Regional Bookstores are filled with buried treasure

Jul 122006
 

My Little Book of Burrowing OwlsI saw a show on the , where the speaker talked about restaurants she found while traveling. She spoke of using local bookstores to find books by regional chefs so she could get an idea of what they were like. Often times these books are not available in other areas, but are featured there because the author is from the area.

I thought about that as I perused a book store while vacationing near . Although it wasn’t a food related find, I did uncover a treasure, a book called by Hope Irvin Marston. It’s illustrated by Maria Magdalena Brown.

For this owl fanatic and kids book lover, it was a wonderful find. Plus, it’s even signed by the author.

The book is a beautifully illustrated story of the hatching of seven owls. And it’s a nice introduction to the lives of burrowing owls in general. Yes, a happy find indeed.

Have you ever found a gem of a regional book before? If so, please share here.

My AlphaSmart Neo Just Arrived! YAY!

Jul 122006
 

Alphasmart NeoIt was backordered a few weeks. Demand must be picking up. But now I can’t wait to use it and to write and write some more.

Writing has been on the backburner these days because I’m still adjusting to the City commute and summer hours. By the time I get home I’m wiped. But now I can write during lunch, under a shady tree even. Yay! I’ll let you all know how it works out.

I ordered the portfolio with it but it’s kind of heavy. The Neo is super light though, so that is good. I debated getting the slipcase cover for it instead of the portfolio but worried about it getting banged up. I’m a klutz. It’s a thing.

So here’s to writing anywhere and everywhere. Let the adventure begin!

Freewrite About PEZ

Jul 112006
 

Stranges moods breed strange writings…a freewrite about :

Here it is, sir, said the clerk. Your change is $3.47.

Marv accepted the money and shoved it into the pocket of his flannel shirt. He nodded at the clerk; then he picked up his soda and his bag of Doritos. He turned to leave only to find his path, with Eldyn and Kheldoaniv standing before him, now blocked.

Eldyn pulled a baton from inside of his coat and raised his arm in a threat. Just where do ya think youre goin, putz?

Yeah, you owe us some PEZ, jerk! Kheldoaniv yelled, An its not like I see ya buyin any! She kicked Marv with the steel-tipped toe of her boot.

Marv fell to the ground gasping in pain. He turned his head towards the clerk; his eyes pleaded for help. He watched the clerk turn and press a glowing, red button on the wall. A giant dropped out of the ceiling, landed on the floor, and ate Eldyn and Kheldoaniv with a resounding, Gulp! Then the PEZ dispenser lifted up into the air and disappeared through the ceiling.

The clerk leaned over the counter and said, Quit lying on the floor, kid. They are both gone now. Then he leaned back against his counter and sighed, Kids, theyre just never gonna learn.

The Devil Wears Prada

Jul 112006
 

The Devil Wears PradaA friend and I saw this movie the other night and loved it!

Meryl Streep stole the show by giving that third dimension to what was a two dimensional character in the book. She delivered lines in a soft voice that made me cringe and gave her more of an evil diva persona. Brilliant! Yep, that sums that up. Between her and Stanley Tucci, this movie was chock full of fun.

I enjoyed knocking the ridiculousness of the fashion industry with their size 6 being the new 14 and chronic overdressed (or underdressed as may be the case) wardrobes. Although it also made me crave fancier clothes and shoes myself. Ooh and bags too. Did I mention the shoes? Heh. Whatever.

And just ignore the idiocy of the main character and her dumb errors of judgment with men. That disturbing blip was the only part I found disappointing.

If you are looking for a funny chick flick to have a good time with, go see The Devil Wears Prada.

Be sure to check out the official site for the movie too. It’s got a great quiz that’s actually fun to fail. :)

Enjoy!

Fancy Pants Adventure

Jul 102006
 

Fancy Pants AdventureGreat game that reminds me of a crude version of Commander Keen and well, no pogo stick. But he jumps on spiders and bounces all over the place and that’s all I seem to need to find myself playing it again and again. :P

PLAY HERE

Enjoy!

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Jul 092006
 

The Thief by Megan Whalen TurnerI’ve been on the lookout lately for interesting YA books in general. While pursuing the shelves at , I stumbled upon this one, by .

The story starts with an introduction to a somewhat cantankerous, yet highly amusing character, Gen. He is stuck in jail, having been caught thieving. He bragged about the theft, which is what got him caught.

He is taken from prison and told that the King wishes for him to steal something for him that many believe to only be a myth. Gen’s only other option is death. So onward the journey goes. He travels with the Magus and his two apprentices, Ambiades and Sophos, plus the admirable soldier, Pol.

Gen is treated as a subservient fool and most times is thought of as nothing but a tool to enact the theft. This viewpoint lends a somewhat snide, yet funny and endearing perspective of the story. I enjoyed watching as the character dynamics changed throughout.

Plus, on their journey we are introduced to the legends of their Gods through campfire stories, which I found a wonderful addition to the story. They added flavor to the history of the lands and gave us an understanding of how the people thought and why they did what they did.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this tale. Yes, a worthy read indeed.

Sudoku

Jul 062006
 

SudokuFor those of you that don’t know yet, is a logic number placement game. Hmm. That sounds more complicated than it really is.

You start with a 9×9 grid of squares, as pictured here. Then you enter numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank squares.

But you have some rules to follow. Every row, column, and 3×3 square must contain one of each digit.

Yes, it’s fun and frustrating at the same time.

For those of you numbers geeks that can’t get enough of it, might want to give a try. :)

Weasel Coffee

Jul 042006
 

Weasel CoffeeYes, you read that right. Weasel Coffee. Weasels go out and find the beans, eat them, then regurgitate them just for you. Don’t you feel special now? *shiver* Ick.

Normally I’d send you to to see more, but their site is currently under construction. Don’t believe me? Click that link and see for yourself. :P When it comes back up, I’ll let you know since they’ve got some whoppers of goodies on there sure to make your eyebrow raise and your belly turn.

In the meantime, I’ll have to send you to this site, called . You can see a sampling there.

Monkey Picked TeaDon’t forget to check out the Monkey Picked Tea. Seriously folks. Monkey Picked Tea…

A Poem “Starting Over”

Jul 032006
 

I tried to take a stab at and what came out is below:

Starting Over

I’ll start my life over tonight,
Toss this cigarette away,
Walk that path toward the light.

I’ll escape his furious might,
Leave his abuse this very day,
I’ll start my life over tonight.

The bottles I’ll toss from my sight,
Drink no more gin if I may
Walk that path toward the light.

No longer will I live by fright.
This time I’ll keep the baby I say,
I’ll start my life over tonight.

How I will try to do what’s right,
Not make my kids steal, hope that they
Walk that path toward the light.
I’ll promise to no longer fight,
Take my meds, calm my dismay.
I’ll start my life over tonight,
Walk that path toward the light.

—————————
I think that pretty much sums up any movie I’ve ever seen…

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