Thirsty Imagination

I Got Tagged!

2012-01-28T23:06:00.000-08:00

My cousin tagged me in this random internet game, so I decided to play along. It's all in good fun. I'm going to struggle to come up with 11 people to tag, but that, to me, is not the fun part.

The Rules:
1.Post these rules
2.You must post 11 random things about yourself
3.Answer the questions set for you in their post
4.Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5.Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

11 Random Things about Jake Taylor:

1. I like touchy-feely things. Shirts, stuffed animals, pets...if they're nice to touch, I love it. I used to think that everyone was the same way, but I just recently met someone who is scared of stuffed animals.

2. I love taking naps BUT I always have weird dreams when I nap. It never fails. When I sleep at night I have an occasional crazy dream, but nap dreams are, without fail, the ones that could possibly have me committed to an asylum someday.

3. I'm not a fan of nuts and/or raisins in my cookies. Whoever decided that was a good idea was smoking something.

4. I can do (just about) anything with music going in my ears: clean bathrooms/toilets, mow lawns, till gardens, you name it I can do it if there's good music playing.

5. Back in the day, I could care less about calories. Probably a big reason why I got up to 210 lbs a few years ago. Now, I feel guilty for even looking at a cinnamon roll. Tonight, I gave in and ate one. I had to stop the voice in my head that belongs to that fat guy I used to be so I could enjoy my delicious morsel.

6. I constantly surprise myself, lately, with how much more outgoing I am now than I ever thought I'd be. I used to be quiet and reserved. I tell people that now and they think I'm joking.

7. I can't chew gum for more than 10 minutes before I get tired of it.Weird because I used to chew it all the time.

8. I'm left-handed. Scissors are my nemesis. I had to train myself to switch them to my right hand. It's hard to be a lefty in a right-handed world, however, I would not change it for anything in the world.

9. I'm obsessed with Ireland.

10. I take it as a compliment when people call me "sassy" or "snarky."

11. Beware: I can memorize phone numbers really easy. Not sure why, but ever since my mission in Florida I've noticed that I just have a knack for remembering phone numbers.

Kara's Questions for Me:

1. If you could automatically acquire the skills/academics, and you had the schedule for it, what is your dream job?

Dream job for me would be to have a doctorate in English literature and teach at a university while writing my books on the side. The professorship would be just to have something to do and the writing would bring in more money and be my fun job.

2. What is the #1 played song on your iPod (or other audio device)?

On my iTunes it's "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga

On my iPod, lately it's been "Telephone Games" by Jack and White

3. If you could see, but not necessarily participate in unless you wanted to, any moment in history, what would that moment be?

Ok, so I have a top three on this question. 1. I've always been fascinated with the Salem Witch Trials. I think it would be interesting to watch how it all went down from beginning to end, but I would not want to participate. 2. The Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) in the Civil War. I'm not sure why I'm so intrigued, but I would pay to see those rich Northern folks running for their lives after they'd come to watch a battle and picnicked. The nerve. 3. Anything in WWII. Such a devastating time in our history, but it is also where heroes were made, and I would love to see them in action.

4. What is your favorite drink?

Chocolate milk. Mmmm...However, that voice in my head (see #5 of Random Things about Jake Taylor) would taunt me. So I'm going to say Crystal Light to appease the voice. haha!

5. What is your least favorite chore?

Ya know...I actually don't mind cleaning or those kinds of chores. Cleaning is actually a release for me, and I find I usually do good deep cleaning when I need to clear my head. Plus, I can usually listen to music when I clean, so that's even better. If I had to choose one, I would say shoveling snow but even that is acceptable because I can listen to music. (See #4 above)

6. If you could change your name for a day, what would you change it to?

I love the name Grady. I'm not sure why.

7. When was the last time you had an AMAZING meal? And was it the company or the food?

I had turkey chili with Anna and Alan. It was pretty dang good, and the company made it even better!

8. What is the worst gift you have ever received?

I can't say that I've ever gotten a really bad gift. Guess I'm lucky. I can say, however, that my 28th birthday was probably the worst one I've ever had.

9. What is something that you learned in the last week?

That patience is a virtue I really, really need right now.

10. Is a picture worth a thousand words? Elaborate.

Yes. Let me show you.

You can't tell me that this picture is not worth a thousand words. It is so priceless and perfect. Art, in any expression, is worth talking about and responding to, and that is what is so beautiful about it.

11. You can only work on one project for the next year. What is it?

MY BOOK! I need to get this dang thing done already!!!

My Questions for You:

1. If you could be any character in any book, who it would be and why?

2. What are the top three things on your bucket list?

3. What's the best book you've read in the last 6-12 months?

4. Who do you think will win the election this fall?

5. If you could change any physical attribute about yourself, would you do it? If so, what would it be and why?

6. You're you in a different dimension. This version of you is married to a celebrity. Who is it?

7. What was the last dream you had that you remember?

8. How many children are there in your family? Where do you fit in?

9. What is your favorite physical attribute of someone of the opposite sex?

10. Do you prefer cold weather or hot weather? (Tell me why too.)

11. What's your favorite item of clothing you own?

I'm going to tag 11 people. If you decide to play along, just let me know in the comments here! Thanks!

My Latest Obsessions

2012-01-23T18:34:00.000-08:00

1. Lana Del Rey

She's got this whole dark, vintage thing going on and her style is very unique. I'm definitely a fan even though she bombed her SNL performance.

2. Big Bang Theory

I just got a screaming good deal on all 4 seasons on DVD for $38!!! Yeah, ya can't beat that. I smell a BBT marathon in my future!!!

3. CrossFit

It's going to be an intense workout, but I've been wanting something a little more extreme lately in order to really prepare me for the Navy. So here goes nothing!

4. Foster the People

Their album is addictive! I listen to it all the time now.

5. Justified

Crazy-good show. I'm going to have to catch up before I get into the third season which is playing on TV now. It is a pretty badass show. Love it!!!

Pumped Up Kicks

2012-01-21T11:08:00.000-08:00

So, I kept hearing this song everywhere. All I could ever understand of what they said was "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, better run, better run...." It's a great song with a nice beat, and it gets stuck in your head really quickly. All the makings of a hit. I like to know words to songs, so I looked up the lyrics to this song by Foster the People.

Is it just me or is this song about a school shooting? This "cowboy kid" goes on a rampage with a gun he got from his dad's closet. Why is this not a big deal to anyone? I don't understand how we can mourn tragedies like Columbine and the Virginia Tech shootings and then love this song. It just boggles my mind. This could almost be akin to writing a hit song about 9/11 from the perspective of the terrorists, putting it to a snazzy beat, and then having Americans dance to it. Talk about irony.

This doesn't stop me from loving the song though! In fact, I just got the album and it is amazing. It's sincerely one of the best albums I've gotten in a long time. All the other songs are less tragic and controversial in my mind. But I can't get rid of this sense of guilt I have for liking "Pumped Up Kicks." Call me a hypocrite.

However, for the writing of this post, I did a little more research. Come to find out that Foster the People's leading man, Mark Foster, who wrote the song said he wanted to get inside the killer's mind. He was going to do it about the victim's perspective but thought that would be a copout. It's all about saying f**k you to the hipsters, yet these are the kinds of kids listening to and loving this song. He said there isn't actual violence in the song and that it's an internal dialogue in this kid's mind. So, in a sense, it is a commentary on the isolation and detachment our youth feel today. Aha! Another great ingredient for a hit.

We all love a good controversy, and maybe that is why this song is popular. It seems to reach a part of everyone, the rebel inside each of us. I'm not saying I condone the thoughts portrayed in it, but I'm finding that it was not meant to be taken literally. Foster wanted to understand another side of the story. And, as a writer, I can respect that. It's a fun song to dance to and it also has a chill aspect to it. Foster the People is not just another pop band. I tend to think they will be around awhile now because of the depth, fortitude, and genius behind their madness. There's more to them than meets the eye. FtP, you have made a fan out of me.

Paige and I love to dance to this song so much that we've almost got a choreographed dance to it.

Me in the Navy: The Decision to Join

2012-01-12T21:54:00.000-08:00

I decided I would document my experiences in the Navy through video. It starts with a lot of rambling because I really wasn't sure what I was going to say at first. If it doesn't work here you can see it on YouTube by clicking here. Thanks and feel free to comment! That's all for now!

New Book Review System

2012-01-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

I will put this on the sidebar so you can refer back to it whenever, but I just want to make an official post about it. Today I had an epiphany. I've been rethinking how I rate books. My old system has been on the 5-star system only I think stars are boring because they get overused in things like this. I was using things from the books to rate the book and I'm not sure if it even made sense to anyone else but me.

So! I have come up with a new system!

It is still the 5-Star System with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the best. If you've noticed I rarely give out 5's. From now on (or at least until I tire of this system) I will be rating books as follows:

1. Woopdeedoo!
2. Boo!
3.Woohoo!
4. Woot!
5. Woot! Woot!

There you have it. Feel free to comment or fill-in better suggestions. Peace!

Clockwork Prince

2012-01-09T14:38:00.000-08:00

Rating: 4 out of 5 Magical Opium Dens

It seems fitting that my 300th post on my blog should be a book review. Not just any book review, but a book review for Cassandra Clare's latest book Clockwork Prince, which is her newest installment in the Infernal Devices series.

When I read Clockwork Angel I have to admit it took me awhile to warm up to the characters. I fell in love so quickly and easily with Clary, Jace, and all the characters in The Mortal Instruments series that it was hard for me to wrap my mind around other characters in the same universe. I'm not even sure if that makes sense. However, this book sealed the deal for me. I am fully invested in the characters now and must find out what happens next. It definitely takes a talented writer with a keen eye to be able to create characters you can still love just as much as the originals.

I still find similarities between the characters of both series and I think that's what bugged me about the first book. They each seemed like carbon copies of The Mortal Instruments characters with just some minor changes. I may re-read my review of Clockwork Angel to see if I had the same idea then. Jace and Will are both brooding, troubled, and heartbreakingly beautiful young men who somehow win the affection of the leading lady. Clary and Tessa are both beauties in their own ways who feel out of sorts and are trying to get used to the world of magic still. Jessamine and Isabella are both snotty but lovable.

The similarities fade with this the second installment of the series and I think that's why I started to like the characters more. They seemed to be coming more into their own and I wonder if it's also because Clare herself has become more acquainted with them. Jem is not near as likeable in this novel, and I'm not sure why. He's supposed to be sympathetic when he actually, to me, comes across as whiny and self-piteous. We learn more about Will and why he is the way he is and I find that I am rooting for him to win Tessa's heart.

Say what you want about Cassandra Clare, she can write a damn good love triangle. This one is a doozy! There's a part where Tessa thinks out her choices and you find that it's a just not a good situation for any of them. I won't spoil anything.

As far as action in this book...there's not a whole lot of it. I felt like the climax was a little weak and Mortmain probably could have made an appearance somehow toward the end.

So now I will sort of patiently wait for the next installment. I'm assuming she will release the 5th book in the Mortal Instruments series before she finishes up this one. The suspense is killing me, Cassandra Clare! I gave this book 4 out of 5 Magical Opium Dens.

168

2012-01-04T11:58:00.000-08:00

I weighed myself last night.

168 LBS!!!!!!

I have not been below 170 since...I'm thinking at least freshman year in high school.

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!

2011 vs 2012

2012-01-03T21:12:00.000-08:00

This is Part 3 of a 3-Part Post Series I'm going to do for my blog. The first post focused on my best and favorite moments of 2011. The second post was my worst and least favorite moments of 2011. This final post will be a revisiting of my resolution for 2011 and seeing how well or not well I did.

2011 vs. 2012

Read 35 books.

I didn't quite make it. However, I did beat last year's 25 books. I finished at 31 books for 2011. My next post may be a list of all the books I read.

Get a new job that pays awesomely.

I joined the U.S. Navy! So yeah...It may not have happened in 2011, but the ball got rolling then. Yay! I accomplished part of my resolution!

Move out of my parents' house.

Still hasn't happened, but it will happen in April!

Get married. (I know, I know...I say it every year. Well, I do but I don't express it apparently. Well, here I am announcing it publicly that this is the year that I, Jacob Taylor, will finally settle down and get hitched. Now to find that girl.)

Oh, please. That didn't happen.

Finish my novel (rough draft, revision, revision, revision, edit, send out to literary agents and publishers, revision, edit, work, work, revise more, and hopefully get the dang thing done and published!)

Yay! I am on the second draft, and I have sent it to quite about 25 agents now. Still got to finish the revision.

Learn 5 songs on the guitar.

Didn't happen. I still feel guilty about this every time I look at my guitar.

Lose 10 more lbs.

Done! And, in fact, today I weighed in at 168 lbs! I have not been this weight since high school! So weird. I feel so good!

Go somewhere I have never been before. Boston would be cool. Possibly finally go on a KB Tour to Europe!

Uhhhh...I did get to go to Oakland, CA and other little places near there. All of which I'd never been to. Go me! This year I will be able to see a lot more of the world!

Speaking of the last one: Get a passport!

Yeah. About that. Didn't happen.

Start writing the sequel to Befall which is probably going to be titled Beleaguer.

That hasn't happened either although the ideas are still rolling around in my head.

Grow out my hair. This time I am actually going to do it. Last time I got the furthest I have ever gotten but this time I am going to refuse to cut my hair even when I really, really want to.

This did happen! I loved it and sometimes I miss it.

Grow a goatee.

What the hell was I thinking??? Yeah...No. Never will that ever happen. I didn't do it last year, and I'm not ever going to grow one. Moving on.

Be wiser with my money.

Yay! I'm doing that! It took me all 2011 to finally get it right, but I'm doing much better with money these days.

I'm not doing a resolution this year. Let's face it: the last time I looked at my resolution last year was when I wrote it. I forget what's on there and I have changed so much over the course of a year that my goals change dramatically all the time. So...my only resolution this year is to continue on the path I'm on with no regrets, let my heart be the lead, and continue doing awesome things that amaze even myself.

Worst of 2011

2012-01-02T22:37:00.000-08:00

This is Part 2 of a 3-Part Post Series I'm going to do for my blog. The first post focused on my best and favorite moments of 2011. This second post will be my worst and least favorite moments of 2011. The final post will be a revisiting of my resolution for 2011 and seeing how well or not well I did.

My Worst Moments of 2011

(In no particular order whatsoever.)

1. MEPS. Such a long, drawn-out process at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Salt Lake City. Probably the longest day of my life so far. And that's just the beginning. I was there from 6am to almost 6pm and most of that was waiting in lines.

2. DLAB. I was devastated when I took the language test to get a linguistics job with the Navy. I was 2 lousy points away from the minimum.

3. Halloween Weekend. My plans and my friend Casey's plans for the weekend were apparently very different from each other. I like the idea of Halloween but for some reason, Halloween is always the worst day for me. Examples:

1. Senior year of High School. Injured my knee at ballroom dancing practice right
before school.

2. Utah State. Made an idiot of myself by wearing this hideous mask thing to work. I think
there were some pranks in there that, by that time, I did not find funny at all.

3. Mission Halloweens. I always hated talking to people on Halloween. They were always drunk
or just a little more belligerent than normal.

I rest my case.

4. California trip. The wedding part, like I said, was awesome. The whole part where I spent most of my time in airports or my hotel room or waiting for a ride was super uncool. Probably my least favorite trip I've been on in a long time.

5. Winter. It seemed like last winter clung on forever! Hence we did not get a good summer. Summer was cool and just...not summer-ish until maybe August. Bring on the heat!

Guess it's a good thing I can only come up with a few bad moments of 2011. It was definitely a year full of ups and downs but I think it will always be a memorable year for me.

Best of 2011

2012-01-01T22:29:00.000-08:00

This is Part 1 of a 3-Part Post Series I'm going to do for my blog. This post will focus on my best and favorite moments of 2011. The second post will be my worst and least favorite moments of 2011. The final post will be a revisiting of my resolution for 2011 and seeing how well or not well I did.

MY BEST MOMENTS OF 2011

(These are in no particular order. Just as they come to mind.)

1. Joining the Navy. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would be in the military. It had never seemed like a possible thing until just recently. I'm excited for the adventures and experiences that await me on this new chapter in my life.

2. Transferring stores and becoming a supervisor. At the beginning of 2011 I got promoted and changed to another Deseret Book in Ammon, ID. This has been such a great and positive change in my life! I actually get along with my boss, I love the people I work with (for the most part), and Christmas was a breeze! Would I ever go back to the Temple store? Not in a million years.

3. Kira. This woman has been such a blessing in my life. She has taught me how to stand up for myself and to follow my dreams. I probably would have been stuck in a life I never wanted if it weren't for her. She inspired me to join the Navy among other things.

4. Lagoon trip. I went on a Lagoon trip this summer with Mike and Lacey, Brittany, and Kira. We had a blast. Kira and I even rode on the insane ride that shoots you up while you're sitting in this little ball. That is something I never would have done. I'm a lot braver these days.

5. Year of Change. I think 2011 will always stand in my mind as a year of change. Not like big changes, but I know I've changed and grown a lot just in a short year. Who I was last year is completely different from who I am now.

6. Getting in Shape. I've lost a total of 35 lbs. and I'm in the best shape of my life. I never thought I'd be able to run a 5K and I did that this year with Kira and some mutual friends of ours. I feel like I can conquer the world because I was able to conquer that demon which has been my self-image. I feel comfortable in my own skin now.

7. Mike & Lacey's Wedding. I was able to attend my friend Mike's wedding in Oakland, CA. It was a beautiful wedding and I was honored to be a part of it as the best man. The trip itself wasn't my favorite, but the wedding part was amazing. It was also the first trip where I've made all the arrangements for myself and flew down all by myself. Sad that I was 28 when I finally did this, but at least it happened, right?

8. Good Books & Good Music. I've read a lot of books and a lot of them have been really good. I can only think of a couple off the top of my head that weren't that great. There has also been a lot of really good music this year. Tori Amos, Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Nicki Minaj, Chevelle, Adele, and Florence + the Machine have pretty much dominated this year for me.

9. Hannah. This girl is amazing! There are some people you just connect with and it's like your souls rejoice because you've finally reunited with an old friend. That is how I feel with Hannah. We are kindred spirits.

10. Zumba! This has been the year for Zumba for me. I got addicted and now I can't get enough. Such a fun and enjoyable workout.

That is all for Part 1. Stay Tuned for Part 2 (The Worst of 2011)!

Crossed

2011-12-30T23:40:00.000-08:00

Rating: 2 out of 5 Canyons

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted
than ever. (Amazon.com)

Don't get me wrong; I love the story. I just kept expecting something to happen in this the second installment in Condie's Matched trilogy. Nothing really gets explained. Who is the Enemy? And it just feels more dramatic and epic than it should be. Does that make sense?

I guess I'm just being negative about this review because I look back on reading this book and don't feel like I got anything out of it. However, that being said, Condie's writing is beautiful and it is really what kept me going. Her sense of imagery is spot-on. I just don't feel like this one was as well done as far as plotline as the first book. Call me crazy. I gave it 2 out of 5 Canyons.

Octavius & Christmas

2011-12-24T19:25:00.000-08:00

It may be awhile before I do another blog. My computer, Octavius, decided he had had enough. I was actually about to do a book review for Crossed when he came up with a bunch of crazy messages and all my stuff was wiped away before my eyes. Luckily, I did not lose my book. That was my biggest worry. He is now at the doctor and they are trying to diagnose the problem. I'm hoping they can make him well enough to last until I go to basic and then I can save up some cash and buy a new one. Guess he'd had enough of my book reviews and went on strike. Haha!

On another, much happier note:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I will have to just give you a post later about how my Christmas went and, by then, I will have more book reviews as well. So stay tuned!

Whos Down in Whoville

2011-12-18T20:47:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to get in the Christmas spirit. If you've worked retail during the holidays at any point in your life you probably understand how it can suck the life out of the Christmas season for you. This is my fourth Christmas with Deseret Book and my seventh in retail and I'm pretty sure Christmas has become less and less of a favorite holiday with each year.

One of my friends called me on my Grinch-ness and I realized how my negativity was affecting other people. I really don't want to spread my bah humbugs so I made a concentrated effort to get into it. It took doing some Christmas shopping, wrapping some presents while drinking hot chocolate, and watching some White Christmas and the Glee and New Girl Christmas episodes for me to finally feel like it was Christmas. However, I still felt out of it, like I was just going through the motions.

So my friend, Kira, and I went on a drive to look at Christmas lights. I haven't done that since I was a little kid. I can remember my mom taking us out in Roosevelt, UT to look at lights. Pretty sure that's the last time I've done that as the sole purpose in driving around. It helped a lot too.

Then I went to the mall...

POOF!

There went any semblance of Christmas spirit I had. It all reminded me of the Whos Down in Whoville from The Grinch who Stole Christmas. And lately I've been just thinking about the excess of Christmas and how we lose the meaning of Christmas when we focus so much on the gifts, both giving and receiving. Pretty sure it's not the end of the world if you can't get a gift for someone on Christmas.

Pretty much I'm thinking that my kids will only get one nice present each and then a few small things (if that). I may change my tune after a few years of being out of the world of retail, but as of right now that is the plan. Will my kids be spoiled? Damn right they will be. But they will probably not be spoiled on Christmas. I just hate how the commercialism of Christmas overshadows the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ and how God sent His Son to sacrifice Himself for us. That is the true gift of Christmas, and I hope that I can someday convey this to my children without seeming like the Nazi parent who will only give his kids a few presents that day.

I think a huge part of this desensitizing to the magical world of Christmas is that, for retailers, it starts so freaking early! I've been listening to Christmas music since November 1st. Let's just skip Thanksgiving altogether and go right for the kill. And working for Deseret Book sometimes makes me feel like I'm capitalizing on people's religion. So when people ask me why I don't like Christmas music, or why I groan when I hear it or think of the word Christmas, I tell them to work for a day at Deseret Book during the holidays and then see how cheery they are. The people are grumpy and snappy. They're extra demanding. And they think you can just pull these products out of a place where the sun don't shine. I'm sorry, but I'm not the big fat man from the North Pole. I don't have little elves who do my work for me. Hate to disappoint. (That might be a whole other post worthy topic.)

I guess I've just been feeling really detached from all of it lately and I'm not sure why. Christmas is a week away and it doesn't feel real. It's going to zoom by like the rest of the year has and before I know it I will be in basic with the Navy, seeing the world, and doing some pretty cool stuff. Ahhhh yeah!!!

In closing, I do have to say that having friends and family around has helped me keep up with the holiday spirit. Kids are so cute during Christmas, and it has been fun to watch Gigi get so excited about Santa Claus coming to give her gifts. And Kira and I have been trying to be positive and to help each other be in the mood for Christmas. I just hate that it's a battle trying to force myself to be Christmas-y every year. Someday that will not be the case. I hope.

Befall Teaser

2011-12-06T23:05:00.001-08:00

Chapter One

It didn’t used to be like this. Mylife used to be better.

Every time I read a horoscope I wonder why Ieven bother. As if the stars could tell me what my day is going to be like orwhat is in store for me. Then I lump myself in with all those weirdos whodepend on the horoscopes every day even though a little part deep, deep downsecretly craves the guidance from the stars.

I quickly closed the magazine I wasreading as a beeping sounded in my ears. A groan, my chair squeaked with thesudden movement as I straightened and pushed the button on the phone.

“Pure Travel Reservations, my nameis Olivia, where can I book you today?” My voice was a lot more chipper than Ifelt, my lightness masking the oppressive weight I felt every time I answeredthe phone.

“I’m not sure yet.” It was asmart-ass. Great. He sounded rich. His wealth so stifling I almost could notspeak.

“How can I help you, sir?” I said,choosing to ignore his little quip.

“Well, I have some vacation timecoming up and I would like to use one of my time share weeks.”

“Very good.” I kicked the computerto life with a click of the mouse. It buzzed and woke up, glaring at me withits bright screen as if saying Screw you,I’m sleeping. Apologetically, I tap lightly on the keys as I pull up thewindow where I was to enter the customer information.

“What is your name, sir?”

“Lyle Truman.”

He gave me all his information and Ityped away like a good little girl. His impatience was building; I could feelit.

“All right, Mr. Truman, where can Isend you?” I knew where I really wantedto send him and it was not a nice place. It was warm though.

“Here is my dilemma. My wife wantsto go to Hawaii, and I would like to go somewhere different like Key West.”

Such a dilemma. I rolled my eyes andbit back the words that came to mind.

“All right, well, I see you havebeen to Hawaii ten times, so it is understandable that you would want to trysomewhere new.”

“But I love Hawaii.”

“Okay. What island would you like togo to?”

“Kauai. Less people there. Have youever been to Key West?”

“No, sir. I hear it is fantasticthough.”

“So I should go there.”

“I’m really confused, sir. Do youwant Key West or Kauai?”

“That’s why I called you.”

“This is Reservations, Mr. Truman. Ibook the time share for you. I can’t make the decision for you.”

Lyle Truman harrumphed at that,exasperated. My patience was wearing thin.

“I can, however, tell you somefeatures of either place. Maybe that will help you figure out which one youwould prefer.”

“That would be helpful.”

It was helpful. That is me. Reservethe grand escapes to paradises I will never see for people who lose sleepwondering if they should choose Hawaii or Key West. The next day it might beAlaska or New Mexico. Lyle Truman, a prime example, ended up going to Hawaiifor the eleventh time, but he chose a different resort. Such a nice littlecompromise he made with his wife. I’m impressed.

When the call was over, I rested myhead on my desk and closed my eyes. This is what my life has come to. I have totake deep breaths, knowing full well that, in a matter of minutes, my headsetwill beep again and another yuppie will call with another life-alteringdilemma. Paris or Rome? Gee. Why not both?

I removed the headset and restedheavily in my chair, rolling my head back. When my head returned to normalposition I see a perfectly coifed redhead, impeccable makeup, and a bright grinpeering at me over the wall of my cubicle. Tanya, my only confidante in thisgopher trap and menial life, is so put together it makes me ill sometimes.Probably because I’m so not put together.

“Breathing exercises already, Liv?”

“It is a little early for them,right?” I looked at the clock. Five more hours left of my shift.

“No stress, hon. Anything you needto do not to bite off people’s heads.”

“I do consider it a successful daywhen no one ends up headless because of me.” I stretched my arms above my head.

“A success in anyone’s book, mydear,” she said with a wink.

“Oh! Phone call. Shit.” I sat up, mychair groaned with the movement, fumbled as I put on the headset. Tanyadisappeared behind the cubicle wall again and I clicked the red button of doom.

“Pure Travel Reservations, my nameis Olivia, where can I book you today?”

“Is that really how you answer thephone? Did you get your coffee fix today, Liv?”

I recognized the voice. “Nikki, whyare you calling me on my work line?”

“Because, you silly duck, I knew youwouldn’t answer your cell phone.”

Nikki Lovelace, my best friend fromhigh school, was also my roommate in college and now she was my roommate again.At her mom’s loft apartment here in Boston. I had planned on moving to New YorkCity when I was done with college. I got my degree and it was time to follow mydream of being on Broadway. Turned out that there was no way I could afford tomove to New York right away. It also turned out that Nikki’s mom, Paige Minnix,lived in Boston and she had a connection to Broadway that she was constantlytrying to line me up with.

“There’s a reason why, Nik. It’scalled my boss would fire me if he knew I was taking private calls.”

“This is important, Olivia. I willmake it quick.”

I looked at my watch. “Thirtyseconds to sell me whatever it is you’ve got.”

“Gee, and I thought we were besties.Two things: my mom got in touch with Mr. Burke today, and he has agreed to meetyou today at five-thirty. He will be in town for a couple of hours so you haveto haul your fat ass fast outside the Orpheum Theater downtown. Do you thinkyou can handle that?”

I forgot all about Nikki’s thirtysecond time limit. Mr. Henry Burke was Paige’s connection to Broadway. The lasttwo times I have tried to meet him something random and tragic has happened. Itwas a miracle he even agreed to meet me again.

“I can handle that, Nikki. What wasthe other thing?” I did not want to ask but I had to change the subject or elseI would be on the phone for hours with her. Then I would for sure be introuble.

Nikki paused and I heard her suckher breath in through her teeth. I wasn’t sure if I actually heard it or if Ijust knew her well enough to know that was what she was doing.

“My mom also has a guy she wants youto go on a date with.”

I rolled my eyes. “Is it herpersonal mission to play Cupid for me, or does your mom like to see me squirm?”

Nikki laughed. “Maybe a little bitof both. Trust me, babe, if I didn’t have James, she’d be doing the same thingto me.”

James was Nikki’s boyfriend. Theyhad been together since our freshman year in college. He had followed Nikki andme here to Boston from University of Missouri. Over the years I had becomeaccustomed to being the third wheel or the one on an awkward first date withsome random guy James or Nikki knew. I was always Nikki’s little shadow. Shewith her magnetic personality, her perfect blonde hair, hourglass figure alwaysoutshone me with my thick black hair, dull brown eyes, impossibly pale skin,and hopelessly thin build.

“Please tell me this one actuallyknows what hygiene is.” My last blind date, courtesy of Paige Minnix, was adisaster. The guy smelled a little too heavily of sweat, his shirt was allrumpled and wrinkly, and, out of the corner of my eye, I swear I saw him pickhis nose.

“No guarantees, babe. You know mymom. If it’s a guy that is around our age and single, she thinks he’s the rightone.”

“Probably why she and your daddidn’t work out,” I said without thinking.

Thankfully, Nikki laughed. “Youcatch on quick.”

I actually knew Nikki’s dad, VinceLovelace. He lived in St. Louis where Nikki and I grew up. He was my dad’sbowling partner and one of the nicest guys I knew. And I know I was not theonly girl that was Nikki’s friend that had a crush on him.

“When is this horrid matchuphappening?”

“Tonight.”

“You’re kidding me.” I looked aroundsheepishly after I realized that I had said it really loud. “Aren’t my thirty seconds up?”

“No way are you getting out of thisso easily.” I gritted my teeth.

“James is going to pick us up ateight and then we will go get your date, then go out for dinner and drinks, andthen go from there. Sound good?”

“The drinks sound good,” I muttered.“What’s this one’s name?”

Nikki sounded like she was readingsomething when she answered. “Harper?”

My brows furrowed. “Sounds like aname from a soap opera.”

“Never know. Maybe he’s your soulmate.”

“Hanging up now.”

“See you later, chica.”

“Uh-huh.” I pushed the buttonquickly and groaned. “This is just great.”

I didn’t want to go on a date tonight. A blinddate, no less. I wondered how Paige Minnix, a sixty-something divorcee who wasalso a shopaholic, managed to meet all these eligible, young bachelors. Menwere never my forte, but I had hoped that would change when I moved to a newcity. My move to Boston had not gone as planned from the beginning. That shouldhave been my first clue.

I was supposed to have a job as acurator at the National Heritage Museum. One of my professors at University ofMissouri had a connection there and, as a history major, it is best to jumpright on those little connections. It was perfect, too, because Nikki wasmoving to Boston to be closer to her mom and because she had gotten a great jobas a paralegal at some high and mighty law firm. And then Paige had told me shehad a connection with Broadway, and that sealed the deal.

Then the curator job fell through. Ihad packed all my things, uprooted my whole life, thinking that I would havethis great job, but when I arrived for some orientation, they told me that theposition had been closed.

So now here I am. I work at amiserable job where I talk to snobs all day in a nice little box. What I reallywant to do with my life is not answer phones and watch other people make plansfor amazing trips to exotic places. And I really don’t want to be a curator ata museum although that would be a far cry above Pure Travel.

Lunch time came and I realized I didnot have a lunch with me. With a sigh I made my way to the commons area wherethere were some vending machines. I was in dire need of a chocolate fix. Myhunger was a burning knot at the back of my throat.

I pushed the buttons for aking-sized Snickers. Don’t judge me; I love my chocolate.

To my despair it got stuck, hangingon for dear life by the edge of the little spinning wire that keeps the candyin order. A harsh growl escaped from my mouth.

I kicked at the machine. I’m weak. Iknow that much. Slapping at the glass was no use either. Groaning, I rested myforehead against the clear cover of the vending machine, the only thing holdingme back from my lunch. I closed my eyes and, just as I was about to resignmyself to use some more money to try again when I heard a voice behind me.

“Mind if I try?” I lifted my headfrom the vending machine, looked up at the owner of the voice. Stark blue eyes,dark stubble on a nice firm jaw, a quick smile, and sandy blond hair, he wastaller than me but not by much. He was wearing a light blue shirt thataccentuated his eyes and his tanned skin.

With a sound akin to a hiccuppingsquirrel jangling from my mouth, I stepped back, allowing the stranger ampleroom to try his hand at freeing my precarious Snickers bar. He took the flat ofhis hand and smacked the plexiglass with a practiced ease and a loud thwappingnoise. The Snickers fell with a victorious little crash to the bottom of thevending machine.

He retrieved the candy bar for meand turned to me with a gleaming white-toothed grin. “Good choice. Definitelyworth the trouble.”

“Thank you,” I took the candy barfrom him with a sheepish smile.

“Enjoy your Snickers,” he said,flashing me a quick smile lined with nice white teeth.

I looked down at the stupid Snickerswhich was, in fact, snickering at me right at that moment. Such an apt name fora dumb candy bar. I tucked some hair behind my ear, wanting to take back thelast, say, twenty minutes. Start over at the moment I decided I wanted a candybar for lunch.

The Snickers, however, was enoughfuel for the remainder of the drag-along day. I took the headset off for thefinal time which is the sweetest part of my day when I can leave work. After Isaid my goodbyes to Tanya and my select few acquaintances there I headed forthe elevator with my purse slung over my shoulder and my black coat tied at thewaist. I pushed the button for the elevator and stood there alone as I watchedit make its descent.

My reflection in the silver doorswas mottled but I could see the wide brown eyes and the thick black hair tiedback in a quick bun. The picture before me made me look gaunt and ghostly and Itried to tell myself it was just the fact that I was looking at myself in asteel mirror, but that did nothing to comfort me.

The doors opened, splitting theimage of me in two and part of me was relieved that I didn’t have to look atthat any longer. I stepped inside, noticing that I was not alone. I sighed asthe doors closed. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the couple standingnext to me. There was a tall man near my age with sandy blond hair and a quicksmile. His arm was slung around the shoulder of the woman next to him. She hadfake red hair, dark red lips, and a model thin figure.

I rolled my eyes and looked away,hoping the next ten floors would go by quickly.

The redhead made a whimpering sound.Yes, she whimpered. Oh, please, justlet me get out of this elevator and catch the next one.

“I can’t believe you can’t come overtonight,” she said.

“I have plans, babe, but maybe I cancome over right after.”

I snorted. It was an involuntaryreflex that I didn’t realize I had done out loud until I saw that the dyed redBarbie was glaring at me sideways. I looked away and bit at my thumb nailnonchalantly. When I sneaked another glance at them I could see that the manwas looking at me, an odd look in his sharp blue eyes. I recognized him from mynearly tragic loss at lunch. Thankfully, the elevator stopped and the doorsopened just then. I rushed out of there as fast as I could without running. TheSnickers Man was also Awkward Elevator Guy. Figured that the smooth rescue ofmy Snickers bar was just that. Smooth. Womanizing.

I shuddered. It was not my style tojudge people, but I knew this guy’s type all too well.

Once I was outside, I squinted inthe late afternoon sunlight that painted everything a soft golden color. Everytime I left work I felt like a mole coming out of the dark, deep hole in whichI had been hiding, my eyes blinded momentarily by the beautiful sun. Spring wascoming in Boston and the prickling cold of winter was on its way out, leaving welcomewarmth and new life in its wake.

The Orpheum Theater. Those threewords sprang up in my mind, twinned with an image of its solid but archaic andclassy architecture, and I felt my heart lurch in my chest. I sprang into arun, waving my hand like a crazy person as I hailed a taxi. No luck. There wasnot a single taxi in sight. I kept my pace, walking in the direction of thetheater. It was just about four blocks from where I worked, but I did not wantto approach Henry Burke panting and sweating like an eager, lost puppy. I’msure he would just love that and ask me to be on Broadway right away.

It was better than nothing. I setoff at a quick walk, pretty certain I looked like I had to pee something fierce.My quick walk became a jagged jog as I thought of my dreams of being onBroadway slipping right through my fingers.

Olivia Jordan, drama queenextraordinaire that I am, actually started believing that this was my only shotat Broadway. Tears sprang to my eyes as I jogged with my purse bouncing againstmy hip. The random tragedies that were the last two attempts of trying to meetMr. Henry Burke still hung over my head. The first time I had spilled coffee onmyself and had to run back to change my shirt. Those two minutes it took tochange had been the difference between Mr. Burke leaving and me arriving.

The second time was not my fault. Iwas on time, and I was waiting for him. Then Paige called me and said thatHenry had been stopped in traffic for the last hour and would miss his flightif he made a stop to meet me.

Random. Tragic. I did not wantanything like that to happen again.

Two blocks later I finally got acab. It would give me time to gather my composure. I told the cabbie to take meto Orpheum Theater. This was it. My break. I pulled my hair out of the bun andlet it fall around my shoulders. By the time we reached the theater I had mybreathing under control and felt more put together. Once the taxi came to astop, I handed the driver a crumpled bill and told him to keep the change, thenI rushed out onto the street.

Paige had described Henry Burke tome. She said he was tall, British, and had an impeccable shock of white hairthat he wore wild and curly. I figured he was pretty hard to miss. I searchedfrantically for him. I was not late.

Then I saw him from behind. His hairwas blowing lightly in the wind and it was definitely noticeable. I ran towardhim and saw that he was getting into a cab.

“Mr. Burke!” I cried out, desperate.I reached him, touched his shoulder just before he was getting into the taxi.“Mr. Burke, I’m Olivia, Paige Minnix’s friend.” I stopped as he turned around.It wasn’t him. It was a woman with nice, white hair, and an incredibly tall,thin frame.

“Excuse me?” she looked at me as ifI had spit in her soup.

“Sorry,” I murmured. “I thought youwere someone else.” I pulled away as the woman shook her head and got in thecab.

I sighed and looked around,searching for the elusive Mr. Burke again. There was a slight chilly wind inthe air and the sky was a steel grey color. My hair blew into my face and mylips and I spat it out. A sweet smell of rain was in the air and I knew itwasn’t long before a downpour. The weather could turn on you so fast in Boston,and now I understood why everyone carried an umbrella with them through all thespring months.

Biting my lip, I felt a coldnesssettle in my chest. What if I missed him? I looked at my watch. I was right ontime. I looked at the front doors of the Orpheum Theater. People were millingabout, and I could hear their chatter vaguely. Suddenly, I was nervous and mymouth went dry.

Just as I turned my eyes skyward tocheck for the impending rain, I saw another flash of white. I fought the urgeto squeal in delight. Mr. Burke was just coming out of the building. Don’t judge,but my heels might have clicked together right before I set off in a little jogtoward him.

As I was approaching, a big man witha neck the size of my waist blocked my path. He was wearing a dark suit and hiseyes were small and narrowed. My breath caught in my throat.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

I opened my mouth to speak and sawMr. Burke continue to walk, completely oblivious to me and this mountain of aman who was most likely one of his bodyguards.

“I need to speak to Mr. Burke rightthere. He’s expecting me.”

“Who are you?”

“Olivia Jordan. We have a mutualfriend who arranged us to meet today about five minutes ago. It will just takea few minutes.”

“We were not notified about ameeting today. You will have to make an official appointment if you want to seeMr. Burke.”

No way. Desperate times call fordesperate measures. I tried to move past the beefy blockage, but he stepped inmy way. Damn, he could move fast for someone so big. I waved my armsfrantically, watching Mr. Burke and his entourage walk away with my dreams.

“Mr. Burke!” I cried out, stillwaving my arms like a lunatic. At any other point in my life I probably wouldhave felt pretty pathetic.

I tried to run toward him again,seeing that big mop of white hair disappear into a sleek, black limousine. Hisguard dog stopped me again as if I were a terrorist. I weigh 120 lbs soakingwet and I’m the threat. That makes tons of sense to me too.

The doors to the limousine closedand I whirled on the bodyguard who destroyed my chances.

“Are you happy now? You just ruinedeverything!” Tears welled up in my eyes, and I left, turning my back on themountainous monster and the limo that was driving away with my dreams.

Okay, so maybe I’m slightly on thedramatic side. Hello, I’m dying to be on Broadway. What else would you expect?But, I must say, these were real tears I was crying. My only real shot now wasto somehow get myself to New York City, be a poor waitress, and get on theendless roller coaster to stardom. I had learned that was not the route Iwanted to go. I would not waste my life on this. Even though, to me, it wasworth it.

“I don’t know how to flirt,” I wassaying to Nikki on the phoneapproximately twelve minutes after my Meeting that Never Was. After she had sympathizedgraciously for the way things turned out, she changed the subject to anotherone that I did not want to talk about: the blind date.

“That’s just silly, Liv. You totallyknow how to flirt.” I could picture my best friend painstakingly straighteningher pale blonde hair, her head crooked to the side so she could hold her phonebetween her cheek and her shoulder.

I sighed. “I’m just too serious.”

“I’m the serious one, remember?”Nikki said jokingly, and I could hear her chewing bubblegum.

I groaned at that. “I can’t go onthis blind date.”

“Why not?”

“Gee, I don’t know. Maybe becausetoday has already sucked enough as it is.”

“Ya never know.” I heard somerustling while Nikki was quiet. “This guy could be Brad Pitt’s doppelganger.”

My lip curled involuntarily. “Inever understood this fascination you have with Brad Pitt.”

“Nobody does, babe. Now get yourever-lovin’ ass home so we can get you all prettied up.”

I groaned. “You act like I can’tdress myself.”

“From one fashionista to another,sometimes your style sets people off.”

I stopped mid-stride and looked downat my cute red heels, my black pencil skirt with white pinstripes, and thewhite blouse with black polka dots and ruffles on the sleeves and collar.Definitely not practical for my over-the-phone job, but I always tried to lookprofessional and stylish. Granted, my style tended to lean toward the vintagelook, and I modeled a lot of my style after Liza Minelli, but I thought Ilooked good.

“What does that mean?”

“I love you, sweetheart. That’s whatit means,” Nikki said a little too quickly. She knew me well enough to knowwhen she was heading into the danger zone. “Enough talking. Get moving. I’llsee you when you get here.”

I sighed and hung up, stared at myphone for a minute, and wondered if that conversation actually just happened.

Just as I dropped my phone back intomy purse, I heard a whoop of delight coming from behind me. I turned around tosee what was going on. A young man, near my age, was running toward me with abig smile on his face and a black fedora on his head. I immediately thought of Newsies by the way he was dressed in avest and white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked like he shot outstraight from the 1930s. There was a spryness in the way he moved, it almostseemed unreal.

Then I realized he was being chased.A bigger man with a dark scowl on his face was running after him, but the manin the fedora seemed thrilled by the chase. He was older and had a thick neckand even thicker arms. If I had a man that looked like the big guy runningafter me, I would be scared for my life. They were both heading right for mebecause I was in the way.

I tried to dodge the younger manrunning toward me by sidestepping but I was too late. He turned to look at, bigsurprise, the other man who was chasing him.

“Come back here!” the pursuantcalled while I tried to maneuver myself out of the line of fire. Every time Imoved, the guy in the fedora went the same way. The pencil skirt was not muchhelp in easing my movements. It all happened so fast, but it seemed likeeverything was going in slow motion as the guy in the hat rammed right into me,knocking me to the ground unceremoniously. I let out a yelp, caught myself withmy hands, and tried to maintain my dignity.

“So very sorry!” I saw a hand infront of my face and I went to slap it away before I realized that it belongedto the guy who had knocked me down. I looked up at him, his ridiculous smilebeaming under his fedora. Cool grey eyes twinkled merrily at me.

I took his hand and he helped me tomy feet. My purse had tumbled to the ground and spilled just about everythingout of it. With a curse under my breath, I dusted off my skirt.

“Gotta go!” my assailant saidquickly as he patted me on the shoulder and took off running again.

“I’m sure you do, asshole,” Imuttered. I looked at the palms of my hands that were now riddled with scrapesand little pebbles from the sidewalk. Now I was going to go on my blind datewith bandaged hands. Real great first impression.

“Did he hurt you?”

I turned and saw the big man who hadbeen giving chase to the man in the fedora. He had kind eyes despite hisrough-looking exterior.

“Just knocked me down. I’ll be justfine. Go get him, sailor.”

He gave me a confused look andnodded. “Don’t let him near you. He’s trouble.” Without waiting for a responsefrom me, he took off running, but I could no longer see the guy he was chasing.

(This is copyrighted by ME. Don't steal from me, please. I will hunt you down and make you pay. Ok? Hope you enjoyed the first chapter!)

Christmas time is Here!

2011-12-05T15:27:00.001-08:00

...And I'm finally in the Christmas spirit!

Matched

2011-12-02T22:25:00.001-08:00

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Compacts

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.
Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one… until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow — between perfection and passion. (From Matched-Book.com, official website for Ally Condie)

How much is there, really, that you can do with a dystopian society plot? I've read a lot of YA fiction with the whole dystopian theme which seems to be the latest trend thanks to the success of The Hunger Games. It was a breath of fresh air after the vampire/werewolf craze that Twilight created. Now, it seems, futuristic, totalitarian societies are the thing. I don't mind this new thing; I just wonder how many more ideas there can be with this whole thing because there's not a whole lot of things you can do with it. I am glad, however, that this trend allows YA authors to teach young adults about society and the problems we have in our own society that could be blown out of proportion to create a miserable future for our predecessors.

Ally Condie's first book in her Matched trilogy is quite catchy. The writing is sparse and beautiful, to the point. Condie's words are often poetic which is really what kept me hooked. I was intrigued with the plot enough that I wanted to keep reading which is always a good sign. I never felt like I had to force myself to get to the end. In fact I wanted there to be more. Good thing the second book is out. I went and got it today.

Love triangles. Gotta love 'em. They make for good drama. I just wish there was more to them sometimes. Condie's triangle is decently done. She focuses a lot on Ky so when Cassia says she loves Xander also, I feel forced to believe her because I don't see any proof. Condie could have easily tagged in some memories of Xander or had more scenes with Xander so we at least get to know him the same way we know Ky. Xander remains a mystery all the way through the book so when Cassia acts like she knows him it just feels forced or something. That being said, I wonder if Condie is going to show more of Xander's character in the next book. Here's hoping. Kinda hard to have a love triangle when we don't know a whole lot about one of the love interests.

Speaking of Xander, there's a scene at the end where he tells Cassia a memory he has and she describes him as cruel. Yet she still loves him. Somehow I don't see the attraction to Xander. There definitely needs more development with that relationship if Condie wants me to believe that there really is a love triangle. This normally wouldn't be a big deal except that it's a pivotal part of the plot.

I will admit I was worried it was just going to be a bunch of whining about a girl that has to choose between two boys. Sound familiar? Condie gave me a pleasant surprise by giving the story more depth. A fundamental thing that we all take for granted is that we have the ability to choose for ourselves: our jobs, our mates, our health, everything. In Condie's dystopian society that ability to choose has, essentially, been taken away. It's interesting to see what kind of world it would be without that.

So she has some development things to work on, but Condie has really built an interesting setting and some good plotting. It isn't my favorite book ever, but it also isn't the worst one I've read so I gave it 3.5 out of 5 Compacts. Stay tuned for my review of Crossed.

Attitude of Gratitude #30

2011-11-30T23:52:00.001-08:00

For this, the final Attitude of Gratitude post, I would just like to spout off a few things.

1. I have loved this little challenge I gave myself. It kept me focused on the holiday and spirit of Thanksgiving rather than getting caught up in the preparations for Christmas in the retail world. Also, it helped me realize all the things I have to be grateful for. I am so blessed and have such a great life.

2. I am going to continue this focus throughout Christmas but in a different way. It amazes me how Thanksgiving and Christmas are usually seen as two separate and distinctly different kinds of holidays when I think it's the opposite. I think Thanksgiving is a good time for us to prepare for the Christmas season. What better way is there to show your gratitude than by serving and giving to those in need? Thanksgiving allows us to focus on the things we have and then Christmas allows us to share our blessings with others. What a beautiful relationship these two holidays share!

3. Now I would like to just share some other things I'm incredibly grateful for:

My Family

My Friends

My Faith

My Job

A Warm Bed

A Full Stomach

A Car

A Closet that is too Full

A Cell Phone

Money

Books

Entertainment and things that make me laugh

Having a life that allows me to laugh

Memories

Water

Relationships

A Healthy Body

Electricity, Running Water, Indoor Plumbing

Having things that I can take for Granted

My Uniqueness

My Talents

Style

Good Music

Having an Opinion

Being allowed to share my opinion

Freedom

My Country

Beautiful Sunrises and Sunsets

Full Night's Sleep

Dreams Both in and Out of Sleep

4. Thank you for tuning in.

Attitude of Gratitude #29

2011-11-29T22:47:00.001-08:00

Today I'm grateful for:

A Voice

It's one of those things you don't realize how grateful you are you have it until you've lost it. The past few days I could feel something coming on and this morning it hit me. I opened my mouth to speak and it came out raspy and squeaky. Oh great. My throat isn't sore so that is a blessing but work was great talking to customers and getting strange looks. Reminds me of a few years ago when I went to a Terri Clark concert and had lost my voice that day so I couldn't yell or sing along. Rude.

Funny Text Notification Sounds

I just got a new notification sound on my phone for when I get a text. It's from the movie Despicable Me when Gru wins a big fluffy unicorn for Agnes who then screams "It's so FLUFFY I'm gonna die!" My niece loves it when it goes off and I just giggle when it goes. I went to a store meeting tonight and forgot to silence my phone and it went off in the middle of the meeting. It was quite humorous.

Christmas Decorations

I'm finally feeling in the Christmas spirit. Gigi and I put up the Christmas tree and Mom and I started putting up all the other stuff. It's going to take a couple days to finish but I'm excited. Kinda want to do things a little different this year but we'll see. Yay for Christmas!

Attitude of Gratitude #28

2011-11-28T22:57:00.001-08:00

Oil Changes

Phoebe feels better now. Today she got an oil change and her registration has been updated with new plates and everything. She's like a new car and her daddy has been spoiling her a lot lately.

Before

After

Haircuts

Always so refreshing to get a new haircut. I'm back to my natural dark hair and it shocks me every time I look in the mirror. I didn't realize how much I'd gotten used to the lighter hair.

Catching up with Friends

I was really productive today. One of the good things about today was going to lunch with one of my best friends, Mike. This is really the latest picture of him and me at his wedding earlier this year. It was good to catch up with him even if it was just for an hour or so.

Attitude of Gratitude #27

2011-11-27T23:52:00.001-08:00

Today I'm grateful for:

Warm Blankets

I was freezing all morning from the moment I got out of bed to the moment I got home. Still not sure what my problem was, but I snuggled under my blankets in my bed and warmed right up and took a nap. It was sheer bliss.

Technology

I just helped my parents figure out how to put music on their new phones, and then I put some on mine. Just made me realize how awesome technology is and the day-and-age we live in that allows us to do some pretty dang cool things.

Alka Seltzer

I'm feeling a cold coming on so I took some Alka Seltzer tonight. Maybe it's just a mental thing but the taste of this stuff alone makes me feel better. Wipe that disgusted look off your face. I love this stuff and it works!

Attitude of Gratitude #26

2011-11-27T00:51:00.001-08:00

My New Love: The Beretta 9mm

I got to shoot a couple handguns for my first time ever today. It was so much fun. My absolute favorite was the Beretta 9mm. It fit like a glove. We also shot an AR15 which was awesome too. I wouldn't mind having a Beretta someday. Nope, sure wouldn't mind it at all.

The Courtneys

Anna and Alan Courtney are two of the coolest people I know. They are such giving, loving, accepting, and amazing people. They took us out shooting today and it was a blast.

Law & Order: SVU

My all-time favorite Law & Order show because they never fail to deliver. I was worried with Detective Stabler leaving the show that they would run out of steam but I've been proven wrong. The writing is still really good. Olivia Benson is still there and still kicks butt. The new detectives are actually likable. I was worried that they'd be annoying or not as good as Benson and Stabler, but I think they're awesome. So far. I got caught up on this season tonight which is why I'm grateful for the show today. I love that it has been around so long and I hope it lasts a lot longer.

Attitude of Gratitude #25

2011-11-25T22:31:00.001-08:00

Today I am grateful for:

Black Friday

I hate the idea of Black Friday. It just seems so commercial and greedy and everything to me. Great deals, yes. Smart to shop those deals? Yes. But I think it shows the worst in people. That being said I'm also grateful for it. This year's Black Friday at Deseret Book was fun and I wasn't even there in the morning for it. We were busy all day which gives me hope for the rest of the season. We were worried because it wasn't picking up at all like it used to. Today we ended with a $25,000 day which is huge for my little store. Yay!

Verizon

For being a kick-ass cell phone company. For giving my mom a good deal on two new phones today. For making me new phone hungry (is that the single guy's version of baby hungry?) today (Ughhh! I so want the Droid Razr and whatever that one was called that plays music amazingly). They're the only ones I've ever used and I've never had a single issue with them. It's been six years! Woot!

Ginger Snaps

Karly's mom brought these in to work today and I ate a bunch of them and could not stop. Oh how I love you but hate you at the same time!

THANKSGIVING! (Attitude of Gratitude #24)

2011-11-24T22:22:00.001-08:00

Today I'm grateful for three wonderful things:

FAMILY!

FRIENDS!

I should probably explain this photo. Kira's new job that she wants is to be tackle practice for the NFL only she does the tackling. So she was demonstrating with Seth. Ah...Good times!

FUN!

Yes, Seth is bench-pressing Kira. Pretty stellar!

Attitude of Gratitude #23

2011-11-23T22:13:00.001-08:00

fun.

I've been discovering some great new bands lately. One of them is Fun. They have a great, unique sound that I'm super addicted to and is super...well...fun!

Karly LaOrange

For introducing me to fun. and for being such a crazy, awesome coworker. And for not giving up on me in the whole marriage department. (If she mentions Maddie Case one more time...)

Kelli McButtars

For having such a fantastically awesome life through I can live vicariously. For laughing at my dumb Irish-Indian accent. For keeping me posted on her ever-evolving love life. For playing Words with Friends with me and always kicking my trash (really...thanks for that...I love being humbled...). For being my personal editor on my book (she suffered through my attempt at a vampire book...poor girl...). And for our lunch dates whenever I'm in Utah or she's here in Idaho. Basically for being the awesome redhead that she is.

Attitude of Gratitude #22

2011-11-22T22:11:00.001-08:00

Hannah Falannah

Aristotle said that "Friendship is one soul dwelling in two bodies" and I'm thoroughly convinced this is true. I have a few people in my life who I am close to and who I feel like we share a part of each other's souls. Hannah is one of those people. I got to work with her most of my shift today and it was awesome. Time was a blur and work was actually fun. Go figure!

Hadjii

Oh how I love my dog! I really don't know what I would do without him. As annoying as he can be sometimes, he is always there and never judges. He could care less what you did last summer; he will still cuddle up with you at the end of the day.

Talents

I am so grateful for talents. Not just the ones I possess, but also those of other people around me. And I'm also grateful for the ability to develop my talents and to attain new ones.

Attitude of Gratitude #21

2011-11-21T21:56:00.001-08:00

Today I'm grateful for:

Getting Some Christmas Shopping Done

I got my little sister and my nephews all done for Christmas! Yay! Is it hypocritical of me to do Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving when I made such a big deal about skipping Thanksgiving? Oh well.

Gigi got a LalaLoopsy doll and a change of clothes and a Play-Do thing.

The bitty boys got some Toy Story toys.

Yay!

Rihanna

She has released a new album even though it hasn't been that long since her last one came out. She's a favorite of mine and I got to listen to the tracks from Talk that Talk and it's good stuff!

Ham Sandwiches

I got home from work and I was an hungered so I fixed a ham sandwich. Food just always tastes 1000x better when you're hungry. It hit all the right spots for sure!

Attitude of Gratitude #20

2011-11-20T13:44:00.001-08:00

Today I'm thankful for:

Shirts that Fit

A few years ago I bought two shirts from Kohl's that were a little on the snug side. I really don't know what my thinking was. Part of it was probably denial that I was getting big. Maybe I thought I would get down enough to fit into them. Or maybe I liked that they were tight and showed off my "muscles." Well...I didn't really wear them all that much because instead of getting fitter, leaner, and smaller, I started getting bigger. We've had this discussion before. Well, I saw one of the shirts in my closet today and decided I would see if it fit. Lo and behold! It fit! Perfectly! And I now have the muscles that I wanted to be able to show off in that shirt. Woohoo!

Freedom

I started reading Ally Condie's book Matched which is a dystopian/totalitarian (all the rage right now thanks to Hunger Games) society that pretty much tells you how your life is going to be lived. The whole premise is based on being matched to who you will have to marry. The Society links you with someone your most compatible with, tells you what job you get for life, and even tells you when you're going to die. I would go crazy, and I'm kinda going crazy reading it which, I guess, is kinda the point. Reading this book, even though I'm not that far into it, has made me realize how grateful I am for the freedoms I have and that I take for granted. Some societies out there act a little like the one in Condie's book (not to the extreme) and I'm grateful I have the choice of what to do with my life, who I can be with, and how I'm going to do everything. Oh how I love America! Even when our economy is in the dumps like it is right now it's still a pretty awesome place to live.

Music

I love how music can change emotions, heal, bring joy, calm us down, and give us a form of expression when words fail us. I have heard that "We sing because we have no more words; we dance because we cannot move." That just means that these artistic expressions allow us to convey things that words and motions can no longer do justice to. I love music in most of its forms and I'm grateful for its power in my life.

Before I Fall

2011-11-19T19:42:00.001-08:00

Rating: 5 out of 5 Last Kisses

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing. (From Goodreads.com)

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. Lauren Oliver delivered with Delirium which was one of my favorite books this year, but the synopsis of Before I Fall seemed like there wasn't much to be done with it. And with the length of the book I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. Much to my surprise, Oliver got me hooked right from the get-go.

Oliver writes beautifully and voraciously. I wish I had an ounce of her skill with imagery. She manages to build characters little by little. A master of show-don't-tell, Lauren Oliver's book is a study in relationships and the human experience. At first you find yourself hating the protagonist. Samantha Kingston is a brat. She demeans her peers just to be accepted by her best friends. Oliver has certainly caught the flavor of high school life with all its cliques and hoops and idiosyncrasies. At times, it does have a little cliche to it: the popular girl dating the most popular jock. However, Oliver uses her somewhat crazy storyline and her bratty protagonist to bust through those cliches until you are left with a story that is a breath of fresh air.

I think my favorite part about this book is the message it leaves behind. The fact that this is YA fiction makes me cheer because our young people need to learn this lesson! I found that the book left me haunted by the questions it forced me to ask myself, such as: Am I a good person? What would I do if today were my last day? If it isn't all about me, then who is it about? What will people say about me when I die?

We are left with a glimmer of hope at the end. Hope that Sam Kingston made a difference and that we, too, can start today and change things in our own lives. It's amazing how books can come along and apply to exactly what you are going through during that time. Maybe that is why I soaked this one in like a sponge; I've been needing to learn what Sam Kingston's story needed to teach me.

By the end I love Sam Kingston, and I was rooting for her to make the necessary changes. The story keeps you guessing all throughout which just shows there is a master at work behind the pages. I won't spoil the ending for you. Instead you should go out and read this book. Your life will be all the better for it.

Attitude of Gratitude #17-#19

2011-11-19T19:20:00.001-08:00

To catch up I'm just going to do one for each day (Thurs through Sat). Cheating, you say? No one asked you. Besides, this is my project. I do what I want.

Thursday November 17:

Chevelle

I had a not-so-good night at work on Thursday. So on the way home from work I blasted Chevelle. They are great for workouts, bad nights, and some catharsis. Don't get me wrong, I love chill music, but sometimes it's nice to rock it out. Their new album is expected December 6th and I'm dying to hear it!

Friday November 18:

Yoga

I tried Yoga on P90X for the first time yesterday. Let me tell you: I was dripping with sweat and I have been really sore today. It was such a great workout! I'm sad it's taken me this long to discover it. Thing is: It felt like an experience rather than a workout. It was all new to me and I struggled, but I loved it and I felt more centered and calmed afterward. I'm a huge yoga fan now!

Today I'm grateful for:

Oranges

Oh, how I love oranges this time of year. They may just be the highlight of November/December for me. Maybe it's from my time spent in Florida. I just have a soft spot for this fruit. Mmmm...so yummy! Not only do they boost your immune system, but they are also tasty this time of year. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for creating such delicious morsels of citrus-y goodness!

Attitude of Gratitude #16

2011-11-16T22:53:00.001-08:00

Ok, now I'm caught up to today. I'm grateful for:

Glee

This season hasn't really been my favorite because the plot seems to be trying a little too hard, but the last couple episodes have been game changers. I am always a Gleek (I have been a fan since the pilot episode...the first time it aired before Glee was a blip on the radar...yeah...) and tonight I watched it and the music was vastly better this episode than it has been all season. The Adele mash-up at the end was my absolute favorite.

Cafe Rio

Always reliable for a good meal, Cafe Rio never disappoints. Oh, how I love your sweet pork barbacoa, Cafe Rio. Thank you. Thank you.

MHE

When I was living in Rexburg with one of my best friends, we started what we called Man Home Evening, a spinoff from Family Home Evening which is a night set aside to spend time with your family. Man Home Evening is a night set aside to spend with your best guy friends. Tonight I had MHE with Adam who was a roommate and coworker and is a good friend of mine now. It was good to catch up with him and just hang out for a bit.

Attitude of Gratitude #15

2011-11-16T21:46:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I was grateful for:

Prime Suspect

Such a good show! And the episode I watched last night was particularly intense. Enough said.

Panaloonycakes

It's sort of a Taylor thing, but we call pancakes Panaloonycakes. My mom puts an egg or two sandwiched between two pancakes so that makes it more than just normal pancakes. And when it's waffles that we do it with we call them Awful Waffles. We're weird.

Running Shoes

I got new running shoes about a month or two ago and they rock. I pretty much do everything exercise-like ever since. Every time I wear them I feel great and realize how grateful I am for good shoes.

Attitude of Gratitude #14

2011-11-14T15:28:00.001-08:00

Today I am especially grateful for:

A Clean Room

I'm a clean freak. Sometimes you wouldn't know it by looking at my room. I think better when things are orderly, organized and cleaned up. I find that I get frustrated more easily when the bed isn't made and there's stuff strewn along the floor. However, I get lazy and so I have to clean my room often. It's always a breath of fresh air when I do it and I feel like I have a nice little haven of organization and cleanliness to which I can escape. Today, I cleaned my room and bathroom and it feels great!

Wisdom of Kira

I told myself that one of the rules for this attitude of gratitude thing I'm doing is that I can't repeat. Kira is a huge part and influence in my life, and I simply adore her. She has been especially helpful to me today. I usually give her crap and post the stupid things she says to me on Facebook because she's funny without even knowing it sometimes. Today, however, she has had some serious gems of wisdom, and they have helped me see some things differently. So thank you, Wisdom of Kira, for being so reliable and awesome whether it's serious stuff or just silly, dumb things.

Love

I guess I'm waxing philosophical today. Just been thinking a lot about love and relationships and everything in between. Kira's wisdom had a role in this too. She sent me a quote:

"Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is war; love is a growing up." ---James A. Baldwin

Sometimes love means letting go of someone. Sometimes love means hanging on despite all odds. Love and who you love is between you, the person you love, and God. As we grow up and change, mature and experience life, we either drift closer to or farther apart from those we care about. That's life. Things change. I'm having to accept that love is something you have to be willing to fight for, but you can't be the only one fighting. So, today I am grateful for love.

Attitude of Gratitude #13

2011-11-13T21:41:00.001-08:00

Today, I'm grateful for:

A Good Book

It has been a long time since I've read a book that I couldn't put down and anticipated when I could pick it up again. Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall is a breath of fresh air. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed T. Greenwood's Undressing the Moon and I really couldn't put that one down either. Before these two books, I was going through a drought it seemed. Yes, I liked the books I read (sorta), but they weren't anything that really captured me. So today I found myself picking up this book every chance I got. Just like the old days. I love that feeling of being so swept away by a book. I've read Lauren Oliver before. Her Delirium book is a fascinating read as well. She's a gifted writer, and I look forward to more from her. She just released a middle grade reader novel called Liesl and Po that I want to read. So here's me showing gratitude for a good book. Not just Oliver's book, but any good book that is out there and can take me away from reality for awhile.

Gigi & The Bitty Boys

Such cute kids! Oh, how I love them, and Oh, how they love me. I have a lot of fun with them even though, sometimes, it is taxing to watch them. They are all just little balls of energy and I feel so old when I'm around them at times. Here they are on Halloween of this year, holding still for once. Still not sure how we performed that miracle.

Random Texts

I got a couple random texts today. One was not-so-good and unwanted, the other was very welcome. I love getting random texts from people because it means they thought of me and wanted to catch up (usually). I heard from an old friend today and it was nice to text with him for a bit. Yay for random texts and the beauty of technology!

Attitude of Gratitude #12

2011-11-12T22:11:00.001-08:00

On this the twelfth day of November in the two thousand and eleventh year of our Lord, I, Jake Taylor, am tremendously grateful for:

Cinnamon Rolls

I woke up early this morning and went to a store meeting. One miracle of the day was that I was the first one there. That's been a rarity for me. You wouldn't know by my actions of late, but I hate being tardy. At the meeting we had delicious cinnamon rolls that pretty much made my morning awesome.

Hettie and her Intense Zumba Workout

After the store meeting I helped my sister move some things at her house then I went across town to a master class with Hettie Hansen, a Zumba instructor from Utah. She had some insane energy, and it was an hour and a half long class. I was sweaty and beat by the time it was over, but it was so worth it!

Compliments

To me, compliments are like verbal hugs. I love giving and receiving compliments (for the most part...sometimes I feel weird taking compliments mostly because I'm never sure what to say back). Today was a verbal hug day for me. I was told at the store meeting that I was a "master imprinter." Hannah came in to work today and told me I always look sharp. Jodi, my Zumba instructor and friend, looked at me while we were at Hettie's class and said "You are good!" She can never see me doing the Zumba because, at her studio, all the lights are out so she can only see the front row. And, while I was moving stuff for Kate, she had this tool box she wanted moved but she wanted to make it less heavy and take the tools and drawers out of it. I was running out of time, and I wasn't sure when I would be able to be back to help her again so I hefted it. It wasn't heavy at all. My sister was surprised I could carry it that easily, so I took that as a compliment.

It is time for me to go to bed. Either I write a really boring blog or I've had an eventful day that needs to end with some wonderful sleep time.

Attitude of Gratitude #11

2011-11-11T21:52:00.001-08:00

Today I'm grateful for:

My Cousin Ashley

I have always looked up to Ashley and have been proud to have someone in my family serving in the military. Little did I know (especially when this picture was taken) that I would be in the military someday as well. It's amazing where life takes you. Ashley has been a big help in my decision to join the Navy. Today, I called him about my job change, and he told me which one not to take. I appreciate his honesty and it's nice to have someone to trust in this whole thing. My recruiters have been good, but I know they aren't paid to tell me the whole truth. Thanks, Ashley!

Opportunities to Give, Serve, and Help Out

I get a lot of opportunities at work to help people. Especially with Christmas around the corner, I feel like I have somewhat control and can help people have a good holiday season. Today a lady came in and needed help picking out Christmas gifts for her son who is on an LDS mission to Argentina. I helped her pick out some gifts (a towel, CTR rings for the kids he's teaching, etc.) and she was really grateful. The more I got talking to her, the more she told me about how dire her circumstances were. She was worried about being able to keep her house because her husband had been unemployed for two years and finally got a new job working minimum wage. They were basically starting over. Add to that the stress of having a son on a mission in some faraway country. So I made her dollar stretch as much as I could. Gave her a good percentage off and gave her a good deal. She didn't even really know what I did. It's nice to be able to play Santa Claus.

P.S. I don't do this for just anybody. Friends and family, yes, but not complete strangers. Sometimes I just get the feeling that I should do it, so I go with it. This woman was very impressed with me, left with a big smile on her face, and even complimented me on my salesmanship. She made my day! You rub my back; I will rub yours. I firmly go by that policy at work. If you treat me like I'm just a lowly retail employee, then you will get the bare minimum customer service because I don't get paid to put up with rudeness.

11-11-11

Just as I began typing this part of the post it was 11:11 PM on 11-11-11. I got to make two wishes today! Well, they were both the same wish at different times of the day. I'm grateful I got to see this day because the next one won't happen until November 11, 3011. If the Earth is still around by then. Ya never know.

Undressing the Moon

2011-11-11T10:28:00.001-08:00

Rating: 5 out of 5 Broken Pieces of Glass

Piper Kincaid has never been able to forget the summer she turned fourteen--or understand its consequences. At thirty and diagnosed with breast cancer, Piper is drawn back to that time and filled with regret. As she attempts to reassemble the fragments of her history, what emerges is the kaleidoscopic portrait of a young woman whose indefatigable spirit prevails, despite shattered dreams. An evocative, richly-told novel of coming-of-age and coming-to-terms, Undressing the Moon finds grace in wreckage and hope in a broken life.

---From Amazon.Com

I always rave about T. Greenwood. She never fails to impress nor does she ever disappoint. Undressing the Moon is an earlier novel of hers that was reprinted because of demand. Every time I go to Barnes and Noble I check to see if she's suddenly released a new book because it seems that is the way I find her. By accident but on purpose.

Greenwood has a knack for imagery. The colors in this novel are vivid and unique. Piper, the main character, has a voice her mom says is the color of "holiday." Piper's mother makes stained glass art. Throughout the book, Greenwood uses the broken glass, their colors, her mother's art as a symbol for mending broken things. It is all really quite genius.

Some people might label Greenwood's novels as depressing and heavy, but I feel they are a breath of fresh air. She seems to understand the human condition in ways that only a keen writer can. She said in an interview: "I think that we are all defined, to a certain extent, by our childhoods. My childhood memories are so vivid: the tragedies as well as the happy times. I am who I am because of the sorrows I suffered as a kid as well as the bliss. Fictional characters are no different. I almost never write about adult characters without understanding where it is that they came from. What haunts them...The very nature of narrative is that there needs to be conflict. Problems. Trouble. I simply figure out what my characters' problems are and then see them through them." She tackles sensitive issues delicately and with precision. Nobody wants to read a story about a happy family with no problems. And we all can relate, in some way, to her characters. Sure, I was never abandoned by my parents. Sure, I was never in an intimate affair with a teacher. Sure, I have never had cancer. But I understand the struggle and the fight that Greenwood's characters endure. While her characters may not be likable (I never did side with her protagonist in This Glittering World) and Piper isn't always the ideal, I think that is what makes them human. You find yourself rooting for them simply because you want them to get through. And that is the beauty of Ms. Greenwood.

Two Rivers still stands as my absolute favorite Greenwood novel, but I cannot say I have a least favorite. They're all excellent. If you're looking for books with depth, beautiful writing, and something to say about human nature, go find T. Greenwood at your local library or bookstore. I gave Undressing the Moon 5 out of 5 Broken Pieces of Glass.

Thank you, Ms. Greenwood, for always producing amazing literature. I look forward to reading more of your novels, and I would love to, someday, attend one of your writing workshops so I could glean an inkling of your gift from you.

Attitude of Gratitude #10

2011-11-11T10:13:00.001-08:00

And, again, some catching up to do.

Yesterday, I was grateful for:

Cristy Waters
Immortals Midnight Premier

Tuna Melts

I had a meeting with my Navy recruiters and then had some time to kill between that and work, so I went and hung out with my sister and my nephews for a bit. We had lunch which was some delicious Tuna Melts. I love how certain foods can just hit the right spots. Never ceases to amaze me.

Immortals Midnight Movie Premiere

I feel like I've been waiting forever for this movie to come out, so it was only fitting that I go to the midnight premiere. I was even going to go by myself if I couldn't get anyone to go with me. All in all it was a really good movie. The whole experience was even better because it was all in 3-D. I definitely think that the movie will be less impressive without the 3-D, but still a really good movie. It's good that it's not one of those movies that does things just because it will be shown in 3-D. Sometimes directors sacrifice artistry for the thrill of throwing something at the screen to make the audience jump and it comes off forced and just wrong. This one never felt forced. I love what they did with the legend of Theseus. I especially loved the minotaur scene and the payoff at the end that ties everything together. (I'm being vague because I don't want to spoil anything. Go watch the movie! You won't regret it!) Warning: There is lots of blood and gore. Huh. A movie about the Greeks? Rated R? Blood and gore? A little bit of sex? I think it's definitely a more accurate depiction of the Ancient Greeks if it has all that, so get over it.

Cristy Waters

It's funny how life works out. I've known Cristy since junior year in high school when I moved to Idaho. She has always been someone I thought was cool, but we never really hung out. I found her again on Facebook a couple years ago (?) and we've talked a bit on there (she's a member of my book club) and, just recently, have started talking more now that I'm in the Navy. She was in the Air Force and so we have the military in common. Anyway, I got to hang out with her last night. She's the poor schmuck I convinced to go to the Immortals midnight premiere with me. So, yesterday, I was very grateful for old-new friends who are willing to go to awesome movies with me.

(I will publish my 11-11-11 Gratitude post tonight.)

Attitude of Gratitude #9

2011-11-09T21:35:00.000-08:00

I am grateful for:

Zumba!

Who cares that I'm the only guy (literally) that goes? I sure don't! At first it was a little uncomfortable, but now I just don't care. If the women have a problem with it, then they can go somewhere else. How's that for copping an attitude? I go to a studio in Rigby that is nice and big. Jodi Bozung is an amazing and energetic instructor. I tend to change some of the moves because she likes to shimmy a lot. I don't shimmy. Guys should never shimmy. Tonight I needed a good workout and Zumba with Jodi Bozung always produces that.

Band-Aids

The above picture is overkill. So, today at work I was doing freight and realized that my box knife was having a hard time cutting through plastic packing bubbles. Time to change the blade! I changed the blade and it was amazing how good it cut after that. Go figure. Well, I was cutting away at some packaging stuff and sliced my finger right next to the nail. Ouch! It wasn't a big cut but it was clean and deep. Thanks a lot, new blade of death! So today I am grateful for Band-Aids to keep the infection away from my cut. It hurts already. I'm a baby; I know.

Power Naps

When I got home after work I locked my door to my bedroom so I could change my clothes in peace (we've been watching my twin nephews and Gigi is always wanting to venture down to my room with me. I have no idea what is so special about my room). Sad that I've resorted to locking my door, but I needed some me time for a moment before I did the uncle/big brother thing. Next thing I know I'm sprawled on my bed and out like a light. It was so quick and deep and wonderful. Ahhh...Just what I needed to recharge my battery! Catnaps are my favorite!

P.S. I've noticed I've been grateful a lot for things that have to do with relaxing and sleeping. I'm not lazy. I promise.

Attitude of Gratitude #8

2011-11-08T21:45:00.000-08:00

The three things for which I am most grateful on this day are:

Navy DEP Meetings

Once a month, every second Tuesday of every month, I meet with my recruiters and other DEPers and we discuss things that will help us before we get into basic training. Tonight's topic was boot camp. We watched a video on what to expect and then we talked about it. Overall it was good to hear that others have the same questions and fears that I do. I am a good, healthy mixture of nervous, anxious, pumped, afraid and excited for boot camp. I know it's going to be tough and rigorous and unlike anything else I've ever done, but I also know it's going to be the beginning of a great adventure in my life.

New Girl

Oh, Zooey Deschanel, how I love you and your awkward, quirky humor! This is one of my new favorite shows. A favorite scene from last week's episode was when Nick was trying to get Jess to say "penis" but she couldn't say it. Tonight's episode's favorite quote actually comes from Cece, Jess's best friend who is a model: "You tell anyone we held hands, I have two people in my phone who will kill you. Really."

Tessa's Off Day

Tessa is one of my favorite co-workers. She and I get each other because we've both been with Deseret Book for a long time. Her 18 years make my 4 years look pretty pathetic though. Today she was quite entertaining. It's fun to be able to laugh at ourselves at work especially with the busy season coming up and we don't want to take things too seriously and get overly stressed. Sorry, Tessa, but your off day made my day!

Attitude of Gratitude #7

2011-11-07T14:32:00.000-08:00

On this Monday, I am grateful for:

A Day Off Work

Don't get me wrong; I'm glad I have a job and I'm grateful for that as well (some days more than others). However, today I'm grateful to have a day off from said job. It's nice to have a job to be able to have a day off. Does that make sense? In my mind it sure does.

My Kira

Kira has become one of my best friends lately. She and I do just about everything together including this Breast Cancer Awareness 5K we did in October. She's been out of town for a long time, and I've missed her, but, thanks to technology we still keep in touch and today she has helped to assuage some fears, doubts, and stresses I've been having.

Peace & Quiet

I've been soaking in the peace and quiet because it's about to end in about an hour and a half when I get to watch Gigi and my nephews. This is yet another thing I'm grateful for even though I'm also grateful for the kids in my life. This does not exist when the boys are around. OMG.

And this is just for fun...

Attitude of Gratitude #6

2011-11-07T00:10:00.000-08:00

Today I'm grateful for:

Charmed

I've said it before, and I will say it again: I love Charmed! Don't judge. It's a great show, and I've watched the whole series several times. I used to be able to tell you exactly what season a given episode was from and the back story to how the characters got to where they were. Tonight I had the urge to watch it again and started on the Fourth Season which, in my opinion, is where the series gets really good. And, hey, ya can't really go wrong with three women who kick ass, wear skimpy clothes, and are also funny (at times).

Chocolate Chip Cookies

It's a Sunday tradition that I make chocolate chip cookies, and I do it pretty much every week. No matter how many times I make them I never tire of the deliciousness.

Sunday Naps

I'll admit it: I'm spoiled. I usually take at least an hour nap every Sunday. My body is so attuned to it now that it's impossible to not do it now. And I have some pretty dang weird dreams when I nap. Today was no exception in that area. Sometimes they're weird enough I question my sanity and vow never to take a nap again, but that never works. So I will just continue with my Sunday nap ritual and worry about my sanity later.

Attitude of Gratitude #5

2011-11-05T23:09:00.000-07:00

(Caught up! Yes!)

Today I am grateful for:

A Reliable Car

No, the above picture is not of my car, the infamous Phoebe, but it is one similar to her. She has been through a lot with me and it is safe to say I'm attached to her. She's getting up there in miles and it makes me sad to think of the day when I give her up. It snowed today and I was glad I had her to get me to work and back safely.

Katherine Heigl

I don't know what it is about Katherine Heigl that I love, but I absolutely adore her. Maybe it's the fact that she's gorgeous and can also be really funny. I will forgive her for the disaster that was The Killers but she has been in some really good movies. Tonight I watched her in 27 Dresses with my sister. She manages to be goofy, awkward, and beautiful all at the same time.

My Sister Katie

I love this girl! I got to hang out with her tonight after work. We went to WinCo (which is a madhouse on Saturdays) in the freezing cold with two wild little boys. Then we went back to her house and made dinner (taco soup) while the boys watched Tangled. Once the boys were asleep (I had to/got to rock Wyatt to sleep because he was having a hard time going to bed) we watched 27 Dresses which I had not seen before tonight. It was fun to hang out with my sister again and I wish we could do it more often.

Attitude of Gratitude #4

2011-11-05T22:54:00.000-07:00

(I'm already behind!!!)

Today (yesterday) I am (was) grateful for:

Mom's Homemade Mac & Cheese

My mom can cook! And one of my favorite meals she makes is homemade mac & cheese. I love it. Whenever she asks what she should make for supper that is one of the first things that I think of. She made it the night before and then I had it for lunch today (& yesterday). My mama treats me good.

Chill Friday Nights with the Parents & Gigi

So I still live with my parents and I'm 28 years old. That's about to change in a few months, but it has been really nice. I love chill nights with my family. I got a pizza for dinner from Papa Murphy's and even treated us to a cinnamon wheel dessert pizza that hit the spot exactly. We ate the pizza, watched Knight & Day starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz (a much better movie than I had anticipated), and then I watched some shows I had DVR'd for the week.

Whitney

This was one of the shows I had DVR'd for the week. If you haven't watched it yet, get to it. It is so funny! Mostly, it shows the quirks that go with being in relationships which everyone can relate to in some way. Whitney also makes fun of the differences between men and women all the time on her show. I have also watched her stand up routine (which you can tell has influenced a lot of the comedy in her show) called Money Shot and that is hilarious as well.

Attitude of Gratitude #3

2011-11-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for:

Plyometrics

For making it possible for me to kick my own ass. For free. Thank you, Plyometrics. I've done some research on it, too, and there is some crazy stuff out there.

My Orange Hoodie

Because I love it. And because I can.

Friends who have told me how good I look lately

This sounds conceited. But really, I've gotten a lot of compliments lately. Kelli Buttars, Karly at work, Hannah, Kira, my friend Jared, and my bff Mike all have mentioned to me how good I look. It is nice to have my efforts noticed. This picture was taken after I had kicked my ass with some plyometrics.

Attitude of Gratitude #2

2011-11-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

Today I am grateful for:

My dog Hadjii

He is such a good dog (most of the time). Today he has been my little sidekick. He even ran along beside me for about a half mile. Then he got distracted which was probably for the best because I envisioned him running beside me on the road and getting hit by a car while I remained helpless. Good thing that didn't come true.

Being able to run and exercise

I've been able to get in shape the last few months and it has been awesome to see my improvements. The human body never ceases to amaze me. I am still astounded by how far I am able to push myself to do the things that I would not have been able to do even just a year ago. Today I ran a little over 3 miles and I was all bundled up.

As a side note, I just want to say just how grieving can affect not just your mind but your body also. It's as if everything in you shuts down and you go into survival mode. That's how I was for at least two years and I got to the heaviest I've ever been and I was really out of shape even though I would walk a lot. Things that used to be easy left me winded. But with some determination and motivation, I've been able to overcome and start on the path to recovery. I can proudly say I have a healthier body and I look and feel the best I've ever felt.

My iPod

I love this little doohickey! I can just plug in and go. Seriously, I can do just about anything if I've got music going in my ears. Best invention ever. RIP Steve Jobs.

Attitude of Gratitude #1

2011-11-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

I'm going to do something this November to celebrate Thanksgiving. EVERY DAY I'm going to post three things that I'm thankful for. Today, I put up Thanksgiving decorations at my parents' house and I was in that mindset, then I went to work and everything was Christmas. It was as if we had completely skipped over November and Thanksgiving. Let's not even think about being grateful for anything before we focus on Christmas and Santa and gifts.

So here it begins.

Today I am grateful for:

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE

Her new album, Ceremonials, was released in the US/Canada today, and it is amazing! It's little things like this that make a mundane day exceptional.

T. Greenwood

I just started Undressing the Moon and it is already sucking me in. Her writing never ceases to amaze me. I've spread her novels out because I like to relish every word. She has been a sweet discovery and will always be a favorite author of mine.

Paigey

My coworker, Paige, pretty much made my day today. Every time I work with her is a new adventure. She is such an optimistic, sweet, vibrant, and funny girl. I wish I could be more like her.

Utah Trip

2011-11-01T22:18:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday afternoon I went to Utah with my friend, Casey Poetker. It was supposed to be a Halloween trip as well as a time to take a linguistics test for the Navy. We stayed til Monday afternoon with Casey's friends Jessie and Sean.

Some highlights of the trip:

Going to In N Out Burger with Casey as our first and last stops in Utah. I love that place, and now I see the hype. I just barely lost my In N Out Burger virginity this summer when I went to Lagoon with my friends Mike, Lacey, Kira, and Brittany.
Lunch with Kelli at a little Greek hole-in-the-wall place. She filled me in on her really awesome and crazy romance with a Dutchman. It is quite the story. If you know Kelli, that girl has some great stories. I guess even if you don't know her she has some great stories, regardless. The food was really good too. It was my first time ever having Greek food.
The Haunted Forest with Jessie, Sean, and Casey. It was quite the setup. They had a Freddie Krueger that was really intense and got into his role really well. And I was in the back so I got the joy of being followed.
Jessie and Sean. They were entertaining and just really great people. It's always great to make new friends.
The Gateway mall. I love going there just to look around. I know where I'm going to shop when I have lots of money.
I bought three sweet new ties.

While the trip wasn't exactly what I envisioned, and I was slightly bummed about it for awhile, I thought about it and it was probably for the best. I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason or, in this case, they don't happen for a reason. Just take things like that in stride and move on. Now it is back to reality for that was my last hoorah before Christmas retail season. Yay!

Interview with the Vampire

2011-10-31T23:57:00.000-07:00

Rating: 4 out of 5 Tortured, Undead Souls

In the now-classic novel Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice refreshed the archetypal vampire myth for a late-20th-century audience. The story is ostensibly a simple one: having suffered a tremendous personal loss, an 18th-century Louisiana plantation owner named Louis Pointe du Lac descends into an alcoholic stupor. At his emotional nadir, he is confronted by Lestat, a charismatic and powerful vampire who chooses Louis to be his fledgling. The two prey on innocents, give their "dark gift" to a young girl, and seek out others of their kind (notably the ancient vampire Armand) in Paris. But a summary of this story bypasses the central attractions of the novel. First and foremost, the method Rice chose to tell her tale--with Louis' first-person confession to a skeptical boy--transformed the vampire from a hideous predator into a highly sympathetic, seductive, and all-too-human figure. Second, by entering the experience of an immortal character, one raised with a deep Catholic faith, Rice was able to explore profound philosophical concerns--the nature of evil, the reality of death, and the limits of human perception--in ways not possible from the perspective of a more finite narrator.
(Amazon.com)

I was pleasantly surprised when I read this novel and found that it wasn't just about vampires. Anne Rice is practically genius. She explores issues of faith, life, good vs. evil, and philosophy all in an intriguing and fast-moving story. Her writing is brilliant as she weaves the present-day interview and the vampire's story. Louis Pointe du Lac is a likable character because he is the most, seemingly, human vampire. That was another thing I found during the reading of this book. When I was an undergraduate English major, I remember being told that a good book will explore the human condition and do it in a way that is meaningful and poignant. Rice does that with this book.

The beginning of a novel, if it is well-written, will show you what themes to look for in the book. If you're looking and reading carefully enough you can catch on to them. However, not all novels are created equally. I was pleased to find that there may be some themes in Interview with the Vampire.

Theme 1: Good vs. Evil
This is a huge theme and kindof an obvious one. I think, though, that Anne Rice is attempting to explore it in a different way. Consider what Louis says:

"People who cease to believe in God or goodness altogether still believe in the devil. I don't know why. No, I do indeed know why. Evil is always possible. And goodness is eternally difficult. But you must understand, possession is really another way of saying someone is mad. I felt it was, for the priest. I'm sure he'd seen madness. Perhaps he had stood right over raving madness and pronounced it possession. You don't have to see Satan when he is exorcised. But to stand in the presence of a saint...To believe that the saint has seen a vision. No, it's egotism, our refusal to believe it could occur in our midst" (13).

Not only are we considering Good vs. Evil, but we are also considering what makes someone good, what makes someone evil. Also: why is it so easy for people to believe in evil and so hard for them to believe in miracles and goodness? We, as humans, tend to believe the bad before we will believe the good. Why is that?

Theme 2: What it means to be Human
I am going to be watching for this theme throughout the novel, but I don't really have a clue from Rice that it will even be in there. I can sense Louis' struggle, already, to come to grips with this as he transforms from human to vampire. One of my favorite professors said that a good novel will try to show the human experience. I think this one has the capability of showing it by looking at it through non-human eyes.

Another theme that has been brought up is morality. Does Louis drink from only animals as a moral or aesthetic choice? What's the difference? What is it that finally makes him stop drinking from animals?

I also looked at the symbolism in the book. From what research about the book I've done I've been told it is rife with it. So far I think Louis represents our desire to do what is right even if we are corrupt humans. As a vampire he is tormented by the fact that he is damned and so he tries constantly to rise above his nature. While Lestat represents all things bad in us and the giving in to those things and what it can do to you.

By the end, we realize that this novel is a tragedy. Louis is constantly in search of life in his immortality. We grieve as he loses his companions and his life truly ends. He may have died physically when he became a vampire, but his soul lived on in a tormented state of immortality.

This may have been a darker novel, but I loved it. It took me awhile to finish it just because I have had a hard time focusing on a book for longer than a few pages at a time lately. I think I'm developing adult onset ADHD. Who knows? I gave this book 4 out of 5 Tormented, Undead Souls. Go read it! P.S. Don't watch the movie. While it is decent not compared to the book, if you compare it to the book, it is terrible.

The Hunt for a Literary Agent

2011-10-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

So I decided that I should get the ball rolling on getting published. I feel somewhat of a time crunch before I head off to basic. I'm not sure how much time I will be able to devote to my writing once I am in the Navy. While my manuscript isn't quite done, I don't think it hurts to get my voice out there and see if anybody bites.

I have chosen to go the agent route simply because that usually eliminates some hefty obstacles. It actually opens a lot of doors that would, otherwise, be locked down. Agents are kind of a middle man for writers. You sell the book idea to them, they essentially represent you as they go to publishers to see if anyone will take it. While a downfall of going this route is that you will always have someone to share percentage with (I'm not entirely sure how it all works, so don't quote me on any of this unless you know more than me and can correct me in my wrongs), but, for a lifelong dream, I'm willing to part with a perecentage of a pittance in order to fulfill that dream.

This week I have submitted 17 query letters to 17 different agents. I've heard back from four so far. Those are still good odds. :)

Interview with the Vampire Remake

2011-10-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

I'm currently reading Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire for my Facebook Book Club (The Bibliophile's Book Club). It has gotten me thinking that the movie was done in 1994. That's almost 20 years ago. Not only does that make me feel old, but it blows my mind. With Hollywood doing remakes a lot lately, I think it would be interesting if they redid this movie. Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise are both old now (Pitt resembles Robert Redford more and more with each new movie he makes) and it would be good for some young blood to be cast as the vampires.

So here is my dream cast for a remake of Interview with the Vampire.

Lestat de Lioncourt: Patrick Wilson

Louis de Pointe du Lac: Chris Evans

Babette Freniere: Olivia Wilde

Claudia: Elle Fanning

Madeleine: Bryce Dallas Howard

Armand: Danny Pino

Young Freniere: Joseph Gordon Leavitt

Interviewer "Boy": Drew Fuller

Save the Bounce

2011-10-05T22:11:00.000-07:00

On October 1, I ran a 5K for breast cancer awareness. My friend, Kira (pictured above second to the right), got a group of us together. Her grandma and great-grandma were both diagnosed with breast cancer. Her grandma is still battling with it and it is for her that we ran.

We wanted to do shirts for our group. While just being goofy I thought it would be funny to say something like Running for the Bounce. It later became Save the Bounce which has a better ring to it. I designed the shirts and Kira ironed the logos on and we painted our names on the back of them.

It was awesome to be able to run for a good cause. Running three miles never felt better than that! I will gladly do something like that again any day!

The Omen Machine

2011-10-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Cryptic Messages

From the beginning, with Wizard’s First Rule, Terry Goodkind set a new standard for epic storytelling. Now he returns with a powerful new tale from Richard and Kahlan’s world.An accident leads to the discovery of a mysterious machine that has rested hidden deep underground for countless millennia. The machine awakens to begin issuing a series of increasingly alarming, if minor, omens. The omens turn out to be astonishingly accurate, and ever more ominous. As Zedd tries to figure out how to destroy the sinister device, the machine issues a cataclysmic omen involving Richard and Kahlan, foretelling an impending event beyond anyone’s ability to stop. As catastrophe approaches, the machine then reveals that it is within its power to withdraw the omen . . . In exchange for an impossible demand.

Terry Goodkind has stood as one of my favorite authors for years. His Sword of Truth series still holds its place firmly as my favorite fantasy series. The magic of Goodkind's world is the believability and the relevance of the message in his stories. Each book carried more than just a fantasy story that was entertaining. I was fascinated with the idea of a contemporary author actually creating a world and writing philosophical novels in a readable form.

I haven't been too impressed with Goodkind's work lately. His Law of Nines was a terrible disappointment. It was supposed to be a departure from his fantasy genre, but it turned out to be tied to his Sword of Truth series in very pathetic and hokey ways. I was hoping that, with a return to the characters and the world that I had grown to love, Goodkind would redeem himself. I wish I could say that he did, but he did not. For me, this was a weak installment in an otherwise amazing series that he probably should just leave alone.

About 95% of the novel the characters spend deliberating and trying to figure out what is going on. They seem so bewildered and shocked when they shouldn't. The characters I came to love would have acted. Think about it: they had just made it through this huge war with Jagang, they are seasoned warriors and wizards. They should not be shocked that the peace would end so soon. Instead, they should have been like "Bring it. Hannis Arc, you've got nothing on Jagang and Darken Rahl." Really, all Hannis Arc has on those two is that he looks more evil.

Richard has pansied up in this novel. There's maybe one or two scenes (I specifically remember one, but I vaguely remember another one...) where Richard actually acts like the Richard I remember. He is a do-er. He thinks and then he acts. This book Richard just THINKS. And he's just a victim. By the end of the novel I don't feel like he learned anything or that he really ever figured anything out. These omens keep spinning out of control, and I wanted him to kick some ass, but he doesn't.

I found myself skimming through the last 3/4 of the novel because the writing was lazy. The characters became stereotypical and forced into molds. There's a scene where they go down into the room where the Omen Machine is and Goodkind lists them in order of the way they go down the stairs as if I care. And I kept wondering why ALL of them had to be there. It just seemed empty and void of really any point to it. I kept wanting to reach through the pages and shake them all.

The only reason I kept reading was because I love the characters, but this book even made me sick of them because they weren't acting like the ones I came to love. These were just carbon copies of them. I think Goodkind is tired of the world, but he knows a Richard/Kahlan novel will sell. Personally, I think he should have left it well enough alone and created something new and different. Redeemable scene could possibly have been the one with the Hedge Maid and Henrik and Hannis Arc, but even that was mediocre. By the end of the novel I still didn't understand what the hell a Hedge Maid even was, and what Hannis Arc's hold was on her. Why was she doing his bidding if she was so scary herself? What was in it for her? SO CONFUSED!!!

Will I read more Goodkind? Most likely. I will just be more hesitant to read it even if it is a Richard/Kahlan novel. I gave it 2.5 out of 5 Cryptic Messages.

More about Befall

2011-09-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

So...

I know I just barely posted about my book, but I had some recent...revelations (?) about it and I wanted to share.

1. Perfect candidate for Nikki is Kaley Cuoco. She's beautiful, funny, and sarcastic.
2. Perfect candidate for Grady is Chace Crawford. I can't remember if I put him down in my last post, but I'm becoming more and more convinced that he has the right look for Grady.
3. Somewhat perfect candidate for Harper is Liam Hemsworth. The jury is still out on this one.
4. Emma Stone is still my favorite pick for Olivia.

That's all. This was mostly for my own information. Take it for what it's worth.

Btw, if you have Facebook: I have made profiles for Grady, Olivia, Harper, and Nikki. Just for fun. You will see some live banter which will be fun (more for me, I'm sure.).

PS This new layout of Blogger kinda drives me bonkers.

Then & Now

2011-09-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

Last night I was looking through old pictures on my computer and came across this one on the left. I was stunned by the pale skin, the roundness of my face, the sadness in my eyes and I realized that was probably on one of my good days. I have to cut myself some slack on the "Then" picture. It was mere months after my sister passed away, and I was going through a very dark period in my life. Not only was I grieving, going to school, and working, but I was also not eating right and not doing anything for my body. I really think, looking back, that my body was in survival mode. Even walking around campus had me winded.

Three years later, on the right hand side, I am tanner, thinner, and happier. Honestly I'm in the best shape I've ever been in my life. This includes the 2-year LDS mission in Florida where I was walking or biking several miles a day and sweating everything out. It's amazing for me to look at the contrast between these two pictures and to also see the similarities. And it's just going to get better. Maybe in a couple years I will post my "Now" picture on the left hand side and an even better-looking version of me will be on the right. Who knows? I'm very proud of this transition because I did it all myself. All it took was some determination and motivation.

Then Stats:
210 lbs.
5'7"
Daily meals: cereal, frozen burritos, lots of Oreos and milk, soda

Now Stats:
172 lbs.
Still 5'7" dangit
Daily meals: Still love cereal, low carbs, more protein, more fruits and veggies, and no carbonation

Delayed Trio

2011-09-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

So there may be more novels in the works someday. At this point in time I just don't know when I'd be able to actually write all these ideas. Last night at work a coworker and I came up with titles for a trio of books: Delayed Revenge, Delayed Hope, and Delayed Anticipation. Whether or not these things actually come to fruition is another story altogether. You have to admit, however, that they are pretty tight titles.

Speaking of...I hear nasty rumor that publishers don't let authors have a whole lot of say to the title of their book. Is this true? If so, I'mma be a mad pirate. I have a nice, neat, cohesive, and never-been-done before idea for my Tales of the Unluckiest Lucky girl series, and I want to have my say, dammit! So...if any of you know if this is just a falsehood or if there is any truth to it whatsoever, please pass the word on (either way) to me. I promise I will not kill the messenger.

DEP

2011-09-13T22:34:00.001-07:00

So, now that I'm in the Navy and waiting to enter basic training and start my school and all that jazz I am now in the Delayed Entry Program or DEP. It is basically a way for the Navy to help me transition into the culture of the Navy and also so I don't look like a total, complete idiot when I get to basic.

We meet once a month and today was my first DEP meeting. It was great! I learned a lot of things. We talked about dress and grooming and saluting etiquette. I was nervous before the meeting just because I didn't know what to expect. It was a really great time though and, by the end, I was feeling quite pumped to be a part of something so awesome.

I never thought I'd join the military. The more I'm involved in it, the more I realize that I am exactly where I need to be and that I've been prepared for this time in my life.

Remembering 9/11/01

2011-09-11T23:11:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago our country experienced an event so tragic from which we are still reeling. All the economic hardships, political drama, wars overseas that have followed are all centered on this one event. It changed the face of the United States forever.

I can remember, just as most people can, exactly what I was doing that day. My friend, Matt, and I had decided to go for an early morning run. While we were running he told me about it and I remember saying, "That's not good." After our run we went to the cafeteria near our dorms and the news was on the big-screen television. I remember watching as the second plane flew into the other tower and then the tumbling of the buildings later. I didn't know what the consequences of this was going to be, but I do remember the huge outpouring of patriotism and unity that it created in this country.

One thing I hate to see is the "Never Forget" stickers. How can you forget such a momentous and horrific event as this? The planes crashing into the towers tends to overshadow what happened at the Pentagon as well. The whole idea of the "Never Forget" stickers make me mad because we shouldn't even need them to remind ourselves of it. In fact, we shouldn't even need a terrorist act such as this to make us feel patriotic. Our country is unique in our freedoms. We have things no other country has, and we take them all for granted. Does our economy suck right now? Yes. Do our politicians not really give us any hope for a brighter future? In my opinion, they don't. Others may disagree. This blog is not meant to be a political stance, so I will just leave it at that. The way I see it, we just don't have enough patriotism in the United States anymore. It's as if we've forgotten what it means to be patriotic.

To be a patriot you are "a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion," someone who "regards himself or herself as a defender, especially of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government (dictionary.reference.com)."

Where I work, people are constantly buying books about the end of days and signs of the times. They read these books, come back and tell us all about how the country is going to go to pot and there's nothing we can do about it. There's a defeatist attitude in the country these days and it really bugs me. What we need is action. This nation is built upon the strength of the individual. We've come to rely too heavily on the government to pull us through when the United States was never meant to be fully led by the government. Our political leaders are merely our representatives and our voices. What we need is to find the leaders that best represent our voice as a whole.

This is partially why I've joined the Navy. To be a part of something bigger than myself. People shake their heads at me because this is a scary time to be signing in to the military. What with the government heading for collapse and the world on the verge of a full-blown war. I've always felt that I would be a part of it. I don't know why. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking forward to being in any form of battle, but it is my duty as a citizen of this great country to defend the freedoms I love.

I've sort of gone on a tangent. I can remember the explosion of patriotism that followed September 11, 2001 and I want that feeling back. It really didn't last long. My friends at college and I went to donate blood right after the attacks and we were turned away because there were so many people volunteering to give blood. Now you can't twist anyone's arm, hardly, to donate blood. We sit back and wait for something else to happen. We're so worried that another terrorist attack will happen. By doing this, the terrorists win. They get what they want because they want us to be scared and acting like injured puppies. I say it's time we start acting like the proud wolves that we are. Start standing up for our freedoms. Give the politicians something else to fear: people with guts enough to say NO MORE!

Thank you to all the firefighters, police officers, and military men and women who serve and have served our country. You're amazing and words cannot express how proud I am of you. To all those who died and who lost loved ones in the senseless, brutal terrorist attacks of September 11 I honor you and love you.

To you, reader, whoever you are, I'm just a young guy in a little town in Idaho, and I know you have your own opinions about what I've said in this post, but I'm hoping that my words will influence you to at least take inventory of your own patriotism. Where do you rate yourself? Are you willing to take a stand? Are you willing to take some action to keep the freedoms you love?

Think about it.

Befall as a Movie

2011-09-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

The book I'm writing would translate very well to the silver screen. Maybe I think that because I'm biased. It plays like a movie in my head as I'm writing, so it would seem natural to jump into the box office. Whether or not that actually happens is another story altogether. Let's just focus on getting into book form before we start thinking of a movie of it.

It has always been a habit of mine to line up actors to play my characters as a way of getting their looks solid in my mind. What I find with this book is different from other books I've tried to write. Where I usually have one actor in mind, this book has me bouncing around from actor to actor to the point where I have two or three actors for each character that I think would be good.

There really aren't a whole lot of characters in this book. It's a far cry from my last novel attempt which became such a fiasco full of characters that even I got daunted by it. So here is the list of actors I have lined up with each character. I realize this won't mean much to you if you haven't read the story yet. Oh well. It's for my own entertainment.

Olivia:
Emma Stone (current favorite because she can do sassy and independent very well)
Rooney Mara (definitely has the look I picture for Liv)
Rachel McAdams (probably a little older than Olivia but I absolutely love her)
Lea Michele (I'm pretty sure it would be nice if whoever played Olivia also had a nice set of pipes, looks-wise Lea doesn't fit my vision of Olivia though)
Emily Blunt (not sure why...but she'd be great)

Grady:
Penn Badgley (it would be interesting if he and Emma Stone were in another movie together)
Chris Fisher (relatively unknown but he has the look and an accent)
Anton Yelchin (He's an excellent actor)
Chace Crawford (I know next to nothing about him. And I'm not a Gossip Girl fan but he has the look for Grady)

Harper:
Chris Pine (the constant favorite for him. For Harper it really would depend on who was cast as Olivia)
Chris Evans (haven't hated anything he's done. He's proving himself to be a good leading man)
Cam Gigandet (huh. Another cast member of Easy A. Coincidence?)

Nikki:
Hilary Duff (she'd be a good bff)
Kristen Bell (Not sure if she'd play the best friend in a movie but she's got the look...)
That's all I've got.

Queen Maeve:
Charlize Theron (basically Charlize is who I think of when I think of classic beauties)
Olivia Wilde (She's everywhere lately. And she has an exotic beauty about her that would be perfect)

Red Man:
Cam Gigandet (if he isn't cast as Harper, he'd be great as the crazy Red Man)
Paul Bettany (he's actually probably perfect for the role)
Karl Urban (Probably one of the most versatile actors out there right now)

Vanessa:
Zoe Saldana (I'm seeing a lot of Star Trek cast members in this list too. Huh.)
Aunjanue Ellis (She was great in The Help as Yule May)

Ok. That's all I've got right now. Below is a mock movie poster I made for fun.

Divergent

2011-09-05T12:34:00.001-07:00

Rating: 2 out of 5 Factions

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris, and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together, they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes-fascinating, sometimes-exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret: one she’s kept hidden from everyone, because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly-perfect society, she also learns that her secret might be what helps her save those she loves . . . or it might be what destroys her. (from VeronicaRothBooks.blogspot.com)

Dystopian societies seem to be the newest craze in young adult literature. I've picked up this book a few times before I actually decided to read it. The cover is enticing. Yes, I tend to judge a book by its cover. You're a liar if you say you don't. Roth's synopsis of the book is exciting, and the idea is really quite intriguing. However, as I got reading it, I saw so many holes in the story that I felt could have been covered with a good, solid editing. Or maybe a few more brainstorming sessions on the author's part. Perhaps she meant to leave things unanswered until the next book, but there is a vast difference between mystery that works and mystery just for the sake of mystery. At times I felt like Roth was underestimating her reader a lot. Granted, I am older than her target audience, but the young adult genre should be a little more expansive. Especially a book that is being likened to The Hunger Games and Twilight.

Beatrice, or Tris as she comes to call herself, is not a likable hero. Not in the least. I could not connect with her. Katniss in The Hunger Games was at least vulnerable at times. Tris is selfish. We get sort of plopped into it though. We don't understand why she hates her faction so much. We don't understand her big choice to change factions and why it is such a big deal for her as a character. It's just unheard of that someone from Abnegation would go Dauntless. I needed more reason than that. Yes, the two factions are completely opposite, but why did Beatrice decide to do it? I'm still unsure.

Going off of that...Tris' relationships seem forced. Especially her romantic aspirations for Four. At some level I like that her friendships are forced because she even says so herself that she's not sure how to be friends with people. It would have been nice if she would have actually connected with Christina on a different level that seemed less superficial.

Four. He seems to be the token hot guy who, for some unknown reason, is not supposed to love Tris. And he tells her that she's not pretty. The dialogue between the two has some glimmers of hope, but it seems like they fall for each other because the author wanted them to. I like when characters fall for each other despite what the reader or the author think and it seems to flow naturally. There was none of that with Four (Tobias) and Tris (Beatrice).

The writing itself isn't bad. A little too sparse at times. And I think Roth also assumes the reader knows what she's talking about. Some times she could have described what was going on better. That being said, there are moments of cliche that really irked me.

The climax is good. Jeanine and Marcus both come in a little late as antagonists. I think Roth could have introduced us to Jeanine a little sooner and then it would have made more sense when the ending comes around.

I've become a skimmer. When a book fails to hold my interest I will skim as much as possible because I still have the curiosity to find out what happens. That being said there are some books that I have no desire to know what happens. This one is not one of them. I wanted to know where Roth was going to take it.

Is it a terrible book? No. Is it in the same boat as The Hunger Games, Unearthly, or Delirium? Definitely not. Those books left me breathless and dying for more, and the writing is of a different caliber in them. I would recommend this for younger readers. In fact, I probably would have loved it if I were 14 to 18 when I read it. I gave it 2 out of 5 Factions.

Writing Again

2011-09-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight I made a breakthrough in the second draft of my novel Befall. I actually have hope that I can finish this draft in a few weeks. It's going to take some major focus and sacrifice to get it done, but I really would like to get the publishing aspect of it going before I go to basic training. I just had to force myself to write. If any of you, my readers, hear me complaining about hitting a brick wall with my writing, slap me upside the head and tell me to snap out of it.

On a random note, I'm watching The Adjustment Bureau right now. Weird movie. Not what I was expecting. Still good though.

Anyway...I'm back to writing!

The Help Movie

2011-09-03T12:02:00.001-07:00

Last night I went and saw The Help movie. I have trained myself to look at movies made from books as two separate entities. Both have different audiences usually. I was absolutely traumatized for life when I went to see The Bourne Identity and found that the only similarities to the book was the opening scene when Jason Bourne is floating in the water and he gets saved by fishermen. Oh, and the character names. Everything else was a complete departure from the book which saddened me.

There are those rare movies that come along that go so well with the book that it's a breath of fresh air. Lord of the Rings trilogy, Harry Potter and we'll even go with Twilight are among those movies that stick really closely to the books from which they are adapted. It has taken me years to realize that Hollywood makes these movies, yes, to hop on the buzz train that the books have caused and, therefore capture the already-fans. But they are also trying to get their hooks into a different audience. Ya know the type. The ones who wait til the movie of the book comes out because they don't want to read it. (I'm guilty of this too. I have no intention of reading all of the Harry Potter books because I would rather just watch the movies. Someday I may read the books, but for now the movies will suffice.)

Back to the original topic on hand. The movie of The Help was fantastic! Here are a few reasons why:

A. I love Emma Stone! I have loved her since her days in the flop Drive. A series which only lasted for, literally, three episodes. It was supposed to be a dark spin on the Rat Race movie but it just didn't work. Anyway...she is fantastic. And she showed her emotional/dramatic acting chops beautifully in this movie.

B. The story is amazing. And you still get the symbolism of the characters in the movie.

C. The actors are wonderful. The directing was great. Everything about it. I even got choked up in several parts of the movie.

D. It has humor and drama. The best of both worlds.

One critique I do have is that they don't really build up the Skeeter/Stewart relationship. She hates him, he apologizes, they have a great date, kiss, and suddenly are together. The scene where Stewart freaks out on Skeeter comes abruptly in the movie. It would have felt less out of place if they had done the scene where Skeeter and her family meet Stewart's family. That was really the only thing that bothered me.

My absolute favorite character is Celia Foote. She, like I said before, represents innocence and lack of ignorance. She is blinded to societal boundaries and color. Jessica Chastain does an excellent job of portraying her. I'm interested to see how Chastain's career develops as she is an up-and-coming actress.

Anyway. There is my two cents on the movie from the book The Help. Go see it. I don't think you need to read the book beforehand. If you have read the book I don't think you'll be disappointed in Hollywood's take on it.

Huge Leap

2011-08-27T22:48:00.000-07:00

Here is my official announcement. As of August 25, 2011

I have enlisted in the United States Navy!!!

It was with much thought, deliberation, and prayer that I made this decision. Believe me, I did not go willingly at first. I would always go back to military but I always pushed it aside because I did not think I was capable of it. But once I figured out that it is something I could do, and something that I felt right about, I dove head first into it.

I visited with the recruiter at the end of July right before I went to California for my best friend's wedding. During my long layovers, boring flights, and all that time alone I had plenty of time to think and weigh the pros and cons of joining the military. I also talked with my cousin who is now an officer in the Navy. He was encouraging and supportive. My friend, Kira, is enlisted in the air force and she and I had several talks about the military. So...all these things pointed me in this direction.

I will leave for basic April 17 in Great Lakes, IL. My MOS (job) is air crewman. In this capacity I will be on the planes on the aircraft carriers, working the equipment in the planes or helicopters, and just being a badass. After basic I will go to Pensacola FL for Air Crew Candidate School where I will get the training necessary for my job which includes a lot of swimming.

Wednesday (August 24) and Thursday (August 25) I went to SLC to take the ASVAB and to go through MEPS. Thursday was an exceptionally long but memorable day. It was an intense and thorough physical from hell, but it was worth it. When I went in I thought I would go for an intel job, but, practically at the last minute, I decided against it and went with air crewman.

I am excited/nervous/freaked out/happy about this new adventure in my life. It has always been in my heart to serve my country in some capacity, but I was never sure. A part of me, I think, always knew I would end up doing something like this at some point in my life. All I can say is that, if you want to change your life for the better, you have the ability to make your life what you want it to be. That is what is so amazing about the freedoms we enjoy in this country. Regardless of the terrible economy, we still have a fantastic country that I don't want to see collapse. I feel like I'm doing my part to protect the land I love.

An Invisible Sign of My Own

2011-08-20T22:12:00.000-07:00

Rating: 3 out of 5 Knocks on Wood

Mona Gray is young and unique. She loves the world of mathematics. She buys herself an axe on her twentieth birthday because it feels right to her. She quits things just as she is getting good at them because she likes quitting things. Bender's cast of characters includes Mr. Jones, the math teacher who every day wears a number around his neck, and Benjamin Smith, the science teacher who has his students act out a different illness each week.

That Mona and Benjamin have a romance is a minor aspect of this book. Mona tries to figure out who leaves Mr. Jones's numbers outside of houses, while trying to teach mathematics to second graders. She is also coping with her father's illness and the fact that he might not make it to his fifty-first birthday. (www.enotes.com)

I discovered this book through imdb.com because of a movie starring Jessica Alba entitled An Invisible Sign. The preview for the movie was intriguing for a few reasons, among them being that Alba was actually going to be in a thinking movie that would require some acting and not just a pretty body. I was interested in the plot, so I looked up the book and ordered it right away.

It's just a small, barely-over-200 page, book. I started it on the last leg of my trip to California, and I was hooked right away. It starts with a morbid little fairy tale that sets the tone for the whole book. Yes, this is a morbid book. The main character, Mona, is a savant who is sometimes quite plucky and charming, but, other times, she is very near crazy.

Her relationships seem very distant. She has issues with her mother, but those barely get addressed. Her father is fading with what seems like alzheimer's and her relationship with him is intriguing, but there is no real closure with it. Bender, in fact, alludes to the fact that Mona is going to go the way of her father which is depressing to say the least. Mona is also hired as a teacher and her relationship with her students is unconventional. The second graders don't talk like any second graders I've ever heard.

Before I go further, I must say that the writing is fantastic. Bender captures images wonderfully and I got the idea that Mona is crazy in an unexplainable way. Some of the imagery is beautiful. Other imagery in this book are weird and sometimes forced.

To me it all goes back to the fairy tale at the beginning of the book. Mona tells a story about a kingdom where people discovered eternal life. No one was dying so the kingdom was getting overpopulated, so the king decreed that each family would have to volunteer one member of their family to die. One family in the kingdom could not decide who should die so they end up cutting off parts of themselves. Disturbing, no? I was disturbed. It ends with another version of the fairy tale that is much better. I'm still trying to figure out why, but it all ends up making sense. Every character in the book seems to be searching to become whole, as if they've been divided up, parts of them cut off. There are some cool insights like that that made reading the book worthwhile.

Would I read more Aimee Bender? Maybe. I wouldn't not read her again, but I'm not going to run down to the store and get her next book the first chance I get. Would I recommend this book to anyone? Sure. If you like your books short, quirky, a little dark, and sometimes humorous, then this is a good one to pick up. Otherwise, it might not be worth the time. I'm still trying to decide if it was worth mine. I gave it 3 out of 5 knocks on wood.

The Postmistress

2011-08-15T08:10:00.001-07:00

Rating: 4 out of 5 Unsent Letters

What would happen if someone did the unthinkable-and didn't deliver a letter? Filled with stunning parallels to today, The Postmistress is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of three extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war. (www.goodreads.com)

I read this book right after Kathryn Stockett's The Help. Both are extraordinary historical fiction at their finest. Blake's novel takes us to America right before we joined WWII. It is an intriguing time period simply because of the element of suspense and the unknown. America was in a tumultuous time then, most people waiting and dreading the moment when they might have to go to war, yet the war itself seemed so far away.

Even though this book takes place in the 1940s, the themes and ideas behind it are very modern. The idea that war can take place within as well as outside of our immediate selves is evident in Blake's novel.

This book follows three women: Iris James, the postmistress, Emma, the doctor's wife, and Frankie Bard, a broadcast journalist. Each of their stories interweave in very cool ways. I loved how Frankie's voice is heard by Iris and Emma and both the women have different reactions to Frankie's words. Frankie is, after all, in London where she is taking her life in her hands every day in order to bring the news to America.

The characterization in this book is wonderful. Each of the women have very distinct roles and personalities. Emma is a quiet, soft, and reserved tiny woman. Iris is more strong-willed, a little older, and somewhat obstinate. Frankie (my personal favorite) is opinionated, determined, witty, and beautiful. Each of their personalities lend to the story and bring it to a sweeping climax in which all of them finally meet.

Blake's writing is impeccable. She uses metaphors with precision and aptitude. She's a gifted storyteller who captures the emotions with a divine stroke of genius. I loved this book. I felt like I was taken on a journey back through time when I read this, and I felt the characters' pains and anguishes.

I would highly recommend this book. I gave it 4 out of 5 unsent letters. Now, what are you waiting for? Go out and get it!

The Help

2011-08-13T16:05:00.001-07:00

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Bridge Clubs

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed. (www.kathrynstockett.com)

This book takes place in a very tumultuous time in our country's history: the time right before integration and the civil rights movement. It is a time period that I, sadly, am not too familiar with, but I want to get to know it better especially after having read Kathryn Stockett's The Help. Stockett inserts moments in history as if they were just blips on the radar for the characters, and I like that. It makes it seem more realistic and not as overdone if these historical days seem more like a casual everyday thing. For example, characters mention Martin Luther King, Jr. and the rallies every once in awhile as if it was just another day, but we know now how great an impact King had on the civil rights movement.

The humor in Stockett's novel is poignant and witty. I liked that it didn't take itself too seriously and yet there were some serious undertones throughout the whole thing. Miss Skeeter is a likable character. Aibileen's chapters were a little harder to get through because of the slang, but you get used to it pretty quick and then you find yourself talking like her.

(Warning: Next part contains what could be interpreted as spoilers.)

I was also trying to see symbolism in this book and I was not disappointed. I found it mostly in the characters themselves. The one I noticed the most was Celia Foote, the "hussy" who hires Minny to help her around the house and refuses to tell her husband. She was such an interesting character because she seemed to be blind to color and societal boundaries. In Celia we find an attitude that is later adopted. She is a forward-thinking, modern woman who is played out to be the idiot in the book because she befriends Minny and she doesn't notice that Hilly and her racist friends don't want anything to do with her. It is the beautiful moment of clarity when she realizes that Hilly, who represents superior racism and entitlement, is not all she's cracked up to be that we see Celia's innocence is lost. I was disturbed by the scene in which a naked man tries to attack Minny and Celia, and I couldn't figure out why it was in the book until Celia saves Minny. That, for me, was when Celia became the savior of the novel and the true heroine.

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I am dying to see it. I can already tell, just from the previews, that they have changed a lot of it. All in all this is a fantastic story. The writing is excellent, the themes in it are superb, and the characters are unforgettable. I gave it 4.5 out of 5 Bridge Clubs.

These Things Hidden

2011-07-27T23:33:00.000-07:00

Rating: 4 out of 5 Soccer Trophies

I'm just going to dive right in on this one. Something I can admire in an author's style is being sparse. The reason I can admire it is because I know how difficult it is to maintain that and to not get carried away in details, details, details. I am constantly stripping down my own writing and trying to convey the same message with less words. Gudenkauf has mastered this. While I was reading I couldn't help but notice how swiftly I, as the reader, was taken from moment to moment in these effortless little nuances. I felt like I was given just enough, yet I still wanted more. I devoured this novel because I felt I could learn something from Gudenkauf.

The storyline was emotionally intense. I was not particularly a fan of the premise. However, if I'd known what it was about from the jacket premise, I would not have picked it up and I would have missed out on this gifted writer's talent. That being said, if you read this, do not put it down because it has a "baby killer" in it. The themes in this story are prevalent to anyone who reads it.

I loved the voices in this book. Allison was surprisingly sympathetic. Brynn was quite antagonistic, and I was amazed because I thought it would be the other way around. Charm and Claire are strong female voices, but I felt distanced from them, probably because their side was told from a third person narrative. Gudenkauf did that for a reason, and that was, in my humble opinion, to show how it feels to be on the outside looking in on this boy's life. I truly felt how Allison must have felt to see Joshua being raised by Claire. Well, I at least got an inkling of it.

There were some elements I wasn't too fond of. There was a flip-flop in tenses and I wasn't sure how to respond to them. By the time I realized it was just Gudenkauf's style, I was already 75% of the way through the novel. It was disarming enough to be distracting for me.

The other not-so-fond moment, for me, was the climax. It seemed to just come and go. I felt like there could have been a little more lead-in to make me believe that Brynn was really off-kilter. She seemed fine-ish (even though she always comes off as a little whacked), but then she has a weird meltdown. I just wasn't sure what triggered it, so the ending of her story was a little more nonchalant than I had wanted it to be.

Other than that, excellent book. I gave it four out of five soccer trophies.

Rockin' the Mo'

2011-07-19T23:40:00.000-07:00

Hey, kids, so back in June-ish/end of May-ish I went to my friend Kym with an odd request. She has been cutting my hair for a couple years now. Lately I've been doing a lot more wild and crazy things with my hair. This time I requested to get a European mohawk which is a faux hawk, essentially, that extends to the back of the head/top of the neck. I did a more reserved version of it and got some interesting reactions especially at work.

Well, this time around I have done it again only a little more drastic. Complete with a little bit of caramel-colored blonde on the top just to add some spice to the already-spicy look. Personally, I love it. Kym said she's always excited to see what I will come up with because I'm a little more adventurous. Tessa, a coworker friend of mine, said today: You always look different every time I see you. I don't know if she meant that as a compliment, but I will take it as one.

Heresy

2011-07-17T12:31:00.001-07:00

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Stuffy English Accents

Giordano Bruno was a monk, poet, scientist, and magician on the run from the Roman Inquisition on charges of heresy for his belief that the Earth orbits the sun and that the universe is infinite. This alone could have got him burned at the stake, but he was also a student of occult philosophies and magic.

In S. J. Parris's gripping novel, Bruno's pursuit of this rare knowledge brings him to London, where he is unexpectedly recruited by Queen Elizabeth I and is sent undercover to Oxford University on the pretext of a royal visitation. Officially Bruno is to take part in a debate on the Copernican theory of the universe; unofficially, he is to find out whatever he can about a Catholic plot to overthrow the queen.

His mission is dramatically thrown off course by a series of grisly murders and a spirited and beautiful young woman. As Bruno begins to discover a pattern in these killings, he realizes that no one at Oxford is who he seems to be. Bruno must attempt to outwit a killer who appears obsessed with the boundary between truth and heresy. (From Goodreads)

I actually read Prophecy before I read this one which is unusual for me. However, with these books, I'm glad I read the second one first. Parris' first Giordano Bruno book is not quite as good as the second one. I thoroughly enjoyed the intrigue and everything in the second book. Heresy is filled with the same intrigue and wit as the second book, but there was something about it that made it harder for me to get through.

First of all, the story is told in past tense in this book where Parris switches to the present tense in the second book which gives the story more immediacy and urgency that adds to the poignancy and the urge to keep reading. I really hope that, in the third installment, Parris continues with the present tense because I enjoyed that a lot more with this type of story.

I can see a big pattern with Parris' writing. While it works, I hope that she mixes up the plot procedure a little more with the next book. Both books start out with a dinner with a cast of characters who become Bruno's list of suspects for the murders that are about to ensue. Both books have far too many characters to recall who is whom so she is constantly reminding the reader, or you are constantly trying to remind yourself or you give up altogether, by adding little hints. The hints, however, don't seem to be enough. She goes into a lengthy description of their looks at first which is nice, but those little tags are not picked up later in order for the reader to really get these suspects clear in my mind. I had the problem with both books, so I know it isn't just a one-time thing. Here's hoping she gives a little more in the next installment.

That being said, something I noticed that kind of made me laugh, was that Giordano Bruno, as these books are written in the first-person narrative, seems homosexual at times. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that it is a woman writing his voice. He notices the beauty of a man more than he notices the beauty of a woman. In this book, Bruno is constantly referring to Norris as a perfect, handsome, angelic man. When he speaks of Sophia, who is supposed to be alluring, young, and beautiful, it comes off as something just in passing. Again, I noticed it more in Heresy so maybe Parris has been made aware of this, but it was an issue that kept coming up in my mind as I read.

It took me a whole month to read this book. Granted, I only read late at night and at the breakfast table which is not like me. I usually take time to read sporadically when I'm a little more alert. The next book I read I'm going to go back to my old routine, make sure I set aside time to read.

There were some redeeming factors to the book. I loved the historical context about Oxford that I did not know about. Giordano Bruno is a great character to see Elizabethan England through. Also, the idea about martyrdom and what people are willing to sacrifice themselves for is a noble and reliable theme. All in all, I would recommend this book only so you can get to Prophecy which is, in my opinion, the better of the two installments. I will continue to read the saga of Bruno in hopes that the books will only get better and better. I gave it 2.5 out of 5 Stuffy English Accents.

Cast a Wide Net

2011-06-30T22:55:00.001-07:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about dreams, goals, and aspirations. I have a ton of them! All of these things that I want to accomplish in my lifetime that seem to get pushed back to the wayside. However, lately, I've been thinking that now is the time to make my dreams come true and that I cannot sit back and wait for them to happen. It just won't happen if I do that.

1. Be a published author. One of my goals is to get my book published and subsequent books published. I have wanted this for so many years that I cannot even remember when I didn't want it. Time to just get it done, kids. I'm working on the revisions. I think I am just going to get the first two chapters beautiful and polished and start sending out feelers to agents and publishers. Don't know until I try, right?

2. Go back to school. I have been avoiding this inevitability for awhile now, but I keep going back to it. Ever since I went into English as an undergraduate I knew that this was what I would want to/have to do. Eventually I want to get my PhD (hold your gasps), but for now I will stick with getting an Master's. I've been looking at schools and programs. Turns out most of the ones I want to go to also require a GRE. Yay. A test. Go me.

I'm looking at schools in Utah (UofU), California (UC-Davis), Missouri (St. Louis University), and Colorado (Regis in Denver). I'm still wide open as to where I will actually go, but those are the primary options at the moment. It also depends a lot on who will take me.

3. Get a new job. Even if I don't go to school in the next few months (seeing how I have to study for a GRE) I do need/want to get a new job. Regardless of going back to school, I can also get an education by living in a different culture for awhile. My heart will always be in Idaho, but I need to spread my wings and fly. I just applied to a dozen (literally) jobs through Wells Fargo just to cast a wide net and see who will bite. Wells Fargo is a good company to work for with lots of opportunity for growth. They also would be a good means to an end to get me out of here.

4. Travel. I want to get to a point where I can travel as much as I want. I want to see the world. Get a passport and start filling that sucker up. I get to go to California this year and Hawaii next year, but I've been to both those places (love them!) so I want to see some new places: Boston, Washington DC, Greenville*, Chicago, Denver, Portland (Maine and Oregon), Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, the list goes on.

5. Relationships. No one really wants to be lonely. While I am content being single at the moment, I would be lying if I said I didn't want to find someone.

My biggest thing lately is trying not to let myself get overwhelmed or discouraged. No dream is unattainable or too big anymore. I do not want to look back on my life in twenty years and be filled with regret.

*My wonderful cousin, Kara, if you are reading this: I am still planning on visiting you in NC, but things have been crazy so I have had to postpone. Don't hate me. :)