Book Reviews and Life

Caboose

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 23:52:00 +0000

I've been away for a couple of days working on my son's costume for Comicon in Chicago. I can't believe I only have 21 more days to work on this. It is kicking my butt! I went to Instructables (great site for anyone whose crafty...not just for grandmas...geeky crafts, garden crafts, seriously check it out!!) and found this walk through. I'm using yoga mats I found at 5 Below. (think dollar store only things are $5 and below)

It is so much more time consuming than I thought. I will post pics as I go, but for now I'm in the holy shit are these instructions in English phase.

Drop me a comment if you have tips, if you've made a costume or if you are going to Chicago too!

Love to hear about it.

It's Decided!

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 21:09:00 +0000

As a family we have decided to go to the Wizard World Comic Con as Raising Hope!!

I, of course, get to be Maw Maw. (I do want to state for the record I am only 49 and single *wink,wink*)
Anyways, I am stoked!! My oldest and her hubby and my little bubala will be Sabrina, Jimmy and Hope, and my middle daughter and her hubs will be Virginia and Bert.

If anyone comes across pants online that look like this, let me know. I will be frequenting the local Goodwills to find my outfit.

Wish me luck...52 days and counting!

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 22:37:00 +0000

Me and the chilluns are going to Wizard World Comic Con in Chigao in August. I am so stoked! My 16yo is going to be Caboose from Red Vs Blue and I'm looking to Instructables.com to find some how-tos. I'm thinking of using 6mm foam and a heat gun to mold. As I have never worked with either, this should be interesting.

My oldest, her hubby and their little one are going as characters from Firefly. My middle and her hubby have not even come up with costumes yet. I would like to be Zoe from Firefly or Buffy, however I would like to lose a little weight before then.

Anyone ever been to Comicon? Anyone with insider tips on how to make costumes? Any pics of you in your costumes? I wanna see!

Charlie Davidson Series

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 23:05:00 +0000

I have recently started reading the Charlie Davidson Series by Darynda Jones. I just finished #4 "The Fourth Gave on Beneath my Feet"

This has been such a fun series so far. It is based on Charlie Davidson, a PI who can see and talk to the dead, oh and she's a portal for them to cross through. She sees herself as a grim reaper, but I wonder if Darynda has something else in mind for her. But I'm getting ahead of my self.

Charlie has always been able to see and talk to the departed. This worked out great for her dad since he was an officer in homicide. He has since retired but her uncle is still on the force. However helpful to the two men in her life, as you can imagine, it is awkward, to say the least, in day to day life. She runs her detective agency with Cookie, her best friend, who is loyal and is always on her side. Charlie is a bad ass (and a smart ass) character and the dialogue in Darynda's books are great.

Book 1, "First Grave on the Right" introduces us to all the great characters, like Charlie, Cookie, UB (uncle Bob) and Reyes. We learn about Charlies background and about Reyes (RE: super hot guy, or Jason Stathem, Bradley Cooper, Chris Hemsworth...you get the pic)

These are mystery/thriller/steamy books that are fast reads cause they are so good!
Start the series, let me know what you think. They are the perfect summer read!

Free phone wallpaper

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:40:00 +0000

I have found a fun site called AppsGeyser and since my son and I love to take pictures I thought I could make wallpaper from our pics. Here's a free app I made and free wallpaper for your phone!!

Let me know what you think. I'm gonna make more soon.

Download our App Picture This built by Appsgeyser.com

The theme of the day: INAPPROPRIATE

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:02:00 +0000

I had a doctors appointment the other day in Muskegon. My daughter came along for support and we decided to kill some time in Wallyworld and a nearby thrift store. While walking into Walmart there were 2 cars parked with, shall we say, questionable bumper stickers:

I know you can't read this...it says:

"If you're going to ride my ass...

at least pull my hair"

(no comment)

I felt sexually harassed before i even made it into the store!

We decided to go to a local thrift store and found this:

A little boy who pees your liquor into a glass.

People in Muskegon are c-lass-y!!

The Voice

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:05:00 +0000

In the words of the immortal Lionel Richie....

"Don't run past yourself"

Words to live by....

The Oscars

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:46:00 +0000

Well, I am taping Celebrity Apprentice to watch the Oscars.
Yes I said taping cause we have not yet made it to the 21st century and dvrs...we still tape on a vcr.
I don't usually watch the Oscars, but I do love Billy Crystal so I had to watch.
Watching the people who present and accept the rewards my daughter and I have decided that people ought really let themselves age naturally. It really looks bad when you try to defy age. I think some of the most stunning women are the ones who embrace their looks:

Helen Mirren

Blythe Danner

and then there's
Joan Rivers

just sayin.

Oh my aching back!

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:46:00 +0000

My back seems to be getting worse. I got a referral for a second opinion, however this takes time.
I only hope and pray that there is an opening soon and the new Dr has better news.

It's hard to believe that I have been putting up with this since April of last year. There has to be help out there somewhere.

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:37:00 +0000

My body is revolting.

I don't mean "to look at" (well, on ~~most~~ some days I do mean that) but staging a coup, an uprising, a Network moment

I guess after the 40 odd years of eating what I felt like and lack of exercise, my body has had enough. Last April, while bending over in the shower to wash my feet, my back seized. I couldn't straighten up. I yelled for my hubby who moved me to the bed and massaged my back.

His question? "Did you stretch before?"
WHAT?!? Am I so old and decrepit that I need to stretch before I shower?

I digress...
Next day I was stiff, but felt all had passed.
Little did I know, it was only the beginning. I started getting back pain so I go to my primary care doctor. She's not sure whats going on... but hey, lets try therapy. 12 visits to the therapist and no relief so I go for an EMG. I hate needles. He sends me for an MRI and on to the next Dr who is basically a middle man. I'm not really sure if she even has a clue. I am informed that I have arthritic degeneration in my 5th lumbar and she sends me on to another Dr who gives me a shot near my spine to relax the muscles. That makes things worse, so back to the middle man Dr. This time she sends me to a different therapist. This therapist knows exactly what is going on and she gets to work. She explains to me that I have an annular tear and the spinal fluid is leaking. This is causing me pain and numbness down my leg and we don't want that to continue or I will get nerve damage. After 6 weeks I am finally getting to the point where I can work on strengthening my abs. However, the middle man thinks that this is not good enough and she refuses recommend any more therapy and sends me to the neurosurgeon. She informs me if I feel therapy is helping I can certainly go and pay for it myself.

Nice
So, on to the neurologist and another MRI with contrast this time. This Dr tells me not only do I have arthritic degeneration but I also have pseudo cysts. Spinal fluid is leaking which is why I have such bad pain in my leg but he's not sure where its leaking so until it gets worse there's nothing he can do.

So after 4 Drs, 2 therapists, and a middle man/dr and God know's how much money, I'm right back to where I started from.

Ahhh, the miracles of modern medicine.

Hunger Games

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:18:00 +0000

I know I'm a little late to the game, but I finally read "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. This is a story about "Panem, a country that rose up out of the ashes of what was once North America". Now broken up into 12 districts, each specializes in one aspect of what people need to live. Katniss lives in District 12, they are responsible for mining coal and are the poorest of the districts.

As the book opens, it is the day of the reaping where two children between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen from each district to participate in the annual "Hunger Games" were they will fight to the death.

I usually don't get into futuristic books, but this one isn't to hard to imagine. The author does a great job describing the landscape of the time period without being to wordy.

We follow Katniss and Peeta who are chosen to represent their district. This is a huge event that is celebrated and televised to all. The pairs from each district are given mentors and a fashion team to coach and prepare them to earn sponsors (who can give them slight advantages in the arena) and devise a game plan.

This was a fast and great read. I am super excited to see this on the big screen and excited to read the next book in the series.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
Pure enjoyment.

Jeopardy

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 01:08:00 +0000

I need money and I seem to have no luck with the lottery. So I have decided I am going to get on Jeopardy.

It is my favorite game show, and when I get one question right I am BRILLIANT!!! I yell out to anyone who is close..."Did you hear that? I got that question right!! Come revel with me in my brilliance!" Only once did the associate at Walmart ask me to leave electronics, but come on....NOBODY there was getting any right!

I digress...I decided that getting one (or the odd 2) questions would not be enough to get me money, so I will be studying to get on the show. I will start by reading any trivia book I can get my hands on... I will share some of what I learn, but not all...just in case you too decide to take on this endeavor and I end up next to you on the show.

Wish me luck...and stay tuned.

My Observations

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:23:00 +0000

After watching America's Got Talent and my hero, Stevie Nicks, I have decided that my generation (40 to 60 yrs old now)has decided that we will never grow old.

You know when 63yr olds (Stevie Nicks, Ozzy, Steven Tyler...) are still touring with the band, that's just proof that we will not go softly into the night. Or as Neil Young put it... "its better to burn out than to fade away"

Thrift Store Find/Game Fail

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:09:00 +0000

Is the word "anal"????

Found this at a thrift store.

Really Parker Brothers? You couldn't

think of a better name for the game?

Cryer's Cross

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:20:00 +0000

I love to go to the Young Adult section for great finds. It seems like sometimes the adult books are written for the benefit of the author. The young adult authors know that their audience has a shorter attention span so they better have a great hook and get them involved quickly.

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann is a story centered around Kendall, a senior who has OCD. The town of Cryer's Cross, Montana is a mere 212 residents strong, and as the books opens, one of them is missing. A new family moves into town and the oldest boy falls under suspicion, but nothing comes of it and soon the search for the missing freshman girl ends and a new school year begins.

Since it is a small town, the high school students are in one room for the day. Kendall's OCD requires her to be the first in the room to place the desks, markers, trash can and curtains properly. Soon after school starts, Nico, Kendall's best friend and boyfriend (though she doesn't really feel as strongly for him as he does her) starts to act strangely. When Nico disappears the town again forms search parties without avail. The sheriff requires all children under 18 pair up and never travel alone. Kendall gets paired with the new boy, Jacian.

The first 190 pages of this 232 pages of this book deal with Kendall's character development and how she's torn between her feelings for the new guy and her problem with not feeling loyal to Nico.
Honestly at chapter 23 it felt like the author thought, "Crap, I forgot about the missing kids, I better come up with something quick". From here, the book just got weird. When you look at the description of the book, the ending really came out of nowhere.
The book jacket's description ends with this:

Something's not right in Cryer's Corner - and Kendall's about to find out how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

I was really disappointed with this book...the problem I had was it was just false advertisement. They should have described the book like this:

Kendall is a high schooler in a small town. She has OCD that seems to rule her life and now she seem to have gotten herself caught in a love triangle between her childhood sweetheart and the new bad boy in town. And oh, by the way, two kids are missing, one of them is her current boyfriend.

Very rarely do I finish a book and say to myself, "well that was a waste of time" I'm afraid that's exactly what I said when I finished this one.

I give this 0 out of 5 stars

Netflix

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:24:00 +0000

If you love movies, you probably have a Netflix account. We are big movie fans at our house, but we have been having a problem for about a year now.

Not with Netflix, but with the United States Postal Service. "Nooo way" you say! But yyyeeeesssss. "Not our postal service" you protest....oohhh yes, our government employed postal service, I reply.

We live in a trailer park and have a LOCKED bank of mailboxes much like the ones pictured here:

When we mail our newer Netflix movies it always takes longer than the older releases. I have been suspicious of our mail person...thinking she's probably watching them and sending them back later. But how do you prove that? Recently we received a badly mangled Netflix envelope in a baggy, with the standard "we are sorry about this, but shit happens" (I paraphrased). TWICE this has happened. What we received Saturday, though, pushed me over the edge.

As you can see, The one on the left is just the top part that has your personal address on it, the part you tear off and throw away.

Here, again, on the top, is what we received. ONLY the top paper. Where's the movie you ask...I have no idea. With the exception of the the top corner looking like it was cut off with scissors, it looks like someone tore it off and took the rest. "I would go straight to the post office and complain" you say??? My hubby did. The postmaster at Zeeland, MI informed him that it was a machine that the mail goes through that must have done this. My hubby told him that we seem to have problems with other Netflix movies getting back. Maybe someone else is messing with our mail. As I mentioned before...we have LOCKED mail boxes. The postmaster at Zeeland, MI suggested that we should take the time to get to know our mail person.

WTF??? Its our fault the mail isn't being properly handled because we didn't get to know who delivers our mail???? I work and my husband is sleeping when the mail is delivered (he works 3rds). So I got online and sent a complain to the governmental institution, the United States Postal Service...here's what I wrote:

We have had a problem with our mail service concerning Netflix movies for over a year. Recently we received a Netflix paper, neatly torn from the movie, without the movie. When we send newer movies back to Netflix from this location, they suspiciously take much longer than older movies. We talked to Postmaster (name omitted) and he recommended that we should get to know our mail person better. Are we getting punished because we happen to be working at the time our mail is delivered and have been unable to get to know our mail person? If we leave them a cash gift will that take the place of our inability to be there? What amount would be good, as we do not wish to offend and worsen our situation.

Please advise

I'm pissed (and passive-aggressive with a sarcastic nature)

Degrees of Bacon

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:43:00 +0000

So my oldest asks me...
Do you think when an actor works with Kevin Bacon they
think to themselves:

"I've hit the jackpot!
I am now
one degree
from Bacon"

The Hangover 2

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 01:32:00 +0000

I recently watched The Hangover II. The first one was hilarious (could have done with out the pictures), this one wasn't as good.

Let me just say, I saw more penises in this movie then I have ever seen in my whole life and I'm 45, been married twice and have 3 kids.

Just saying.

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Sun, 29 May 2011 21:38:00 +0000

Back in 2008 I listened to Water for Elephants and thought it was a great story.
I always get excited when they make a movie from one of the books I've read. I'm anxious to see who they pick to play each part and I must say I did not expect these two actors to be the choices. When I listened to the book I expected them to be closer in age, and I'm sorry, I am NOT a big Robert Pattinson fan. I didn't get into the Twilight series (even thought that author wrote one of my favorite books).

I do love Reece Witherspoon. She was also in Just Like Heaven which was based on another book I read, "If Only It Were True" by Marc Levy. The book was cute but I haven't seen the movie to compare yet. Honestly I read the book around 2001 so I couldn't compare the two unless I re-read it.

Have you been to see the Water For Elephants? Did you like it? Are you one of the few who have read it and can compare them? I would love to hear from you.

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:52:00 +0000

Hi all!!

I'm back. I started a new job about 2 1/2 years ago and when I started getting full time hours my reading and blogging dropped off. I miss both so I have decided to keep my sanity I must make sure I have time to do both.

So here I am.

It was a rough year. I lost my mom quite suddenly and unexpectedly. My family, that I thought was the greatest ever, turned out to be users and underhanded. My sister has been my biggest support (aside from my kids and hubby)

We moved from North Carolina to Michigan 14 years ago so I could be closer to my family and mom, leaving my dad and sister behind. My hubby and kids are not happy here, so we have decided to move back to NC.

So here we are...almost June, and trying to sell our place, get jobs, and move back down south by early August at the latest.
Stressed? A little. I feel this is what God wants for us, so I gotta have faith that things will fall into place. My hubby wants to move so bad he's promised to get me a color nook if we move this summer!

On a side note...My sister says karma will get our aunt and brother for the crap they've done. I have NEVER witnessed justice coming around and kicking the rightful person right in the bahookie....have any of you? Share your story, give me hope, cause I am sick and tired of people getting away with so much crap.

Ahh summer..who has time to read???

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:51:00 +0000

UUggg....I have been so lazy in the reading department. I have taken to mobile home improvements and knitting while enjoying summer shows like America's Got Talent (yeah for Howie, I was so sick of the Hoff!) and Last Comic Standing. I have been trying to get through some reading, well one book really...not going so well. I receive books to review from time to time and some times it is a chore to get through them. I do have 2 that I received the other week I am anxious to get to, but I feel like I should read them in order, so I am trudging through.

I have been listening to Wild Ride by Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer. This is a story about a small town girl Mary Alice Brannigan, Mab to her friends, who leaves town only to herself back at the local amusement park renovating the rides and attractions. Being back brings back memories of standing out in high school, being different, and having a crazy mother who believe the very park she is working is a haven for demons. Mab resented her mother and always dismissed her crazy accusations, but when she is run over by the metal clown she has been lovingly renovating, she knows something is very different in the park. It just so happens that her mother was right in a way, there are demons in the park, being held prisoners. Since these five demons are the worlds worse, there is a group of people who are guardians and are sworn to make sure the Untouchables never escape. One by one, they do escape and somehow, Mab finds herself having to join the Guardia, protect mankind, and admit her mom wasn't as batty as she thought.

This is a fun story that has had a few surprise twists and some not so surprising turns. It a story about demons and powers, so don't look to deeply into it, but if you are looking for a light entertaining read, this one is perfect. It would be a great book to take to the beach and enjoy the surf and sun.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

Waiting for Jack

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Wed, 26 May 2010 01:33:00 +0000

I have recently read Waiting for Jack by Kristen Moeller. This is a book about how some of us tend to wait for the one thing that will finally make us happy, whether that thing is finishing school, getting married, losing weight, making money....you understand.

I was really excited to get this book, because I am one of those people who are waiting to be fulfilled. Let me tell you I am 44 and still waiting.

This book is broken down into 3 sections, body, mind and spirit. In the first sections the author tells us how she got to the point where she realized that she has been waiting her whole life for the "one thing" that will complete her. She also addresses how we look for things outside of ourselves to make us happy. The second section she talks about how we wait for a purpose, love, the right place among other things and in the last sections she looks at how we box ourselves in, our preconceived notions and what we thing life is.

Each section ends with a list of questions to help us reflect on out thoughts and things to practice. It was an easy read and her stories and the stories from others were helpful and interesting. I read through this book quickly so I could give a review, however this is a book in which you would want to take your time and really take in each chapter. When I finished the book I thought well there wasn't really a moment I thought, "So that's what I need to do." I did see my thoughts and mannerisms in there, but nothing that showed me how to fix it. I thought well that stinks, I thought I would be fixed. It wasn't until a couple of days later when I was reflecting on what I want to include in my review when I realized that is not how this book works. I was waiting for a book that would fix me! (shaking my head) I need to take my time and absorb each chapter, reflect in the ideas and take each day at a time. I got it...and I am going to do just that, reread this book slowly, applying the ideas, daily.

This book will not fix you. You have to stop waiting for perfection. This book WILL take you on a journey, if you take the time and are serious about it, to help you start living each day and stop waiting.

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Best Quotable...Young Frankenstein

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Tue, 18 May 2010 23:35:00 +0000

Well, I'm back. Things have finally settled down in tourist-land and I'm not working such long hours. I have 6 books lined up for review, but this weekend, instead of reading I watched a movie with my mom.

"Young Frankenstein" is a classic Mel Brooks movie (a tamer one than say "Blazing Saddles"!) that has some great quotable lines I found myself repeating with the movie. I thought this would be a great entry for a best quotable movie...so here they are...

Dr Frankenstein: "What knockers!"

Inga: (in german accent) "Why, sank you doctor"

Dr Frankenstein: (when stuck between a bookshelf and the wall (in a high pitched voice)) "Listen to me very carefully, do not put the candle back!"

Inga: (from behind the bookshelf) "PUT ZE CANDLE BACK!

When asked who's brain he got Igor responds:

"Abby someone"

Dr Frankenstein: "Abby who?"

Igor: "Abby Normal"

Dr Frankenstein sulking at the dinner table...

Inga: "You haven't touched your food"

Dr Frankenstein pats his food with his hands..."There are you happy?"

Inga (from back of a hay wagon): "Would you like a roll in ze hay?"

(rolling back and forth): "Roll, roll, roll in ze hay!)

This is such a great movie. If you have not seen this movie, you must rent it. I also discovered that Aerosmith wrote their song "Walk This Way" after watching this movie. There is a scene where Igor meets Dr. Frankenstein at the train station and walks down 3 steps hunched over stating, "Walk this way" Igor the hands the cane to Dr. Frankenstein and he hunches over and uses the cane down the 3 steps like Igor. Aerosmith thought it was hilarious and it inspired a classic song!

Is He Lying To You

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:18:00 +0000

Is He Lying to You? is written by Dan Crum, who is an ex-CIA polygraph examiner. Dan Crum walks you through how to tell if a guy is lying to you by showing you how to ask questions, what questions to ask, when to ask and what to look for. He differentiates between the types of lies men tell and why they might be telling them. He tells you the four reasons why men deceive and whether they are harmful or not.

Dan explains that a lot of times we go into situations with certain biases and that we need to learn to set those aside. He shows you how watch a guy to determine what his "normal" behavior is before you ask questions to see if he is truthful.

Some of the points in this book I knew intuitively, such as when a guy answers a question with a question or tries to make you feel guilty for asking the question, he may be deceiving. I think there are times we may know that people are not being truthful, but we don't always trust our gut, this book shows you when to trust those

instincts.

I thought there was some great information in here, however I'm not sure it was very ground breaking. If you are a woman in the dating scene, you may want to read this book. He does recommend you journal about the guys, and for me this would never work....I don't journal, I've always wanted to, but I have a really short attention span and basically I can't write as fast as I think and by the time I slow down enough to write my thoughts, I'm bored. But I digress. If you are meticulous, this book my be an asset.

As I finished chapter one I saw "FREE BONUS: Go to ......to get a free download..." and "EXCITING BONUS: Go to ....get free excerpt from my new book..." At first I thought, "how nice, when you get this book you get a free scorecard and tools to help you and a look into another book," however when I got to chapters 9 and 10 and he has the EXCITING BONUS at the end of every chapter it felt a little desperate and, I don't know, like what we were getting out of the book wasn't as important as us needing to buy his next book.

I give this book a 3 1/2 out of 5. Probably would have been a 4 if he wasn't trying so hard to sell us his next book.

Tulip Time

noreply@blogger.com (C) — Mon, 03 May 2010 22:40:00 +0000

I live near Holland and work in the tourist industry. This week is
Tulip Time which means tourists from all over come to see our tulips. This means we work from 8:30 to sometimes 7:30 doing demonstrations and trying to sell our wares. This means I wouldn't have time to read, let alone blog...but as you can see I am blogging. It hasn't started out to busy...seems like the tourist business is feeling the economic crunch.