going to win PR. I'm a Leanne fan (go, Portland). But it's hard to call, unlike last season.

Rebecca: Can't imagine making a movie out of my book, but I was at damali ayo's lecture last night, and they're making a movie out of her book How to Rent-A-Negro, so anything's possible. (What about a movie about your forthcoming book?)

fasenfest said...

Funny, I was just thinking about what to do now that the garden is almost to bed for the winter (besides the tons of green tomatoes I will be confronting). And, among other things I was thinking - getting together with friends. What I mean is that this "homesteader" movement (and it is not about more money than time in case you were really wondering), can be very isolating. Particularly if there are no little children left in the home. Or even if there are.

So how about a weekly "what the f--k" coffee group to discuss what the f--k is happening in the markets, the world, the home the planet or, just in our own heads. I think a group of women with overly active minds stoked on caffeine sounds like a political action group. Or, just plan f--king fun.

fasenfest said...

Just wanted to comment on dmali ayo's book soon to become a movie.

I can only tell you that I used to work with her and her lens and attitude about our contrived relationships with other cultures and races is contrived in and of itself.

It is dangerous to assume you can feel and know what other people's experience have been. And that I am not black I will never know how the world would look and treat me. That is clear. But her life represents what happens when we transcend all the labels and limitations society wants to put on us.

All of us carry a burden of culture, experience and legacy. My own is the weight of the holocaust and how it moves me to confront man's inhumanity to man. It drives me crazy and has made me a melancholy person. I've got the eastern european second-generation survivor blues. And, yeah, nobody can point me out in a crowd but it has defined me. I carry it when nobody can see it which is just as difficult to transcend. Honestly.

So perhaps we want to continue talking about what led us to our burden or imagine what allows us to transcend and re-envision it. Certainly there are proponents to both sides. History illuminates for sure. But let's not get so fucking cheeky and so self involved that we imagine we are the only ones who have carried a cross or suffered the consequences of man's inhumanity to man. It is the stuff of the human experience rather then the exception.

That fact is the thing to acknowledge and move us toward attempting greater love and acceptance towards other. Yeah, highlight the funk, even make a silly movie about our discomfort and lame attempts of stepping outside our own culture. But at some point we got to get on with it. Really. Hopefully after this movie she can.

DomaMama said...

Harriet--I'd love a regular "what the f--k" group! Let's set one up. Talk to you about it soon.

Also, re: damali, I think she gets that she's done with publicly talking about race. I've got to say that as a person of color living in Portland, I really relate to what she says and love her outlandish twists on those tough interactions and conversations. But she says that she is moving on to healthier modes of expression (yoga, I believe), so that will be awesome to see.


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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Kick-uh-Butoosky in a Top Hat

Another Kick ass concept for Tophat the lead character in a graphic novel I'm illustrating. I think this is pretty golden if I do say so myself. First the penned over free sketch, and then the final inking with shades. I'm starting to grasp the
free flowing yet technical aspects of comic art.. finally.

Stay Artsy & DFTBA

Sarah Bosserman

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text:
Tuesday, January 31, 2006

yeah i'm not very metal. i'm so excited about the jenny lewis album i've listened to it like eight times today. i think the dudes in the band are gonna murdalize me if i don't go see in flames on saturday, but guess what? i don't really like in flames. i'm more pumped for the stars show next week.

mahtul brah.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Rules for drinking at my bar

Here are just two...I think this may be an ongoing series of posts.

1. If it's 20 degrees outside and almost midnight, don't fucking order a margarita. This isn't Key West, you don't kick ass, and you look like a fucking fool. Same goes for drinking bloody marys after 5pm. Drink these drinks at appropriate times. Margaritas? Not after sundown (I will allow the Rio to be the exception to this rule). Bloodys? Never after happy hour (unless you are SUPER hurting). That's my piece about that.

2. Just because you heard a friend of mine call me by name, doesn't mean you get to yell 'Matty!' when you need a drink. It's rude. If we don't know each other, cool, I have no problem introducing myself (and then you can join in that amazing sing song chorus of 'Matty Matty!' that takes place every night) but until then, don't call me anything at all.

Am I being snotty? Fuck yeah! Sitting at my bar rules, I am very generous and amiable, I give out a million cigarettes and shots. So just be cool and stick to the rules.

Am I being conceited? Fuck yeah!

Monday, January 23, 2006

Wasted life

So after marathon drinking from Saturday at about 7pm to Sunday at 7PM (with a six hour break for sleep), I slept for 15 hours. And in no way is that pathetic. I feel like the biggest piece of shit ever. There is no point to my days, except for filling in the time between sleep and booze. I guess that's not actually true, at all. Like, not even a little bit. But fuck it.


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Monday, October 21, 2013

Happy Birthday Laura Jo, we still miss you! Oct 20, 1971 - Oct 20, 1989

I hope you guys don't mind a bit of a rewind post today, but a friend reminded me the significance of what yesterday was, and I'd like to re-post this in honor of my friends who also still mourn this friend, but also for her family.  It has now been 24 years since our friends' death, this post is my homage to her and her affect on me, and on everyone in our community.  We miss you Laura Jo!

Today is a special day, but also a sad day for me and for many of my old friends.  24 years ago yesterday, I was a senior in high school....and 24 years ago yesterday, we all lost one of our most special friends and classmates.  I wanted to share the story of that day with you, and some of how it affected me.

October 20th, 1989 was a Teacher Workday and, as I said earlier, I was a senior in high school.  I went to Eastern Guilford in Gibsonville, NC.  My parents were at work, and I believe it was a Friday.  Saturday was cleaning day at our house normally, but because I was home I was working on getting it done a day early, as I had some other things to do on Saturday.  It was sometime around or after lunchtime I think, and I was vacumming the living room when the phone rang.  It was my best friend at the time, Tracy on the other line.  She told me that Laura Jo was dead.  I think I floated up out of my body when I heard that, and I asked her to repeat what she said.  Through tears, she again told me "Laura Jo died, it was a car accident."  I don't remember much after that except that I melted down onto the floor and just cried.  I immediately called my Mom at work to tell her the news when I was able to speak again.  I was - and still am, very close to my Mom and I share everything with her.  I didn't know much about the details, only that it was a head-on collision with a truck at a back curve on Mt. Hope Church Road here in McLeansville.

I discovered later, probably Sunday at church that she had been down at the haunted house working for most of the day.  See, our youth group had a haunted house we put on every year at this old abandoned house (it has since been torn down), it was our big fundraiser for our summer mission trip.  We worked for months before Halloween getting things ready for 3 days of long lines of people parading through.  My plan was to go work there on Saturday.  Anyway, she worked there with some of the guys all morning and then left to go home when the accident happened.  To this day, I don't know if she veered over or if the truck driver did...I guess it doesn't matter.

Monday arrived and we all went to school.  I don't know about everyone else but I was numb. I had cried all weekend and was exhausted emotionally.  They had grief counsellors at the school available for us to talk to, I remember just sitting in the library talking with classmates, reminiscing and remembering Laura Jo.

The funeral was brutal, and huge.  We went to a rather large church and it was standing room only that day.  I don't remember much about it, or the graveside service.  It was emotional, I know that and I do remember visiting her gravesite many times over the years.

After her death, our class grew very close.  We were a small group, and we clung to each other to cope with her death.  She was a popular girl, everyone loved her.  She was involved in several sports and organizations, she was posthumously voted Best All Around in our superlatives for the yearbook.

I knew Laura Jo from the time we were both in preschool at the daycare at our church.  We went to kindergarten together, and basically grew up together.  We weren't very close friends when she died, something I regretted.  We didn't have a lot in common - she was very athletic and I wasn't, we just had completely different personalities I think.

Regardless, I had a really difficult time with her death.  This was the first time I had experienced such a loss, especially of someone my own age.  I was forced to consider my own mortality, and realize that life is short.  When you are 18 as I was then, your whole life is ahead of you and you think that you have all the time in the world.  That was the first time it really hit me that things can change in the blink of an eye.  It really took me awhile to work through the grief and all the feelings I was having about her death.  I started writing to deal with it - first journalling, then poetry, then I started hearing a melody in my head...which turned into a song.

I was playing in a band with some musicians from my church at the time, outside of the youth group I was in.  We played at a few locales around town and rehearsed in a basement.  I shared with them my song and finally in the Spring of 1990 we had the opportunity to share it with the community.  The school had an event, a sort of "battle of the bands" type thing and we performed a set.  I debuted my song at this event....and received my first and only standing ovation.  It was one of the most thrilling moments of my life, to share a song that was so personal to me and that had provided me with such healing.

Graduation was sad for us, we all had to say goodbye to each other after a very difficult year together.  We all went our separate ways, I didn't run into any of my former classmates anywhere until we started reconnecting on Facebook.  There have been a couple of reunions, but I have had to miss them.

What's the takeaway from this post?  I'm not sure I know.  Just that everyone experiences loss and grieves in different ways.  What is the story of your first experience with death?  How did you deal with it?


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Epificus 2009

316 stainless steel, nylon

685 X 525 X 255 cm

The title Epificus translates literally as ‘formed upon'.  Referencing the multitude of subtropical plant species that utilise a host to reach higher in the canopy and support their often fragile structure.

Located on the pedestrian stair tower of the Morrisey Street Bridge, Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Queensland

Fabricated by Rockpress in 6 parts from 4mm 316 stainless steel with a 'bead blasted' finish. Commissioned through Brecknock Consulting by EDAW and the Brisbane City Council under the art buit in proponent of the North/South inner city bypass tunnel.

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Website created by 3E Innovative


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Lincoln Country Club
 Great Course...Great Value...Great People

Hogan's Alley Restaurant at Lincoln Country Club

Hogan's Alley is a full service restaurant located in the clubhouse at Lincoln Country Club, and services LCC members, LCC outings, and the general public. Hogan's Alley is owned and operated by Jim Hogan.

Visit Hogan's Alley website for menus, current specials and events!

Hogan's Alley offers a complete menu for daily lunch and dinner selections as well as a full service liquor bar. Daily Specials featuring popular selections are available as well as weekly entertainment and other events. Hogan's Alley serves all LCC non-member tournaments (see our tournament dinner menu) and is available for private parties, functions, and catering.

Now Booking Holiday Parties call 401-334-3925 or by email.

Hours as of 4/1/2017

Tuesday - Sunday  11:30am to Close

Address: 31 Dexter Rock Road Lincoln, RI 02865
Pro Shop: (401) 334-2200

Hogan's Alley: (401) 334-3925

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

Katy Loves To Throw, Brookside Pottery Tulsa

I remember when Katy was born. She was a tiny twin. Now she is a vivacious 8 year old. She is lucky to get to be tutored in clay every week. Even when the shop is cold, Katy wants to come to pottery class. Yes Katy plays Little House on the Prairie with me and that involves working in the slightly cold pottery shop and throwing our clay water out to the imaginary horses at the end of class. Katy has a vivid imagination and works hard at her clay work and occassionaly gets in little trouble at home for creating clay studios maybe where she should not. She has decided it is worth it.
Katy's energy is high and she does both hand building and throwing. She shows a lot of independence and like to do things her way lots of times. Most people won't let 8 year olds throw but we do it anyway and she loves it. She loves the thrill of the clay spinning in her hands and sometimes we get traditional pots and sometimes unique pieces of sculpture. Anyway, we are having fun and I love teaching her on a one to one basis.

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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

My Sci-Fi YA Project

I started a new book for the last NaNoWriMo and I'm finally talking about it today. Feel free to check it out and ask me any questions about it. I'll share as much as I can.

---- MY BOOKS ---
The Unpurchased: http://bit.ly/1c6inKq
The Beast: http://bit.ly/17B6J90
The Jungle Cure: http://bit.ly/SdeMwJ

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month): http://bit.ly/1a5c9ql
My Name Is Rapunzel by K.C. Hilton: http://amzn.to/1bUYlhq
K.C. Hilton On YouTube: http://bit.ly/19X2PFm

Watch Video On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmvNV9jwcV8
---- MY LINKS ---
Main YouTube Review Channel: http://bit.ly/1ag5dGm
Personal YouTube Vlog Channel: http://bit.ly/14IH76t
Website & Blog: http://lindsaymead.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lindsay_Mead
Google+: http://bit.ly/qmtx7P
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/lU0rlI
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/gtIx9a
Business Inquiries & Review Requests email: exaulta@hotmail.com

Music provided by Royalty Free Music

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use

As mentioned in this video, some of these books were sent to me for review and some were purchased with my own money. I was not paid to review or mention them. Receiving review copies does not influence my review, all opinions in my reviews are my own.
Thank you:

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Then she heard it; the thudding of swift moving, heavy paws. She tapped the reins against Charming’s neck. He spun on his heel as Belle drew one of her revolvers... Find out what happens next in THE BEAST: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z5LOJVA


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Monday, July 25, 2011

Lisette Passport Dress: Almost Finished

In last week's sewing class I finished up everything for my Passport dress except for the hem.  Yesterday, I tried it on and realized it gapes in the front and the back by the neckline.  What the!

Sure, it looks great from far away, but even from there you can see a wrinkle in the front neckline.

Despite making sure my muslin fit like a glove before I cut out my fabric and lining, the back is baggy.
Lisette Passport Dress

 Here's a look at exactly how much the dress is gaping.  It gapes equally in the front and the back, but I didn't think including a shot of the front would be very ladylike.

Lisette Passport Dress

Nick suggested that I try pinching the straps up and that seemed to help matters.  I'm going to leave it as is and take it to sewing this week and see what my instructor suggests.  This dress is taking way longer than I wanted/expected!

  1. Oh, no! And after making a muslin! The good thing is that you can ask for help from your instructor. I’d be curious to know why the gaping happened in the final product but not the muslin. Keep us posted on what your instructor says.

  2. Eek, what a bummer! Here's hoping that you find a nice solution!

  3. Thanks guys! The good news is that I was able to take the shoulders in and it completely fixed the gaping in the front and the back. The semi bad news is that I only had about a half inch left for the hem, so I have to pick up some hem tape, which further delays finishing it. GAH!

I love to receive your comments and try to respond to all via email.


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Wednesday, November 08, 2006

They'll hear about this when they're teenagers...

As we were driving this afternoon I looked in the rearview mirror and saw the boys smiling at each other and holding hands across the middle seat. Now I can tell them when they're 16 and 14 that they really did love each other once.

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Take a Wish Wishes:

A good job, A happy home, A healthy body, A loving family, A peaceful soul, A sharp mind, Enough to share, Good friends,Nice neighbors, Patience and courage, Peace everywhere.

I started Take a Wish in the fall of 2007.  At the time I felt like my life was in turmoil as I had spent the past two years dealing with loss and heartache beginning with the death of loved ones, severe illness of others, an uncomfortable career change and finally my own cancer treatment.  When my own little world stopped spinning out of control I was able to realize that our world at large was greatly tilted off its axis.  I began the project as an effort to address the then current emotional turbulence felt across the United States, affecting all social, cultural and economic levels of society.  At the outset of the project the target audience was what appeared to be the vanishing American middle class and the almost invisible, but ubiquitous, undocumented immigrant population.  Come spring of 2008, as the economic crisis deepened and the tensions between the United States at the helm of the Bush administration and the rest of the world increased, I came to believe that the Take a Wish project can touch anyone, anywhere.  Little did I know that all that trouble was small potatoes compared to what was to come.  The great economic crisis of 2009 seems to have leveled the playing field and widened my target audience as everyone from every strata across the globe is in severe emotional turmoil and in a high state of anxiety.

Tokens made of terra cotta clay hung by chains contain a message in English, with the words  “Take a Wish” on the front and one of eleven simple wishes on the back.  These wishes are universal, spanning social, economic and ethnic boundaries.  They may seem basic or things one can take for granted, but without them, life can be very painful.  The acts of giving and taking the wishes are an effort to encourage interaction between people of all ages, economic situations, and cultures, and are meant to bring an element of surprise and joy to everyday life.  Recipients will be able to choose from eleven different wishes.  Those taking the wishes can turn around and give them away to experience the act of giving good will and effecting positive change in their environment.

It is proposed to execute Take a Wish in a public setting where large numbers of diverse people congregate.There is no limit to how many different wishes the recipient can take and no rules as to what one should do with them.  The tokens are ephemeral. Their material is fragile and they might break if not handled carefully. Therefore, each wish is precious and must be treated with care.

Basically Take a Wish is an effort to illustrate that we all are living in tough times and all in the same boat. We all want the same things and hope for the best for each other and ourselves.  By sharing we can form a human bond that will sustain us during this time of uncertainty and upheaval.  In the act of giving and receiving we can see a ray of hope for a brighter future both individually and collectively.

Take a Wish Sites to date:
2008:  Montclair State University, Art and Design Building, Montclair, NJ
2009:  Uncharted Territories, Harvard Printing Company, Orange, NJ
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Lisa's Fiber Creations

This is me. I've included my family, my art and friends, people and places to visit. You can Join My trading postal art group by clicking on an Art4Mail button where ever you see one. come join the fun, join the journey, I can assure you it will be fun and rewarding. Smile everyday, kiss someone one on the cheek, pass on nice compliments to others and you will reap the rewards of giving joy to others. Hugs to all who read this and May my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Bless you.
Lisa Maria Alff

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

My Butterfly bush comes alive

swollow tail butterfly.

so so pretty

1 comment:

Carla said...

We have a few of those fluttering around now that the hubby has planted some flowery plants. I love butterflies.


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Monday, October 19, 2009

Venture Bros. is like... Damn.

Yes, The Venture Bros. is my favorite show, yes it's always got cool stuff. But sometimes the thing just surprises me with it's overal quality and ingenuity of what we have come to know of as "the cartoon". This past Sunday's season opener was throughly enjoyable and delivers both action and gags galore in true Venture style-- but the Memento-esque editing employed in the overall narrative was downright ingenious. Dare I say sophisticated. I don't know exactly how to describe it, but comic books were involved and it was terribly original.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

New Comics Day

Green Lantern Corps

I had completely forgotten that the "final" issue of Planetary was forthcoming. For a while I was convinced that the previous issue was the last. But it is good to see the whole crew back again, it is a very enjoyable book. Getting this final story so long afterwards is the impetus for going back and re-reading the series, almost as if that was the general plan for followers. At under 30 issues, that's not too much of a task. While Planetary evolved in to an arching saga to determine the identity of Elijah Snow, some of its most memorable stories are the one shots that riff on comics and sci-fi mainstays. Many other books have done this, but there is something about the combination of Ellis, Cassaday, and Depuy that brought it together just so. Hard to believe this strange little trip started over 10 years ago, and a bit more so for me realizing I was there. One of the highlights of being around the WildStorm office was the constant stream of art that came in, and it was always a special treat when Layman would bounce over to his desk with one of his intermittent bouts of glee, "Have you seen the new Planetary cover?"

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Old Edco Haunt is a Crime Scene on CSI Vegas

Man did I trip the F out when watching the latest episode of CSI Las Vegas, "Working Stiffs." Stokes and Sanders roll up on a murder victim's place of former residence, which happened my own former residence: the fabulously retro Valli Tropics of Studio City, CA!

The neighborhood was known for location shoots, I saw more than a few during my time there. But seeing my actual building was quite a surprise. Tho it wasn't my apartment they went into, I think it was the manager's. Still, trippy! Doubly trippy since I also used to Live in Las Vegas, and also can recognize when they're actually on location in my favorite desert town. But trust me when I say as cool and retro as parts of Vegas can be, finding a complex like Valli Tropics is pushing it a bit.

See more of Studio City HERE.

Monday, October 05, 2009

I am selling some comics

And by some, I mean a buttload. Going for ebay again, as there are actual people who not only want such things, but will offer a small pittance for them.

The first round went pretty well, but I've got several more to go and there's lots of good stuff still getting listed. Some hard choices were made, but I've got to thin the herd for my own personal peace of mind (and closet space).

See my current listings.


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Wednesday, July 09, 2008 0 Comments

I bet all bloggers hate rippers/copycats right?!

Some bloggers are just too good at ripping & copying stuff quietly,
but they themselves will make a big fuss when others copy or rip their stuff.

Bloggers state that they hate rippers & copycats yet they themselves are rippers & copycats.
Bloggers rip & act like you never,
but when other blogger ripped your item,
you will go around barking like a mad dog.

What you hate shldnt be what you are doing!
Aint this called "pot calling the kettle black",
& "slapping their own face with their own hands".

This is just so not correct!

EG: One fine day, this blogger rip your stuff & you found out, your first reaction is to either ask that person to take it down, or to credit you right?
The designer will be flaring like a red dragon with flames escaping from your nose & will be cursing & swearing at the ripper. The reason is that what they rip comes from a designer , & these are the designer's ideas & hardwork which should be paid off, but yet it was ripped.

Image now IF,
1) You are the designer
2) You are the ripper

If I was the designer, I will be flaring at the very moment when i saw my design being ripped.
Will be cursing & swearing & request the ripper either to take off or credit me immediately.

If I was the ripper, I will be reluctant. Cos i got what i want! I can twist & turn the facts just like what others do.

i realized that many people are using my strawberry hover effect,
pls credit if you do use!

My advice is: What comes around, goes around!


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Thursday, January 29, 2009

art reject

On the advice of a friend I've decided to save all of my gallery rejection letters. They're kind of great to re-read later.

heidi said...

Aw. If I had a gallery, I'd show your work! ;)

I have a stack of rejection letters from publishers. I can't seem to throw them away. Why is that?

andrea said...

You're the sweetest! Maybe we need to save our rejection letters to remind ourselves things that come easy don't feel as well-earned as those we have fought for?


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December 12, 2009

Singalong with the Cats

Happy Hanukkah! I hope everybody is having a good and not-too-hectic holiday season.

This week Toullie and I made a music video episode we're calling 'A Cat's Song'.

In case you're wondering, Toullie is playing a Lanikai Soprano Ukulele and I'm playing a Hohner Marine Band Deluxe Harmonica. (The Deluxe is a lot like a regular Marine Band but it's easier to bend notes with.)

By the way, Toullie says the website should display more correctly now when using Internet Explorer. Even so, Firefox is still our preferred browser.

- Sgt M.

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Friday, 24 April 2009

My NVQ Work

I think the guy is finally happy with what I've done! However there is a few glitches I have to sort out such as the display of my website. When I did it on Microsoft Word it created sub folders for each page, which it shouldn't have done, so when I've zipped up the folder and sent it across images aren't shown and text is displaying weirdly. So I have to go into the centre to sort out the weirdness next month then hopefully that's the last time the phrase 'National Vocational Qualification' is heard by me. Well, at least for this 'course'. This web design issue, when clarified, will hoefully sign off another two units. I'm excited! I spent the full morning refreshing my Learning Assistant, waiting for the units to turn green (this just means they've been accepted and marked as complete). I was on the edge! But then I got a call through about it and I'm slightly more at ease now, well, for the time being! Anyway, I shall be off.

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May 18, 2011

{Real Parties} Where The Wild Things Are

This fabulous "Where the Wild Things Are" inspired birthday was designed by an extremely creative mumma who also photographed it, Jacki of Jacki Culmer Photography. There are plenty of smart little ideas and I especially love the moss balls.

Photography Jacki Culmer

1 comment:

  1. That is just a gorgeous party. Happy Birthday Ben and well done Jacki you did a wonderful job. We love the movie and the book so much.

Lovely to hear from you!! xx

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Tom Hardy Will Play Venom In 2018 Sony Marvel Release

Tom Hardy always portrays himself as a legit bad ass when he’s on the big screen (and off, to be fair). So why not have him play a bad ass villain such as Venom?
Sony announced that Hardy will be taking on the role of the villain/anti-hero in a movie set to be released next October.
Here’s the write up from
“A film based on the Marvel character Venom, conceived initially as a supervillain who is bent on destroying Spider-Man and then becomes kind of an anti-hero is being brought to the big with Tom Hardy as Venom and/or Eddie Brock with director Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) helming. Sony also announced this morning that the film will be released on Oct. 5, 2018 and production will start this  fall.

 They also note that Venom is from Sony’s Marvel Universe and is not a spinoff but the first movie after Spider-Man from its Marvel Universe of characters. Hardy’s Eddie Brock is able to converse and have a relationship with the symbiote, which culminates to him becoming Venom. In the Marvel Comics universe, Venom has appeared alongside Spider-Man, Iron Man, Deadpool, Hulk, and many other Marvel Comics characters.

 Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach are producing Venom along with Amy Pascal.

Tom Hardy

(Photo source: Variety)

Tom Hardy, who has been a huge fan of Venom — yes, yes that’s him in a selfie he took announcing the role — was the meat and potatoes of Mad Max: Fury Road. The rugged actor was Oscar nominated for his supporting role in The Revenant and next stars in the Christopher Nolan-directed Dunkirk  (which is already getting buzzed about for Oscar).

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Tag Archives: holiday

Happy Holidays from the Live at Lakeview Crew

Photo Credit: Amazing Imagery by Kurtis Rix

In celebration of Independence day, the Live at Lakeview crew will be taking this Thursday off to enjoy the festivities and, of course the fireworks. There will not be a Live at Lakeview concert or a Live AFTER Lakeview party this week.

Don’t worry, we promise to bring all the fun times back the following Thursday, July 11th with Naive Melodies and special guest, Ashley Kepler! Plan on spending every Thursday through the end of August with us at Lakeview Commons!

For this Thursday, we wish you a super fun and SAFE holiday weekend! Our crew will be enjoying our only Thursday off for the season and we look forward to seeing you next week!

Bike or Hike!!

If you came out to enjoy Live at Lakeview last Thursday, then you saw that the FREE Bike Valet was a huge hit! With the help of Tahoe Youth & Family Services, we took in over 150 bikes and, unfortunately we had to turn a lot away from the lack of space!We love that you love our Bike Valet so much!

This week we are going to DOUBLE the size!! You should absolutely take advantage of this FREE service to keep your bike safe and avoid a long hike! Most importantly, riding your bike is the eco-friendly way to go!

This is a FREE service brought to you by Live at Lakeview! Tips are strongly encouraged, as they will benefit the local non-profit or charity operating the Bike Valet. Last week, you helped Tahoe Youth & Family Services raise over $100! This week, your tips will support the Tahoe Dream Foundation!

Show your holiday spirit by deckin’ out your ride!

If you plan to cruise over to the concert on your bike, be sure to show your holiday spirit by decorating your bike in a creative way! If your bike stands out, you could be featured in the next Live at Lakeview Backstage Pass blog entry!!!


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Staff Appointments

About The Diocese > Our Church Schools > Guidance for Schools > Staff Appointments

Our guidance for good staff appointments

The appointment information/guidance has been updated to reflect changes in legislation and has been developed in consultation with Lancashire Local Authority and DBE Services Diocesan Officers.

This updated information/guidance reflects the National Standards for Headteachers and embodies the 3 key principles of headship namely that the work of headteachers should be: learning centered, focussed on leadership and reflect the highest professional standards.  It also reflects the need for the headteacher to lead by example to ensure that the school demonstrates its Christian ethos.
Guidance for Governors of VA and Foundation Schools and Academies
Guidance for Governors of VC Schools
National Society Contracts for VA and Foundation Schools and Academies
A revised, updated and more user-friendly suite of contracts is now available below or on the National Society website – (Education, National Society, Staffing and Governance, National Society School Staff Contracts) for use by Voluntary Aided or Foundation Schools and Academies. These are, of course, only intended for use with newly appointed staff, unless existing staff choose to change their contracts. They can be completed on-line and are available for the following posts:


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Eat healthy at 50 and beyond

A balanced diet is an integral element of a healthy lifestyle for men, women and children alike. But while kids and young adults might be able to get away with an extra cheeseburger here or there, men and women approaching 50 have less leeway.

According to the National Institute on Aging, simply counting calories without regard for the foods being consumed is not enough for men and women 50 and older to maintain their long-term health. Rather, the NIA emphasizes the importance of choosing low-calorie foods that have a lot of the nutrients the body needs.

But counting calories can be an effective and simple way to maintain a healthy weight, provided those calories are coming from nutrient-rich foods. The NIA advises men and women over 50 adhere to the following daily calorie intake recommendations as they attempt to stay healthy into their golden years.

• Not physically active: 1,600 calories

• Somewhat active: 1,800 calories

• Active lifestyle: between 2,000 and 2,200 calories

• Not physically active: 2,000 calories

• Somewhat active: between 2,200 and 2,400 calories

• Active lifestyle: between 2,400 and 2,800 calories

When choosing foods to eat, the NIA recommends eating many different colors and types of vegetables and fruits. Phytochemicals are substances that occur naturally in plants, and there are thousands of these substances offering various benefits. The Produce for Better Health Foundation notes that a varied, colorful diet incorporates lots of different types of phytochemicals, which the PBH says have disease-preventing properties.

The NIA also advises that men and women over 50 make sure at least half the grains in their diets are whole grains. Numerous studies have discovered the various benefits of whole grains, which are loaded with protein, fiber, antioxidants and other nutrients. Whole grains have been shown to reduce the risk for diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.

Another potential hurdle men and women over 50 may encounter is a change in their sense of smell and taste. A person's sense of smell may fade with age, and because smell and taste are so closely related, foods enjoyed for years may no longer tantalize the taste buds. That can be problematic, as many people instinctually add more salt to foods they find bland. According to the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, older adults should consume no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day. That equates to roughly 3⁄4 teaspoon of salt. Older men and women should resist the temptation to use salt to add flavor to foods, instead opting for healthy foods that they can still smell and taste. In addition, men and women should mention any loss of their sense of smell to their physicians, as such a loss may indicate the presence of Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease.

Maintaining a healthy diet after 50 may require some hard work and discipline. But the long-term benefits of a healthy diet make the extra effort well worth it.


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Monday, July 19, 2010

The Right Treatments

I discovered this article and thought it needed to be shared:

Experienced Depression Treatment Within Luxury Recovery Centers

"Depression ruins lives. Depression treatment can save them, but only if it's administered by competent and compassionate professionals. The right depression treatment clinic will help you rediscover life as you used to know it, and yourself as you used to be. All that remains is for you to find an institution that really does have your best interests at heart...(more)'

This piece discusses the right treatments for depression with
focus on your unique needs and create a treatment program that will work for you.

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Friday, 6 January 2012

New header

I am going to leave it as it is for a while to remind me that "standard" size is not always the "right" size.
 Lixie Makes It Blog Header

Thursday, 5 January 2012

On the 10th day of Christmas...

As well as all my other lovely presents I got a bit of money and so decided to invest in a proper sewing box. It arrived yesterday!
Sewing box
I was slightly shocked at how orange the wood is. The picture suggested more of a pale ash coloured veneer but then we all know those warnings about monitor colours. Besides, it has grown on me.
Sewing box
I've tried to be terribly organised and give everything a proper place.
Sewing box
I know it won't last though! I had thought of covering it in stickers - like the sewing machine.
sewing machine with stickers
But somehow it looks a bit too prim and proper to be stickered.

I thought Angry Kitty looked like she needed some cheering up so I stopped off at Thorntons on the way home to find her a friend.
Angry Reindeer meets Angry Kitty
He didn't seem to make her any less angry so I ate him. Let's face it - he had it coming.

The man in the shop asked me what name I wanted on it. "Angry." I replied. He slowly raised one eyebrow. "This is someone's name?" he said. "More of their state of mind" was my reply.
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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Get "Hooked" By Jim Baugh

Hi Everyone,
Welcome my guest today author Jim Baugh. He is here today promoting his super funny book "Hooked" I read this one a few months back. It will have you rolling on the floor laughing. I don't want to give too much away but let me just ask you this: Have you ever went to the wrong funeral? LOL If you don't read any other book this summer you should give this one a try. We all need a good laugh from time to time.

Amazon Best Seller!!!
Available at Amazon

“HOOKED” is based on the true-life story of Virginia outdoor television producer Jim Baugh. Jim Baugh Outdoors TV is one of Americas most diverse and entertaining outdoor programs and has been in syndication since 1989.

“HOOKED” is a hilarious look behind the scene stories of filming a southern outdoor TV show. From the Chesapeake Bay to Key West these on location excursions will make your sides hurt with laughter. A cast of sea faring characters full of color and humor. From the docks in Gloucester Virginia to the Atlantic Ocean and a boat load of jolly swashbuckling Pirates. The stories and characters in “HOOKED” are timeless and span a period of over forty years.

In contrast, “HOOKED” also explores the solemn drama of dealing with divorce, death, and mental illness.

The story also delves into the totally crazy insane world of mid-life on-line computer dating. This is a hilarious look at dating in the computer world after 25 years of solid marriage. These “Dating” stories are contemporary, racy, scary, cheerful, timeless, and based on true events. Anyone who is old enough to date will soon relate to “HOOKED” as the comical reference for dating in the new millennium.

This adult romantic comedy story also relates to the power and testament of faith.

50 Years of an exciting action packed extremely charismatic colorfull life and career, packed into 28 chapters . It is a fast ride for sure.

Bio: Jim Baugh has been producing National and Regional television shows for 25 years. Programs include: Jim Baugh Outdoors TV (220 episodes), Ski East, Classic Fishing. Fishing Virginia and, RV Times.

Jim Baugh has written over 300 columns for numerous magazines during the last 20 years including: Motor boating Magazine, Fishing Smart, The Chesapeake Angler, The Sportsman Magazine and Travel Virginia Magazine.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

I’ve learned to love to write.  I’m also very, very glad that I can do so with my eyes closed.  Because, if I leave them open, all sorts of things make me drift away from the page….

Oh!  Look!  It’s sunny out!

What was I saying?  Oh, yeah.  I have to write with my eyes closed.  One reason I do this is because I’m extremely critical of my own writing.  If I watched the words appear on the page, I’d stop and spend 45 minutes trying to decide if I have the right adjective in there.  If I keep them closed, my fingers seem to find the perfect way to describe the movie in my head.  It works for me, and I’m not going to change any time soon.

Then, there’s the cat.

My cat is 14 years old, going on 15.  Though you’d never know it if you saw her.  She doesn’t even weigh 5lbs.  Athena is very wise, but at this age she’s also very set in her ways.  And she insists on spending x amount of time sleeping on me every day.  Usually while I’m on my computer trying to write.  She and I have worked out something where she can sleep on me (draped across my shoulder and chest) and my hands are still free to type.  It usually works.  But I also have to check over sections to make sure there’s not a random sing-along of “Soft Kitty” that’s been inserted into the dialogue.

My family’s pretty understanding.  If the music’s blaring and my office doors are shut, they let me be unless it’s an emergency.  Though I do have to define emergency to my youngest every now and then.  It’s if someone’s bleeding or on fire, not if they want to know if they can have a snack.

Hmmm…I haven’t had my coffee yet.

The last few months have been incredible for me.  I went from no contract to signed, ebook, and paperback faster than I’d ever dreamed.  And I got to meet Lizzy, who’s amazing in her own right.

Wow…the sun is still out.  For Seattle Suburbia at this time of year, that’s worth celebrating.

Good thing the hubby plans to mow the lawn today.  I’ve got a sequel to work on.

For those interested, I’ll put all the fun stuff about how to find me or my book!  I like talking, if you haven’t noticed.

KateMarie Collins

Twitter:  @DaughterHauk