a thankful thirteen

i have several topics floating in my head but not enough time to research them. so today i give you 13 things i am thankful for.

1. sunshine. birds. squirrels darting about. breezes that allow me to open my windows and cool my home naturally.

2. a great birthday on sunday. celebrating with my dad and my sister alongside b's family.

3. spending time with friends. spiral diner and their tasty vegan meals and cupcakes.

4. keeping up with my physical activity. yoga. bike riding. training with b.

5. b.

6. making new friends.

7. traveling.

8. lots of reading time this month.

9. potable water. hot water. water that comes out of a faucet.

10. eyes that see. nose that smells. skin that senses. tongue that tastes. ears that hear. limbs that move.

11. moments when i feel connected to everyone and everything.

12. simple pleasures. bubble baths. books. hot tea. time with friends and family.

13. love. i am grateful for everyone i love and the love they give me.


to participate in the new T13, go here.

Masquerade and Revelations

by Melissa de la Cruz
Rating: 4.0
Series: Blue Bloods
Format: YA
Reason for Reading: 666 challenge, to continue with the series

schuyler and her best friend (and conduit) are in venice trying to locate her long-exiled grandfather. they believe he is the key to solving the mystery of the silver bloods. back in new york all the other blue bloods are planning the annual four hundred ball. the first book interspersed diary chapters from one of the pilgrims. this book gives us news clippings about a missing girl from the 1870's.

schuyler is still fighting her crush on jack and taking vampire lessons from her grandfather while trying to figure out who is killing the young blue bloods.

i immensely enjoyed this book. i like how it delved more into the history of the blue bloods, explores some of the character relationships in more depth. mimi seems to be more devious and unlikable in this installation. as soon as i finished i picked up the third book, Revelations, since i had it already.

Revelations picks up where Masquerade left off. Schuyler has moved into the Force household since Charles petitioned for adoption (out of spite) and won. Schuyler is miserable living under the same room as her arch-enemy and secret crush.

the love triangle becomes entangled as oliver continues to be schuyler's familiar while she is engaging in clandestine meetings with jack. mimi is madly trying to keep jack away from schuyler.

in rio de janeiro one of the vampire strongholds has been threatened and schuyler's grandfather goes down there to keep an eye on things.

we learn more about bliss and her flashbacks. we also learn more about her odd little sister, jordan. dylan returns.

i like the premise of fallen angels turned vampires as punishment and immortal beings dying and reincarnating. i enjoyed the third installation and found it to be a little more action-packed than the previous two. however, i was confused by some of charles' actions concerning the silver bloods. the revelation at the end of the book would have been startling if i hadn't figured it out near the beginning.

i impatiently await the fourth book.

The Squad: Perfect Cover

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Rating: 3.5
Series: The Squad
Format: YA
Reason for Reading: 999 challenge

toby klein is a high school outcast. she treasures her combat boots, despises cheerleaders and anything sparkly or glittery. her passion is hacking and her specialty is codes. so it's a big surprise when she is tapped to try out for varsity cheerleader. she assumes it's a prank until she sees a code embedded in the note.

as it turns out the varsity cheerleading squad is actually an undercover operation working with the government and connected to the CIA. toby is wanted because of her super hacker skills. there is a secret compound underneath the high school. all the facilities are state of the art. toby is on the team and now they have a mission. infiltrate the evil law firm in town.

is the premis hokey? yes! is it fun and entertaining? yes! the best thing about this book and most likely its saving grace is the narrator toby. she knows how hokey this all sounds and continually gives voice to anything the reader might be thinking as the story goes on. she knows how ridiculous this all seems, teenage cheerleader spies? but that's the point. who would suspect some vapid, bubbly cheerleaders? the cheerleader front is just a cover.

the girls are pretty smart underneath the vapid facade. the story is fast-paced, comedic with a bit of action thrown in. i was initially drawn to this series because i can't resist anything spy related. i was skeptical but it's a really fun, entertaining read.

Twilight Director's Notebook: The Story of How We Made the Movie

by Catherine Hardwicke
Rating: 3.5
Format: movie companion
Reason for Reading: 999 challenge, wanted to learn more about the twilight movie

this book contains a lot of pictures, sketches, diagrams with some text thrown in. it contains hardwicke's notes from when she was directing the movie. she details the stuntwork on some of the major scenes which includes the van crash, the baseball game, and the ballet studio. she details the casting process and provides sketches of the costume concepts for each of the characters. she also talks about the music and sprinkles in some trivia. she shares beautiful photos from location scouting.

i enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. i enjoyed learning more about the process of making the movie. it was like looking at catherine's diary, which it basically was. it felt like a privilege to see some of the blocking notes and shooting scripts. twilight fans should enjoy.

Dead Until Dark

by Charlaine Harris
Rating: 3.0
Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries
Format: vampire fiction
Reason for Reading: 666 challenge, my sister recommended it

sookie stackhouse is a waitress in a small town. she has a disability-she can read minds. then she meets bill who has a disability of his own. he's a vampire.
sookie and bill slowly fall into a romance. but women keep showing up dead in this small town. all eyes are on the new vampire in town. but is it him?

it was a little slow getting into this but the story picked up. i wanted to read this because that show true blood is based on this series. the writing isn't great but the story is intriguing. it's a world where vampires are legally recognized. there are fang-bangers-people who like to hang out with vampires and get bitten. there are vampire bars where vamps, fang-bangers and tourists hang out. there are mind readers and shape-shifters.

the ending had me curious to see what happens next so i will definitely check out the next one. i also liked how sookie's character evolved throughout as the story went on.

today's my birthday! :)

i'm 28!

i get ridiculously excited about birthdays!

that is all. :)

Ten Things I Hate About Me

by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Rating: 4.0
Format: YA
Reason for Reading: tbr list, 999 challenge

jamilah leads a double life. at school everyone calls her jamie and is unaware of her lebanese-muslim background. she dyes her hair blonde and wears blue contact lenses so she will blend in with the other anglo aussies. at home she is jamilah. she attends madrasa (islamic school) and plays the drums in an arabic band. jamilah loves her culture but is afraid to stand up for herself amidst the rising tension against muslims at her school. as jamilah puts it, "I've hidden the fact that I'm of Lebanese-Muslim heritage from everybody at school to avoid people assuming I drive planes into buildings as a hobby."

jamilah has a lot of self-loathing. she can't be her true self at school or open up to her friends, therefore, she only has an unsatisfying, superficial relationship with them. when the obnoxious popular guys make slurs against the other muslim kids, jamilah sits there silently, while crying out in her mind. her widowed father has become super strict and even has a code of curfew rules posted on the fridge. she is too embarrassed to let her friends know that she can't go out after sunset, can't go anywhere if boys will be coming along and most certainly can't go to the sophomore formal. instead she has a litany of excuses.

all of this lying and hiding has taken a toll on jamilah until she makes an internet friend with whom she can be completely honest with. she finds liberation in being her whole self but can't quite seem to translate this honesty to her life outside the internet. however, her two worlds are intent on colliding when the arabic band she drums with is invited to play at her formal.

i appreciated this book for its muslim perspective. i like that it makes you look past the stereotype and see this culture for what it is, another culture, a human culture. it made me sad that jamilah felt that she would be persecuted if people knew she was muslim. it made me sad that there may be kids out there who feel the way jamilah does. it made me think of WWII and how it was to be japanese after the bombing of pearl harbor. it makes me sad that the malevolent actions of one group of people suddenly incites fear and hatred in people against anyone of the same ethnicity or culture as the group of offenders.

i did find jamilah's extreme self-loathing hard to take at times. and i really wanted her to be brave and stand up for herself. i didn't like when she would get sucked into the lure of hanging out with the popular kids when they were the worst offenders. however, i was pleased at the way the story turned out.

splintering

by eireann corrigan
Rating: 4.0
Format: YA, poetry
Reason for Reading: i like this author, 999 challenge

this is a story told in free verse alternately from the viewpoints of paulie and jeremy, sister and brother.

one night they go with their mother and father to visit their older sister, mimi. while there, a man breaks into the house and attacks them. the two sisters along with their mother go upstairs and lock themselves in a bedroom while their father fights off the man. jeremy hides in the basement. the man gets past their father and busts through the door and paulie tries to fight him off. their father has fallen down from a heart attack.

the family isn't the same after that. each member tries to deal with the trauma in their own way but will it tear them apart or ultimately bring them together?

i really love the way eireann corrigan writes in poetry form. she has a way with words that reveal nuances of the story that may not be as effective in prose form. it's a fast, intense, lyrical read.

Red is for Remembrance

by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Rating: 4.0
Series: Blue is for Nightmares
Format: YA
Reason for Reading: to finish the series, 999 challenge, 666 challenge

after taking a semester off, stacey starts university. however, she is off to a dismal start. she is still grieving jacob's disappearance (she refuses to think of him dead since they never found a body) and spends her first week in bed conked out on tranquilizers. she nearly flunks out of college her first week since she missed all her classes.

after a meeting with the dean about his daughter and a talk with amber, stacey gets herself together. the dean's daughter has nightmares too. as a result she has become withdrawn, agitated, frightened and has taken to hurting herself. she has seen numerous therapists but no one can seem to help her. the dean knows stacey has nightmares too and is hoping that she can help his daughter.

now it's a race against time helping portia decipher her dreams and save the boy in question before another person winds up dead.

this was a satisfying conclusion to the series. i liked how this book was told from two different perspectives and answers the questions raised at the end of the last book. also it is just as fast-paced and action-packed as the preceding three.

My Neck of the Woods: Gniser Farms, Arlington, TX

pick your own strawberries at gniser farms. this is a lovely little farm off bowen street in arlington. last year b and i went for the first time and we had a blast. i love the way fresh produce looks growing in its natural habitat and seeing the rows of ripe, succulent strawberries was no different. they give you a box to gather your strawberries in and let you roam on your own.

however, strawberries aren't the only things growing on this farm. they grow lettuce, leeks, watermelons and beans too. you can buy whatever is in season.

i learned while visiting them last year that they supply strawberries to central market. now that explains why their strawberries taste so good!

3010 Bowen Road, Arlington, TX. Monday-Friday, 1-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9-5 p.m.; and Sunday 10-5 p.m.

this is for shelly's saturday meme. this is what she has to say about it:

This is one of a series of posts I am doing on Saturdays called “My Neck Of The Woods.” Each Saturday, I will post about something in my area, or in my state, that a tourist passing through here might not know to find. I invite y’all to join me and tell about your neck of the woods. Read the page about it, and if you’d like to post, follow the directions and I’ll link you here (I’m not fast with the links!). Soon, nobody will need those guide books, because they will have us!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

by Mary E Pearson
Rating: 5.0
Format: YA
Reason for Reading: 999 challenge

jenna fox has been in a coma for over a year. she has only been awake for two weeks. she doesn't remember who she was, who her parents are or what her life was like. she doesn't remember time and the meaning of simple words are lost on her. she doesn't remember if she had any friends.

she used to live in boston but now lives in california with her mother and grandmother. however, her father still lives in boston. she isn't allowed to go outside. everyone seems to be acting strange around her. she is given a box of home videos to watch. it seems her parents recorded her every move. she was their wonder child.

jenna wants to return to school. her mother freaks out and says no. a few days later her mother relents and enrolls in her an alternative school. she only has a handful of classmates and there is something unusual about each of them.

i don't want to say too much. the first half of the book was a mystery. i wanted to know what happened to jenna. all they would say was she was in an accident but they wouldn't give details and jenna couldn't remember. everyone was acting so strangely you knew, as the reader, there was definitely something going on. jenna knew something was going on. i was stunned when i found out why jenna can't remember herself or her life. the details of the accident don't come until later.

i loved how intricate and complex this story was. i also liked how the year was never mentioned but details such as the second woman president being elected, a twelfth planet named to the solar system and the last wild polar bear dying clue you in that this is set in the far distant future. not to mention the technological advances.

this story explores the questions of what would you do for your child, how far would you go for love, and should we put restrictions on our technology and what it can do for us.

when i finished this book i felt like i had just read a margaret atwood book. this is one of the best books i have read in a long while.

Blue Bloods

by Melissa de la Cruz
Rating: 4.0
Series: Blue Bloods
Format: YA
Reason for Reading: tbr pile, 999 challenge, 666 challenge

schuyler van allen is an outsider at her fancy new york private school. her only friend is oliver. she lives with her reclusive grandmother. her father is dead and her mom has been in a coma for several years.

when she turns fifteen a map of blue veins show up on her arm. she begins to crave raw meat.

a popular girl at school is murdered. the most popular boy at school suddenly starts paying schuyler attention. he even saves her from being attacked by the same person who killed aggie.

what schuyler doesn't know but will soon learn is that she comes from a long line of vampires that came over on the mayflower. and someone out there is hunting them.

this book is well-written and fast-paced. i really enjoyed the historical references. diary chapters from one of the pilgrims are interspersed in the narrative. it is another vampire story that takes reinterprets vampire lore. it is more complex in plot then i let on. by the end of the book i was very intrigued with where the series is going.

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

by Barry Lyga
Rating: 3.5
Format: YA
Reason for Reading: tbr pile, 999 challenge

Donnie is a loner and an outsider at school. he is a self-described "computer geek, comic geek and study geek." he's smart and does really well in school but that's about the only thing going for him at the moment. donnie lives a miserable existence wherein he is beat up almost on a daily basis, he has zero relationship with his divorced parents. his dad has stopped visiting and his pregnant mom doesn't seem to have time nor patience for donnie. his stepdad or "stepfascist" as donnie silently calls him, acts like he doesn't exist. the only friend donnie has in school is cal, a comic book fan but also a jock. in donnie's mind, the jocks come first and he is an afterthought. and cal is friends with the same jocks who beat donnie up every day.

the only thing that keeps donnie going every day is schemata, the comic book he is working on and the bullet he carries around in his pocket like a security blanket. one day kyra, a goth girl and fellow comic fan, emails him asking him why he puts up with the beatings. thereafter they form a tentative, sometimes hostile, friendship. donnie confides in kyra about his comic book and how he is preparing to take it to the big convention and show it to his favorite comic author.

donnie's thoughts are sometimes disturbing. when someone wrongs him, he adds that person to The List. he fantasizes often about bringing a gun to school and shooting everyone, namely the people on his List. he carries a bullet in his pocket for comfort. but the book doesn't end tragically or focus on mass violence. it is a probing look at how adolescents cope with bullying, feelings of helplessness, rage, and figuring out where they fit in the world.

this is an intense, well-written read. this one really stayed with me after i turned the last page.

The Foretelling

by Alice Hoffman
Rating: 4.5
Format: YA
Reason for Reading: i love alice hoffman, 999 challenge

rain is the next in line to become queen of the amazons. however, she is an outsider, on the fringe of her all-female society. she was born of rape, shunned by her mother, cared for by the priestesses. rain throws herself in becoming the best warrior she can be. yet she is haunted by the prophecy of the black horse and what it means for her people.

this is a slender volume of reading, to be quickly devoured in one sitting. i haven't read an alice hoffman book i didn't like. her writing is so lyrical, so evocative. her storytelling so crafty, intriguing, intricate.

i loved reading about rain's people. a matriarchal society with no men. constantly in battle, fighting for their land and their way of life. after the battles are won they hold festivals and the women sleep with the men they have taken prisoner in order to get pregnant. the men are then sent back to wherever they came from. male babies are killed. girl babies are fed mare's milk and grow up to be warriors. and so it continues.

the setting may be foreign but rain's experience is not. she feels like an outsider, trying to find her place in the world, where she fits. full of self-doubt at times but sometimes has a small notion of her potential. she is tested by life's trials and eventually discovers her own well of inner strength.

The Midnighters: The Secret Hour

by Scott Westerfeld
Rating: 4.0
Series: The Midnighters
Format: YA
Reason for Reading: Scott Westerfeld mini-challenge, 666 challenge

jessica day has just moved to bixby, oklahoma from chicago. she wakes up one night at midnight to find the world has turned blue, everyone and everything frozen, even the rain. at first she experiences joy and awe but is suddenly plunged into terror after she is led by an innocent looking cat into a trap where hundreds of snake-like slithers lie in wait. she is saved at the last minute by a group of outsiders from school.

jessica soon learns that in bixby, there is a secret 25th hour to the day, the blue time. during this time everyone and everything is frozen and the darklings roam. but those born at midnight can navigate the blue hour and they also have a special power to fight against the darklings. the darklings have targeted jessica and it is up to her and the other midnighters to find out why the darklings are intent on having jessica dead. the key lies in discovering what jessica's midnighter power is.

westerfeld does it again. he creates such a vivid, rich world full of danger and horror while still maintaining a sense of reality. and he brings it home by focusing on the angst everyone experiences as an adolescent navigating the world while trying to figure out who you are and where you fit. i love the different personalities of each character and the mysteries unfolding. i look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

end of hour 24 and wrap up meme

Title of book(s) read since last update: gossip girl: nothing can keep us together
Number of books read since you started: 6
Pages read since last update: 15
Running total of pages read since you started: 1,364
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: lost track
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 12 hr 30 min
Mini-challenges completed: 12
Other participants you’ve visited: a lot
Prize you’ve won: amazon gift card at staci's
wrap-up meme

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? the last two. i fell asleep at some point during the 22nd and 23rd hour. then i just stared at my book but wasn't really comprehending anything so i didn't get too much accomplished these past couple of hours. but the end is nearing and i am still up despite the little nap. ;).
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? no, it was awesome!
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? i think everything worked well. the cheerleaders are awesome. all the co-hosts are awesome.
5. How many books did you read? i finished 6 books and read from 2 different others that didn't get finished.
6. What were the names of the books you read?

Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Blood Roses by Francesca Lia Block

splintering by eireann corrigan

Red is for Remembrance by Laurie Faria Stolarz

chibi-vampire vol 8 by Yuna Kagesaki

chibi-vampire vol 9 by Yuna Kagesaki

the two books i read from but didn't finish were The Squad: Perfect Cover by

Jennifer Lynn Barnes and gossip girl: nothing can keep us together by cecily von

ziegesar.

7. Which book did you enjoy most? i liked all the books i read but i would have to say Red is for Remembrance and Ten Things I Hate About Me. i can't pick just one!
8. Which did you enjoy least? i don't have a least.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? wasn't a cheerleader, but i did spend some time trying to visit readers. no advice. the cheerleaders were awesome.
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? oh, i will definitely do this again. i think it would be fun to be a reader again but perhaps also a cheerleader and perhaps host a mini-challenge. whatever i end up doing, i just know i would like to be more involved. :)

end of hour 21

Title of book(s) read since last update: gossip girl: nothing can keep us together
Number of books read since you started: 6 finished, 2 others started
Pages read since last update: 30
Running total of pages read since you started: 1,349
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 30 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 12 hr
Mini-challenges completed: 11
Other participants you’ve visited: undetermined number
Prize you’ve won: 0

limerick mini-challenge

lei-lei is past the point of loopy
she can't help that her eyes are so droopy
so give me a stick
that should do the trick
and keep her eyelids from acting poopy

end of hour 20

Title of book(s) read since last update: the squad: perfect cover
Number of books read since you started: 6
Pages read since last update: 34
Running total of pages read since you started: 1319
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 10 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 11 hr 30 min
Mini-challenges completed: 10
Other participants you’ve visited: not tracking this anymore
Prize you’ve won: 0

eva's honoring dewey mini-challenge

As most of you know, Dewey of The Hidden Side of the Leaf began the read-a-thons. She passed away quite suddenly (at least suddenly to the book blogging community) last November, which is why the read-a-thon has been renamed in her honour.

So sometime in the next three hours, either share a favourite story/memory of Dewey if you knew her OR go to her blog and find a post that appeals to you (trust me, it won’t take long!). Then on your own blog (or in the comments here if you don’t have a blog), talk about why you chose it.

i didn't know dewey. i certainly knew of her. i checked out her blog from time to time. but i found her blog intimidating. she read so much and had such awesome reviews i found it to be a bit overwhelming. but i loved the events she kicked off. i participated in the readathon for the first time in october 2008 and i had a blast. after that i started to check out her blog more often. and was shortly thereafter stunned by the news of her death. and then i felt bad that i had been too intimidated to read her blog earlier. from what little i knew of her, it was evident that she had a giant heart and really cared about people and had an amazing passion for books. i am ever grateful for the bloggers who carry on the traditions she started, but most notably for carrying on the readathon. i look forward to it so much even though this is only my second time.

dewey was amazing just by creating so many awesome book events, but she was also extremely organized about it too. i can never find a suggestion for the survey question about making it better because it's so well thought out and amazing already. not only did she organize the readathon, co-host it, and read herself, but she also found time to comment on everyone else's blog.

i didn't know her personally, but i miss her presence in blogland.

my dewey comments-so bright and encouraging always.

I did the same thing the first time! I had the most giant stack of books so I'd have lots of selections depending on my mood.

I suggest lots of light stuff (funny books like Evanovich or something, kid books, etc.) for when you're all sleepy and giddy. :)

You're going to surpasss a thousand pages! Wow!

end of hour 19

Title of book(s) read since last update: blood roses
Number of books read since you started: 6
Pages read since last update: 42
Running total of pages read since you started: 1285
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 20 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 40 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 11 hr
Mini-challenges completed: 9
Other participants you’ve visited: not keeping track anymore
Prize you’ve won: 0

i finished my sixth book this last hour. only took me 20 minutes so i spent the rest of the time visiting other readers. i am feeling quite woozy now but just realized there are only four hours left. no need to stop now!
carry on.

end of hour 18

Title of book(s) read since last update: blood roses
Number of books read since you started: 5
Pages read since last update: 87
Running total of pages read since you started: 1243
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 30 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 10 hr 40 min
Mini-challenges completed: 9
Other participants you’ve visited: lost count again
Prize you’ve won: 0

jessica's mini-challenge

Here’s the challenge:

1. Go back to your blog, and tell us about the books you’re rereading during the mini-challenge. Maybe post a picture of each book and describe why you love it enough to reread it.

OR

2. Go back to your blog, and give us a list of your top favorite rereads of all time. You know, those books that you can go to time and time again for comfort and escape. Again, pictures are good. :)

i don't have any re-reads in my pile for the readathon. books i can re-read again are the anne rice vampire novels, just as long as we're together by judy blume, anything by francesca lia block and alice hoffman. and le petit prince.

i am feeling really tired now. too tired to capitalize or italicize book titles.
off to eat my dessert now. then finish my book.

end of hour 17

Title of book(s) read since last update: ten things i hate about me. FINISHED! :)
Number of books read since you started: 5 yay, i made my goal!!
Pages read since last update: 45
Running total of pages read since you started: 1,156
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 30
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 10 hr and 10 min
Mini-challenges completed: 8
Other participants you’ve visited: i am starting my count over. this past hour i visited 10.
Prizes won: 0

i did a quick update at the beginning of the hour then went right to reading. finished my book by 11:30 and spent the rest of the time cheerleading. i have hit my reading goal for the readathon. but that doesn't mean i am going to stop reading!
i may try to post some reviews but my main goal now is to visit everyone's blog at least once.

sarah's mini-challenge

you know you're in a readathon:

when each time your fiance asks your opinion on something you respond-i'm not thinking today. i'm reading.

when you take pictures of stacks of books and your snacks to spice up your posts.

when you look in your sidebar and your post count for the month has spiked dramatically because of all the hourly updates.

when you are glued to your computer and the clock, keeping rabid track of the time, have five different windows open so you check for the hourly updates on the main page, post your own hourly updates, participate in challenges, cheerlead other readers on while simultaneously reading, facebooking, twittering AND keeping track of page counts, minutes read, and minutes spent on the computer on a little notepad.

when you wait several hours to refill your water glass or ingest food because you are trying to cram more pages into the minutes.

when you stop making sense.

end of hour 16

Title of book(s) read since last update: ten things i hate about me
Number of books read since you started: 4
Pages read since last update: 50
Running total of pages read since you started: 1, 111
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 30 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 9 hr 40 min
Mini-challenges completed: 7
Other participants you’ve visited: lost count ages ago
Prize you’ve won: none yet but there are still a few hours to go. ;)

i think i will be able to finish my book this hour. i want to play the color game but i really want to finish my book already. and do the creativity challenge too but i may not have time for that. we shall see. i'm off. read now, mini-challenges later.

end of hour 15

Title of book(s) read since last update: ten things i hate about me
Number of books read since you started: 4
Pages read since last update: 48
Running total of pages read since you started: 1,061
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 35 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 10 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 9 hr 10 min
Mini-challenges completed: 7
Other participants you’ve visited: lost count
Prize you’ve won: none yet ;)

i just did the stop the reading madness mini-challenge. i chose the accent game and scored 30 points. apparently i did "okay but found this to be difficult." well, they're not kidding, i did find it difficult as the game wore on. the first few ones i nailed dead on but after a while the accents started to sound the same. i may go back and play the color game later. thanks for the fun challenge, erin!

at the beginning of the hour i made myself a yummy snack of cheese, apple slices, crackers and more (cream) cheese with raspberry chipotle sauce. it slowed my reading down a bit but my belly thanks me. :)

end of hour 14

Title of book(s) read since last update: ten things i hate about me
Number of books read since you started: 4
Pages read since last update: 63
Running total of pages read since you started: 1,013
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 30 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 8 hr 30 min
Mini-challenges completed: 6
Other participants you’ve visited: lost count
Prize you’ve won: 0

am liking my book more and more and the pages are flying by as a result. i spent the first 30 min visiting other readers after i updated. i am off to make a snack of cheese and crackers then will get back to my book. when i finish, i would like to participate in the creativity mini-challenge.
happy reading everyone!

end of hour 13

Title of book(s) read since last update: ten things i hate about me
Number of books read since you started: 4
Pages read since last update: 41
Running total of pages read since you started: 950
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 30 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 8 hr
Mini-challenges completed: 6
Other participants you’ve visited: i've lost count
Prize you’ve won: 0

i seem to be spending half the hour cheerleading and half reading. i am almost at my goal of five books (that's how many i read last time). i think i may even match my page count. once i get to five books i want to focus on getting to all the readers i haven't commented on yet. and put up some reviews of the books i've read today; otherwise, i will be woefully behind. and continue reading of course. :)

a nod to nonfiction mini-challenge

What is you favorite non-fiction book and why?

the only one that comes to mind is eat, pray, love by elizabeth gilbert.

What genre(s) do you enjoy and are there particular writers that you would recommend to others?

i love to read biographies and memoirs. ever since i was a kid i have been hooked on stories of people's lives. and i loved those movies that were based on a true story.

If you don't read non-fiction, why not?

i DO read nonfiction, so this question doesn't apply. ;)

end of hour 12

Title of book(s) read since last update: ten things i hate about me
Number of books read since you started: 4
Pages read since last update: 30
Running total of pages read since you started: 909
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 30 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 7 hr 30 min
Mini-challenges completed: 5
Other participants you’ve visited: 20
Prize you’ve won: 0

the first part of the hour i decided to check out other readers' blogs and play cheerleader for a bit. then at 6:30 i got back to my book. i decided to read in legs-up-the-wall pose for a while because my legs were feeling achy. it was quite comfortable and i felt better afterwards. i am enjoying this book immensely.

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now?

Ten Things I Hate About You by Randa Abdel-Fattah

2. How many books have you read so far?

4

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

i have several books i look forward to choosing from. i have two short story collections, one by francesca lia block and another by laurie faria stolarz. i am also looking forward to checking out the squad series about a high school spy. and i have a charles de lint book i am eager to check out. and two more westerfeld novels.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

no. i just made sure not to plan anything for today.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

i haven't really had any. just the minor distractions of peeing and eating.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

how quickly the time passes!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

not really. i think it is going great!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

make sure i have a wide array of snacks! reading other readers blog about their yummy snacks and apple juice are making me wish for those things. i do have some good leftovers to make me feel good when i read about vegan tacos but valentina's apple juice consumption really has me craving juice! ;)

9. Are you getting tired yet?

not really. i have random moments of tiredness but they don't last long.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

i don't have any tips but i would love to hear some. :)

end of hour 11

Title of book(s) read since last update: ten things i hate about me
Number of books read since you started: 4
Pages read since last update: 47
Running total of pages read since you started: 879
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 50 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 10 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 7 hr 0 min
Mini-challenges completed: 4
Other participants you’ve visited: 20
Prize you’ve won: 0

i finished splintering. i started a new book-Ten Things I Hate About You. i have been wanting to read this since i read becky's review a few months back. it's always checked out but i got lucky the last time i went to the library. it was actually there. i don't reserve books. i guess i kind of like hunting them down, the game of chance. i am 20 pages into it. the writing seems kind of simple but i know there is a good story waiting to unfold. on a different note, b made me a strawberry banana honey smoothie and it was so tasty!

end of hour 10

Title of book(s) read since last update: splintered
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 57
Running total of pages read since you started: 832
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 50 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 12 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 6 hr 10 min
Mini-challenges completed: 4
Other participants you’ve visited: 15
Prize you’ve won: 0

i should have splintered finished by the end of this next hour. not too much left of it now. i heated up some roasted red pepper black bean soup to eat while reading as i was hungry again. have only had the toast today. hard to remember to eat when there is so much reading to do. ;)

end of hour 9

Title of book(s) read since last update: Splintered
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 66
Running total of pages read since you started: 775
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 40 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 17 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 5 hr 20 min
Mini-challenges completed: 4
Other participants you’ve visited: still 13
Prize you’ve won: 0

end of hour 8

Title of book(s) read since last update: Splintered
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 34
Running total of pages read since you started: 709
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 30 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 30 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 4 hr 40 min
Mini-challenges completed: 4
Other participants you’ve visited: 13
Prize you’ve won: 0

i just started reading splintered by eireann corrigan. it's a story told all in free verse. i am really enjoying it so far. this will be my third book to read by this author.

end of hour 7

Title of book(s) read since last update: /
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 0
Running total of pages read since you started: 675
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 0
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 20 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 4 hr 10 min
Mini-challenges completed: 3
Other participants you’ve visited: 11
Prize you’ve won: 0

after i finished Red is for Remembrance and posted my hour 6 post, hour 7 was a third way done. i got dressed, went for a walk, edited my post with pictures for the walking challenge and then made a snack of toast with nutella. by that time, hour 8 had begun. i just completed the library mini-challenge and have included my answers in this post. now i am off to start a new book.

love your library mini-challenge

What is the name of your local library? What city is it located in?

there are several libraries in fort worth. i go to the one in downtown and on hulen. hulen street is the closest to me. the downtown one is called fort worth central library. i don't the name of the one on hulen. fort worth blank library.
i also like to go to the bedford public library, which is about 20-25 minutes away. i used to go to the bedford library every couple of weeks when i worked in bedford. i still go there about once a month i think they have the best YA selection. the library in downtown is enormous but their YA section is small and pitiful in terms of books although there is a sectioned off room with computers and couches and tables and chairs for teens to hang out.

How often do you go to the library? If you're a regular, do the staff know you?

i go irregularly. sometimes i go alot and sometimes i don't go at all. i'll go a few times a week (like the past two weeks) or every few weeks. depends on my mood and how much reading time i have, i suppose.

Do you browse while you're there or just pick up items you have placed on reserve?

i hardly ever reserve items. i go to the library with a few books in mind and then i just roam around piling the books in my bag based on whatever catches my eye.

What is your favorite thing about your local library?

i don't really have a favorite thing about my library in particular. i don't go to any of the events or hang out. i just go and get books. i like the bedford library best due to their extensive YA selection. but i just love libraries in general. i can check out a lot of books, take them back after i've read them and it doesn't cost a thing. ;)

end of hour six

Title of book(s) read since last update: Red is for Remembrance
Number of books read since you started: 3
Pages read since last update: 143
Running total of pages read since you started: 675
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 60 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 0
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 4 hr 10 min
Mini-challenges completed: 2
Other participants you’ve visited: 10 total
Prize you’ve won: 0

i finished Red is for Remembrance. my eyes just gobbled this one up. i will review it later but for now i think i am going to take up this hour's challenge and go for a walk. plus i need to eat something. i haven't eaten a thing since i woke up.
i can't believe we are already into the seventh hour. it sure is going by fast!

EDITED: i am back from my walk. here are the pictures i took for the challenge.
the sky is gray and cloudy with a brisk, cool wind. i love trees so i snapped one i saw. i also snapped the water tower because i have never noticed that it is totally visible from my street. the street is shaped like almost like a U and we are at the bend. i never go down the other side of the street. but i did today and there it is, the water tower, peering over the tops of the houses.

end of hour 5

Title of book(s) read since last update: Red is for Remembrance
Number of books read since you started: 2
Pages read since last update: 77
Running total of pages read since you started: 499 pages
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 40 min
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 25 min
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 3 hr 10 min
Mini-challenges completed: 2
Other participants you’ve visited: 3 for a total of 10
Prizes you’ve won: 0

hour 4

Title of book(s) read since last update: Red is for Remembrance
Number of books read since you started: 2
Pages read since last update: 50
Running total of pages read since you started: 422
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 35 minutes
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 25 minutes
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 2 hr 35 min
Mini-challenges completed: 2, intro meme and youtube funny video challenge
Other participants you’ve visited: 2
Prize you’ve won: 0

sarah is hosting the youtube mini-challenge. below is my entry i posted on her site. this video makes me laugh every time.

hours 1-3

Title of book(s) read since last update: chibi-vampire vols 8 and 9, Red is for Remembrance (just started)
Number of books read since you started: 2
Pages read since last update: 372
Running total of pages read since you started: 372
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 2 hours
Amount of time spent on computer since last update: 1 hour
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!) 2 hours
Mini-challenges completed: 1
Opther articipants you’ve visited: 7
Prize you’ve won: 0

i have been spending the first 20 minutes of each hour checking back at the readathon's main page and checking out other bloggers. it is important to me to stay connected throughout the day. that is one of my favorite parts of the readathon-that so many people are doing it together. i think it's really cool that there are some readers out there with reading buddies to spend the day with. i tried to get b to read with me today but he was like no way! i can't read for 24 hours. he does enjoy reading but he's not an uber-reader like me. ;) still, perhaps i can persuade him to join me for an hour or so. . .

happy reading to everyone!

chibi-vampire 8 and 9

by Yuna Kagesaki
Rating: 3.5
Series: chibi-vampire
Format: manga
Reason for Reading: 999 challenge, manga challenge, to continue with the series

in book 8, it's almost valentine's day. karin and kenta are getting along fine with only a little bit of awkwardness. since karin bit kenta, he has been having weird dreams about karin. there is a new girl in town with secrets of her own. she just got a job at julian's, the place karin and kenta work after school. karin and kenta still can't seem to talk to each other. karin wonders if kenta likes the new girl but everything is set straight on the ferris wheel.

in book 9, karin and kenta have finally decided to date like normal high-schoolers. the new girl, yuriya, is still skulking around and it turns out she is looking for vampires. karin's family still worries about her and kenta but ultimately agree having him around is better because he is always helping karin out of awkward situations. anju confronts yuriya with her bats but yuriya escapes. the marker family is onto yuriya but they are all in for a big surprise once they finally do capture her.

i don't want to say too much but the series is progressing along with some very delicious moments. it's a cute series with a good mix of romance, comedy, hi-jinks and mystery.

intro meme

it's that time again! today is the 24 hr readathon and i'm a reader. i am ridiculously excited about this as i had such a blast last time. :)

Where are you reading from today?

i will be reading from home. i don't plan on going anywhere unless a realtor calls to show the house. then i'll have to go to *$ or something.

3 facts about me …

-i love love love reading.

-i can be very crazy and silly at times.

-i become very grumpy when i get too hungry.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

i don't know! i checked out several books at the library throughout the week. they are just waiting for me to get to them but i haven't actually counted them. i would say i have a selection of 20 or so to choose from. not that i think i will them all of course. i just like to have a good selection to choose from. :)

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

my only goal is to read as much as last time. i know it was five books and 1000+ pages. i will have to go back and check the exact count. last time another goal was to stay up the entire time. no naps or sleep or anything and i succeeded. i think i just wanted to see if i could do it. today though, i am not going to set that for a goal. i intend to stay up the whole time but i give myself permission to take a nap if need be. :)

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time?

well, i wouldn't consider myself a veteran, per se, as this is only my second time. but i will say just have fun with it!

my neck of the words: fort worth, tx-main street arts festival

one of fort worth's staples is the main street arts festival in downtown every year. i know spring is officially here when the arts festival arrives. it is held for four days every april. there are tons of artists there to display and sell their wares. painters, photographers, sculptors, mixed media, leather and beading just to name a few. there are over 200 juried artists featured. there are also over 100 bands playing throughout the four days. they range from local to national acts, alternative to jazz. to eat-turkey legs, roasted corn, funnel cakes, caramel apples. to drink-fresh squeezed lemonade, soda, beer and margaritas. and it doesn't hurt that it's ranked #3 in the country out of over 1000 arts festivals. ;)







i went thursday afternoon with b and my dad. we had an awesome time. if you live here, go already! if you don't but find yourself in north texas in april, come check it out. it's always worth it. plus it's free. :)

this is part of shelly's my neck of the woods meme. she says:

As bloggers, we are in a unique position to get our opinions out on the internet for all the world to see. I think it would be fantastic to have a whole list of resources from around the country (or for that matter, the world!). If we post, we could add links to other bloggers who are posting about their own home towns. Soon, nobody will need those guide books, because they will have us!

1. Join me in the 24hr read-a-thon.

2. Put a little sunshine in your day!

3. Happiness is bliss.

4. dazed and confused.

5. I'm waiting for a lot of things.

6. dessert is hard to resist.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending time with friends, tomorrow my plans include participating in dewey's 24hr read-a-thon and Sunday, I want to sleep!

Silver is for Secrets

by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Rating: 4.0
Series: Blue is for Nightmares
Format: YA
Reason for Reading: to continue the series, 999 challenge, 666 challenge

stacey and her friends have graduated and are spending the summer at the beach together before they go off to college. but of course, stacey starts having dreams again. this time they are of someone she doesn't know. clara, a teenage girl staying at one of the cottages on the beach. stacey tries to befriend clara and warn her. weird things start happening. it would appear that clara has a stalker. but some things don't add up.

stacey's boyfriend jacob is having nightmares again too. but he won't tell stacey who or what they are about. too many secrets abound and tragedy is waiting to happen.

i thought this installment was even more intense than the prior two, if that's even possible. i really didn't see the end coming and felt quite shocked. i have been feeling very shocked lately by the books i read, so it could just be i'm not that savvy or i am just reading some very crafty stories. i'll say it's the latter. :)
this book really ties in with the other two, is fast-paced and action-packed as i would expect from this series. it really builds to the last and fourth book, which i was disappointed to not already have in my hands.

13 appreciated readers

i have just been made aware that today is blog reader appreciation day. so for my thursday thirteen i would like to thank the following for reading and commenting on my little blog.

1. callista-she brought reader appreciation to my attention by leaving me a comment and linking me in an appreciation post. callista randomly comments on some of my book reviews. i am always surprised and thankful when someone outside of my few regular commenters leaves me a comment. it reminds me that perhaps more people than i am aware of are aware of my blog.

2. foi and 3. izzybella-you were my first commenters and without you two i wouldn't have known about blogs or even have one today. love you both!!!

4. rhinoa-she was one of my first commenters outside of my real-life friends (see 2 and 3). i am honored to now call her a friend outside of the blog.

5. buttercup-after i started reading her she came over and checked out my little blog. i suppose she liked what she read because she continued to read and leave comments here and there.

6. gypsygrrl-we found each other through foi. she reads me and leaves the occasional comment. i am very grateful that this busy nursing student takes time out of her busy day to come over and visit. :)

7. mossymoss-she is another person who reads and occasionally leaves a comment. i am always surprised and grateful when someone i read regularly comes back and visits me too.

8. kelly-another of my early day commenters. :)

9. janet-i always feel special when janet comments because she is a busy woman, has a huge readership and i am always surprised that she takes time to visit me too. she comments on almost every TT and friday fill-in when i participate. and sometimes she comments on posts outside of these memes and i am always blown away when she does.

10. amethyst-i know she doesn't get online often and i always appreciate when she does.

11. mo and 12. thorne-they are both new friends to this little blog o' mine. they leave me comments and give me lots of love. :)

13. all the thirteeners-thank you to every one of you who visits me each thursday. i delight in your comments.

when i first started blogging, i didn't expect anyone to read me outside of foi and izzy. each time someone new has come for a visit, even if it was only once, i felt awe and amazement that my little piece of the web had any value or interest to someone outside of my friends. thanks again to everyone who reads me, whether you comment or not. :)

to participate in the new thursday thirteen, go here.

travel=inspiration

one thing our travels did was inspire me to cook more. i go through periods where i will cook a lot and then periods where i barely cook at all. being in maryland and seeing autumn in action was very inspiring. she made all sorts of yummy food but really didn't spend that much time in the kitchen at all. when i am not feeling very kitchen-inspired it's the notion that it will take a long time to prepare a good meal that keeps me from trying. and really this isn't true. it doesn't really take a long time. maybe if you are trying to make something complicated (like an indian feast) or want to bake. otherwise it's really not long at all.

while on the road we did try some very delicious restaurants and were blessed with some great meals cooked for us by friends and family. but there were a lot of sandwiches eaten and a fair share of snacky foods imbibed. towards the end of the trip every time we stopped into a market to fill our cooler with some apples and sandwich fare i was really aching to buy actual groceries. never thought i would feel like that!

since we've been back we have gone to the market and i have been concocting simple yet delicious little meals for us. i never thought i would say this either, but it feels really good to be back in the kitchen, MY kitchen!

monday night i made a salad from a head of romaine lettuce, baby carrots, sliced cucumbers, pine nuts, dried cranberries and tossed with a homemade dressing of olive oil, juice of one lemon and one minced garlic clove (all mixed together of course). then i topped each of our servings with one morningstar chicken patty cut into bite-size pieces and half an avocado. it was delicious and filling.

yesterday i baked vegan brownies as a birthday treat for b. while they were in the oven i whipped up my own version of autumn's ghetto black bean soup. i added minced garlic and made the base from a box of roasted red pepper tomato soup since i couldn't find any ready made black bean soup. it was very tasty. and super easy to make.

triple chocolate chipotle brownies

1/3 cup cocoa powder
4 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 cup silken tofu, blended
1/2 cup sunflower oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup spelt flour
1 tsp chipotle pepper powder or 1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt

-line an 8 inch square pan with parchment paper lightly dusted with cocoa powder.

-in a double boiler over medium heat, melt both chocolates together, stirring continually with a spatula to prevent from burning or hardening. once fully melted, stir in cocoa powder then remove from heat.

-in a large bowl combine the sugar, tofu, oil and vanilla. stir in melted chocolate then the flour, pepper powder, baking powder and salt.

-pour into pan, spreading it evenly. bake for 35 to 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

-let cool for two hours before serving.

the brownies came out delicious. i made a recipe from the oct 2008 issue of yoga journal. the brownies have a little bit of cayenne pepper in them to give them some kick and it works! they taste really really good. i have never melted my own chocolate before or cooked with tofu before but the recipe was really easy to make. and fun too. i used ghiradelli bars of baking chocolate. i didn't have sunflower oil so i just used canola oil. you may be tempted to skimp on the cooling time but if you try to cut them early they will crumble. but if you wait, they come out perfectly. (i'd know because i'm an impatient one!)

hopefully, this mind set will last. ;)

The Lace Reader

by Brunonia Barry
Rating: 4.5
Format: fiction
Reason for Reading: 666 challenge

towner whitney comes from a long line of lace readers-women who can read the future in lace. towner left her hometown of salem, MA several years ago after her twin sister's death. but now her great-aunt eva has gone missing so towner reluctantly returns only to discover that eva has washed ashore, dead. her aunt emma's ex-husband is suspected of foul play. he is a calvinist with a history of violence against the whitney women. his group of fundamentalists burgeon out of control. a troubled young woman has taken up with them only to beaten, which causes her to flee. yet she eventually returns to the calvinists and soon after goes missing. local cop john rafferty is saddled with trying to solve the mystery of eva's death and find the missing angela.

this is such a complex novel. it's a great portrayal of salem and small-town life. i felt like i was there. i read this while i was in rhode island, which heightened the experience for me as i was only a few hours away from salem and planning on visiting that same week. the writing is superb and crafty. there is so much depth to the story and the characters. i could not put this down. there is an unexpected twist at the end. i literally sat straight up and stared open-mouthed at the book. i was completely floored. the revelation made me want to start from the beginnign and re-read immediately. the conclusion of the book is frightening in its juxtaposition of salem's history with modern day reality. a lot of things have changed and yet at times it seems they haven't changed at all.

A Year in the Merde

by Stephen Clarke
Rating: 3.0
Format: fiction
Reason for Reading: TBR pile, 999 challenge

paul west is an englishman who has recently moved to france to work for a company that wants him to help them open english tearooms. and so begins the many french adventures of paul west, several of which include dog shit. he soon discovers to his frustration that his boss has no intent of opening any tearooms and he is essentially being paid to do nothing. (not really a bad gig but it really frustrates paul). he also soon discovers his boss is selling illegal british meat and passing it for french meat. and that is just the beginning of his boss's machinations. and not to be left out, his love life encounters several mishaps as well.

i picked this book up because i love reading about travels in france whether it's a memoir or fiction. while this book is fiction, the author is a brit living in paris. it was an enjoyable, quick read. the writing is very comedic. there are plenty of laugh out loud moments.

the great road trip of 2009 wrap-up

we arrived back from our trip friday night. we were gone nearly five weeks. we had an awesome time but man, it's great to be home! the best thing was sleeping in our own bed friday. :)

days 20 and 21 we holed up in a hotel in NC a few hours from our next destination. we needed some time to regroup and re-ground ourselves. took a hot bath after a long day of driving. did a long session of restorative yoga. got some stuff at the market. watched movies on the computer. it was lovely.

day 22 we arrived at another of b's aunt and uncle's. we spent another few low-key days with them. his aunt had some homemade vegetable soup and quesadillas waiting for us. then she served tea and cookies. they took us out to dinner later that night. the rest of that week we watched movies, read books and ate home-cooked meals. it was awesome. day 25 we met up with my cousin M who lives in NC as well. it was great to see her. i haven't seen her in 3 years or so.

day 26 we accompanied his aunt and uncle to their beach house on oak island, NC. it was a great weekend! we hung out at the beach. did some beach yoga. waded in the ocean. collected some sand, shells and ocean water. his uncle gave us a tour on his golf cart. apparently everyone on the island has one. there isn't any parking at the beach so everyone drives their golf carts and park them on a strip of grass and then walk to the beach. late day 28 we headed back to his aunt and uncle's, which was a four hour drive away. we had some great mexican food for dinner, packed up our stuff, watched a movie and called it a night. we watched a lot of movies in NC. his uncle is a movie freak. he literally has 5000 movies, which are all stored in the basement and are card catalogued.

day 29 we headed down to SC, a short three hour drive to visit another friend of mine. there was no internet access. we didn't watch any movies. lela's husband is indian. that first night he made us a homemade indian meal that was oh-so-delicious! potato and cauliflower curry with basmati rice and carrot halva for dessert. i would never think to eat carrots for dessert but it was absolutely delicious. it's not a health-conscious dessert at all, don't let the carrots mislead you. :) he sent me home with the recipe. i am looking forward to trying it out.

after dinner we played scattergories and then yahtzee! i haven't played yahtzee since i was five but upon rediscovery of this game i became hooked. b had never played before and he became hooked as well. lela loves this game and was delighted that we were so enthralled with it. we played it every night. we played it when we woke up. we played it whenever we weren't doing something else. and the day after we got home we went out and bought it and took it over to his parents' on easter sunday. our time with lela and bj was super fun. i can't explain all the nuances but it was the epitome of just hanging out with people you love and taking sheer delight in their company.

day 33 we headed home at 7am. we were on the road for 14+ hours. arrived late in the evening.

and since we've been home we've been busy getting back in the swing of things. but it feels good. i feel very rejuvenated, optimistic, hopeful and motivated now that i'm back. this trip really did us good. :)

total # of miles driven=5,139

total # of states driven through=21

total # of states visited=8+DC

White is for Magic

by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Rating: 4.0
Series: Blue is for Nightmares
Format: YA
Reason for Reading: 999 challenge, to continue with series

it's been almost a year since stacey brown saved her best friend drea from dying at the hands of a crazed classmate. it's senior year and the anniversary is nearing. and the nightmares have begun again. but this time they are of people who have already died. creepy things are happening around the school. stacey embraces the folk magic she learned from her grandmother to help her make sense of her dreams. and the violent vomiting reaction she has from the night terrors.

since veronica's murder the previous year, parents have pulled their kids from the school and morbid kids curious about the murder have moved in. amongst the new kids is jacob, who is having nightmares too-about stacey.

i really enjoyed this book. it's very fast-paced and full of action and suspense. i also like the pagan elements, which are more realistic than most portrayals.

13 pictures from my travels

(header by samulli)

i have been on the road for the past month. stops included OH, RI, MA, NY, PA, MD, DC, NC and SC. here are a few snapshots from the great road trip of 2009.



a house i liked
providence, RI



angle view of set of lizzie borden live!
providence, RI



set of Grace
Pawtucket, RI



me walking in NYC



lizzie borden bed & breakfast
fall river, MA



entrance to chinatown
washington, DC



international SPY museum
washington, DC



washington, DC



caswell beach, NC



yoga on the beach! :)
trikonasana



ardha chandrasana



virabhadrasana II



sunset on the beach


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march reads

1. Mia Tyler: Creating Myself by Mia Tyler

2. Tying the Knot: A Gender Neutral Guide to Handfastings for Pagans and Goddess Worshippers by Jade River

3. chibi-vampire vol 6 by Yuna Kagesaki

4. chibi-vampire vol 7 by Yuna Kagesaki

5. A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke

6. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

7. Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz

8. White is for Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz

9. Silver is for Secrets by Laurie Faria Stolarz

10. The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman

11. gossip girl: you're the one that i want by cecily von ziegesar

12: gossip girl: nobody does it better by cecily von ziegesar

13. The Midnighters: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld

challenges:

manga challenge: 6/6 completed
westerfeld mini-challenge: 1/2
999 challenge: 15/81
666 challenge: 11/36

My Neck of the Woods: Spider House Cafe-Austin, TX

shelly considers the whole lone star state to be part of her neck of the woods so i am going to follow her lead. i don't go to austin too often, but when i do, i make sure to hit spider house. it is this awesome independent coffee shop. it's a purple house with a big outdoor patio. at night it's lit up with faery lights. during the day you can find plenty of shade under the giant trees and lots of seating-benches, tables and chairs, giant rocks. i think they have the best chai i have ever tasted. they recently added a food menu. they have a wide variety of things to eat in addition to serving coffee, tea and beer. the interior is very cozy with an artsy feel. your drinks are served in real glasses and mugs and the food comes on flatware. this isn't starbucks. :) there are also plenty of games available if you have a hankering to play. (i seem to have a thing for games haha) if you are looking for a good cup of coffee (or chai) and a place to chill out for a bit-spider house is the place to go. and when you're done you can go to toy joy, which is next door. but i'll save that for another post!

this is part of shelly's my neck of the woods meme. she says:

As bloggers, we are in a unique position to get our opinions out on the internet for all the world to see. I think it would be fantastic to have a whole list of resources from around the country (or for that matter, the world!). If we post, we could add links to other bloggers who are posting about their own home towns. Soon, nobody will need those guide books, because they will have us!

13 reiki experiences

(header by samulli)

reiki-"laying on hands" energy healing technique.

1. when i was fifteen, my mom took me to a reiki circle. that was my first experience with reiki. i remember sitting in a circle, seated in chairs. there were several practitioners present. they came around and did reiki on our backs. i had my eyes closed. i felt swirling sensations and saw different shades of pink in my mind's eye. afterwards, i felt very relaxed and peaceful. this was a new sensation for me. as an adolescent i was anything BUT relaxed and peaceful.

2. last year i had a reiki treatment. the first one since my experience 12 years ago. the practitioner, who later would become my teacher, read my energy and balanced my chakras. she told me i was surrounded by stillness, that i had the ability to go deep into stillness. i had an imbalance in my solar plexus chakra. she also told me some other things about myself and my future that resonated with me. after the treatment i felt rejuvenated and like my whole body was buzzing with light. it was pretty cool, actually.

3. in january i got my level one reiki certification. we did energy exercises-we scanned each other's energy bodies, determined where they were taking in the most energy. we also stood several feet apart, one person closed their eyes while the other person held their hands up and slowly walked toward the person-the objective being to sense when the person walking had entered your energy field.

4. after the attunement ceremony (where you are attuned to the reiki energy) we were paired up with a classmate and gave reiki treatments to each other. that was my first time giving a treatment. i could feel the energy flowing through my palms. my partner said my energy felt really hot. when she gave me the treatment, her energy felt minty-icy hot. it made me think of how my mouth feels after i brush my teeth with mint toothpaste.

5. the week following the reiki class i practiced on b. he echoed my class partner's sensations in intense heat. he was extremely relaxed afterwards.

6. i also practiced on b's mom that week. we went over to her house to meet with a realtor. b's mom was complaining of a headache that she had for two days and wouldn't go away. she was under a lot of stress at the time. after our meeting b volunteered me to give her a reiki treatment. after the treatment, she was noticeably more relaxed and calm. after we sat down to eat breakfast she suddenly looked up and said, hey, my headache's gone!

7. my third treatment that week was on amethyst. during the treatment i not only felt the energy flowing through my palms but i also felt it spiralling through my fingers. a new sensation for me.

8. in february i received my level two certification. we received our second level attunement. we learned three reiki symbols and how to cut negative emotional cords that are attached to our energy body. there were only two of us in the class that day-the others unexpectedly couldn't make it-so we got long treatment sessions given by our teacher and another reiki master. our teacher helped us cut cords and instilled affirmations in our body. it was a very intense experience. i felt lighter, calmer and freer afterwards.

9. part of our level two certification process was to learn how to give distant reiki sessions. amethyst was unable to attend the level two class because she was really sick. after we learned the distant healing symbol, our teacher opened a session for amethyst, then the three of us sent reiki to her. we used stuffed animals to stand in for her physical body. this time, i felt the energy not just flow through my palms, but it spiralled. it felt like someone was tracing a spiral on the back of my hand and moving through my hand and flowing down. it was very very strong. it felt like a flood. it's the strongest sensation i have felt thus far. when i spoke to amethyst the next day she said that she fell asleep shortly after and when she woke up she started to feel a bit better.

10. my classmate from the level two class and i have been trading distant healing sessions for practice. the first time she sent me energy, i was doing yoga. i was in eagle pose when i suddenly felt this jolt of energy. it's hard to explain exactly what it felt like but i knew bonnie was there. i checked the clock and she was right on schedule. i wrapped up my yoga session, remaining in savasana for the remainder of the reiki session. and when she left i felt that too. her energy gently slipped away. it was really an awesome sensation.

11. when i gave bonnie distant reiki for the first time, she said she felt me immediately. she said she hadn't been feeling good that day. she was having sinus issues, which correlated with where i felt her receive the most energy-the top part of her face. she also received a lot around her head. after the session, she went to sleep and felt better in the morning.

12. i gave my friend izzy a distant reiki session the day before i left on my trip. she was really stressed and was having a bout of insomnia. she took in a lot of energy around her head and in her right foot. when i asked her for feedback two days later, she told me that she fell asleep pretty quickly and that her heel spur didn't hurt all the next day.

13. i gave myself reiki early in the trip. we had been driving for several hours and i had a bad headache but no medicine. b was driving. i held my hand to head, invoked the reiki energy and focused on channeling the energy to myself. i fell asleep soon thereafter (which is pretty common when you do reiki on yourself from what my teacher has said). when i woke up my headache was gone.


if you are interested to learn more about reiki, a good book to read is Essential Reiki by Diane Stein.

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