I am hoping that you all have experienced this fictional GREATNESS by now so my telling you about it would be a total waste of my time and yours…
but…
in the event that you have just entered to the planet earth after orbiting for the last few years I give you this:
Welcome to the Nation of Panem, the world after the final world war and now what is left is a world broke into twelve districts. Panem is a hard place to live, food is minimum, and each year a teenage boy and a teenage girl from each district is chosen to enter the Hunger Games… a televised arena (think Super bowl audience) of a fight to the death. Only one may stand as winner of the Hunger Games.
16-year-old Katniss Everdeen is the sole provider for her mother and young sister Primrose. They live in district 12 and this years Hunger Games are about to be announced. As district Twelve gathers to hear who will be chosen this year, the girl’s name is announced: “Primrose Everdeen.” Katniss feels her mind go blank as she watches her little sister, first year to have her name in the Games, and does what she knows she must do…
steps in place of her sister.
I read this book two years ago, even thought the synopsis freaked me out a bit. Kids fighting to the death? But the blogs were raving and I went in to the read cautiously… and never looked back.
Now, this coming March 2012 The Hunger Games will be a movie! (Insert SSSQQQUUUEEEEEE here 😛 ) and in honor of that, I thought it was time to explore Panem again, but this time around in audio. narrated by a fantastic Carolyn McCormick, it did not take me long to get back into the rhythm of the Hunger Games. In fact, while baking most of the afternoon and evening on Tuesday I listened to almost the whole audio in one listen! (It really was a lot of baking…)
It was nice to revisit this book and if you have not experienced this yet I recommend you take some time before the movie release and do so! Here is a little movie clip to get you motivated:
Author’s note: I started writing this post on Wednesday morning… while making a pear french toast bake for our office brunch party, trying to get the car loaded with the punkin rolls, white elephant gift, and pretzels, as well as get myself ready… I had to forfeit the post and RUN! Now… here it is a day late…. but I think worthy. 😀
Good morning! Flying by the seat of my pants here – I have my Pear French Toast bake in the over and am waiting for it to be done so can take off for our office party this morning. We are doing a breakfast brunch theme and yes, another White Elephant gift exchange (this will be my 4th this year – see Mondays post for more details on this 😀 )
Monday after working and shopping I was home at 4:00 pm and started cooking – 10 pumpkin rolls. Yes…. TEN. 😯 Always the optimistic, I tend to forget how much time things can take and about 10:30 last night… back aching, kitchen a mess, but happy as I was listening to Hunger Games on audio for most of my baking time…
I finished.
I think they look good and that is what I am giving my co workers this year. That, and two coated pretzel rods which I worked on when my oven was full of pumpkin loafs a baking.
I had first learned how to make a pumpkin loaf back when I worked at Wal-Mart. One of the guys there was wonderful at making these and every Christmas we could order them. When I left Wal-Mart, he gave me his recipe. Now here it is for you:
Pumpkin Rolls
you will need:
3 eggs
2/3 cup pumpkin (from a can)
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Filling:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp butter
1 8 oz package of softened cream cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 15x10x1 inch baking pan and line with parchment paper. Grease and flour the paper.
In a large bowl, beat eggs on high for five minutes. Gradually add white sugar and pumpkin. Add flour, cinnamon, and baking soda. Spread batter evenly in pan. Sprinkle walnuts evenly on top.
Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Immediately turn out onto a linen towel dusted with confectioners sugar. Peel off paper and roll cake up in the towel, starting with the short end. Cool.
To Make Filling: Mix confectioners sugar, vanilla, butter or margarine, and cream cheese together till smooth.
Carefully unroll the cake. Spread filling over cake to within 1 inch of edges. Roll up again. Cover and chill until serving. Dust with additional confectioners’ sugar, if desired.
So delicious! I used these for office gift giving. They also freeze well.
Then for fun, I made some candied pretzel rods. I melted chocolate, white almond bark, and caramel. I alternated between dipping in chocolate or almond bark, adding caramel, or rolling in crushed candy cane or crushed Reese’s Pieces.
In bookish news… I just finished Hunger Games on audio last night… awesome! AND I am about half way through the Christmas Cookie Club which is honestly… giving me ideas…. 😀
At age 15, Rob Lowe found himself as one of the first teen idols at a time when actors under the age of 20 were not a big deal. Young and naive Rob learned the hard way about life as a star and struggled through many movies in his early career days such as starting with a couple after school specials, then onto The Outsiders, Class, ST Elmo’s Fire, Young Blood, Masquerade, About Last Night, Wayne’s World, Tommy Boy, The West Wing, and Brothers and Sisters just to name a few.
Rob’s story is multi layered as he opens up Pandora’s box and shares the excitement of the first big break, to the pain of poor choices, bad publicity, and then finally… finding himself among the wreckage and pulling himself out.
The cover shoot of controversy - right before John Kennedys death
I came into knowing Rob in the mid 80’s. I would say if you were to ask me what he is known for I would immediately gush out something like “St. Elmo’s Fire!” (I don’t think I have ever even seen The Outsiders.) Basically, no, I was not a groupie. 😀
When this book came out I confess mild interest… I had heard through the years of his struggles with alcohol, but nothing that made me run out and grab the book. Then when I seen the audio was narrated by Rob, I was a little more interested, and finally went ahead and picked it up.
Here is what I expected from this audio:
Tales of a child star, movies and tv show connections, crashing and burning at an early age, how he pulled himself together, and a little info about his current life.
I did not expect:
Connections to powerful people at a very young age, long before he made a name for himself, painful revelations into his early acting career, behind the scenes play by plays to such movies as The Outsiders where most of Rob’s parts never make it to the screen, a loss of many friends to drugs at a young age, an incredibly life shattering experience and connection tot he events of 9-11, and a couple times where I just openly wept as I listened.
Never sounding braggy, or conceited, in a very calm and amazing narration, Rob Lowe shares the stories of his career. The early days of hanging out with the likes of Shawn and Chris Penn, Charlie Sheen and Emelio Estevez, this was his original brat pack.
His early childhood was one of hardships, parents were divorced by age 5, and his mom struggled with mental health issues…yet Rob finds himself in amazing situations! Once while doing a little theater he encounters a heart to heart talk with Liza Minneli and another time has a conversation with Tally Savalis.
While this may all sound like yeah, yeah, yeah…. stuff, when Rob gets into talking about the auditions surrounding the well known movie The Outsiders, you really feel for him. In great detail you hear about the painstaking readings of any part at random. How he struggled and eventually succeeded to get the part of Pony Boy, only to be shocked when he is not invited to a big pre screening and again when the movie is finally on the big screen and much of what he has done is cut out.
And Rob talks about death. It seemed to be all around him even at a young age. He names friends who overdosed, others – suicide. As Robb listed name after name I was amazed, and this follows him all the way through his life. At one point he talks about shooting for the cover of George Magazine, the magazine ran by his friend John Kennedy, after Rob had completed the shoot, John, his wife, and sister-in-law were on their way to connect with Rob when their plane went down… the rest… is history.
And story after story is like this. Through his struggles with addiction and eventually rehab, to scandals that cost him much, Rob is never finger-pointing, never accusatory. Instead, he is … humble. He is quick to accept his blame.
At times I laughed, Rob does a funny impression on Chris Farley (shoot, he does many great voices!) eating pieces of steak with butter on it, and at times I cried, when once again Rob shares the loss of yet another actor.
I can’t tell you how much this audio this moved me. I had no big crush on Rob as a teenager, if anything… I found him a little too pretty. I listened to this audio, myself being an outsider, I looked in to a soul that made me look around the room and wonder why I had not gathered friends to listen to this with me. This is an audio I want to share. It may very well be the best audio memoir I have listened to this year.
If you were a fan – or not, I HIGHLY recommend you treat yourself to this audio. Days after finishing it, I am still moved.
Good morning. Still no snow here in Central Minnesota.
……………………………………
😛
Love that.
So… is just Minnesota… or is the “white elephant” gift party a big thing everywhere. Seriously, I have been to three of these so far this year.
If you are not familiar with the term, a White Elephant party is where you exchange gifts by rolling dice or drawing numbers, but the white elephant gift is to be one of those items you don’t want… something odd like a plastic football shaped bowl, an old t – shirt, plastic santa, a well used board game, funky socks, etc…
Well last night, I had the ultimate White Elephant gift! It took some maneuvering to get my hands on.
1.First… I called the girl who I thought was the holder of said item, Sandi.
2. She said she did not have it, her sister Kari did.
3. I called Kari in which I offered to buy said item from her…. she laughed and said I could have it, as she had two. Awesome! 😛
4. After work I drove out to Kari’s new house but could not find it house.
5. Called Kari and left a message, tried her husband Tim, called Sandi and left message
6. Drove back to my house.
7. Sandi returns my call and says I did not go far enough… so back I go out to find the house
8. Success! I find the house and then receive the item!
SO last night I am at the party and when my item is chosen by the unsuspecting Kelly…. I can’t wait! It is:
So what is “Go Girl?” It is an item for women to use to go to the bathroom with ease when they are camping… although the packaging also mentions, fishing, and concerts which concerts concerns me a bit… but I am not going to spend time on that one…LOL
There was a coveted item of the night which actually was not only a pretty sweet item for a White Elephant party, it got my mind thinking of what I could do with this… (I don’t have an actual pic of the item but here is the basic idea:)
My friend Kate, made something like this except it just said Kickasserole and it was etched in the bottom of a glass baking dish. When I asked her how she did this she said she used Glass Etching Cream. Well… needless to say I was fascinated! This cream, using vinyl letters etches the lettering into the glass. No kidding…. my head is swimming with ideas. 😀
Finally, you may be wondering what I walked away with….
It was this:
Jesus and little lamb bandages
And I am keeping them as last week I cut myself on the paper cutter and needed a band aid bad! So this is just a smart item to have around. 😀
Do you ever do these crazy gift giving parties? Any funny stories?
This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!
I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment telling me how many you visited. **You do not have to have a blog to participate! You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.
What a great week! I read and I listened to audio and well, for the first time in a long time I pretty much made it through everything I said I was going to read and listen to! 😀
See? Told you I had a great week! 😛 My audio time was awesome and my evenings were not as heavy this week so I got in some good reading time too!
Now – this week I thought I would have a little fun with my reading… tis the season and all that 😀
Every year at Christmastime, Marnie and her twelve closest girlfriends gather in the evening with batches of beautifully wrapped homemade cookies. Everyone has to bring a dessert and a bottle of wine, but this year, it’s their stories that are especially important. Marnie’s oldest daughter has a risky pregnancy. Jeannie’s father is having an affair with her best friend. Taylor’s life is in financial freefall. Rosie’s husband doesn’t want children, and she has to decide, very soon, the fate of her marriage.
On this evening, at least, they can feel as a group the impulses of sisterly love and conflict, the passion and hopefulness of a new romance, the betrayal and disillusionment some relationships bring, the joys and fears of motherhood, the agony of losing a child, and above all, the love they have for one another. As Marnie says, the Christmas Cookie Club, if it’s anything, is a reminder of delight.
This is the perfect week to read this one! Afterwards I am going to give my copy away 😀
All She Wants For Christmas Is…
If Amber Taylor doesn’t find a way home for Christmas, her mother is definitely going to disown her. Unfortunately, there’s no way she can afford to buy a plane ticket on her paltry salary. Luckily the universe obviously has her back. Why else would a single, drop-dead gorgeous actor suddenly show up on her doorstep and offer to drive her cross-country for the holidays?
A Happily Ever After…
Hunky Scott Cardoza was everything Amber desired in a boyfriend–except that he definitely had heartbreaker written all over him, which is why Amber promised herself that their road trip was going to be anything but romantic. Yet being cooped up in a tiny car for three days with the man of her dreams was turning out to be quite a challenge. Good things rules were meant to be broken…
Ok, a little out of my genre style but I picked this up at the library sale this fall and it is Christmas related… sort of… I think… maybe… 😯
A teen idol at fifteen, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at twenty, and one of Hollywood’s top stars to this day, Rob Lowe chronicles his experiences as a painfully misunderstood child actor in Ohio uprooted to the wild counterculture of mid-seventies Malibu, where he embarked on his unrelenting pursuit of a career in Hollywood.
The Outsiders placed Lowe at the birth of the modern youth movement in the entertainment industry. During his time on The West Wing, he witnessed the surreal nexus of show business and politics both on the set and in the actual White House. And in between are deft and humorous stories of the wild excesses that marked the eighties, leading to his quest for family and sobriety.
Never mean-spirited or salacious, Lowe delivers unexpected glimpses into his successes, disappointments, relationships, and one-of-a-kind encounters with people who shaped our world over the last twenty-five years. These stories are as entertaining as they are unforgettable.
I have been listening to this one for a couple of days now and WOW… this is so much more than I expected – cant wait to review!
Hopefully, this one needs no introduction. Yes, I read this a couple of years ago, but now as the movie inches closer and closer I am going to treat myself to it on audio! 😛
Thats my week! I have a Christmas Party on Monday evening but other than that my evenings are free for the week! (Well… sort of… I still need to put the tree up, shop, figure out Christmas dinner…. LOL)
So what are you reading this week? ARE you reading this week? 😀 Cant wait to see so add your link below where it says Click Here!
Oh, and in case I don’t get another chance to say it to you this week… Merry Christmas. May your holiday be wonderful and full of good memories.
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In addition, if you are a reviewer of Middle Grade or children’s books… be sure to link to the Picture books to YA version of Monday, What Are You Reading here as well:
Donia Bijan grew up in a family that appreciated good food. Food to her was a language all of its own, it was used to celebrate as well as substantiate, is was used in times of great joy, and n times of sorrow. Growing up in Iran, Donia was surrounded by foods that were a part of her families life… loaves of bread were sliced in thick slabs and covered in fine cheeses and tomatoes, roasted duck, leg of lamb, homemade jams and fresh brewed teas were a breakfast staple. Her father, a doctor, would not have his family wasting money on foods they could buy on the streets when they could make their own mouthwatering delicacies better than any thing purchased. Her mother a nurse, would share her time between her family, the kitchen, and the hospital. Many childhood memories were in that kitchen as vegetables were cut for thick stews, and batters stirred for mouth watering baked goods.
Then in 1978 when the Islamic revolution threatened their safety, Donia’s family fled to California, where the food of then and now formed a bridge to the life they had left behind. Donia grew into a love for creating foods that created togetherness, and to her fathers disappointment (he wanted her to go into medicine) yet her mothers unending support, Donia took the steps needed to become the award winning chef she is today.
From the Persian world of her youth, to her new life in America this book walks up through Donia’s time at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris to apprenticeships in France’s three star kitchens, back to San Francisco where she opened her own now famous bistro.
Recipes I made this afternoon... Orange Cardamom Cookies and the Persian cardamom Tea
For a girl who does not really like to cook, I sure do read a lot of cooking related books. 😀 Honestly that baffles me a bit too… but as I type this and really think about it, I am mesmerized by those who can cook…those who can take a table full of ingredients and create a master piece.
I don’t think it is so much that I do not like cooking, as I have yet to find the patience it takes to do it right.
From the moment I laid eyes on this book I knew I wanted to read it. It sounded like the just the type of story I enjoy reading. Donia family brings to the table a memoir of family and traditions, and foods that would make the strongest of readers salivate page to page.
Along side Donia’s story of growing up surrounded by an appreciation for fresh foods, and wholesome meals, she leaves us with trails of recipes sprinkled throughout the pages. While some looked delicious but I felt I was not skilled enough to put it to the test, others sounded down right doable, and I put my basic skills to the test today of placing ingredients together to make the delectable Orange Cardamom Cookies along side the Persian Cardamom Tea…
the results were delicious. I think I now know what is going into my Christmas goody bags…. 😀
Donia’s story is an incredible journey that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a wonderful memoir filled with a family that feels like you are sitting at their glorious table.
Orange Cardamom Cookies
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
grated zest of 2 oranges
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
Beat butter in a bow with an electric mixer until it whitens. Add the sugar and blend well. Add teh egg yolk and orange zest. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. In a separate bowl mix the flour, salt, cardamom, and poppy seeds. Once mixed, add to the butter mixture and mix until a dough like consistency.
Form the dough into two logs, roll in waxed paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Using a sharp knife, cut the chilled dough into 1/2 inch rounds and place on cookie sheet 1 inch apart. Bake 12 – 15 minutes until edges of cookie are golden brown. This dough will keep well in the freezer up to 3 weeks.
Persian Cardamom Tea
Bring kettle to a boil. Swirl some of the boiling water into teapot to warm it then dump water back into kettel. Measure 2 heaping teaspoons of Earl Grey tea leaves and 1 crushed pod of cardamom and place in tea pot. Add the boiling water to pot and let steep for ten minutes.
Pour a cup of tea and then pour tea pack into tea pot to to warm cup and to make sure color is even.
Yesterday I put up a post inviting you to ask me anything and today I would respond to those questions. Your questions were fun… and funny and the rest of this post is dedicated to the answers:
Well…. I am wearing my FAVORITE flip flops around the house. I picked these little jewels up at a clearance sale hmmm… about three years ago. They have paint on them, they are cracked on the bottom and I LOVE them! 😛
How did I meet Al?
This is a great story! I worked as a manager at Domino’s Pizza fresh out of High School. Al came in one day for an interview, he was a drummer in a band and had long hair (funny… as now he hardly has any hair!). The interview went well but as we finished up I told him that in order to work there he would have to be clean-cut… hair above the collar line. He got up and walked out of the interview. 😯 Three days later, he came back clean-shaven and was hired. A year after that we were engaged. 😛
What is the craziest thing I have ever done?
Oh wow… where to begin. I have done a lot of CRAZY, but I guess most recent in memory would be actually three things, all from this year… one would be jumping into the frozen lake in a prom dress for Special Olympics, and two would have to be colliding with the dude in front of me in June, going 18.6 miles per hour on my road bike on the two-day tour for MS. The crazy part is that instead of going home after being ambulanced off the trail to the emergency room, I stayed day two and cheered for my team. My bike, was in no shape to ride day two… neither was I. 😛 And finally it was the Warrior Dash first time in Minnesota that I refused to cancel just because I had a cast on.
Crazy #1: Dressed for ice plunging success... click on pic to go to postCrazy #1: After The PLUNGE!!! March 2011 in Minnesota. BRRRRRCrazy #2: Click to see this post
Crazy #3: The Warrior Dash in a cast! Click on pic to go to post
I wish I had pushed myself more in High School, but sadly I did not. I went more in the direction of Drama class and working on the year book. If I were to do it over again… you bet I would try out! 😀
What were my favorite memories from High School?
I had a hunky hunky boyfriend (yes I said hunky… yes I said it twice). My car was a black firebird and I loved that car! My BFF and I used to go everywhere in it!
When I wake up in the morning, do you immediately grab some coffee, and then go to the computer? Or do something else…
My morning routine is pretty consistent. I get up in the morning and head into the bathroom and flip on my IPOD to the audio book I am currently listening to. I listen to that all through getting ready. Then I enter the kitchen, turn on the audio book in my CD player on the counter (different audio) while I make coffee and arrange everything I need for work.
Finally, I sit down at the table, and yes, pop open my emails while I have my COFFEE and then I write the morning meandering. If I am lucky, I have a book review ready to schedule to go live in the late morning.
As far back as I can remember I have been a book-worm. In 2nd grade I won the book-worm award… I loved to read, slowed down a bit out of high school and in the early years f my marriage and then came back full force to books.
What gave you the idea to create a book blog?
Oddly, it was my Pastor who led me to blogging. He knew I always wanted to write and helped me set up my wordpress blog. This forever, was not my first blog… my first blog was Straight On Through and was just random posts about life and happenings and the occasional book. After about a year of that I started this one to keep track of my book reviews as more of a private book log of what I have read as opposed to the journals I kept of my reading… the rest is history 😀
For the most part – yes. I was born here in Brainerd. In 8th grade after a house fire my mom and I went to live with my aunt and uncle in Soldotna Alaska for a year and I actually started and finished 8th grade there. Afterwards we came back to Brainerd and rebuilt on the same property, which is the property I live on now. 😀
What are you hoping to find under the Christmas tree?
OOH – good question! My gift from Al is already on my kitchen table, the Cricut and cartridges! From my sons I have asked them to pick a book off my wish list which I have up in the tab area of this blog for easy access! 😀
Lately…. sporadic. Seems like life has been very busy lately between work and other commitments… at times I mean to write a post at night but find I can not concentrate because I am too tired. Then, like this weekend, I get in some great reading and blogging time and all is well with the world again. 😀
In good times – I write a morning post of whatever is happening in my life and in the evenings after Al has gone to bed I read and write book reviews.
What is a hard decision you had to make but you don’t regret?
That one is easy, putting our dog down in October. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It sucked. It hurt like hell. BUT – I also know it was the right thing.
Yes, as much as possible I do and love it when I am current in my reviews. 😀
What’s a typical day like for you?
Crazy. But really, whose life isn’t? On a typical week day I:
Get up around 6:30 am
Get ready for work, get the coffee on, and write my morning post
Work 8:00 am – 3:00 pm where I create, run reports, go to meetings, plan upcoming events, return calls to people, set up class schedules, keep current on invoices, reserve space…
3:00 pm – if out of the office on time I try to hit the gym for an hour of cardio, or a group power class
I guess I have never really thought about this! Thinking about it now thoughI am going to say hummingbird. They are fascinating!
If you could have a secret hideaway anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If I told you it wouldn’t be much of a secret now would it! LOL Actually if I could go anywhere to be alone I would love it to be warm secluded beach house right on the beach somewhere. I could read and write at my leisure!
On average I would say one to two hours a day. I read a lot in the evenings, and if I have time on weekends. If you counted audio, I probably get in 2 hours of audio in onaverage per day betweengetting ready in the morning, drive time, and cooking in the evening where I listen to audio while I am in the kitchen.
How many hours do you spend blogging vs actually spending time online?
Ugh… do I even want to know the answer to this question? 😛 Lets see, my actual blogging per day is probably about an hour average. My on-line time per day between emails, words with friends on Facebook, and reading other blogs, probably add a couple more hours to that. Of course some days are less… but yeah – some days are more. 😯
What is the one book you’ve recommended the most to people this year?
I think that has been The Knife Of Never Letting Go. This series blew me away and I think everyone needs to read it.
What book would you want to receive for Christmas this year?
There are a few I really am anxious about but I think I would really like The Future Of Us by Jay Asher. He impressed me so much with Thirteen Reasons Why.
I love your blog and notice that though you have such a busy life you still find time to write blog posts and reviews. What is your secret?
COFFEE. 😛Actually I think it is because I have a husband who is out of the house from 5:30 am – 6:00 pm (sometimes later depending on the time of year). We had our kids early so we are young for them to be all grown up and gone but they are. I work 25 hours a week and that leaves me with quite a bit of reading and blogging time.
Do you have a favorite Christmas tradition?
Our holiday gatherings are usually just us and the boys and we like to spend the afternoons and evenings munching on left overs from the big dinner, snacking, and watching movies and playing board games. 😀
When a new book is published and you know you want to own it, do you tend to buy it in print or for your Nook?
I buy the book. Honestly, I have not done much with my NOOK an I know I need to change that. I am still a real book girl. I like that I can loan out a book-book to anyone.
Vicki at I’d Rather Be At The Beach asked:
Were you popular in school?
Define… popular. LOL Actually I was more in the middle group. I wasnt a jock or a brain.
Did you get good grades?
This is another of those times when I want a do-over. I did ok in school but I really did not push myself and my mom did not really push me either. I know, in hindsight I could have done better. As it was I did ok, I was mainly C’s and B’s. I loved all my reading and writing classes… hated math. Still do. 😀
Name the one thing you MUST do on your “Bucket List”
In a soon to be released post you will see some of my crazy plans for 2012… one thing on my bucket list that I still hope to do is ride a mechanical bull. 😀
Will you move to Florida so I can go biking etc. with you?
I don’t think I will move to Florida however I do love it there! My son is currently in the Navy in Jacksonville and you never know when I may decide to pop that way. I also want to VERY BADLY go to Harry Potter World, so depending on where you are, maybe we can get that bike ride in, or at least a trip to a coffee shop to chat and a book store. 😀
Who are your favorite female and male actors?
BRADLEY COOPER! Oh… did I answer that too quickly? 😳
Denzel Washington DENZEL!!!
Natalie Portman
Jennifer Aniston(although some of her movies – not so much)
Angelina Jolie (I know I know.. but I love the Tomb Raider movies!)
What wonderful book would you recommend I read in the coming year?
The books I have been recommending as of late are the Chaos Walking Series which starts with The Knife Of Never Letting Go. Fantastic! Also, if you love the 80’s and have fond memories of video games, movies, and popular 80’s stars… I highly recommend Ready Player One – oh and please listen to it on audio. 😀
Millie asked:
How did you get started in your book club? How does your book club select a book? How can I start my own book club?
I started Bookies back in August of 2001. It started as a way to bring people together who I worked with. At that time I had been at Wal-Mart for 10 years and thought it was sad we didn’t have connections beyond the time clock.We started with 3 people… it grew from there. We have met every month since August 2001. Over 112 meetings now!
We select books by vote. We ask that each person bring a book suggestion to the meeting. It must be a fairly new release (so we can find copies) and it must be in paperback (to keep our cost down).
To start your own book club I say just do it! Pick the first book, share what you are planning to do with those you would like to be involved. If you are open to anyone joining, post about it on Facebook. Pick a place and a time to meet and go from there. The library has meeting rooms if you are looking for a public place to meet – or a coffee shop or restaurant is fun too.:D
The Bookies Book Club 2011 Queen Event (click on pic for post)
What do you call soft drinks where you live? Soda? Pop? Soda pop?
Pop. It’s funny you ask. I have relatives in California who call it Coke. All of it. “Can I grab you a Coke?” they would say and I would respond no, I like Pepsi. 😛
What goodie are you going to make for the holidays? (I need ideas too!)
Time is of the essence so I am thinking I am going to make some cookies (recipe is going up later today in a Weekend Cooking post), Chocolate and Caramel covered pretzel rods, and Chocolate Biscotti – which is always a hit. I will post the other two recipes this week. 😀
Do you own a Time Turner like Hermione? Otherwise, how on earth do you keep up with your busy schedule???
I wish I owned a time turner! Now I want to go back to my above answer to Kathy about what I would like to see under the tree! Totally time turner. 😀 As far as my schedule I just go and go and go… and then I crash for a day or two (like this weekend). I can keep the pace up for only so long and then I don’t want to leave the house, talk on the phone, or socialize in any way (beyond this blog). Yet, once I recharge, I am itching to go go go again!
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
There was a time I would have said Florida… I love WARM. I hate COLD. But, now there is so much I do love about Minnesota, our seasons are intense, but beautiful (except winter). I love my friends, I love the bike trails, the long distance rides, adventures, hiking… Winter I could go to Florida… 😀
Which side of the bed to you sleep on standing at the foot and looking toward the headboard?
I sleep on the right side of the bed at home. Oddly though, if I go to our cabin and Al is not with, I choose the left side there.
Are you a back, stomach or side sleeper?
Stomach and side, but never on my back… I have no idea why….
Is there a question that you are hoping no one asks, if so, what’s the question?
What are you wearing? LOL…. that’s just an awkward/creepy question always!
Marce from Tea Time With Marce asked:
Where has your favourite vacation spot been?
I am going with Costa Rica. It was a gorgeous trip and we were able to explore a rain forest and swing through it too! Fantastic place we stayed at – all-inclusive and the tan I got and the books I read!
Have you ever did extreme sports and if not would you?
Define extreme… LOL… actually I am going to do the Tough Mudder event coming here in May. It is supposed to be really extreme and I am scared and excited all at once! I will talk more about this in the next few weeks. 😀
What has been your favourite Spoiler book button conversation so far?
Excellent question and man, I miss that spoiler button…I need some big exciting/controversial books to hash out! The Hunger Games spoiler page still gets hits, people yelling PEETA at me….LOL, The Lightning Thief made me the most angry, but ROOM by Emma Donoghue was probably the best with even a little conversation with the author!
SO wow, that was a lot of fun! Thanks for the questions 😀
If one day you and your family are outside your home ready to witness a significant event… a meteor about to hit the moon. You are all excited as thought you are going to witness an eclipse, but then… when the meteor does hit, the moon is pushed closer to the earth.
Suddenly… people are in a panic, due to the moons pull, tidal waves start taking out cities near the coast, earthquakes and intense storm patterns make up the days and the nights. Electricity is on again off again and the grocery stores have been cleared out and closed. What is left of the gas is now $9 a gallon and nothing is open anymore – not even McDonald’s.
Life as we knew it…
is no more.
This is what happens to Miranda, her two brothers, and her mother when the meteor hits the moon. Suddenly the most important resource of all…
is hope.
Ok… so funny story. About a year ago my friend Amy and I were driving to my cabin up North. On the way Amy started talking excitedly about this book… “It was so real,” she says excitedly, “everything comes to a stop… no longer did the world have use of computers, cars stopped along the roads, stores closed – basically the world comes to a screeching halt!”
I agreed, it did sound like a fascinating book and had been in the back burner of my mind ever since that conversation.
When I started reading Life As We Knew It I knew what she meant… all a little too real, and I had the second and third books in hand ready to go on to them. Upon seeing Amy recently I told her, “I am finally getting into that book, Life As We Knew It, that you recommended so long ago to me. I am loving it, why did I wait so. long?”
“What was it called?” she asked, looking confused.
“Life As We Knew It,” I replied, “you know the one you recommended to me about a year ago while we were going to the cabin.”
Amy thought for a moment. “Oh, you must mean One Second After. That’s the one I read about all the computers and everything stopping and sending the world back into the dark ages. I have never read Life As We Knew It.”
Me: “oh.”
LOL
SO anyway, I read the wrong book – for the right reasons and I have to say it was a wonderful read.
Life As We Knew It is all to real. When the meteor knocked the moon closer to the earth causing all these repercussions (tidal waves, earth quakes, volcanic eruptions, and of course, wide-spread panic) I could imagine all to easily that happenings.
Grocery stores quickly empty, vandalism becomes huge, and as days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months, people are afraid to leave their home. If you are lucky enough to have a wood stove – AND lucky enough to have fire wood, that wood is kept inside your home. Rooms are blocked off to conserve heat in one main area and food is rationed to the point of days of fasting and choosing which one meal you want a day – breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
In a world of overabundance, where I almost daily stop by a store to pick up something I need to make dinner, run into a gas station for a diet Dr Pepper, or Twizzlers, and occasionally have to hit the local book store for that “must read”, the idea is down right frightening.
Looking around my own home I wonder how long I would last with the canned goods in the cupboard, blocking off our windows with sheets of plywood so people could not see in at what we have…
Life As We Knew It is written wisely from 16 year old Miranda’s point. I think a book like this being written from the point of view of a young adult is wise because while obviously the situation is unbelievably hard, the voice of Miranda keeps it from being too heavy. She of course, mourns her dreams of dating, loss of school friends, and the swim team.
The book is very realistic as this family goes through the “what if’s”, as things seem to go from bad to worse, food becomes low, electricity is a thing of the past, there is fear of running out of firewood to keep the house warm, and then… the well runs dry… no more water.
I am currently listening to the second in the trilogy, The Dead And The Gone on audio. Interestingly enough it is being told from the exact same time frame, but this time it is told from a teenage boys perspective in New York, where Miranda is in Philadelphia.
And uh yes, at some point I guess I do need to read One Second After 😛
In closing, I want to leave with you with this song. I love the song anyway, but now find it very fitting for this book:
Ok this is a total shameful taking of another persons idea from another blog. Jill at Fizzy Thoughts posted on this just yesterday. I loved the idea of being able to ask her anything, and I did. 😛 Then I went back and peaked at her post again later in the day to see what others were asking her. They had great questions.
I have always been one of those people who when one of those questions surveys have been sent by email from a friend, I have to fill them out, no matter how dorky they are. (You know the ones, :what time did you get up this morning? What was the last thing you ate? What are you wearing on your feet? Last time you cried?”)
Anyhoo…. this morning I scanned through any pics I could possibly use for Alyce’s Saturday Snapshot, which is what I usually do on a Saturday morning. We were suppose to go to a Christmas Party last night with friends and I thought that would give me good footage for pics but Al (hubby) was tired after a long day and I admittedly was nose deep in a book and did not mind staying home either. Anyway – no party no pics…
This morning although I have many posts to write, I did not want to… as the morning inched on… I could not come up with what I wanted to chat about today. Then…. I thought of Jill’s post again. Yes, I could take questions today, and tomorrow morning I could answer them. This could be fun.
So there it is, a confession, a party fail, a little laziness, and finally… this post.
SO ask away! And be sure to check out Jill’s post too, she had some fun questions that I wanted to know the answers to as well.
Ask me anything in the comments below, and tomorrow morning I will post my answers. 😀
“I do not tell lies. Mother used to say that this was because I was a good person. But it is not because I am a good person. It is because I do not tell lies.”
~Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night
When Christopher Boone’s neighbor’s dog is killed with a garden fork, Christopher is falsely accused of the crime. Christopher is 15 and autistic. Christopher knows he did not kill the dog and says so as he does not lie. And he does not joke, because he does not understand them, so he is telling the truth.
Christopher loves Sherlock Holmes and decides he is going to investigate what happened to the dog, just like Sherlock Holmes would do. Christopher’s investigation leads him to not only find out about the dog but some deep secrets about his own family.
Being autistic makes the investigation all the more difficult as Christopher calms himself by solving math problems in his head, will not eat any food that touches another food or is the colors yellow or brown, and screams if he is touched.
Many years ago, so many I do not recall the year (at least 5 years ago) but I do recall we were in Grizzley’s restaurant, my book club the Bookies reviewed this book. At the time, I was baffled by it. I loved the synopsis, but the book, told from Christopher’s perspective, was difficult to follow and the pages of math problems went right over my head (I have always said I am a word girl, not a number girl). 😛
Yet, many in my book club raved about this read. One girl in particular had so many great things to say about it, I felt I obviously had missed something and vowed to try it again some day. Since that time the book has sat, like new, on my book shelf… waiting on me.
Recently, I seen the audio version on audible.com on the sale list. I have said many times that audio can make the difference in a book that I may find difficult to read, so I thought I would give it this second try.
I am so glad I did! Christopher came alive for me through the narration of Jeff Woodman. Christopher’s character is brilliantly smart and remembers every detail. Suddenly I found myself longing to know more of this autistic boys story and I learned to love his dry humor as he did not get sarcasm and took everything someone said literally.
Author Mark Haddon writes an amazingly deep and loving story for his debut as an author. This was no easy task to take on and Mark handles the inner workings of Christopher’s autistic mind like a pro. The characters all felt real, at times painfully so, as you seen close up that we as human beings are flawed in so many ways.
Highly recommended in audio. Treat yourself to this one!
Book Journey 