Lian's Summer of Fun

Lunch with Lian Episode 2: Tilly's Tacos

2015-07-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hey Viewers, Welcome to my blog!

Today in the second episode of Lunch with Lian, Ashlee and I visited Tilly’s Tacos on Sixth Street in Corona.

I was really excited to finally schedule this interview with the manager, Sean. Corona is buzzing about this new restaurant, but on some Facebook pages, I have seen some pretty horrible comments about Tilly’s. People have complained about under-cooked meat, poor management response to complaints and honestly, downright rudeness over the phone. My family has eaten take out from here a lot and we hadn’t noticed these kinds of things. I was eager to dine in and see how the experience might be different.

My cousin Ashlee joined us again and we had a great time ordering different items from the menu and checking them out. Tilly’s Menu is very basic taco stand with prices ranging from $1.99 for the carne asada taco to $5.99 for chile colorado burrito (but no tamales). Cheese on a few of the menu items is extra. You can also order sides of chips, rice or beans. There is an extensive fresh salsa bar or you can order large portions of the salsa and guacamole for $1.99-$7.99.

For our lunch we ordered two crunchy taco specials (one chicken, one beef), each comes with a large drink and chips. Ashlee ordered a cheese quesadilla and Dad got a chile colorado burrito. I got the super nachos. We also tried out the different salsas from the salsa bar.

With a couple of minor exceptions, the food was absolutely fantastic. The grilled quesadilla usually comes with either mild or spicy salsa, but we didn’t get any on ours. It was still good. The tortilla on dad's burrito was just kind of folded over rather than tucked in, so it fell apart pretty quickly. That did make it easier to eat with the fresh chips though. Finally, Mom felt the pico de gallo had gone stale, either from being old or the salsa bar not being cold enough or maybe the ice not deep enough.

Tilly's is a really new place, but the main tables and chairs are kind of knocked around and wobbly. I think that is a great way to make it seem less like a new spot and more like a place that has been around a while. Even so, I have to say that the food was really super good, but it might be better to get it to go. First of all it takes a really long time to come to the table. It is all made fresh to order, even the crunchy tacos are made fresh before they are frozen, to be deep fried later. Then, the presentation isn’t really all that nice. The food itself looks great, the tacos are full and cheesy, the quesadilla was grilled to perfection and the chips were fresh and warm. However, they are all served in plain cardboard to go boxes that take up all the table space and don’t really look appetizing (and not very eco-friendly either since a family of four can leave a mountain of trash behind).

Our taco specials were served with both orders of chips in one box (which came out right away when we sat down) and both tacos, which came much later, after we had eaten most of the chips, were served in a single box. That made it hard for two people to eat their tacos without one making a big mess on the table. We used the box my dad's burrito came in to split them up. Each item came out as it was made. Fresh and hot, sure, but it meant that the first person was done eating before the last person got their food.

Finally, the super nachos (Mount Nachos, I call them) are also served in one of the cardboard to go boxes. It is all kinds of layers of chips and beans and nacho cheese and meat. The problem is that the box gets soggy and it is hard to really enjoy the layers since you kind of have to eat straight down because of the sides of the box. They are totally delicious any way you eat them, though they could really use a dollop of sour cream.

We really enjoyed our lunch, but we did notice some issues. Some customers got frustrated at how long their to go orders were taking. Others had to repeat their order because a ticket hadn’t been made to tell the cooks what to cook. Finally, it was really loud in there. Both because of the music in the kitchen area and the blowers over the fryers.

Tilly’s Tacos has only been open in Corona for 5 months so they still have plenty of room for growth. IF they can stem some of the customer service growing pains, their great food gives them the potential to lure away some of the legions of loyal Coronan customers from the tried and true Mexican food mainstays like Miguel’s Jr and Tudy’s Taqueria, (true competition since both are across the street from Tilly’s with larger dining areas and are much more easily accessible from traffic on sixth street).

You can find Tilly's Tacos at 1034 W. 6th Street #105 Corona 92882 - 951-393-0212 - behind the lingerie store. Just look for the banners.

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Lunch with Lian: Episode 1- Hunny's Cafe Corona

2015-07-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hey Viewers, Welcome to my blog!

Today was the first episode of my new project, “Lunch with Lian”. Plus, my cousin Ashlee has joined me as a co-host. It is different interviewing with a second person, but she asks great questions and keeps the conversation going. I really like having her on board. I am super excited about the new project, with lots of new reviews to come.

We have a huge list of places we would like to showcase in Lunch with Lian, but we chose to start with a Corona staple, Hunny’s Cafe in the Corona Mall.

We started our visit to Hunny’s Cafe with lunch. Hunny’s menu is full of delicious sounding food for appetizers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with prices starting at $8.99-$13.99 and up. They also have a great kids menu that comes with a tin of crayons, and several specials available at different times of the day.

I had bacon and egg whites with fries instead of breakfast potatoes and sour dough toast. My cousin Ashlee had the breakfast quesadilla. Mom had the soup and salad special, which is all you care to eat. Dad ordered just fries, but he tried the soup and salad too.

I really enjoyed my breakfast. The bacon was really thick and the fries were seasoned just right with herbs and parsley.

Ashlee said her quesadilla was perfect. It was served with a great salsa, peppers and fresh avocado.

Mom really enjoyed the salad and vegetable soup, it was served with toast, and Dad dove face first into his fries.

It was a great lunch and I really enjoyed the interview afterward. Family owned Hunny's Cafe is at three locations in the Inland Empire. 402 Corona Mall, Corona, CA 92879 · (951) 735-7020 -
9022 Pulsar Ct, Corona, CA 92883 (951) 277-5811 - 31253 Riverside Dr, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 · (951) 245-4548

Be sure to check out my new website http://www.summeroffunblog.com. My You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Blog Tour "Axel & Theo: My Dog is The Emperor of a Faraway Galaxy"

2015-06-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Blog Tour for the lower middle grade book "Axel & Theo: My Dog is The Emperor of a Faraway Galaxy" by Amberly Kristen Clowe from June 22 to 28, 2015. This one is a great choice for reluctant readers!

About the Book

Title: Axel & Theo: My Dog is the Emperor of a Faraway Galaxy | Author: Amberly Kristen Clowe | Publication Date: November 15, 2014 | Publisher: Smooth Sailing Press | Pages: 44 | Recommended Ages: 6to 10 Summary: Theodore Howard wants a white flag. The kind of white flag that will show Riverwood Elementary’s biggest bully, Theo’s given up on ever surviving the fourth grade, and achieving his dream of becoming a real-life astronaut. But, Theo’s seemingly pathetic future gets a glimmer of hope in the form of a very talkative weenie dog named Axel. Theo learns that his best friend on four legs, is actually an alien from the planet Doglin, and just when he begins warming up to the idea of having an alien for a best friend, Axel is kidnapped by two cats from the planet Catlat. Theo chases after Axel and his kidnappers, embarking on an adventure he could have never imagined.

Amazon * Goodreads

Book Preview

My Review- This book is about Theo Howard. He is a smart kid with big dreams and a unique best friend. It turns out the stray dog that showed up on his doorstep one day is emperor in a galaxy where dogs rule and cats drool and nothing is as it seems it should be. It is a technicolor, hunger inducing, roller coaster kid adventure of the best kind. Sci-fi/Fantasy at it's best, on every page the world becomes more fantastic and vivid with one strange turn after another, always leading to some kind of fun or an amazing creature. I dare you to read this book without getting hungry!-Lian's Summer of Fun Blog

More Buzz About the Book

"When I saw the subheading of this book — My dog is the Emperor of a faraway galaxy, I knew I had to read it. After all, how often do you see a sci-fi kid’s book? Being the sci-fi nut that I am, I couldn't pass this one up. I was not disappointed."~ Shari T., Amazon

"Fun book!! The story is imaginative but told with enough familiar themes to make young ones think, "I can see how this could happen!!" And in a world jam-packed with princesses and girl power, it's nice to see fun stuff for boys, too." ~ Valerie S., Amazon

"What a nice story! Got this for my son and he chuckled through it all. He loved the characters and their adventure. He is looking forward to the next one." ~ Nathalia G., Amazon

"It is a great book! My kids loved it (as did I). I can't wait for the second adventure!" ~ John, Amazon

About the Author: Amberly Kristen Clowe

An avid story writer since elementary school, Amberly Kristen (Krissy) Clowe truly discovered her passion for writing after enrolling in a college, children's literature class, where they read and analyzed children's books. After completing her BA in early childhood education she began her teaching career. "After my first year of teaching second grade, I had so many ideas swirling around in my head, I had to write. I might have gone crazy if I didn't!" Clowe tells. Axel & Theo is the first chapter book series written by Clowe, though she already has two other children's picture books in print, and another due for publication in 2015. Today, her children provide the inspiration to her many stories, along with everything else she loves in life.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Axel & Theo Blog Tour Schedule

June 22

Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch & Author Interview)

Lian's Summer of Fun Blog (Review)

Enter Here Canada (Excerpt)

June 23

Hide-n-(Sensory)-Seeking (Review)

Cherry Mischievous (Excerpt)

June 24

Rockin' Book Reviews (Review)

The Blended Blog (Review)

June 25

View From the Birdhouse (Review)

Tots & Tales Reviews (Review)

June 26

2ReadBook (Review)

Where Connor and JT Go (Review)

June 27

Eloquent Articulation (Review)

We Are The DinoFamily (Review)

Lisa's Research and Reviews (Excerpt)

June 28

Stitch Says (Review & Author Interview)

Heart of a Philanthropist (Review)

* Blog Tour Giveaway *

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice Giveaway ends: July 5, 11:59 pm, 2015 Open to: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, SmoothSailing Press and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Axel & Theo: My Dog is the Emperor of a Faraway Galaxy

2015-06-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

Hey Readers,
Welcome to my blog.

This week I get to participate in my first blog tour, thanks to http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com. This week I get to review Axel & Theo: My Dog is the Emperor of a Faraway Galaxy by Amberly Kristen Clowe. Be sure to come back on June 22 to visit all the blogs and see what everyone has to say about this book.

This book is about Theo Howard. He is a smart kid with big dreams and a unique best friend. It turns out the stray dog that showed up on his doorstep one day is emperor in a galaxy where dogs rule and cats drool and nothing is as it seems it should be. It is a technicolor, hunger inducing, roller coaster kid adventure of the best kind. Sci-fi/Fantasy at it's best, on every page the world becomes more fantastic and vivid with one strange turn after another, always leading to some kind of fun or an amazing creature. I dare you to read this book without getting hungry!

I gave this book a 4.5

Readability- 4 This book was easy to read but Theo has a lot of inside thoughts that made me have to read again to be sure I was following.

Age- 5 This book is great for elementary school kids. I think it would be a great book for parents to read to younger kids.

Illustrations- 4 The illustration were amazing. I really loved the colored pencils sketches and they really captured the story. But, there weren't enough illustrations and I would have liked to have seen some more of the things described in the story.

Interest- 5 This book definitely held my interest. I couldn't wait to see what came next and it CAN'T end like that!!

Like- 5 I liked reading it and I can't wait for their next adventure.

I received an e book copy of this to review, I would buy a hard cover edition in a heartbeat.

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Review: Billy Bobble Makes A Magic Wand

2015-06-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

Once again, I was given the opportunity to review a book for http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com. This month the book is Billy Bobble Makes A Magic Wand by R.S. Mellette

This story is about super whiz kid, 12 year old Billy and his equally smart best friend for life, Suzy. The story opens with Suzy being questioned by police because her friend has set off an explosion at his high school and disappeared. As she tries to explain the complexities of quantum physics, micro biology and the equally mysterious interactions of high school students to the police and other adults, Billy shows up again and the adventure really begins.

I am not sure how I feel about this book. I really like that not once does this story dumb down for the reader. I appreciate the time taken to explain both the science and science fiction aspects of the story. Billy and Suzy lead a cast of delightfully colorful characters, that had me feeling for even the more despicable ones.

I have noticed that this book is labeled as a children's book. In my opinion, it is geared more toward upper middle school - adult. I don't think that kids younger than that will understand the science explanations or get the wonderful pop culture references that pop up throughout the story. I also think the social commentary on topics such as mental illness and bullying, though brilliantly written, may be lost on a younger crowd.

The downside of this book for me was that it seemed to be like two different books, with the first part, told in one way from various characters perspectives, then becoming more like a typical action kid hero adventure story in the second part. Both styles are equally engaging, but it slowed the story down for me until I got used to the new style. Also the fantasy element, though original, was not as clearly explained as the science was. To me the story was not quite as cohesive as I would have liked.

All that said I am looking forward to reading the next installment in the Billy Bobble series. I think it has great potential and that Billy could quite easily take a place in kid lit fame next to Harry Potter or Percy Jackson.

I give this book a rating of 4

3- Readability: In the first part of the story, the doctor seemed to be to focus of the exposition, I am not sure how her storyline played out. Also I found myself going back to reread a lot of the fantasy situations to make sense of them.

3- Age: Tweens might like it if they understand it, but I think older kids or adults are a better audience for this book.

5- Illustrations: The cover art is awesome.

5- Interest: The book did keep me turning pages to see what would happen next and the characters were simply terrific.

3- Like: I did enjoy the story overall

Be sure to check out my new website http://www.summeroffunblog.com/ You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Summerfest, Movies, Music and Crafts

2015-06-08T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Last week I got to sit down with Assistant Librarian Amy Luke, from the Corona Public Library, to discuss summer happenings at the library.

It was great to finally interview her. Ms. Luke has always been happy to stop for a picture or a quick word for my blog over the last four years and she makes the library a fun place to be.

May 2013

Summerfest at the library begins today, June 8 and goes all summer. Everyone in the family can sign up for Read to Rhythm to win prizes and there are lots fun movies and concerts all summer long, thanks to The Friends of the Corona Public Library.

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Kids Cook Monday

2015-05-25T18:12:00.000-07:00

Hey Viewers,

So, I normally do Food Fun on a Friday but I want to be an ambassador for #KidsCookMonday and thought I would do it that way this week instead. I did pizza and it was pretty good. When I make pizza it is usually from scratch, or at least mini pizzas, but mom got some coupons to review #RedBaron Brick Oven pizza so I helped her out and I didn't have to a lot of work to cook. It was super easy to make, just unwrap, pop it on a pizza pan and bake at 400° for 18 minutes. It came really great, even dad liked it. Next time I might throw some extra fresh toppings on it. Our store only had one flavor.

The crust even looked like pizza place pizza. We finished dinner off with a southwest mac n cheese (which is just my regular mac n cheese with rotel mixed in) and fresh corn. It was a really great dinner. The best part is the pizza is inexpensive so I might be able to talk Mom into pizza more often.

Be sure to check out my new website http://www.summeroffunblog.com/ You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Book Review: Rachel's Day In The Garden

2015-05-21T23:31:00.000-07:00

I had another great review opportunity from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. This time the book is called Rachel's Day in the Garden, written by Giselle Shardlow.

In early grades, I went to a virtual school and for PE everyday, Mom and I would do yoga. I really liked it and this book reminded me about how fun it can be. In the story, Rachel and her dog have an adventure in the garden doing things like playing in the rain and planting seeds while Rachel demonstrates various yoga poses. Not only would learning the poses be fun for the kids, I think, but also the book makes a great early reader as well. At the end of the story is a terrific pictorial guide to the poses and the sight words from the story, as well as a parent guide explaining how to use the story to teach both yoga and reading. The illustrations, by Hazel Quintilla, are simply stupendous and really that is my favorite part. She used so many textures, patterns and colors, like someone would see in a mixed media scrapbook, that even without the story I would have been fascinated with this book.

I am really happy to have been given a copy of this book to read and review.

Here are my final thoughts based on the Summer of Fun Book Rubric

Readability- 4
The main idea of the story moved easy from page to page.

Age Appropriateness- 5
This book is perfect for preschoolers to beginner readers. I also think that younger kids might enjoy just looking at the pictures.

Illustrations- 5
The artwork does a wonderful job of supporting the story and demonstrating the poses.

Ability to hold interest- 5
The story was so full of things for Rachel to do and show that I think kids will stay with the story to the end.

Did I like it?- 5
I really did like and I would love to take a look at other books in the series.

About the Book

Title: Rachel's Day in the Garden (A Kids Yoga Spring Colors Book) | Author: Giselle Shardlow | Illustrator: Hazel Quintanilla | Publication Date: December 23, 2014 | Publisher: Kids Yoga Stories | Number of pages: 34 | Recommended age: 3 to 6 years Summary: Experience the benefits of yoga while learning about the signs of spring!

Join Rachel as she and her adorable puppy look for signs of spring in the garden. Crawl like a caterpillar, buzz like a bee, and flutter like a butterfly. Discover spring, explore movement, and learn the colors of the rainbow. The storybook includes a list of kids yoga poses and a parent-teacher guide. Kids Yoga Stories introduce you to engaging characters who will get your child laughing, moving, and creating. Reading is good for the mind AND body! The story links several yoga poses in a specific sequence to create a coherent and meaningful story. This spring yoga story for ages 3 to 6 is more than a storybook, but it’s also a unique experience for children. Rachel's Day in the Garden is the first book in a seasonal yoga book series. The summer yoga book is also now available: Ella's Summer Fun. The fall and winter ones are in production, coming soon!

Amazon * Book Website * Goodreads

Sneak Peek

About the Author: Giselle Shardlow

Giselle Shardlow is the author of Kids Yoga Stories. Her yoga stories for kids get children learning, moving, and having fun. Giselle draws from her experiences as a teacher, traveler, yogi, and mom to write the stories. She can be found at the Kids Yoga Stories website or on her Amazon author page.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Therapy Dogs #CoronaPublicLibrary

2015-05-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

Bella and Bentley

On Monday, Paws of Love Therapy Dogs come to Corona Library to read with kids up to grade 6. I have seen them advertised before but this was the first time I was able to visit with them. All the dogs were so cool. They were super friendly and really calm. It was hard to pick a favorite. Little Bella was adorable with her mini high 5's and Gracie (not pictured) stole the show by picking up and putting away her books when they were done reading. Bentley was super lovable, Paws was just so chill, and Lucy and Mystic were so friendly. Their people were super nice too.

The dogs will be back, in the High Desert Room, on June 22 at 3:30pm. I hope I can get in to see them again.

Lucy

Paws

Mystic

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Take a look Back Tuesday

2015-05-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

Online is so cool, stuff is there forever! My first interview was Annie Banannie and the first time I sent an email, like a real reporter, to ask for an interview was the band DSB. It turns out my first interview happened years before all that in 2011. I interviewed an interested crowd of teddy bears for a newsbreaking story about a new brand of Green Giant Vegetables. I was even cool enough to use a stage name. Check out this rare video of my first interview and newscast.

https://vimeo.com/18946507

Summer is coming and I have a list of people I would love to talk with. I can't wait to get started.

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Interview Wishlist - Any Volunteers?

2015-05-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hey Viewers, Welcome to my blog!

I decided to make a list of the people I would love to talk to. I think it will just keep growing because there are so many interesting people in the world. Seriously, why do you do what you do? Who or what inspires you most? What advice do you have for kids who would like to do what you do? What is the ONE thing that you really want everyone to know about you? I want to know! Can I ask you about it?

This is the top of the list today. Who is going o volunteer to let me ask them some question? #TOTLT

My Cousin Val (she isn't famous but she is a special ed teacher, so she is special)

Mary Vasquez (her family does a lot around my city) @wearemiguelsjr

Dr. Temple Grandin

POTUS @BarackObama

Any Former or Future President (In fact just invite me to the White House whenever)

Bill Clinton @billclinton

George W Bush

George HW Bush @GeorgeHWBush

Jimmy Carter @CarterLibrary

Stephen Hawking

Dwayne Johnson @TheRock

Swampy Marsh @mmonogram ( #PhineasandFerb Nuff Said but...)

Dan Povenmire @DanPovenmire (I was part of a focus group on Mikey Murphy's Law and it is so going to rock!)

Dick Van Dyke @iammrvandy

Stan Lee @TheRealStanLee

Robert Downey Junior @RobertDowneyJr

Richard Dean Anderson (this is special for Mom and Miss Tommi) @andersonrdean

David Pogue @Pogue

Morgan Freeman (cause he's God and the President)

Neil Degrasse Tyson @neiltyson

Michelle Thaller @mlthaller

Adam Steltzner @steltzner

Brian Cox @ProfBrianCox

Dr. Michio Kaku @michiokaku

J.K. Rowling @jk_rowling

Anthony Stewart Head @AnthonySHead

Nathan Fillion @NathanFillion

Alan Tudyk @alan_tudyk

Nicholas Cage

Tom Hiddleston @twhiddleston

Samuel L Jackson @SamuelLJackson

Joss Whedon

Guy Fieri @GuyFieri

Mary Pope Osborn @MaryPopeOsborne

Eoin Colfin @eoincolfer

Rick Riordan @camphalfblood

The Mythbusters @MythBusters

Adam Savage @donttrythis

Kari Byron @KariByron

Tori Belleci @ToryBelleci

Jamie Hyneman @JamieNoTweet

Grant Imahara @grantimahara

Mike Rowe @mikeroweworks

Rush @rushtheband

Geddy Lee (Please Please)

Neil Peart

Alex Lifeson

The Doctors Who- @bbcdoctorwho

Peter Capaldi
Matt Smith
David Tennant
Christopher Eccelston

Paul McGann @pauljmcgann ?

Sylvester McCoy

Colin Baker @SawbonesHex

Peter Davison
Tom Baker

Mark Gatiss @Markgatiss

Mark Sheppard @Mark_Sheppard
John Barrowman @Team_Barrowman

Karen Gillan @karengillan

Alex Kingston

I didn't leave out John Hurt. He is just so much more than The Doctor

John Hurt @WithJohnHurt

Stephen Fry @stephenfry

Ian McKellen @IanMcKellen

Patrick Stewart (just for his twit handle alone!) @SirPatStew

Other Captains of Trek

William Shatner @WilliamShatner

Kate Mulgrew @TheKateMulgrew

Wil Wheaton (Chaos!) @wilw

Brent Spiner @BrentSpiner

Jonathon Frakes @jonathansfrakes

LeVar Burton @levarburton

Benedict Cumberbatch

Timothy Hutton @timhutton

Christian Kane @ChristianKane01

Aldis Hodge @AldisHodge

Buzz Aldrin @TheRealBuzz

Bill Nye @BillNye

Martin Freeman

Dean Devlin @Dean_Devlin

Tim Allen @ofctimallen

Tom Hanks @tomhanks

Roland Emmerich @rolandemmerich

Sean Hayes @theseanhayes

Hart Hanson @HartHanson

Robert Duvall @RobertDuvall

Adrian Paul @adrianpaul1

Any and all elected officials representing me (a list in progress)

Ken Calvert (my granny is disappointed that you said you would but didn't answer back) @KenCalvert

Dianne Feinstein @SenFeinstein

Barbara Boxer @SenatorBoxer

Jerry Browne @JerryBrownGov

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

May The Fourth Be With You

2015-05-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hey Readers Welcome to My Blog,

The main branch of the Riverside library had a May the Fourth celebration. Lots of little kids and a ton of fun. It took up the entire second floor. Mom and Dad enjoyed the vintage toys on display. It has been a long time since I have visited this library and I really liked how things have been rearranged since I was there last. I am so glad for this holiday. My family is celebrating May the Fourth thru Revenge of the Sixth with a viewing of episodes 4, 5 and 6. <<< That is the best!!

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

What's a Little Competition Among Friends?

2015-03-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

Hey Viewers,

A while ago I got the chance to review a book for a website called http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/.
This book is Reality Natalie by Katie Sparks.

I had a terrific time reading Reality Natalie. Though this book is geared toward 4-6 grade girls, the themes and characters in this book appeal to boys and girls alike. As an 11 year old boy I found that I could relate to Natalie and her friends easy. Like her I have my own blog where I interview people in my community. To have a chance, like Natalie to audition for a ‘Dream Interview’ job would be the best. My dream job is to be one of the Scholastic Kid Reporters. Natalie's is to be the guest host of her favorite kid talk show. It gets hard when her best friend who is good at everything wants the job too.

I really enjoyed how this book is centered around the themes of friendship, teamwork and honesty. These things aren’t always easy for kids my age to handle. Natalie and her classmates find out that even if doing these aren’t easy, it is totally worth it to do your best to try, that you can find friendship in the most unexpected places, and no matter how weird or unconventional you are, doing what you do best can help you achieve your dreams.

Parents, I totally recommend this book for your tween girls and their best friends. Teachers, I would recommend this book for your whole class. They will all find someone in the story to relate to and learn some great lessons about growing up.

"That's a Wrap" If you do decide to read this book, I hope you like it as much as I did.

Mom helped me post a review to Amazon.com (turns out there is more to it than just writing a review), you can catch it HERE. Reality Natalie is available for both kindle and in paperback. If you want to find some great books to read, check the review section on http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/ Be sure to check back soon, I will have a video review of the book for my new and improved book review page

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Interviewing Steve Ruth

2014-10-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hey Viewers,
On September 30, 2014, I sat down with Corona City Council candidate, Steve Ruth. It was an interesting afternoon. We spoke about his service to community and country and about his vision for Corona after he is elected. I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Ruth for having me in their home. I really enjoyed speaking with them.

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Science, Technology, Engineering Partnership Conference

2014-10-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

I went on a field trip with my class today to the Bourns Technology Center ( http://myscienceeducation.com/). We went to the STEP conference, It is a huge science and engineering expo in Riverside. Check out the photo album for more fun shots from the conference. I had so much fun learning about science. My favorite part was driving the plane. Check out all the photos at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.705746316168577.1073741874.472128689530342&type=1

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

You Want to Interview Me?

2014-10-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you live in Riverside County CA, then you could have seen me in the local paper yesterday. A truly nice reporter from the Press Enterprise, who saw me on Twitter, interviewed me a few weeks ago, about my interviewing people for my blog and You Tube channel. It was really interesting to be on the opposite side of the interview. Afterwards she let me ask her questions about what she does as a journalist and why she chose to be one. I had a super time and the article came out great. You can read the online version HERE http://www.pe.com/articles/lian-751268-interviewing-blog.html

Th picture in the paper is from my anti-bully interview with Corona police officer Jeff Hedtke. http://lianssummeroffun.blogspot.com/2014/06/what-we-can-do-about-bullying-w-jeff.html

with Jeff Hedtke

Here is the link to the Mayor's Message interview mentioned in the article. That was my favorite interview to date because it was so grown up. http://www.innercirclecorona.com/the-mayors-message-in-corona/

Interview: Tim Sheridan Candidate for Congress

2014-08-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

Hey Viewers, Today I am doing something different. In the last couple of weeks I sent email invitations to both Rep. Ken Calvert and Tim Sheridan, who are both running for the Congressional Seat of the 42nd district. I haven't heard back from Mr. Calvert, but Mr Sheridan agreed to talk with me.

I would like to thank Mr. Sheridan a lot. He took time from his schedule, even making himself late to a fundraiser, to schedule an interview with me. Then, when he got there, the place where we were going to talk wasn't ready and we had to wait for 35 minutes. He was super nice about it. As if that were not enough, we had all kinds of camera issues and he just rolled with it. It was a great interview and I appreciate that he answered my questions without talking down to me. He even invited me to come to his election headquarters.

That was the good news. The bad news is that not only did we have issues with all of the cameras not recording right, but also the software we use to make videos glitched out and has to be replaced, so I don't have a usable recording of this awesome interview. I really enjoyed talking to Mr. Sheridan. My parents will vote based on what they think about the issues, but if I had to choose, I would be likely to choose someone who could make a few minutes that turned into over an hour to talk to a kid.

Below is a transcript (Mom apologizes for any typos, mistakes in the transcript are all her fault)

--------

Hey Viewers, Welcome to my blog. Today I am talking to Tim Sheridan. He is the Democratic candidate for the 42nd Congressional seat, coming up for election in November.

Lian Nathaniel (LN)- Welcome, and thank you for squeezing me into your busy schedule today.

Tim Sheridan (TS)- Lian thank you for inviting me. I am really excited about the opportunity to talk with you.

LN- Thank you. So, to start with can you tell me a bit about who you are?

TS- Sure. I live in lake Elsinore with my wife Debbie and she and I have lived in Southern California since we got married. I first came to California in 1996 and I am originally from Syracuse New York.

LN- Thanks. So why did you choose to run for this position?

TS- Well, that is a good question. I don’t think that the Congress works very well and I think that it time that we make a change with some of the Representatives that are in Congress including the individual that I am running against. I think he has been there for too long, he has been there for over twenty years. I think every now and then in institutions like Congress we need to make a change and I think this is the year to make a change.

LN- Interesting.

Mr. Sheridan, what do you think is the biggest challenge facing our district in the next two years and what is your plan for addressing it?

TS- I think that the biggest challenge facing any candidate in any position is to create jobs. Ultimately good jobs are what helps our country move forward. Any person running for office, their first focus should be on creating good jobs for the citizens they represent. One of the things I will do when elected to Congress is to work on creating good paying jobs here in the 42nd District and Riverside County as a whole and I am going to do whatever I can to make that happen. I think that is the most important thing. When someone has a good job they feel better about themselves and they are able to go out and be a productive member of society and that’s important.

LN- Great!
What advice do you have for young people who are interested in public service?

TS- Well, Public service is just that, it’s service and I think for a young person to want to get involved in politics, one of the first things you can do is volunteer for local organizations, like this library here. Thinking about going into the armed services and serving your country is a good thing if you ultimately want to get involved in public service. I think it is one of those things that you should start early and focus as much as you can on helping other people, that’s what important about public service. That is one of the reasons I am running for Congress, I want to help other people.

LN- Great advice!

TS- Thank you.

LN- Finally, what is the one thing you would like all of your potential constituents to know about you?

TS- I think the most important thing that people should know about me is that I am a hard worker and I am committed to what I am doing. When I am elected to Congress, I am going to sure to be in the district as often as possible and willing to talk to constituents, like you, when I get a phone call or email from them. I think that it one of the most important things that any member of Congress or any public servant can do, is to get out among the people, talk to them about the issues that are important to them and take that knowledge back to the elected office they hold.

LN- Terrific.
Thank you so much for stopping by to speak with me.

TS- I really enjoyed this. Thank you very much too. We’ll see you again.

Update Oct 4, 2014: Rep Calvert's office finally sent a response to my invitation saying I could interview him by email and I have sent my questions (same as above) and am waiting for a response.

CFD is En Fuego

2014-06-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

I got to spend Tuesday afternoon touring Fire Station #1 here in Corona. I met some nice firefighters and learned a lot about how they live and work. The full interview with Captain Jim Steiner will be available next week, but here are some photos light your imagination.

Fun at the Library

2014-06-22T15:59:00.001-07:00

Took some time on Sunday to visit the Home Gardens Library.

2nd Generation Geekboy

Selfie

Do I have enough books?

Creative Sports Interview: Ricky Moseley

2014-06-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

In February the PTA at my school invited a BMX stunt show to perform for us. The show by Creative Sports was spectacular. When our computer crashed we thought we lost the footage but we recently found it on a thumb drive.

This is part two with Ricky Moseley. I enjoyed his stunts and I really liked his answer to my question about what he liked best about performing at schools. He said he liked showing kids that they can make a living doing anything. That is awesome.

My favorite stunt was he jumped his bike over 6 people including four of our teachers!

What we can do about bullying w/ Jeff Hedkte

2014-06-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was sad to see that someone that used
to go to my school decided to go through my You Tube
channel and leave hurtful remarks, then do it again a few
weeks later. It was kind of hard for me because I post
everything publicly and not everybody is going to like
what what I post or even be nice about it. I kind of have
to take the bad with the good, but it got me to thinking.

At my school this last year, we went to several anti-bullying
assemblies. Bullying is a super big deal and I have heard so
many awful things in the news about bullying and cyber-bullying,
so Mom and I did a little research. There are all kinds of stories
out there about 5th and 6th graders, kids my age, doing
unthinkable things because someone was picking on them.

Last summer I was lucky enough to interview Lt. Neil Reynolds
from the Corona Police department. I sent him an email asking
for his advice on who to talk to now about my concerns and he
put me in touch with Officer Jeff Hedtke, Corona’s Gang
Intervention Officer.

I got to speak with Officer Hedtke last week and it was a
super interview. He really made everything understandable.
He had great advice and he totally got that the hardest part
about a kid being bullied is that we are kids and don’t always
know how handle the situation.

I know this is the longest interview I have had but it so worth
watching it to the end.

Thank you so much Officer Hedtke for talking with me and
Thanks to the Corona PD for being there for the community.

2014 Corona Library Events w/ Abigail Shellberg

2014-05-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my mom ran into Gretchen Doughty from the Friends of The Corona Public Library at a PTA luncheon and told her that I really wanted to interview someone about Corona Library's Book - a - Palooza. She was nice enough to pass on my information and I was contacted by Abigail Shellberg. She is the Library Services Director at Corona Public Library. She said she would love to talk to me.

The library in Corona has so many neat things going on this summer. Movies, live shows, crafts and other activities and a terrific reading program called Paws to Read.

I really enjoyed talking with Miss Shellberg. It was a fun conversation and she really seemed to be looking forward the Pets on Parade part of Book -a- Palooza.

http://coronapubliclibrary.org/summerfest.aspx

You can find the sign up to Paws to Read and calendar of events for the Library at Http://CoronaPublicLibrary.org

Don't forget to check out The Friends of The Corona Public Library book shop at the library or online at

I know where I will be sending a lot of my summer. See you there. #Library #SummerFun

Interviewing the Mayor of Corona

2014-05-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

On Friday I was really late to school because I was invited to stop by Corona City Hall and talk with Corona Mayor, Karen Spiegel. Every month she does what she calls 'The Mayor's Message', when she interviews people in the city about upcoming events and important topics for the city. I really like her interviews, they seem so easy for her.

I had sent her an email asking if I could interview her and she really liked the interview I was involved in with Senator Roth, so she said she would talk with me. Then she got the idea for me to interview her on her Mayor's Message.

It was so much fun. Normally I just have Mom and a camera. For this there were three professional cameras, lots of equipment and a whole bunch of people making sure my clothes looked right and fixing that one little hair on my face.

There are lots of topics important to the city which have to air first, so it will be a while before this interview airs, but I can't wait. I had so much and learned so much. Plus the wrote me the best excuse letter for being late for school ever!

As soon as it ready I will post the link and my behind the scenes video. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy the pictures. #CityofCorona

Interviewing a CA State Senator

2014-04-16T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hello Viewers,

Yesterday the most fun amazing thing happened. I got to interview a State Senator.

About a month ago I sent an email to Senator Richard Roth's office asking what the procedure for getting an interview might be. I exchanged many emails with his assistant, Tyler Madary, who wrote back about how it works.

"The Communications Director is in charge of all of Senator Roth’s media appearances, including newspapers, television, and social media. The Scheduler is in charge of Senator Roth’s calendar. When Senator Roth is invited to meetings or events, she checks his calendar to make sure that he is available to attend."

I was really excited to hear back that he would let me interview him. I talked with my Jaguar News adviser (and vice principal) at school and he arranged with the student council advisers for the student council to help come up with questions for the Senator and with our school librarian, who allowed us to use her vintage library for the interview.

The Senator spoke with us for about 20 minutes and he answered our questions. After the interview, we went on a tour of the school. Some of the buildings there are really old, like our library which used to be the auditorium and it still has the fireplace that used to keep the room warm. At the end, Senator Roth gave me a really beautiful Challenge Coin. I had never heard of those before but Mom and I looked them up at home later and I am really honored that he gave me one. A nice lady from our district was there and she took a bunch of pictures and then interviewed me! You can see her Facebook post HERE

You can see the whole interview here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jh7eEWM_5c , but here is my favorite part.

I am super happy how this all worked out and I know I could never have managed all by myself. I am thankful to everyone who helped.

Be sure to check out my You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgHQdcIBb8OXAoWZKcJFLUasZSXcp2-c and don't forget I am also on Facebook now. https://www.facebook.com/Lianssummeroffun

Best Hot Dogs Ever!

2014-03-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

Hey Viewers!

Hot dogs are my favorite food and my parents took me to a really great place this week. They make their own hot dogs and they really like the mid-west. It is called The Hot Dog Shoppe. Their whole shop is decorated in Chicago Cubs stuff and there are lots of TVs that are always playing sports. There are so many choices for hot dogs. They come with dozens of different toppings and in different sizes. The guy who owns the place picks out what my dad will order and Dad says he always likes it. I just get plain bacon wrapped dogs but they are the best ever and my mom's favorite is the Thor. Here is a link to their epic menu!