Bad Monkeys

I just finished Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff. I have to say I haven't read a book like this before.

This story is about Jane Charlotte who has had a rough life. She has been arrested for murder and is being interviewed by Dr Vale to determine if she is sane. She has told the arresting detectives that she is a part of an organization that fights evil and the division she is in is called the "Bad Monkeys". They kill evil men, "not all of them. Just the ones Cost-Benefits decides will do a lot more harm than good if they go on breathing."(pg3). She tells Dr Vale that she was recruited after the twin towers went down and she has been a part for the last eight months. The first time she crossed paths with the organization was when she was a teenager and she stumbled into a Bad Monkey op.

Dr. Vale: "So tell me about this operation you stumbled into."
Jane: "Well , it all started when I figured out that the janitor at my high school was the Angel of Death..."

From here, we follow Jane's story of how she came to be a part of the Bad Monkeys. We learn about her troubled and sordid past and what jobs she had as a killer and why the last killing wasn't a bad guy, just a jerk.

I found this book on Cromley's World and he recommended it highly. It's definitely not like anything I have ever read before. The book kept me guessing as to what type it was, not sure if Mr Ruff was making it a sci-fi or psychotic thriller. Not until the very end did it really become clear. I really did get caught up in this book and think if you are in the mood for something off the beaten path...this one is for you, full of twists and turns, black humor and sarcastic wit.

I give it a 4 out of 5.

Give away!

I hope everyone had a good Christmas. It was a rough one around here, but some great friends went out and bought a couple of things for our kids from "santa". They didn't want the kids to know they got it. So our kids had presents to open. Hopefully we will be back on track soon.

I recently reviewed "Bear Any Burden" and although I liked the many little side tracks he took in the book, as a whole I wasn't too impressed with the "spy/intrigue" part of it. I thought, why don't I have a contest and give it to someone. The only stipulation is you have to write me when you read it and let me know what you think of it.

So are there any readers interested in the book? If you would like a crack at it, leave me you name. I'll pick the name a week from Friday (the 9th) and send the book to the winner.

Just an update

Well, the Lord is faithful. I need to make this my mantra, because I tend to forget quite quickly. The other day, I got a call from a friend I worked with at the restaurant. I stopped by her work to say hi and tell her what had happened to me. Two days later she called me and said that her boss asked about me, what kind of worker I am and if I still need a job to come in. She called, and I practically ran up there! I now have a job! I don't start until Jan 7th though. Since my hubby is off for the next couple of weeks, we are starting to get way behind in bills. You know God practically dropped a job in my lap and I am now stressing about the late house payment and lot rent. Not to mention the car insurance which comes directly out of our checking account. I have 2 weeks to come up with what might as well be a million.

The thing is, God was faithful and now, soon, I will be working. I have to trust that He will provide.
I hate being out of control, and I think that is precisely what God is working on. It's a moment by moment thing...one minute I trust, the next I'm freaking out.

Thank you for all your prayers, they really do help. Just keep them coming! Please

Bear Any Burden

I just finished Bear Any Burden by Ellis M. Goodman. It took me longer than usual to read. I am, for the first time, stumped as to how to review this book.

Let me start by giving you the blurb on the back:

* Bear Any Burden by Ellis Goodman

1983: The Cold War is at its height. Sir Alex Campbell, head of an international drinks company is on a business trip to Poland, a country in the midst of political turmoil. A new "Solidarity" movement is rising on the streets, and the Communist government is cracking down mercilessly. Alex has an additional mission, a "little job" for the British Secret Intelligence Services. He will deliver an airline bag containing money and passports to a British agent who is to help the world-renowned nuclear scientist, Dr. Erik Keller, escape across the Iron Curtain to the West.

Alex meets the beautiful Anna Kaluza, the British agent, whose life like his and that of Erik Keller, had been impacted forever by her World War II experiences. He agrees to help her complete her mission.

What begins as one of many routine "little jobs" Alex has done for the SIS, quickly turns into an increasingly dangerous game of cat-and-mouse. His involvement in Dr. Keller's defection becomes a journey into his own past, as Alex has to face his family's history and, ultimately, his own self. Faced with the specter of oppression, he has to ask himself one question: What do you do? Do you turn and run? Or do you "pay any price and bear any burden" for liberty and freedom?

Bear Any Burden is a gripping page-turner, full of twists and turns and surprises as much a spy story as an epic family saga, spanning decades and continents, from 19th Century Poland all the way to the height of the Cold War. A richly complex thriller in the tradition of Graham Greene and John le Carré, posing urgent and timeless questions of family, loyalty and liberty.

As the book opens we are witness to a clandestine meeting where an envelope is passed to Keller. Just as quickly, we are then introduced to Sir Alex Campbell, the owner of a highly successful company that sells liquor. Sir Alex lives in London with his wife but has ties to Poland. His friend, Tim Bevans, the head of Britain's Secret Intelligent Service. Alex and Tim have known each other from World War II and from time to time, Alex has helped the SIS by delivering packages, tickets and other things to people in different countries as he has traveled for his business. This time the trip is to Poland and Sir Alex is asked to pass on a travel bag with a secret bottom that contains fake passports and money for Keller and his wife.

With out any pomp and circumstance or warning we are taken back in time. For the next 100 or so pages we follow along the family lines starting with Alex's great grandpa and follow along the stories of each descendant. We are then brought back to present time and for 20 pages we follow Sir Alex into Poland, as he meets with business officials and his contact, Anna Kaluza. Just as abruptly we are sent into the past as we follow along Anna's history, starting with her mother.

The last 70 pages of the book, we finally get into what the back of the book promises as an increasingly dangerous game of cat and mouse, with murder, bribery, international politics. The thing is, the history on the families was interesting. At times it was a little confusing because new people would be introduces for only a couple of sentences as if they were characters that we already knew about. Also, when he introduced us to Alex's grandpa, Jakob, the spelling of his name would change from Jakob to Jacob. At first I was confused...perhaps this was a new character, I thought. It mentions on the back of the book that "His involvement in Dr. Keller's defection becomes a journey into his own past." That is simply not true. He never journeys into his past...we are taken there with no segue...one chapter we are learning about Sir Alex's "mission" in 1983, the next chapter we are in 1888 with out any warning. Chapter 2 and I had no idea who these people were, or where he was going with this story line.

All that being said, the stories were interesting, once I understood what was going on. The book as a whole was not cohesive. There wasn't a flow to it, and when we did get to the defection part, it seemed rushed. The book ends abruptly, leaving everything unanswered. Even books that you know are going to be part of a series never end that unfinished.

I went to Barnes and Nobel and Amazon online and found that it got rave reviews. Well, B&N had 4 reviews that were 4 and 5 stars, however all 4 were anonymous. I thought that was strange...then at Amazon there were 11 reviews, again 4 and 5 stars, but this time there were names. I clicked on the names and except for 2 people, this book was the only book they review, the other 2 had reviewed one other book beside this one. I don't know, maybe I just don't know spy novels.

I have to give this one 2 out of 5.

Unusual gift idea.

While trying to make some money off my blog, I came across Snapbomb. This is a site where you can blog about different sites online. You have to qualify for the opportunity, then you write, they check and then they pay. I'm a little disappointed because I don't ever qualify for much. You can still blog on opportunities, but if you don't qualify, you don't get paid.

Anyways, I checked the other day and I didn't have any new opportunities, but one of the ones I didn't qualify for caught my eye. The caption was "Have you ever seen a plant move when you tickle it?" That sounds odd...so I went to the Tickle Me Plant web site.

This is the coolest thing I have ever seen. The plants actually move when you touch them. Go to the site, there are videos there that show you how the plant reacts. You can order a kit that has all you need to grow the plant, party favors (seeds, mini pots and seeds) or just seeds. Every order comes with experiments and educational activities. If you are a teacher or you home school this plant would be great.

Not only would this be cool for a lesson plan, or just to have at home, when you order 1% of all their profits after taxes go to the Nature Conservancy's program to save the rainforest, called Adopt an Acre. They also offer a fundraiser with 50% profits.

Even if you aren't into plants or gardening...stop by this site and watch the video...it's the coolest thing.

The Lord giveth and He taketh away

A quote from Job(1:21) aptly enough has been running through my head a lot lately. It has been a rough couple of weeks.

My job as a waitress has been steadily going down hill. Not the serving, I actually enjoy the people that come in, getting to know them and such. It was really the people that owned it, rather the daughter that served as manager to be precise. She has mad it pretty much hell for most of us and especially for me. She fired my oldest daughter, blinding-siding the both of us. Her reason was that my daughter didn't seem happy there and is was causing her to walk on pins and needles. She promptly cut my hours. Well, it is the season for spending, not to mention my hubby works in a factory that makes bumpers and windshields for the big car makers. Needless to say, his job is slow and precarious. I need the hours, and told her several times. I finally, last Tuesday, sat her down and asked...have I done something wrong? I really need the hours and am confused as to why I'm not getting them. She said since I opened up my availability that she would do what she could.

I come in Monday and my hours are worse. I stop her and ask, is that really the best she could do for me. She gives some song and dance about trying to make everyone happy. I've been there for 4 years and she is concerned about pleasing the 2 girls she just hired. The she proceeds to tell me that she had someone call and complain about how someone looked(like they just rolled out of bed) last Thursday. I just don't look happy there and its spilling out into the floor. I am one who is insecure with her looks. I may be 43, but inside I'm still the awkward 16 year old who never feels pretty. This hurt me on so many levels. I was so upset that she accused me of looking crappy, that my 4 years of making sacrifices so I could help her cover shifts, that I watched her stab so many in the back, I began to cry. I could not stop. I called my hubby, announced I was going home for good, and he told me to go home, relax, God would take care of us. Us, behind in bills, 3 kids with maybe 10 gifts for Christmas...TOTAL and house payment coming up he's concerned about me and tells me not to worry. God will take care of us.

It has been so hard. I have known I can't be there too much longer and I have been sending out resumes for weeks. Nothing... If God doesn't want me there...where's another job? I know, God is in the business of closing and opening doors, but right now I feel like there are no doors open and its an airtight room. I was in a job where the owner called people stupid and dumb-asses and my self esteem was seriously going down hill. I'm desperately trying to keep faith, but Lord...I'm not Job.

By the way, I remembered yesterday, the girl I worked with last Thursday came to work with no make-up. She's the type that wears a lot of make-up so when she has none on its like WOW, did you just get out of bed? That call wasn't for me! She assumed it was. And really, who goes out to eat then calls the restaurant to complain that their server looked bad? Is that even kosher?

Please LORD...HELP ME!!!

I Choose to Be Happy

I just finished I Choose to Be Happy by Missy Jenkins and William Croyle.

This is the story of Missy Jenkins. October 1, 1997 is the date of the first high school shooting at Pearl High, when 16 year old Luke Woodham walked in and using his hunting rifle killed 2 students and injured 7 others. Missy heard about this event that happened 400 miles away from her small town of Paducah, Kentucky and thought things like that never happen in her close knit town. After all, she was 15 and invincible, she had nothing to worry about. But just 2 short months later, to the day, 14 year Michael Carneal walked into Heath High in Paducah with a blanket full of guns and a backpack of shells and a .22 semi automatic pistol. He pulled out the pistol opened fire.

Missy Jenkins was in the lobby, in the morning prayer circle when she watched Michael, a classmate she knew, liked and even admired shot and killed 14 year old Nicole Hadley, 17 year old Jessica James , and 15 year old Kayce Steger. Five others were hit, including Missy, who just crumpled to the ground. She couldn't feel her stomach or legs, all she could do was lie there and look at the ceiling.

When Missy had gotten to school that morning, her and her twin sister, Mandy hooked up with one of their friends Kelly. Missy had a bad feeling and wanted to go to the bathroom. Kelly talked her into going to the prayer circle first...she writes:
"Its fascinating how even the smallest choices we make, such as whether or not to go to the bathroom at a certain time, can affect the direction of our entire lives. Had I gone, I probably missed the prayer circle - and Michael's rage." (pg 10)

The incredible thing about this 15 year old, however, is her faith and her attitude. She doesn't whine or wallow in the fact that her friend shot her and left her paralyzed from her chest down. She is sure that God has a plan, she forgives Michael almost immediately. She devotes a chapter to forgiveness. She says:
"We may feel like we are being weak by absolving that person of what he or she did to us, but we're not. What we're actually doing is saying, 'I'm not going to let you bring me down....'"(pg 64)

I very rarely read nonfiction, but two sentences on the back of the book caught my eye.
"But Missy never saw her disability as an end. Just hours after the tragedy, she forgave Carneal and took back her life."
I have been going through some really rough times for the last couple of months and even though my first marriage was abusive on all levels, I don't need to keep living as a victim. This child never was a victim and I have been one all my life. What is her secret, how is her faith so much stronger than mine?

This book was wonderful and I finished it in a day and a half. She takes us on a journey that I am the richer for taking. It is never overwhelming or dark, rather full of hope and at times had me laughing out loud. Missy Jenkins is an incredible woman and I long to live more like her. Having more faith that God is in control and in the small things. That there is a purpose even when I try to take over and screw it all up.

I give this book a resounding 5 out of 5

Another Trip

My kids love those fruit roll-up snacks, which remind me of when I was 11 and the shopping mall was just coming into existence. My friends and I would think we were the shizzle cause we were on our own, spending money, buying what we wanted. It was in the shopping mall that we were introduced to “the health food store”. I’m not sure of their origins, but some 32 years ago, I don’t really remember a push for healthy, organic foods. I digress…in these stores were the original fruit rolls. My friends and I would buy a supply, take them home and cut them into “chips”. Chips, you say? Yes, chips with which to play poker. We would play 5 card draw, usually deuces wild, and bet our favorite find…pieces of fruit rolls. I remember playing poker a lot with my friends that summer. Summer ended, I moved far away, started noticing boys, wearing make-up…you know the drill. I really don’t care for the tart fruit rolls anymore, but a couple of years ago, just before the craze hit, I did rediscover poker. Not 5 card draw this time but
Now poker comes in many forms. Stud, draw and community are the main categories. Texas hold-em is in the community category where you are dealt 2 cards fTexas hold-em.
ace down and 5 cards are dealt face up. I like this form the best because it takes more than just luck of the draw to win. This form of poker you need to be able to “read” the other players. There is some psychology to this, as well as statistics and guts.

One of the icons of Texas hold-em is 75 year old Doyle Brunson. He’s amazing and I watch him thinking, this guy is so mentally on top of this, and I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday. Another character is Phil Hellmuth, the poker brat, and aptly named. Just watch…you’ll see why.



In this video he berates the “kids” from online poker rooms. They aren’t playing right, in his eyes. He comes from a world of poker where you just did not play certain hands, or bet when certain cards are on the table. However, with the burst of popularity of texas hold-em and online gaming sites, the “rules” have had to adapt. It’s harder to figure out a person’s tells (when you can tell if they have a good/bad hand) and easier to play more aggressively, take more risks. I love to hone my skills online, but never bet money. I’m too afraid I’ll lose my shirt, course if I’m online, no one would ever see!

To watch these tournaments on tv, they are, to say the least, entertaining and suspenseful. With the influx of online players, it changes how the “originals” play. With people like
Gus Hansen and
Daniel Negreanu how can you go wrong? From fruit rolls to Daniel Negreanu, the way my mind works!? (shudder)

entrecard

I just wanted to say sorry to all on entrecard. I haven't been able to get on lately and I miss catching up on some of my favorites like New York Nitty-Gritty where I try to pick up tips on my photography, the many book sites like Puss Reboots and Thin Red Line and many others for thrifty ideas.
I suffer from migraines and have had one each day for the last 3 days.(sucks to be me) Also, at some point I have picked up something called ISpyNow that keeps popping up on my computer. From what I can tell, it allows someone else to see what sites I go to, what my passords are and any other information I may have on my computer. Needless to say, its a little unsettling and I'm trying like heck to get it off my computer.
If anyone has any info that could help, I would appreciate it. Other than that, I'm hoping to be back on my own comp soon.

13 Reasons Why

I just finished Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher.

This story follows Clay Jensen around his town as he listens to 7 cassette tapes found in an unmarked box that was left on his doorstep. The tapes were recorded by Hannah Baker, a girl he had a secret crush on, "had" because she committed suicide 2 weeks ago.

The last day Hannah was at school, Clay found a map in his locker with stars and numbers on it and at the time he had no idea what it was all about. Turns out, that map goes with the cassette tapes and walks Clay through that events that lead to Hannah's decision to end it all.

There are 13 sides to listen to, 13 events that snowballed and pushed Hannah her decision. As she talks you through the events and the people who caused them, she walks the listener through the map, taking them to the places where they happened.

I finished this book in a day. I could not put it down. It is one of the most original stories I have ever read. I know in my life I have often thought, I wonder how this person would feel if I was gone. Would they be sad, feel bad, or would they even have a clue to how deeply and wrongly they treated me. This story goes one better. Hannah makes a tape and breaks it down, then instructs each person on the list to box up the tapes and leave them on the next persons doorstep. It is a deep, thought provoking and soul searching book that I cannot recommend enough. Please read!! Let me know how you feel about it!!

5 out of 5

Inkheart

My hubby is a big movie watcher and he watches trailers almost as often as actual movies. He happened upon a trailer for an upcoming movie and was so excited about it he had me watch it. It was for Inkheart. I thought I remembered seeing it at the library in book form. So I looked it up and checked it out. Always when I see upcoming movies that come from books I try to read the book first to see how they compare.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke centers around 12 year old Meggie and her father, Mo. As it opens, Meggie and Mo are at home (her mother had disappeared 9 years ago) getting ready for bed when Meggie notices a stranger staring at their house. He makes her very uneasy and she runs to Mo. Mo recognizes the stranger and calls him in. Dustfinger, the man, tells Mo that Capricorn is looking for him and is close. Capricorn wants what Mo has, he wants Mo to bring it and he wont take no for an answer. He packs Meggie and a few things and runs to his sister-in-law's to hide. Dustfinger tags along and before they have really settled in, men break in and take Mo away. Meggie talks to Dustfinger, trying to get the whole story, only the whole story seem to be just that...a story.

**possible spoilers**

If you have seen the trailer you know that the girl reads things out of books...the books come alive, literally. You also know that it stars Brendan Fraser (aaaaaa *choir of angels sing*) but I digress. In the trailer she has Toto under her bed and I expected that to turn up in the book the whole time I was reading. It didn't, but that didn't take away from the book. It was a great plot, but some things were a little too predictable. That being said it was a book I found hard to put down. A real fun fantasy book that (I had no idea) is a trilogy. Maybe Meggie reads Toto out in one of the other 2 books.

Although I enjoyed this one, its not likely I will read the other two. I think I was satisfied with how this one ended and sometimes, as good as the book was, it was just right for it to be done and anything more would lessen the original. Not sure if that made sense, hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

I give this book a 3 1/2 out of 5

The 11 things he wants from you

I got on MSN messanger to talk to my sis today. I hardly ever get on, being so busy and all...but when I did the little box popped up with the different stories. One in particular caught my eye...
It says "11 things he wants (they're not so bad)". This is an article by Eric Parker for Glamor. Mr. Parker lists the 11 small things we as girls can do to make life easier for guys.

#1 on the list is "your backing when takes a risk" Apparently if your guy wants to change his job, start a new hobby or swim with sharks...all he wants is for you to cheer him on and back him up. OK, I get it...our cheers give him courage and let him know we believe in him.

#2 on the list is "the right to keep secrets" He says they want the right to not have to tell us when his cousin cheats on his wife or when his best friend loses his job. Apparently this discretion makes him feel like he's a grown up. I only hope he draws the line at not telling us when he loses his job or is having an affair.

And so the list goes on...and really I do understand and agree with them with the exception of #4. #4 on the list I find a tad offensive and really...something only a guy would come up with. Only a guy would feel the need to slip this in on a list of needs.
Here, straight from the article is #4...

4. The green light to actually have sex, should the opportunity arise, with someone on his Celebrity List of Five. And by all means, hop on Brad Pitt if you ever get the chance.


WHAT?!?!? REALLY?!?!? First, let me say how nice it was that he limited it to the top 5 on the list. Second, what on God's green earth makes him think that he will ever (a) meet said celeb (b) get close enough to said celeb to actually talk to her, let alone have sex with her or (c) think that said celeb would even desire to have sex with him. I mean I love my hubby and enjoy our private life...but I'm not so sure Michelle Pheiffer would want him. Likewise, I know my hubby thinks I'm hot
(even though I have NO delusions of grander and am
pretty sure I'm only slightly better looking than Richard Hatch in drag) (I digress...)

I know if I should ever meet Brendan Fraser (choirs of angels singing aaaa) he will more than likely not opt for sex with me.




That's all I gotta say. File this under WTF .

Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels

I just finished Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels by Toni McGee Causey. This is the second installment in the (explosive) life of Bobbie Faye Sumerall.

Bobbie Faye is having a bad dream that seems so real. She has on an ugly shirt, helmet hair, and fake boobs that are lop-sided. Not only is a bad dream, with bad taste and bad hair, she's also shooting someone five times, and she doesn't even know this person. When she wakes up she's got a headache, a dry mouth and a Glock in her hand with 5 bullets missing. From here it only goes downhill.

Bobbie Faye's aunt has disappeared along with a lot of diamonds and her cousin, Francesca wants Bobbie Faye to find the diamonds. There seems to be several other people looking for the diamonds, and none of them want Bobbie Faye involved, when she's around things catch on fire, blow up and in general go to hell pretty fast. Throw in the FBI guy she met/took as hostage a month ago (current boyfriend) and the cop/ex-boyfriend who still loves her and the ante goes up. Some how Bobbie Faye ends up as a suspect in a murder...does that have anything to do with that really weird dream??? Will the city of Lake Charles remain intact?

With a book that starts off with...

Bobbie Faye and the Universe were like warring spouses locked in an eternal battle, trying to blow each other up rather than admit the other was savvier. (The Universe, by the way? A big fat cheater.)

...it can't go to terribly wrong. And it doesn't. This was another fun ride courtesy of Mrs. Causey. This author is clever and funny and I was laughing out loud. I did miss the little quotes like she had in the first book, Bobbie Faye's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day still this one was loads of fun. I think she did introduce a few too many new characters and at times I would have to back track because so much was going on and I read a little too fast! I would like to end with another exert from the book...

As she (Bobbie Faye) and Trevor (hunky FBI guy) raced down the bridge, Adrenaline was talking about unionizing Fear and Flight because they were seriously overworked and underpaid.

How can you not love this book? I hope she has more on the way.

I give this a 5 out of 5.

Michael Crichton

I am saddened to find that Michael Crichton died Tuesday. He is one of my all time favorite authors. He had written such a wide range of book. I'd like to list my favorite reads by him:




Prey:
Out in the middle of the desert they are experimenting with nano-technology when a cloud of the nano-robot run amok.






Timeline:
A machine has been built that will allow people to travel back on time by rearranging your particles.






Jurassic Park:
How can you not include this in the list. I think we all know what it is about. I would have to say the movie was as good as the book on this one!





Sphere:
Several scientists are sent to the bottom of the ocean to explore a vessel that looks a lot like a space ship. This too was made into a movie and this time the movie SUCKED. The book was amazing!



I haven't read "Next" but that one looks really good. I'll let you know.

We have lost a great talent.

Books That Made Me Cry

I came across a recent blog that asked "Do you remember the first book that made you cry?"

The first book that really got me excited about books was
The Outsiders by SE Hinton. I had to do a book report in
9th grade and I picked this one. It is great.
It also made me cry.









Surprisingly Stephen King's It was another book that made
me cry. This is one of my all time favorite books.








Another more recent read that made me cry was The Host by Stephanie Meyer. What an awesome book. I really loved the characters.

Guilty Pleasures

I am so into the songs of "3 Days Grace" I like "Disturbed".

I love,love,love "Linkin Park".



My guilty pleasure???

ABBA
I finally got to see "Mamma Mia" I loved it. The cinematography was beautiful. The songs? What else? Fab-u-lous!!

Favorite song? "Money,Money,Money"

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I have recently joined entrecard, another traffic site where you "tag" people's cards and they tag you back. It's not like Blogexplosion or Traffic Burst, but I do like it because they have the blogs in categories so you don't have to go through a lot of sports blogs (if you don't care for that) to get to book blogs. (there are many other categories too) Long story short, I came across a blog that featured The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

This is a story about Charlie, a 15 year old starting high school, told through letters. The story starts out with...

Dear friend,

I am writing to you because she said you listen and understand and didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have. Please don't try to figure out who she is because then you might figure out who I am, and I really don't want you to do that. I will call people by different names or generic names because I don't want you to find me. I didn't enclose a return address for the same reason. I mean nothing bad by this. Honest.

Charlie is the youngest of 3, His sister is a senior in high school and his brother just started college with a football scholarship. He's trying to fit in and his English teacher has taken a special interest in him. He assigns extra books for Charlie to read like "Walden" and "Catcher in the Rye". He tells Charlie he should try to participate in life.

Charlie makes friends with Sam and Patrick and is exposed to many new things like music, parties, drugs and alcohol. He is a part of their group, but is he really participating? Charlie lives in a time where you go to see "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and act it out, where you go to Big Boy to hang out and smoke, where you make mixed tapes to give to people to let them know what songs make you think of them. Its a world of first dates, first loves, and first times. The lines of sexuality are blurred and brownies can be magical.

As I was looking at the reviews on Barnes and Noble I was amazed to see that there are 505 reviews and 516 ratings and overall it was given 5 out of 5 stars. Although this book was released in 1999 (the book takes place from Aug 1991 to Aug 1992) the latest review was on Oct 8 of this year.

The one thing that struck me was that Charlie felt younger than most 15 year olds are today. Perhaps that much has changed in our culture. I could not put this book down. I'm 42 and it brought me back to those feeling you get in high school...where do I fit in, how can I be myself, who am I really? Charlie is by far one of the most endearing characters I have ever met and I am the richer for having met him. Not a book about teen angst, because Charlie is more giving than that.

I loved everthing about this book, but be warned...it was one of the 10 most challenged books of 2007.

I give this one 5 out of 5.

Bobbie Faye's Very (Very, Very, Very) Bad Day

Bobbie Faye's Very (Very, Very, Very) Bad Day by Toni McGee Causey is about a 28 year old who lives in a trailer, has a best friend who owns and runs the local Cajun Outfitter and Feng Shui Emporium and is responsible for her 5 year old niece while her sister is in rehab drying out. Bobbie Faye is a magnet for all things bad and apparently everyone in Lake Charles, Louisiana know it.

Bobbie Faye wakes up to a flooded trailer and calls her brother to scream at him(it was his fault for not fixing the washer). She finds out that he has been kidnapped and for ransom, they want her Contraband Days tiara. This tiara is a worthless hunk of tin handed down to her by her mother. She has it in a deposit box since her sister hocked everything else to support her habit.

As Bobbie Faye is leaving the bank with the tiara, the bank is robbed and they take off with her tiara. Only they've messed with the wrong girl. She kidnaps a man in a truck and makes him go after the robbers. And in true Bobbie Faye fashion, they lose the car, she causes the truck to drive into the river and actually ends up being chased by the police and the FBI for robbing the bank.

This book was so fun. Along the lines of Janet Evanovich and her Plum series, Mrs. Causey has given us a woman who is doing her best to take care of her family, but shit keeps happening. One of the many things I loved about this book is how at the beginning of each chapter she has these funny little blurbs...for example
"You know how some people are born to Greatness? Well Bobbie Faye Sumrall woke up one morning, kicked Greatness in the teeth, kneed it in the balls, took it hostage and it's been begging for mercy ever since.
- a former Louisiana mayor after Bobbie Faye accidentally ran her car into his office, knocking pages of fraud evidence into the street, which help land him in federal prison."

I am so happy to finally have found another author who has made reading a laugh out loud experience. Thank you Mrs. Causey...I hope you have more good adventures in ya!

5 out of 5!!!!

MentalPause

Let me preface by saying I am 42.
Hubby and I are in the car waiting to pick up youngest from school:

Hubby: You look tired.

Me: Yeah, I'm exhausted and I have a headache. I started today.

Hubby: Well you don't have to deal with it too much longer .

Me: (hoping I misunderstood where he was going with that) What?!

Hubby: You have till what, 47 and then you don't have to deal with it?

Me: (praying I'm not overcome with a menstrual meltdown and blinded with an overwhelming urge to take him out...) It's different for everyone.


I didn't talk to him again for the rest of the night.




***ATTENTION ALL MEN******

This is never an ok conversation. I suggest you NEVER bring up the fact that your wife is approaching, going through, or will ever see menopause.

Life on the Refrigerator Door

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers is a quick read.

This is a book about a mother and daughter as told through the notes they leave each other on their fridge. Claire's mom is an obstetrician who is also single. She has a lot of demands on her time and expects a lot out of Claire, who is only 15.

Each page is a note that was left on the fridge and I don't want to give too much of it away. I took me maybe an hour to read and I thought it was touching. It reminded me that I should slow down and really "be" with my children, let them know how important they are to me by spending time with them. We tend to let ourselves get caught up in life and realize to late that all the important things passed us by.

I felt the book fell a little short, maybe could have been a little "deeper". I did make me reflect though, so for that....
I give this book a 3 out of 5.

High School Musical 3

I have a 10 year old so we watch a lot of the Disney Channel at our house. Needless to say we have been inundated with the commercials, interviews and clips from the up coming "High School Musical 3".

Since the first two were HUGELY successful, I guess Disney wanted really cash in, so this time you have to pay. I like that kids are excited about the musical and it got me to thinking about how much I love musicals and how they aren't as prevalent as they used to be.

I thought I would look back at some other high school musicals:


Fame (1980)

This was such an awesome movie. It followed 7 students who are accepted into a high school for performing arts and follows them through all four years. A movie about finding yourself, fitting in and how far you may go to attain your dream. The songs were great and I loved it.





Hairspray (1988, 2007)

I saw the most recent one and I really liked it. A movie about segregation, love and being proud of who you are. From what I understand this one was less risque than the original.






West Side Story (1961)

An modern day (well, kinda) Romeo and Juliet. What a great story and fun songs. Who hasn't heard of this one?








Grease 2 (1982)

OOOHHH LLOOORRDDDD, file this one under "What were they thinking?" I thought this one was pretty sad, however my 2 oldest love this one. (22yr old and 19yr old). It starred Michelle Pfeiffer (what?!?!?) and featured such songs as Do it for Your Country, Reproduction and Score Tonight. All I gotta say is...What was I thinking letting my kids watch this!?!?!?




Grease (1978)

Love, love , love this one!!!
Great songs. Great cast! Olivia Newton John, John Travolta (who's that?), and Jeff Conway (that loveable giving man from Celebrity Rehab). A must see!

Best Quotable movies

I am lucky to have been born at the time that I did. I have witnessed many incredible things. I have had the pleasure of having 3 great kids with which I can share my profound wisdom and some of the coolest movies/music/tv shows....you get the picture. I am reliving my glory days and dragging my kids with me. Curiously, they find a lot of it really is cool.
I thought I would share some of these glorious things with you, starting with the Best Quotable Movies. These are movies that have the greatest lines that you must learn and use whenever possible.



The Goonies (1985)
Quotes:

"Goonies never say die!"
"Hey you guys!"
"Watch your face ma!"
"I like the dark, I love the dark. I hate nature, I HATE nature."

The Hot Chick (2002)
(ok I know this one isn't that old, but come on it was great!)
Quotes:

(crying) "Its me, Jessica"

"Boys are cheats and liars, they're such a big disgrace. They will tell you anything to get to second base... ball, baseball he thinks he's gonna score. If you let him go all the way then you are a hor... ticulture studies flowers, geologist studies rocks. The only thing a guy wants from you is a place to put his cock... roaches, beetles, butterflies and bugs. Nothing makes him happier than a giant pair of jug... glers and acrobats, a dancing bear named Chuck. All guys really want to do is - forget it, no such luck." (long but great)

"Ling Ling, you walk right by Crazy Nails and no say hi me"

"I'll take two banana daquiris, one mango, a sloe-gin fizz, one slippery nipple, and for me, a screaming orgasm on the beach with extra sugar on the rim. Yum!"





The Blues Brothers (1980)Quotes:

"Its a 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, a half a pack of cigarettes, its dark and we're wearing sunglasses...Hit it."

"Oh Mr. Man, oh, Mr, Man!"

"We're on a mission from God"

"How much for the women? I want to buy the women..."

Encino Man(1992)
(Brendan Fraiser, need I say more?)
Quotes:

"If you're edged 'cause I'm weazin all your grindage, just chill. 'Cause if I had the whole brady bunch thing happenin' at my pad, I'd go grind over there, so dont tax my gig so hard-core cruster."

"Ooouuuuu bbuuuudddyyy"

"Ow Senorita, that hurt my lobe, I didn't do it, they started the whole thing."

"Shuuush!!"

"Jump off the gym, splatter on the street and go for the co-ver."
"I don't know you, I don't like you, as of now, I'm all over you"

Tommy Boy (1995)

Quotes:

(in high voice) "Housekeeping, you want me fluff pillow?"

"Holy shnykies"

"what about seat belts? To fasten, take the little end and stick it in the big end and... you know what? If you guys don't know how to use a seat belt, just ring your call button and Tommy will come back there and hit you on the head with a tack hammer because you're a retard."

The Book of Lies

Brad Meltzer's The Book of Lies is about the original murder and Superman. Sounds far fetched huh? Mr Meltzer spins a web of international intrigue, conspiracy and the supernatural.

Cal Harper witnessed his father push his mother and kill her when he was little. His father went to prison and Cal never saw him again. One night while picking up the homeless in Florida to take to a shelter, Cal and his buddy Roosevelt (a hippie/preacher who's lost his way) find Cal's father with a bullet in his stomach. They take him to the hospital and Cal discovers his father may be receiving and delivering illegal shipments.

Cal and his father are being watched by Ellis, a ruthless killer who is after the shipment and will let nothing get in his way. He is, by the way, on a mission for a higher purpose.

From Florida to Cleveland, all are on the chase to be the first to find the book of lies. With some twists, a double agent and conspiracy, I thought this book cannot miss.
The concept was new and exciting, however, I felt it lacked something. Sometimes I felt liked I may have missed something and I would back up and read, but nothing there that I didn't get the 1st time. The ending was very anti-climatic.

I give this one a 3 out of 5.

Top 5 books that should be movies

A lot of times when I finish a book I think...that would be an awesome movie. Here are the top ones I would LOVE to see...




5. Prey by Michael Crichton
Its been a while since I have read this one, but it is one if my favorites. This is from the same author that gave us Jurassic Park, Congo, Timeline, just to name a few. This book is about nano-technology and is a great thriller.

4. Blink of an Eye (or Blink) by Ted Dekker
This is a book about Seth, a guy with one of the highest IQ's who can suddenly see the future. It is also about Miriam, a Saudi princess who has fled her country to avoid an arranged marriage. This one is action packed and extremely smart.

3. PlagueMaker by Tim Downs
This is an edge of your seat psychological book about biological warfare that seems a little too plausible for my comfort. It is also a book about forgiveness.







2. The Host by Stephanie Meyer
This book has it all, but what it comes down to at its rawest is what it means to be human. LOVED this one.

1. The Giver by Lois Lowery
I have read this book several times and it is one of my all-time favorites. This book is about the perfect society. At age 12 Jonas is ready to receive his life assignment that is handed down by the elders. Only when he starts his training, he finds out how fragile their existence is.

I finally got a hold of the latest Janet Evanovich
Fearless Fourteen.

Stephanie Plum, the lingerie buyer turned bounty hunter, is searching for skips and helping out Ranger, the uber-hunk. He is helping out a friend by being a bodyguard for Brenda, a 61 year old singer turned cabaret act.

When Stephanie tries to get Loretta to reschedule her court appearance, Loretta talks her into watching her son, Mario, who only answers to Zook. Lulu, Stephanie's sidekick/hooker turned file clerk, has somehow managed to get engaged. Morelli, Stephanie's on again - off again beau, has his hands full helping watch Mario, who may be his son, and dealing with a distant cousin's exit from prison and subsequent search for the 9 million that was hidden from the bank job. Thing is it may be hidden in Morelli's back yard, and since they live in the burg, everyone else learns about this and all are trying to dig it up.

This is a typical Evanovich book, with quirky characters and outrageous scenes. I have been a big fan of this series since One for the Money, but the last two books have lacked something, and just aren't as funny as the previous ones. Also the love triangle between Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger has slipped into the background, and I really was enjoying that story line. I will actually laugh out-loud while reading previous books, and while the last two certainly made me chuckle, I am sad the 13 and 14 are not as clever. I'm afraid that after a while the author may not find as much joy in writting about the same character and may just be pumping out the same old things rehashed. Please say it ain't so Mrs Evanovich...I love Stephanie and I miss her!

I give this one 3 1/2 out of 5.

Chivalry

As I was leaving the local 7/11 this morning, a man held the door open for me. You know, its nice to know that chivalry is not dead. Sure its a small gesture, but it makes me feel good, almost pretty, if that makes sense.

I am all for being treated as an equal, but shouldn't women be treated with respect too? I am raising my son to know that girls can do anything boys can do, but that he should open doors for them, carry their books, always help them. I almost long for the days when the men would get up when a woman walks in the room.

Why can't we work on cars and have the chair held out for us? Why can't we arrest abusers and still have the door held open for us? It's not like the men are doing it because we are weak and can't. They are doing it because we are important and respected. I wonder if we raised our boys to know that, if there would be less violence against women. If we tell our boys that women are smart and deserve to be treated with reverence, that maybe us girls will feel important and deserving.

I think some of us get into an abusive relationship because we feel like we don't really deserve any better. Maybe if our fathers treated us like princesses that we would know we are special.

Ah, but I digress.

Thank you sir for opening the door for me. You had no idea, but you made me feel special today....and I needed that.

Supreme Courtship

I just finished Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley. Mr Buckley is, according to Fortune magazine, the quintessential political novelist of his time.
In this book, President Donald Vanderdamp is having a hard time getting his nominees on the Supreme Court. Sen. Dexter Mitchell wanted to be considered for the opening, but the President declined. Now Mitchell dismisses each of his nominees for the silliest of reasons, but President Vanderdamp has found a way to get back. He nominates the country's most popular judge, Pepper Cartwright, the judge on reality TV's Courtroom Six. (think Judge Judy only young and hot)

As Pepper considers being a Justice, her husband/producer, Buddy, threatens breach of contract. Pepper has a sordid past, however, and isn't even sure if she'll get past Sen. Mitchell.

I am, by no means, politically savvy. I really have little clue as to what goes on in the government. When people start talking about congress, government, politics, my eyes glaze over and I mentally take a vacation. That being said, I really enjoyed this book. You don't read Mr. Buckley's books for his realistic characters, they are exaggerated and hilarious. They are meant for us to take a step back and look at how things are. They invoke reflection on another level. There were times I laughed out loud and times I thought, "if only". Just think of how much better this book would have been for me if I really understood the government!


**spoiler alert**

After Pepper makes it in, I really would've liked to have seen her make the same types of rulings as she did on TV, at least on one of the cases. That would have been fun. Also, when they were dealing with the case of Vanderdamp v Mitchell, I felt the book was kind of running out of gas. The book felt like it petered out at the end.

**ok alert over**


I give this book a 4 out of 5.