A Hungry Vampire

Book Review: The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

2012-01-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

This book was a detour from most that I read. It is an incredible story of bravery, cunning, and survival of the fittest.

The setting in this story is what I would consider post apocalyptic times. The nation known as Panem, was built upon the ruins of North America. A fat, greedy government in the Capitol controls twelve outlying districts with harsh and cruel conditions. These districts are forced by the government to send one boy and one girl in their teens to participate in the annual Hunger Games. These children fight to the death on live television with hopes to supply food and other rudimentary items for their families needs. Only one person can win these Hunger Games each year.

Rather than tell you the whole story, trying to paint a picture in your mind of what the story is about, I suggest you read it on your own. For me, the story left me feeling as if there was no hope of survival. Teens entered into the games knowing that it was kill-or-be-killed. There was no choice, to be in the games or not. Reading what the main character was faced with, made me route for her survival. I found myself questioning the same things she questioned.

I did like this story, but as I read the book, I felt like the situation was grim and hopeless. It became difficult for me to want to continue reading because I felt that somehow this main character was going to lose, even if she won the games. My hope was that there would be a real love story between the two tributes. However, I was continually left confused. Did Peeta really love Katniss? I have no idea. For all I could tell, it was all a ruse.

As I said in the beginning of this review, this is not my normal genre for reading. However, I wanted to do my best to write a non-biased review. The book was written well. It was easy to read, and for the most part, easy to understand. The author did a decent job of painting this story in my mind. By the end of the book, I did want to jump to the next book, “Catching Fire.” That to me means it was well worth the read!

Writing Is…

2011-06-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure where this meme began or if I’ve even done this right, but I’ve been tagged by @WookieStyle to write something that explains what Writing is to me. Here is my attempt at clearing that up. (Probably about as clear as a barrel of mud! LOL)

Writing is… my vent, my voice, my place to focus… my nightmare, my struggle, my inner angst… Where shall I begin and how shall I end?

All my life I’ve loved to write or do something, anything creative. As a child, I drew a lot. I’d sit in classes and draw some kick ass trucks and cars, as well as beautiful landscapes and houses. I loved colors too and enjoyed losing myself in coloring books. Through Jr. High and High School, I learned some typography and shading, so I made a lot of headlines.

Later, I became a homeschool teacher and began to teach our boys to read, write, do arithmetic, etc. I realized then that I would need to teach them to write various forms of poetry, literature, and reports as they grew up. I gave them a project to write a story through the whole school year, each day writing a little more to go in their stories. They easily wrote out a chapter a day, which really consisted of one page or so for their ages… but by the end of the year, they realized they created a creative story with their own world on the page. Their stories were mostly of aliens from other planets. My boys love to tell stories, so I turned their energies of telling them to writing them.

A few years after starting our homeschool, my husband lost his job and spent months trying to find more work. I had been learning how to write HTML code for building websites and was getting good at the basics. It was another means for me to create and I loved it. So, I decided that I would trade my skill for karate lessons to help the instructor with his website. I found that I loved creating websites and using the Internet as a way of showing off my art. Soon, my business began to bloom and I was working my butt off building websites. All of a sudden, I’m not enjoying it as much because the creativity part was less a part of the website, and the mechanics and technical parts became more of a necessity.

About three years ago, I stepped into Twitter and blog writing. I started reviewing books I’d read and movies I’d seen, thinking nothing of my writing ability but received feedback from followers on how well I wrote. One day, a Twitter friend asked me to proofread her stories that she had written. In so doing, I began to wonder if I could benefit from writing.

At this point in time though, my creative venue was leaning more toward Photoshop. I had decided to revamp my blog and try to give it a new direction. I touched upon an idea for a banner that would really symbolize the theme of my blog. On this one particular day, I was in my shower, where all great ideas come to me, when this idea popped in my head. As I stood there thinking about how to create this banner in Photoshop, it became alive in my mind. (No, I hadn’t taken hallucinogens.) The characters began to talk and show emotion. I found that I could move around the image in my head and describe what I saw, smelled, and touched in my mind. I found that the main character in my head was talking to me and telling me her story. I sat for hours that day, typing out everything I saw and heard. I sent it over to one of my best friends and asked her to read it and give me her opinion. I was so afraid she’d laugh and tell me I should stop smokin’ whatever it was I was smoking, but she didn’t. She wrote back all excited, “Tell me more! I can’t wait!” The next day, the same thing happened and all I could do was write what flowed. I’ve been writing ever since.

Writing is my outlet to calm myself down, or explode and voice an opinion. It’s my way of venting my emotions when I’m having a tough day. It’s my way to escape. Writing is a way for me to create -- people, emotions, worlds, and much more. I love words! I love describing ideas and analogies so that your mind begins to see what’s in my mind.

Fumbling through my garage, I searched for a story that I started years ago. I thought, now that the juices were flowing perhaps I could finish it. I never found that story, but I found oodles of journals that I would buy, write in and then lose track of, only to buy another and do the same. Apparently, writing has always been my way of working things out. I would write what was in my head, to calm the proverbial voices, and then move on. Now, I am working at completing one of my many stories.

Next step… I just need the courage to publish!

Hmm, whom should I tag?

QuixoticKatie

KrazyK85_

j_cage

TwittahMom

michelehauf

Book Review: “Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain,” By Portia de Rossi

2011-06-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

Reading this book was a total skew from the genre of books I normally read. What brought me to read this book was more of a general interest in how the author, Portia de Rossi, overcame two very strong concepts in her upbringing that she had to learn to accept in her life.

Before I chose to read this book, I read reviews on the book itself. The reviews were either good or poor, nothing really in the middle. I chose to go by the reviews that gave a good light on this book and now that I’ve finished reading it, I’m glad I did.

Reading “Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain,” was touching, honest, & heart wrenching as we followed Ms. de Rossi’s life & her reasoning for the decisions made in her life. There are many people in the same place as Ms. de Rossi, choosing to live by society’s standards & not accepting how they were born. I am one who has had trouble accepting myself, perhaps not in the same way as Ms. de Rossi, yet just as painful. Reading this book helped me to look deep within myself and evaluate my choices. Many of my own choices were made based on my understanding of what was expected of me from family, friends, and my Christian beliefs. From simple decisions such as, how I vote to whom I accept into my social circles. As a child, and even into my adult years, I found ways to dislike myself and learned ways to be accepted. All it takes is just being you, nothing more and nothing less.

The book, “Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain,” was well written and made you feel as if you were in Ms. de Rossi’s shoes as she went through her life experiences. I appreciated how she shared her experiences, yet didn’t impose her life decisions on her readers. She spoke sensibly and straight to the point. She explained her confusion and her lack of acceptance very clearly. She also shared how love and support from friends and family helped to find her inner strength to succeed.

Book Review: “Lover Eternal” by J.R. Ward

2011-06-11T21:05:00.000-07:00

Once finishing J.R. Ward’s first book, “Dark Lover,” I had to jump off into the next. “Lover Eternal” is book two in this series, Black Dagger Brotherhood.

As I stated in my review of “Dark Lover,” the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, written by J.R. Ward, is about an ancient order of warrior vampires who defend and protect their race from vampire slayers known as lessers. These lessers are de-souled humans, recruited by an evil supernatural being known as the Omega. There are six warriors in the Brotherhood who stand between the extinction of their vampire race and the Lessening Society.

In this series, the author creates a vampire race, which is separate from the human race. In fact, to be a vampire, one must be born with vampire DNA. Vampires are born like humans, looking like humans, acting like humans, and in some cases, unaware of the changes the must go through in their mid-twenties, when their bodies go through dangerous changes. Surviving this transition, they must drink the blood of vampires of their opposite sex to survive. Living as vampires, they can drink any blood, human or animal, but to stay strong and live healthy, they must consume the blood of their opposite gender.

In this book, “Lover Eternal,” J.R. Ward brings to life the brother “Rhage,” also known as “Hollywood” to his friends. Rhage is the brother/vampire with the biggest appetite and he seems to be the best fighter of all the brothers. He has a dark side that lives inside him. The Scribe Virgin (the vampiric goddess of sorts), casts a curse on him that is to last two hundred years, a curse that forces him to live his life not feeling love. Sex and violence are his only means to keep the beast within him under control. When Rhage loses control, everyone around him takes cover as his beast bursts out and consumes every thing in sight. One day, Mary comes into his life and Rhage finds that he is drawn to Mary.

Mary is a human who suffers from leukemia again. Through circumstances brought in with other characters connected with Mary’s life, she meets Rhage. He’s handsome, strong, and he’s interested in her. She knows this time she will most likely die from her affliction. So now, she wonders if her life will end happily.

Mary is brave on so many levels. She fights for her on life, gets mixed in with the vampire race because of a secondary storyline within this book, and learns to understand the beast in Rhage.

I loved this story very much and in some ways felt, I could relate to Rhage the most. His constant battle with his own demons and the lack of control of his beast seemed to connect with me in many ways. It seemed that the more he pursued Mary, the more capable he was able to cope with his beast.

This book was a definite page-turner! It was dark with moments of sadness, yet a romantic sensual love story. J.R. Ward cleverly weaves a secondary storyline that introduces the next book in the series.

“Immortalis Carpe Noctem,” by Katie Salidas

2011-04-21T20:42:00.002-07:00

Katie Salidas is, or I should say was, an unknown author to me. I have begun to follow numerous authors on twitter in the past months, but Ms. Salidas began to follow me first. I found her to be an excellent conversationalist, willing to chat at the drop of a, eh… tweet. She’s known on twitter as @QuixoticKatie… the name alone intrigued and caused me to watch her stream and what she posts.

Generally, new authors email me or tweet me to request that I read and review their books. Ms. Salidas never did this. She has promoted her books herself and with the affection that she whips up in her following. One day, I caught a random tweet where she was promoting, “Immortalis Carpe Noctem.” I browsed the link a couple of times, but honestly, I didn’t care for the cover. This is the truth. I did it… I judged a book by it’s cover!

I’m not sure exactly how the conversation came up but Ms. Salidas offered me a one time opportunity to download one of her books to read and review. I chose “Immortalis Carpe Noctem” because I really wanted to start the series at the beginning. Go figure.

I’m really hard on storylines. I have to tell myself that I have to read past the first couple of chapters, because quite honestly what I do is read the first chapter and if I’m not gripped in the storyline right there, I lay the book down and don’t pick it up again.

“Immortalis Carpe Noctem,” is written in first person and it is all the experiences of a young college aged woman who decides to walk home by herself in one of the roughest cities in America, Las Vegas. Of course, reading Alyssa’s point of view, she took us through her walk in the dark and introduced us first to her attackers who intended on raping, mugging, and killing her. They succeed at nearly killing her by stabbing her as she attempted to free herself. However, during her scuffle with her would be attackers, an ancient vampire named, Lysander, arrives just a little late to her rescue. Instead of taking her to a hospital to receive life saving skills from a doctor, he chooses instead to drain her further and then give her his blood thus turning her into a vampire.

At first, my thought was that this was just going to be another vampire love story. It wasn’t really. Actually, this author went one-step further. This whole story is Alyssa’s first hand experience of becoming a vampire and learning how to live as one in the twenty-first century. She has rules she must abide by, new senses to discover.

Ms Salidas kept with many, if not all, of vampire folklore. Her vampires can’t take sunlight, they live off of human blood, and of course they all have fangs.

So, what is my opinion of this story? I usually love any story that involves vampires. However, this story really didn’t have anything that different to it that would make me Oooh and Aah about it. There was no love triangle or for that matter a love affair. We do see Alyssa begin to fall for her maker, Lysander. They do have sex together… but aside from learning, what it would be like to experience vampirism first hand it was an okay start to a series. I am interested in reading the rest of the series. I feel there is great potential for Alyssa and this first book has laid a good foundation to springboard into the next book of a series. I would love to see what kind of a person Alyssa turns out to be.

This book was an awesome start to what I hope to be an excellent series. It definitely is worth the read. Let’s hit me with your next book, Ms Salidas.

You can find the link to Katie Salidas' web site in the left sidebar.

Press Release: "Forever Vampire" by Michele Hauf

2011-04-20T19:34:00.003-07:00

Award-winner author Michele
Hauf introduces a new kind of vampire—one with an undying need for revenge…

Forever Vampire

Michele Hauf
ISBN: 978-0-373-77572-9
HQN mass market paperback
April 19, 2011

"Hauf delivers excitement, danger and romance in a
way only she can!" — #1 NYT bestselling author,
Sherrilyn Kenyon on Her Vampire Husband.
"Adventure, intrigue and a voice like no other—
Michele Hauf is a force to be reckoned with!" — USA
TODAY bestselling author, Emma Holly
"Vampires, shifters, and faeries—oh my! Michele Hauf
is a master of them all!" — NYT bestselling author,
Kerrelyn Sparks

Vail the Unwanted is a pure-blooded vampire. But raised in Faery, he has neither home nor peace, and when his aid is sought in the recovery of a priceless diamond gown, his price is information. Specifically the whereabouts of his accursed father. His goal is revenge, and the supernaturally sexy Lyric, the icy blond vampiress with whom he must work, is a distraction he can't afford.

Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means, holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny.

MicheleHauf.com

blog.michelehauf.com

clubscarlet.michelehauf.com

Michele Hauf has been writing paranormal, historical and fantasy romance for over 20 years. Populated with vampires, angels, werewolves and more, her wickedly enchanting stories will appeal to today's paranormal readers. It's Twilight for big girls!

Reviewers, download an electronic review copy of FOREVER VAMPIRE at netgalley.com
Publicist: Megan Lorius
HQN Books
Megan_Lorius@Harlequin.ca
416-445-5860 (ext. 7189)

Book Review: “Chosen” by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast

2011-03-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

Oh Man! This is a highly addictive series!

In this book, "Chosen," the heroine, fledgling vampyre, Zoey Redbird, finds that her friends have turned on her and she ends up turning to her sworn enemies for friendship. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling with her humanity and Zoey doesn't have a clue how to help her. Now Zoey finds she's got three boyfriends, which can be a social disaster.

I was bothered by the fact that Zoey falls in love with her teacher and ends up having sex with him. I know this occasionally happens in real life and I know we don’t want to treat it like it should never be brought out of the closet. However, this is a YA (Young Adult) series. I do expect to read some language and sexual innuendo or perhaps tame sex scenes, but I don’t think things like this should be introduced as acceptable to our teens. The fact that she falls in love with just about every boy she makes contact with is grating, but it is a known fact with teens. Hormones are coursing through her veins.

Although I found a couple of points to take issue with in this series thus far, I did enjoy the overall story. The basic plot to the story focuses on a murder that happens on campus. This causes Zoey to move off campus where she attempts to save her best friend, Stevie Rae. Of course, Stevie Rae, now a red vampyre, seems to have lost her humanity, but Zoey can’t believe this to be true, and she makes it her goal to try to save her best friend.

Neferet is as evil as ever and we see what else she has to offer as she attempts to get rid of Zoey. I think out of all these characters, I truly love Aphrodite. She seems to put everything out there whether you want to hear it or not. Even in the most “Valley Girl,” “Rich Bitch” kind of way, Aphrodite holds no punches.

Again... a very addictive read! I couldn't and didn't put the book down until I was done!!

Now, if you have read the first two books of this series then this book is a must-read. However, if you are checking out the series as a mother or father of a teen who wants to read this, be cautioned there is adult content here… more than most other paranormal YA books.

Book Review: “Betrayed” by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast

2011-03-04T17:54:00.000-07:00

After reading "Marked," there was only one thing I could do and that was to continue into the series by reading, "Betrayed."

Betrayed is the second installment in the House of Night series. It is dark and sexy, and was fantastic to read. It picks up where Marked left off.

Our heroine, Zoey Redbird, seems to be an anomaly among fledglings in the House of Night. She is the most powerful fledgling at the House of Night and quite possibly the most powerful in vampyre history. After taking over leadership of the Dark Daughters and Sons, she seems to be settling in nicely at the House of Night finishing school. She finally feels like she belongs. In this book, Zoey is determined to change things in the school, from a snobby elitist clique to something of substance, meaning. We begin to see Zoey feel comfortable in her own skin and she actually seems to mature a little.

Along with Zoey’s growing pains with learning to be the priestess that she seems to be training for, her love life seems to be a mess. She finds herself in love with two boys and one of her professors. Just when things begin to look up, trouble happens to the humans in her old life. They keep disappearing. Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart and her soul.

Once I started to read this book, I couldn't put it down. It was obvious how hooked I had become. I like how the Cast’s are developing the characters and how they seem to get along with each other in this series. Each character is beginning to grow into what they believe is their path in life. Even though I really like Zoey, I think I like Aphrodite and Stevie Rae a little better. They seem to be the most open and straight forward what’s happening throughout the book.

I find it odd that the Cast’s did not proofread their books though. I’m seeing a number of grammatical errors throughout the story. I can only hope they will see this in their future installations.

If you enjoy vampire stories, this is a good one. However, it is not like your typical vampire story. I think that is why I thoroughly enjoyed it.

You can visit the Cast's website to learn more about their other books in this series. http://www.houseofnightseries.com

Book Review: “Amaury’s Hellion” by Tina Folsom

2011-02-28T22:05:00.000-07:00

I finally found the time to read Tina Folsom’s book, “Amaury’s Hellion.” This book is the second installment to her Scanguards Vampires series. As I told Ms. Folsom after I had read her first book, “Samson’s Lovely Mortal,” I became fascinated with Amaury and really wanted to read more about him. When she told me that book two was all about him, I was ready to go.

Amaury LeSang is a vampire and part owner of Scanguards with his good friend Samson. He has a problem though. Amaury was cursed to feel everybody’s emotions. Now I used to think it would be really cool to be able to read another’s mind or, perhaps feel another’s emotions…but not at all like Amaury. His curse manifested in a constant migraine that could only be relieved through sex. At best, the sex would lift the pain only for about an hour. After that, he would get a rush of everyone’s emotions all over again and the migraine would resume.

As Scanguards is under the magnifying glass for murder/suicides allegedly caused by employees, Amaury, Samson, and the New York vampires put their wits together to figure out who-done-it. That is when Amaury meets the feisty human woman, Nina, who is out for vengeance for the death of her little brother. Of course, Nina’s blood boils for Amaury because she believes Amaury is the responsible one for her brother, Eddie’s death.

Amaury’s and Nina’s first meeting turns out to be more of surprise. Instead of killing Amaury as planned, Nina ends up kissing him. Of course, she’s trying to throw off his guard… and it does! Amaury realizes that in Nina’s presence, all his pain vanishes…and they haven’t had sex yet! With a cure seemingly within his reach, Amaury strives to hook up with Nina.

The story is an exciting love story with a touch of dom/sub flavor. Yes, Amaury doles out the spankings and Nina enjoys tying him up.

I must say that over all I loved this story. Amaury is a very caring vampire and loves Nina right off the bat and he’ll do anything to keep her safe. The story seemed well developed and easy to follow all the main characters. However, I did find some sections tended to go a little slow. Perhaps it was my desire to want more detail throughout the story. I would have loved to have read a little more of the dom/sub flavor.

Aside from my specific desires, and I know I’m tremendously finicky, Ms. Folsom has done another great job of carrying on the Scanguards Vampire series. I look forward to the third installation, “Gabriel’s Mate.”

Review: "Ninja's Creed"

2011-02-26T23:38:00.000-07:00

Tonight I watched a movie I wish I hadn't. I really should have read the reviews first before watching this movie. The title is very misleading. It is called, "Ninja's Creed" & is rated PG-13.

In the beginning, even though it was clearly a low budget movie, I found it enjoyable. So much so that I searched the Internet to find out what book it was based on so I could read it. The only tidbit I found was another name the story had, which was "Royal Kill." The producer should have kept that name, then it would have made a little more sense.

This movie was very convoluted. At first you follow the movie where a warrior is sanctioned by a dying king to protect one of his daughters who was shuffled off to America to be raised by an "American Guardian." The movie timeline takes leaps where you are not sure how to connect the dots. You see the warrior supposedly locating the "princess" but not shown how. It's as if magically he knew where to go. You are shown a cold callous assassin who seemingly has some sort of martial arts training or some kind of mystical upbringing. The assassin apparently finds this "princess" at the same time our warrior does which again you are not offered a means to know how she found her target.

The "princess" is a scared shitless young teenage girl who doesn't know anything of her past. She is drug into this fiasco, led to believe that she may in fact be a princess, and begins to trust the warrior. She does what he says and hides whilst he turns to end the battle with the would-be assassin who mysteriously appears everywhere the warrior and girl go.

A sword fight begins between warrior and assassin... or so you are lead to believe. When the warrior finally slays the assassin, this is the point where everything goes off into right field and you haven't a clue what's happening.

Somehow, the assassin's dead body disappears and mystically becomes the warrior. There is some kind of magical osmosis that occurs binding the two into one thus apparently joining good with evil. Because this teen girl now trusts this warrior, she chooses not to run away. Stupid girl. Now the warrior turns on the girl (because the assassin is now inside the warrior) and he attacks and kills the girl.

Throughout the rest of this movie, you see the warrior struggle to only realize that he is just so joe who leads a boring life as a guard at a museum. Toward the end all I could understand was this man was no warrior at all but a psychopath who builds himself up to be something more than what he is, then looks for some teenage girl to live out his fantasy only to end up killing everyone around.

The music throughout the movie seemed more than it needed to be too. In fact, the music seemed too much for the whole movie. It gives the feeling that something big was going to happen and then nothing does.

This was really a stupid movie and a waste of 90 minutes that I will never get back. Why did I reserve this peace of garbage?

Book Review: “Dark Lover” by J.R. Ward

2010-12-28T22:50:00.000-07:00

I have read many vampire series of late, enjoying every one of them in their own way. One day, I was about to read the next book in another series, when friends who follow me on Twitter insisted I read J.R. Ward’s “Black Dagger Brotherhood” series. On several occasions, whispers of this series came across my timeline but were ignored, simply because I had so many other books slated to read. One day, I finally broke down, bought the first six books of the series, and began to read.

Many series novels that I have read, take more than just the first book to hook you into the story. Not this series…no, this series sucked me in on the first book! Drama, fighting, friendships, and just all out romance sucked me right in and catapulted me into the next book.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood series, written by J.R. Ward, is about an ancient order of warrior vampires who defend and protect their race from vampire slayers known as lessers. These lessers are de-souled humans recruited by an evil supernatural being known as the Omega. There are six warriors in the Brotherhood who stand between the extinction of their vampire race and the Lessening Society.

Author, J.R. Ward, creates a different type of vampire in these novels. These vampires are a separate species from humans. In fact, to be a vampire you must be born carrying vampire DNA in your blood. Ms. Ward’s vampire race begin their lives as human and are unaware of what lies ahead of them until their mid-twenties when their bodies go through a dangerous. Surviving the transition, they must now drink the blood of vampires of the opposite sex in order to survive and stay strong.

This book, “Dark Lover,” centers on Wrath, the only pure blood vampire known to exist on the planet, and Beth, a half breed, half human-half vampire, who is on the verge of transition. Wrath is asked to help with Beth’s transition when her time comes by feeding her from his vein. Wrath hates humans, tries to live a loners life, never desiring a mate. However, when Wrath’s long-time friend and the father of Beth is killed by car bombing lessers, Wrath takes on the responsibility of protecting Beth and introducing her to her vampire heritage.

The attraction between Wrath and Beth is tangible and quite erotic. The chemistry between them makes it impossible for them to deny their love for each other and for the first time, Wrath is hopeful to end the loneliness in his long life. All is bliss until the baby powder scented vampire-slaying lessers kidnap Beth.

Throughout the book we see the beautiful choreography of all the warriors as they work together to battle their race’s nemesis and later find and free Beth from her captor.

If vampires are your thing, as they are mine, then this series is a must read! Do what I did, lay down that seventeenth book in the series you are currently reading and begin the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Book Review: "Spirit Bound" by Richelle Mead

2010-09-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

“Spirit Bound” is the fifth installment to Richelle Mead’s “Vampire Academy” series, of which I have been a dedicated reader since the beginning. It is not my top rated series, but it holds its own luster. After reading this book, it may have lost some of its shine with me.

I will not say that “Spirit Bound” was a bad book; on the contrary, it carried on the saga, if you will, of Rose Hathaway and Lissa Dragomir. If you have read Ms Mead’s other books in this series, then you must read this one. Perhaps your feelings on this will differ to mine. I hope so.

Many things happened in this book. Rose and Lissa graduated from St Vladimir’s Academy. They both broke into a high profile, well-protected prison and broke out a high profile prisoner. Through information gathered by Rose, Lissa saves, or heals, Dimitri from being Strigoi. Lissa’s courage and gift continue to grow. Relationships develop. However, with all that happens in this book, I felt like there was something missing.

As I read this book, I felt as if I was reading a report, something that Rose may have had to write for the guardians. The story held a fluidity of facts, which allowed you to follow the lives of each character. However, it did not draw me in by my emotions. The only thing keeping me turning the pages were the facts. I wanted to stay connected as best I could, to the characters in this story.

As I said, this read like a report or a retelling of a story. It lacked emotion in parts. There lacked any build up of tension or angst that we are so used to experiencing in this series. Some of the fight scenes seemed to lack description or follow through. There was no strong emotion relayed in the love triangle created with Rose, Adrian, and Dimitri. I kept wondering what kind of a pansy ass Adrian was to take a back seat with Rose. I also wondered why Rose and Dimitri did not either break down into a knock down, drag out fight between each other or a forgiving passionate love affair. Their passion seemed lost. All you really experience is a teen who must deal with rejection. Boohoo. Yes, I did cry when Dimitri spoke out some harsh words to Rose, leaving her to feel his rejection. And. yes, I really hoped that Rose and Adrian would just get it on and have sex. Instead, she did the one thing we have heard her say repeatedly that she would not do … “She would not become a blood whore.” So, instead of sex, she lets him drink her blood.

Finally, about the last few chapters, I felt some emotion, some angst. The ending did leave me wanting more.

I hope that in Ms. Mead’s next installment, “Last Sacrifice”, due out December 7, 2010, that she brings back more of the tense emotion and angst that the whole series holds.

Book Review: "Samson’s Lovely Mortal" by Tina Folsom

2010-07-05T17:09:00.004-07:00

When asked to read and review this paranormal romance, “Samson’s Lovely Mortal”, I took the time to read the synopsis about the book as well as the author’s website. At first, I was skeptical and uncertain that I would be interested in the storyline. However, the thought occurred to me, there have been many books I have read with just as much or less information about them, but took it upon someone’s word that they were good. I had friends who had read those books and could give me a play-by-play if I need it. This time, this book had not been release yet. I was a first time reader, so to speak, and I would potentially be a first reviewer. I appreciated the challenge set before me.

Samson is a vampire and has been a bachelor for a very long time. Never in his life, or undead life, has he ever had trouble getting it up. He has never had trouble in the sex department before but now it’s a problem. Upon advice from a friend, he seeks the help of a shrink, only to realize not even a shrink can help. However, it all changes when fate brings a beautiful mortal named, Delilah to his doorstep. Delilah is an auditor who is hired to audit a company in a city she is unfamiliar. Chased by a would-be mugger, Delilah happens upon Samson’s doorstep seeking refuge. Opening the door and inviting the now soaked from rain, scared human into his home, and through several misunderstandings, Samson realizes that his equipment has begun to work again.

I am not one who cares to read or watch gratuitous sex. When I began reading this book, that was my first thought. In fact, I even set the story down for a couple of days because I was not impressed on the first chapter. I will admit, I am very hard on books. If they don’t capture my attention in the first chapter, I usually get rid of it. Had I done that with this book, it would have been my loss.

Author Tina Folsom did an excellent job of developing her main characters for this story, the good, the bad, the happy and the sad. Did I really want to start out the gate reading of a man with erectile dysfunction? No, not particularly. However, to capture the beautiful love story, you have to see where the main characters were before they fell in love. You get an idea of the inner workings of fate in this story.

After getting past the first couple of chapters, this story became an excellent page-turner! I found myself wanting to get back to the story to find out what more would happen. As I approached the end, I found myself asking questions, questions that only the author could answer. Perhaps she will in her future books. However, with all that said, I enjoyed every emotional, erotic, and sexy second of this story. It’s a beautiful love story with just a little intrigue added to keep all interested. I recommend you grab a copy. You can purchase and download your copy available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com

Check out the link on my sidebar for Ms. Folsoms’s web address where you can find more information of all her books. In addition, you can follow her for on Twitter, @Tina_Folsom.

Book Review: “Her Vampire Husband” by Michelle Hauf

2010-06-26T18:10:00.002-07:00

I cannot say that I am the fastest reader of book reviewers, but I do love to sit and enjoy a good paranormal romance book. Michelle Hauf’s book, “Her Vampire Husband” was exactly that.

In this story, Vampires have tribes and Werewolves, packs. Each is bloodthirsty and has had centuries to wage war against the other. Both nations have laid claim to numerous losses between them. In an attempt to bring peace between the rival nations, a Council comprised of both Vampires and Werewolves agree to an arranged marriage between Blu Masterson, Princess of the Werewolf nation and Creed Saint-Pierre, elder of the Vampire nation.

Peace is the overtone to this marriage but as you read through you find that nobody believes this marriage will bring peace at all. Blu insists that she will never allow her new husband the opportunity to mark her with his bite. Creed insists he could never love a werewolf, but would keep up appearance for the sake of peace. As the story unfolds, both Creed and Blu fall in love with each other and find they do not understand why there was so much hatred between them. With their new found love for each other, they work together to bring peace to their nations. This was not an easy task.

Overall, I found this to be a fascinating story. I must admit that at first I had my doubts about the storyline. However, it completely maintained its “page-turner” status with me. I looked forward to returning to it each night to find out what would or could happen next.

Michele Hauf develops her characters very well, which makes them easy to fall in love with. I found myself completely enamored with both Blu and Creed as they fell head over heels in love with each other. I love books that grab your emotions and pull you in. This story is has its dark undertones and is deliciously sexy!

Check out the link on my sidebar for Ms. Hauf’s web address where you can find more information of all her books. Also, you can follow her for on Twitter; @michelehauf.

Ms. Hauf, I so look forward to reading more of your books in the future.

Book Review: “The Host” by Stephenie Meyer

2010-06-11T02:05:00.000-07:00

I had just finished reading Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga when I came across her adult novel, “The Host.” I really like Stephenie Meyer’s approach to writing so I picked up a copy and began reading.

In “The Host”, the author paints another beautiful story where aliens invade our world and humans become hosts for these alien "souls". These “souls”, as they like to be called, are inserted in human minds where they completely erase any past memories the human once had and begin a new life. Melanie Stryder is one of the few remaining humans captured by the aliens. Believed to have vital information about other rogue humans, a "soul" named Wanderer is inserted into Melanie to retrieve all memories that would lead them to the various clusters of human hosts. What Wanderer finds out is that Melanie doesn't want to succumb to all of this... Melanie never gives up. Therefore, Wanderer ends up sharing Melanie's body with... well eh, Melanie.

Melanie and Wanderer journey away from civilization in an attempt to locate Melanie’s little brother and the love of her life. In order to do this, Melanie must allow Wanderer to see memories that would reveal the location of other humans. This is now easy task.

Now, I could go on telling you more, but I will not. This story turns into a love triangle with Melanie completely intact and in love with Jared, but Wanderer is also intact in Melanie's conscientiousness and she is in love with Ian. With Melanie and Wanderer both in Melanie's head, Melanie is faced with a difficult task of holding onto her life. Wanderer’s experiences on other planets never prepared her for humans and their emotional makeup. She learns very quickly how dear humans hold their individuality.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to it becoming a movie.

Go get the book... it is a good read!

Book Review: “Burned” by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast

2010-06-10T17:08:00.011-07:00

P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast pull it off again with the next installment to the House of Night series. “Burned”, appeared on bookstands May 6, 2010 and sadly I was not one of the first to get my copy. However, excited as usual to get my copy, I quickly read to find out what happened to our heroine, Zoey Redbird.

As you recall from my book review of “Tempted”, I was all too eager to find out how our vampyres and fledglings faired in this series. We left Stevie Rae holding secrets from everyone about the imprint she had with Raven Mocker, Rephaim. Zoey witnessed the death of her childhood sweetheart by the hand of fallen warrior, Kalona. She used all that she had within her, and threw the full power of the element spirit at Kalona, attempting to kill him. The combination of all this caused Zoey’s spirit to leave this realm and move on to the Otherworld, shattering her soul in hundreds of pieces. Her body still lives but her spirit is not in her. With her soul now shattered and in the Otherworld, her circle of friends must find a way to bring her back.

“Burned” is a continuation of this specific adventure. Zoey’s friends pulled themselves together with the help of the vampyre council and found only one way to rescue her. Doing what they all do best, they each take on the responsibility of learning the history of vampyres and their warriors. Our hero warrior, Stark takes his vow as warrior to a completely new level as he learns what he must do to protect his priestess in the Otherworld.

I can continue from here and describe to you all the various adventures found in this book, or in this series, but I will not. This series is one I would definitely put on your “To Read” list. Although this is a Young Adult series, I feel it still holds enough intrigue and excitement for any adult. It is packed full of angst, friendships, honor, and love… not to mention vampyres and magic.

Each book in this series, in my opinion, cannot really stand up all on its own. You must read the whole series to follow the storyline accurately. I like the Casts’ vampyres very much. They are not your typical bloodsuckers that you read about in other novels. You find yourself hoping that this band of misfits actually lives on and succeeds. The writers do a good job of introducing you into the lives of teens you normally would hate to know, only to find you need and love them. Many are the emotions tapped as you read into the lives of these teens.

“Tempted” left me full of suspense, anger, and sadness whereas “Burned” quashed all that and brought relief. However, as is usually for this writing team, you are left with not so much a cliffhanger, but the apprehension of what is to happen next.

The next installment for The House of Night series is, “Awakened”. Although I have not heard of a release date yet, I will keep checking their website, http://houseofnightseries.com for any new updates.

This Just In!

2010-04-30T20:54:00.001-07:00

I received a text from @PurpleBrina17 today!

Her message read:

Ronald McDonald's crazy ass just killed Burger King in front of Dairy Queen over that bitch Wendy. The funeral is at Churches. U goin'?

Of course I had to do some research and then ask other friends the same question...

In my research I found that this feud started some time ago. Apparently, Burger King thought he shot Ronald McDonald last year. So you can imagine his surprise when Ronald McDonald showed up and told him that a clone was killed instead. Shortly after this astonishing news, Ronald McDonald pulled out what some witnesses believed to be a .45 caliber semi-automatic and emptied the clip into the Burger King.

I also heard that Captain D's is actually pulling all funeral arrangements together...

However, I didn't know how I was to get there, IF I were to go.

Shortly after sending this information on, I received a text from @TwiSisterhood. She she said that you take the Subway by KFC Street to get there. She was going to ask Jack, but he's currently in a Box... somewhere.

At this point, I'm not sure I'm going. I really was spooked by that fucking head transplant that King had... He was just really creepy and such a perv (in a bad way).

Let me know if YOU are going!

Email HuMoR -- Retirement

2010-04-30T18:05:00.001-07:00

Ok, as said before, people send me the most hilarious emails so I can laugh, because laughter really is good medicine. So without further ado, enjoy!

Retirement

Yesterday I was at my local COSTCO buying a large bag of Purina Dog Chow for my loyal pet, Biscuit, the Wonder Dog and was in the checkout line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

What did she think I had, an elephant? So since I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the "Purina Diet" again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again.. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.) Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter's ass and a car hit us both.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard. Costco won't let me shop there anymore.

Better watch what you ask retired people.. They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.

Why Women Can't Sleep

2010-04-24T17:02:00.001-07:00

I love to receive humorous emails, especially when I need a really good laugh. I received this the other day and it explains so much...don't you think?

Have you ever wondered how a woman's brain works?

Well, it's finally explained here in one, easy-to-understand illustration:

Every one of those little blue balls is a thought about something that needs to be done, a decision or a problem that needs to be solved.

A man has only 2 balls.

They consume all his thoughts, and he sleeps like a baby.

More later... after I sleep.

Book Review: "Divine Misdemeanors" by Laurell K. Hamilton

2010-04-06T14:03:00.002-07:00

I woke this morning with several subjects on my mind. I found myself full of enough material to pontificate through several blog posts. Of course, this is my blog, nobody else posts to it, except in comments... which means I could blog about ALL the shit that's on my mind.... but I won't. Not today, or at least not now.

Today, it is time for me to post my review on a book I just finished reading, "Divine Misdemeanors" by Laurell K. Hamilton.

First off, let me preface that Laurell K. Hamilton has made it into the "Author's I love to read" category. She is very descriptive and creative in all the books I have read of hers. She is also on my list of books that I can't wait to read.

I have read all her books in this series about Meredith Gentry, Private Eye and Faerie Princess. All of them seemed to flow right into the next. However after her last book, "Swallowing Darkness," I wasn't exactly sure where she could go in this latest, "Divine Misdemeanors." There was no Prince Cel to continuously attack her... there was no Queen Andais to be frightened by... There were no secret assassination attempts on her life in this book. In fact, there almost was no lemons at all in this book.

As I began to read through this book, I had a lot of mixed feelings. Where is the author going with this series? All the other books lead to Princess Meredith becoming Queen of the Unseelie Court, yet we don't see that. In fact, she's now back in Los Angeles being a private dick...er detective. We see faint instances where the demi-fey acknowledge that she is or may be a queen. I mean, she is King Sholto's Queen... *shiver* but nobody wants to acknowledge that kingdom! Right? Everyone seems to know that the Faerie mounds acknowledged or crowned her Faerie Queen, but we've seen her give that up for Frost. Well, let's just say, she believes she's given it up.. I on the other hand think otherwise.

Of course I was interested in the murder scenes and trying to find the murderer... but by about chapter 17, I'm wondering if this was just going to be another detective novel. I mean, where's the sex, where's the relationships, where's the faerie magic that we all love to read?

Then there's this dream that Merry has where she's transported back to the Black Coach, which we all know comes to the ruler of the Unseelie Court... Merry is shown this battlefield which reminds her of the previous battle in "Swallowing Darkness." Through this dreamscape, she sees Brennan and finds him trapped in battle... She hears how Brennan calls her to him with blood, metal, and magic... As her dream begins to fade, she orders the Black Coach to take him and his men to safety and the she wakes.

I'm sitting there in goosebumps wondering what's to become of this dream... All we know is there is some kind of war going on, but we're not taken any further into why this happened. We're brought back to the mystery at hand...

Finally, around chapter 21, the lemons start. But I begin to feel like it is all quickly added in by the author. Like... "OMG I forgot to include some sex into my story." I found myself actually feeling sorry for Merry because I felt like every time she walked through a door, she was getting banged. I was puzzled at first that she was having sex with men who were not the babies' fathers... I thought there was a law against that or something... but then I began to see that Merry is starting to make her own rules. She's creating her own monarchy or dynasty. So rules seem to be changing.

We also begin to see the true colors of Barinthius. He struggles to want to be a god once again and begins to defy Merry.

Where is the author going with this book? What is she building up too? It seems to me that this book is pivotal to something else, something huge. Perhaps a new faerie mound? Will there be a faerie war? What of the babies? How will they factor in? Also, I'm left wondering if somehow Merry's 'humanness' is fading with her faerieness...(that's not a word, but still) as her magic grows, it seems that perhaps that human factor of frailty is leaving.

Overall this book was worth the read, however there were parts to it that I felt were contrived or perhaps artificial. I definitely felt this book is pivotal in whatever course the author will begin next. I look forward to her next installment to the Meredith Gentry series!

...more later!

Signs of the Modern Woman

2010-03-31T16:25:00.004-07:00

As you are aware, I receive some very hilarious emails just about everyday. Some stuff gets a chuckle then tossed, but other stuff, even though labor intensive to share on this blog, is worth more than one chuckle.

I do not know where these images come from...but if they belong to you, it is not my intent to leave these anonymous... Just drop me an email and I'll give credit where credit is due!!

Signs of the Modern Woman

Leave me some comment love!! I'd love to hear from you! *mwah*

New Medications for Women Only!

2010-03-13T14:48:00.001-07:00

Apparently there are a few new drugs out there for women that I have just found out about. I felt you might benefit from these as well.

Here is an advertisement for the newest one available.

There are some other drugs that I'd never heard of either that I found... but each sounds just as helpful as the new drug Fukitol®.

NEW DRUGS FOR WOMEN

DAMNITOL

Take 2 and the rest of the world can go to hell for up to 8 full hours.

EMPTYNESTROGEN

Suppository that eliminates melancholy and loneliness by reminding you of how awful they were as teenagers and how you couldn't wait till they moved out!

ST. MOMMA'S WORT

Plant extract that treats mum's depression by rendering preschoolers unconscious for up to two days.

PEPTOBIMBO

Liquid silicone drink for single women. Two full cups swallowed before an evening out increases breast size, decreases intelligence, and prevents conception.

DUMBEROL

When taken with Peptobimbo, can cause dangerously low IQ, resulting in enjoyment of country music and pickup trucks.

FLIPITOR

Increases life expectancy of commuters by controlling road rage and the urge to flip off other drivers.

MENICILLIN

Potent anti-boy-otic for older women. Increases resistance to such lethal lines as, "You make me want to be a better person."

BUYAGRA

Injectable stimulant taken prior to shopping. Increases potency, duration, and credit limit of spending spree.

JACKASSPIRIN

Relieves headache caused by a man who can't remember your birthday, anniversary, phone number, or to lift the toilet seat.

ANTI-TALKSIDENT

A spray carried in a purse or wallet to be used on anyone too eager to share their life stories with total strangers in elevators.

NAGAMENT

When administered to a boyfriend or husband, provides the same irritation level as nagging him, without opening your mouth.

I am real excited to give some of these an honest try. I think the next time I see my doctor, I will find out which of these medications best fits my particular needs. Perhaps you see something in this list that might interest you. Leave me some comment love and tell me all about it.

In Case You Missed Sunday's Sermon

2010-02-28T19:24:00.005-07:00

Lately, I have missed out on Sunday sermons. So when I received this in my email, I thought... I have to post this for others who may have missed their Sunday sermon.

"Four Worms and a Lesson"

A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon.

Four worms were placed into four separate jars.

The first worm was put into a container of alcohol.

The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke.

The third worm was put into a container of chocolate syrup.

The fourth worm was put into a container of good clean soil.

At the conclusion of the sermon, the Minister reported the following

The first worm in alcohol

DEAD

The second worm in cigarette smoke

DEAD

Third worm in chocolate syrup

Dead

Fourth worm in good clean soil

Alive!

So the Minister asked the congregation, "What can you learn from this demonstration?"

Maxine sitting in the back, quickly raised her hand and said,

"As long as you drink, smoke, and eat chocolate,
you won't have worms!"

That pretty much ended the sermon.

Visit to the Eye Doctor

2010-02-17T01:46:00.001-07:00

I've not been real consistent on my blogging lately. I do apologize for that. In my defense, I have been extremely busy with RL... Yeah, I know... excuses... Well, get used to it.

I am one of those people who hates to go to the doctor, but more importantly, I hate to have to find NEW doctors. I've been in Arizona now for just over one year and still haven't found dentists, doctors, or eye doctors. My health has seen better days but I've ignored all tell tale signs that would indicate that I might need to see a doctor. However, recently I began having more frequent migraines and it has been more difficult to focus on small print. I would say my arms aren't long enough. Well, perhaps its time to see an eye doctor.

My eyes have gotten bad enough that reading has become difficult and not fun. My frustration left me struggling with my work and no desire to read anymore. Well, that just won't do.. SO I had to find an eye doctor.. *yippee* I did the "close your eyes and point trick" to finding an eye doctor. Actually, truth be known, I picked the first on the list because she was closest to home. Same diff tho, right?

I was dreading the day... today... day before my dreadful birthday. I expected to have my eyes dilated, which meant 4-6 hours of guarding my eyes against the light, because I'm light sensitive, and having extra blurry vision during most of that time as well. This meant, a non-productive day for me. Ugh!

Apparently, technology has grown over the past 3 years. They have this new machine that does what dilation did. They blind you with a strobe like light and take a picture of the inside of your eyeballs. The flash is instantaneous, the spots in your eyes after, not so much. So, I was blinded for about 20 minutes... remember, I'm light sensitive.. So the blindness was so much 'blind' as it was me trying to adjust back to normal so I wouldn't trigger a migraine. Trust me the technician really felt for me, but she felt that 20 minutes of spots and the potential a migraine was better than 4-6 hours of the same. I agreed.

This eye doctor, in my opinion was the best I have ever had. Of course this doctor was a woman. I love having women for my doctors. They listen, they talk. She showed me my eyeballs too! That, to me, was really cool!

Part one of the eye appointment was excellent!! Next, explaining to the optician why I have to have my glasses the way I have them... Ugh!

Every time I visit an optician for new glasses, I have to explain that I am light sensitive... Therefore the best that I have found for my eyes is glass lenses with photo grey, anti-glare, and lined bifocals. (Yes, I wear bifocals...) Anyway, I always, always get grief about the photo grey and the anti-glare. I also get grief over the lined bifocal rather than the "progressive" lenses.

You guessed it, we argued for the better part of 2 hours over just those subjects I just mentioned. Finally, I realized he might be right on the "transitions" instead of "photo grey" and he understood my argument about the bifocal lines instead of progressive lenses. Yes, you read that right... 2 hours! He thought he knew everything so he was trying to get me fitted quickly so he could go to lunch on time or something. Finally, after much deliberation, he realized he was going to need to wrap is brain around my dilemma if he was ever going to get rid of me. He finally told me that he was glad I came in because he loved his job, but lately, it had gotten boring. There weren't many challenges for him. He considered me a challenge. Hmm, is that a good thing? I hope so...

I have about a week to ten days before I get my new specs... I'll be able to see better. Yay!!

... more later

Working Toward a Better Me ... I Think...

2010-01-25T15:36:00.002-07:00

Over the past year, my stress load has been extremely high, with our 2 moves, kids’ school, my workload, the holidays, etc. I've had to take my pain killers more often & my eating & sleeping habits have gotten pretty bad.

In talking with a couple of friends, and their coercion to get myself better, I took on a bit of a challenge. Well, I suppose I’ve made it a challenge, perhaps because just the right person who for some strange reason, I feel competitive toward (you know who you are *wink*), suggested I workout with her. Her idea was to workout with our Wiis together… except, since the move, I can’t find my Wii. Trust me, I’m still looking. However, until then, my friend suggested that I walk instead. She said, “You only need 20-30 minutes to start.” Since I already knew this, I figured, in my tiny little brain, that she was still challenging me and that the excuse of not finding my Wii wasn’t going to work. Damn! Ok, fine, you win my friend. I accept your challenge!

Today marks my first day of walking for 20-30 minutes before I begin my day. I'm skeptical about this commitment. It means I have to exercise! Ugh! I hate exercise… but admittedly, I hate feeling like a slug, being overweight, and being in pain even more.

So, what then do I write? Should I share where I walked? Or how far I walked? Or perhaps, how miserable or thrilled I was to walk? How about why am I choosing to do something I loathe so much? Hmm… there are some possibilities.

As stated, I’m not one to exercise. If a walk takes me to a destination, like from my truck to the store door, then fine, I'll walk; but to walk just because? I don't do 'just because'... I have too much on my plate to take time out to walk. Or do I?

First off, I've learned something… You are the one that makes your own schedule. No one else can. I’m not very good at this, I'm what you would call, 'organizationally challenged'. Yeah, that’s it! I’ll probably find that either family, friends, or even clients may become upset that I have trouble juggling my time. However, I have that problem already and the only way to correct this problem is to figure out another way to organize myself. The only way to learn to better one’s self, is to try. So, this is me trying.

Here are some goals I have:

Create a more positive me
Lose weight
Get out of pain
Relieve stress
Unpack my home
Get lots of work done & get caught up

My list seems short, but it isn't really. Each point has sub points that I won't bore you with, yet. Nevertheless, in order to accomplish these goals, I have to create a schedule that works. I used to have one and somehow, I became derailed. I let other things get me distracted. Well, here's me putting my derailed self back on track.

Let's begin with a schedule. This schedule is not yet in stone, so there's no reason to become upset at myself if I fall off course. I tell myself this, but in reality, I get very negative and upset with myself if I don't keep up. There is a way around this negative part, but first, here's my schedule.

Get up by 8 a.m.
Walk 20-30 minutes in the morning.
Hit the shower! Eat! Get coffee! (The 3-musts to get my brain functioning.)
Take time for me. (This is my quiet time for my devotions.)
Make sure boys are on track for their school. (By now, they should have had breakfast and should be ready to conquer their day. (This could take all of 10 minutes or a couple hours, depending on what they need.)
Begin with work.

Well, so far today, I am off schedule.

I woke THIS morning at 10 a.m.
However, the first thing I did once up was go for my walk. I walked 45 minutes, not 30.
I did hit the shower, I ate & I consumed coffee.
My 'me' time wasn't what I wanted it to be, however, I used it to write this post which I felt, was important to help me with my goal of creating a more positive me.
I checked in with my boys and found they had their social studies underway and they were writing their required assignments.

Therefore, I am currently at a juncture. Now, I must focus on work. So, for now, I will finish this post so that I might begin to organize my work routine.

I'm not much with challenges, but if you would like to work with me and challenge yourself to get into shape, or perhaps you just want to encourage me, post a comment.

I'll post again with my progress later.

Here's to good health!

Life As I Know It

2010-01-08T12:07:00.006-07:00

October marked the time when life, my life that is, turn upside down. Well, o.k. not really upside down, but it sounded good in my head. Can't you hear the symphony in the background? Music is swelling... *looks around* You can't? Oh dear... Well, turn your volume up! ... still can't hear it... er... it must be in my head then. Oh GAWD!

Ok, actually let's step back in time just a little tiny bit more. We had a BIG, MONSTROUS move back in December of 2008. We moved, or were moved, from Idaho to Arizona by my husband's new company. I must admit the move package was awesome! They packed us, moved us, and unpacked some of us. We figured the home we were renting would be very temporary so we only unpacked what we thought to be essential.

There are pros and cons to this method of moving. First, if you don't unpack everything, then when its time to move again, you don't have so much to pack. However, if you don't unpack, you end up either buying what you need, even though you know that somewhere in one of the hundreds of boxes, you own said item, OR you end up digging through said boxes trying to find that one item... and then another item... and another. Ok, I think you get the point.

A 6-month rental turned into more & more. Finally, in September of 2009, our house in Idaho sold! Yay! We lost money overall in that sale, but we were able to pay the loan off with enough money to buy a cup of coffee when all was said & done. Ok, ok... Coffee is not that expensive! However, the amount of change we received was not enough to put a down payment on another house. So, I tucked it away for another day.

Now, we roll into October 2009. My Realtor here in Arizona takes me through about 5 different homes to chose from here, encouraging me every step of the way... assuring me that she is confident that even though we have NO DOWN PAYMENT, we can still buy a home. *Yeah, right* What are you smokin' Wendy?! Ha!

I found 2 homes I thought were nice enough & inexpensive enough, so I showed my husband. He felt the same way ... but he looked anyway. He liked my choices & after a very short articulation between the two of us *the amount of time that it takes to fall asleep* we'd made our decision. The following morning, my Realtor got the ball rolling to purchase a house.

Everything went so smoothly. The sellers were desperate to sell so they agreed to EVERYTHING, including repairing every little thing we asked to be fixed. I have NEVER had a deal go so fast & without SNAFUs from the seller (or buyer). This must be a gift from God, right?

My Realtor contacts the lender & tells him about our serious lack of finances. He in turn says, "HEY, NO PROBLEM! In fact, they'll end up getting change back when all is said & done." *oh boy, oh boy!*

Lender sets us up with a "Rural" loan & sends our paperwork to the underwriter of the first investor. We get turned down. Wanna know why? The company's move package put us earning too much! Yeah... I'm deflated now. My lender pats us on the shoulder & assures us that he will continue to press because he feels they are considering the package as continual income when it is only a one time thing. We press on.

In very short order, the lender sends our paperwork to a second investor. Again, the extra finances are the issue and were turned down again. At this point, we're doing the *Midas shrug*... Two down, what's left? Our lender informs us that come the first of December, his company will be licensed to do this kind of loan & he's certain he can work miracles for us at that time.

So, we all agreed, sellers & buyers, let's see what happens. So we wait for Thanksgiving to pass. December rolls in...The paperwork is processed... Yep, you guessed it... income is again the issue. But this time, the underwriter listens to my lender and agrees that the said move package should not be included. Yay! But wait... my husband just received TONS of OT at work and hey look, he's also received a bonus from his company for spending more time at work than at home.

Our lender sat in the underwriter's office explaining every penny of our "added" income. The underwriter finally agreed with my lender so, my lender sent all files to underwriter to sign. Ok... so WTH was she still not signing? WTH did we miss our closing date? Apparently, closing dates don't mean anything here. We missed our closing date! Yep... So the lender contacted seller to let them know more of what's going on! Seller, although I'm sure very uptight at this point, agrees to hang just a bit longer. I mean, what are they going to do, put the house on the market again? Sheesh!

The day before Christmas Eve, we receive an email! The underwriter has signed off, now we send to the Rural loan people to get your money! Yay?!?! Can they still reject us? Yes, they can!

Christmas was very stressful. Not only are we waiting to finalize our house, but my parents were here the whole week before Christmas. So we were trying to be hospitable as well. We waited to hear, but we were told we wouldn't hear until after Christmas. *obviously*

On December 28, 2009, we were contacted at 3 pm in the afternoon. "Get your butts up to the title company! If you sign today it will record tomorrow..." Both my husband & I take off from our separate locations to race to the title company before they close. It took 45 minutes to drive there, but of course, I'm out of gas... Ugh! I finally arrive shortly after hubby, its now about 4:15 pm... But we get in, & find they are waiting for us. Even the receptionist looks at us & says, "You must be the ..." we nod, sheepishly!

Rural loans have a lot of extra paperwork that you have to go through. It took an hour to sign all papers.

You'd think that the "recording" part would be fast... right? Maybe we'd get the keys by noon?? HELL NO! We almost didn't get the keys that next day. But my Realtor & our Lender both did a lot of pushing! By 3 pm, December 29th, my Realtor calls me... "Are you home?"

"Yes..." are respond, "of course where else would I be... I want my keys."

"I've been knocking at your door & you're not answering," she says.

OH CRIPES! I run downstairs & she's standing at the door holding my house keys up in front of me with a giant grin on her face!

We are now proud owners of this beautiful home!

4-Bedroom, 3-Full Bathrooms, about 2300 sq ft!

We are so excited to FINALLY be done with this very stressful chapter of our lives. However, this has imposed other stressors too. My business has had to take a back burner because so much was unknown. We weren't sure when we would be moving. All projects had to be delayed. So, my clients are not too happy for those delays. Thank you! Now my clients are all thrilled that I now have a new house... but they wish the move would hurry up so we can focus. I can't blame them! So, I want to thank all who have been patiently waiting on my life to settle down. We're almost there!

Book Review: "Tempted" from House of Night Series SPOILERS

2009-12-26T17:31:00.003-07:00

I was so excited to get to the bookstore to buy the next book in the House of Night series, written by P.C. Cast & her daughter Kristen Cast. Let me just start by saying these two women are a great writing team overall. I have enjoyed the whole series... the ups, the downs, even the teenage angst...which is saying a lot.

As I was saying, I couldn't wait to get my teeth into this book! As a kind of recap, Zoey Redbird is the main character, the heroine in this series. She has come from normal run-of-the-mill teen high school human to now, fledgling vampyre priestess. She was chosen by the goddess Nyx to be a vessel for her to get rid of evil and bring back her children to her. Each time something big occurs and Zoey saves her friends, or for that matter, the world, she gains these beautiful tattoos all over her body. The goddess Nyx gives these tattoos to identify her touch or her choosing of a fledgling. The more markings a fledgling receives, the closer they are to becoming a vampyre or priest/priestess.

The series left us with Zoey Redbird and her circle of friends, chasing off the immortal Kalona and the evil priestess Nefret. The last battle she faced almost killed her grandmother and her boy friend of interest, Stark.

In "Tempted”, we get to see more of Stevie Rae, now a red vampyre, and her red fledglings. We see a lot of Zoey POV and Stevie Rae POV. In this book, it is Stevie Rae's turn to keep secrets from Zoey.

Stevie Rae, having a new take on life, finds a Raven Mocker and realizes that he is part human. Therefore, she attempts to save his life and keep him from all her friends.

While all recover from the battle with Kalona, Zoey learns more of the location of Kalona and Neferet. Her pursuit takes her and her circle to Italy where Zoey must appear before the Vampyre council. While there, something happens to Zoey that was very disconcerting to me. Major cliffhanger!! I need the next book now because I am worried about Zoey & Stevie Rae!

Overall, I the book read quickly. Too quickly. I felt like this was a Part 1 to a multi-part book. I hate to have things left hanging.

...I'm watching for the next book!

Seeing Twilight Saga New Moon SPOILER ALERT

2009-11-23T14:10:00.003-07:00

Most who follow me on Twitter, or even here on my blog, know that I flew up to Idaho to visit my bff @Needsntrvention. We took the weekend to see New Moon.

I believe it was either Tuesday or Wednesday of last week that I was told my by @Needsntrvention that she was able to get tickets to see the first movie, "Twilight" just before the midnight show of New Moon! I was excited on more than one level. First, that meant we wouldn't have to stand out in the cold waiting to see New Moon and second, there'd be a little bit of a reminder to what was sure to come in New Moon... Not that Twilight was that good of a movie...but my imagination understood where it was going.

I flew in on Thursday and anxiously awaited the shows. We went to the liquor store to buy booze for AFTER the movies cuz I really didn't want to be blerry eyed for NM... HOWEVER, I did buy one small bottle of Stoli just for my soda in the theater. I should have had two... Who knew.

My bff & I shared my soda w Stoli during Twilight... It was good but not enough... Hence I remembered I didn't want to be drunk...

We were surprised to see that there were not as many teens in the theater but a lot of 20 + adults. Amazingly too, there were a lot of men in there... I suppose they were trying to earn their "Chick Flick" points! Haha!

When scenes of naked flesh shown brightly on the screen you could hear the screaming... I think I flushed when jailbait removed his shirt to wipe the blood from Bella's head. Holy cow that took my breath away!

Ok, here are SOME of my thoughts on the movie. There is no particular order of fascination... yet!

First and foremost this was the best fucking movie! I loved just about everything about it! I felt it followed the book very well and I also think that director Chris Weitz captured the feeling of the characters that was written in the book. Thank you Chris Weitz. *in case you Google yourself* (I do... why shouldn't you! JS)
I loved the SFX with the vampires. They moved much more cleanly and it looked more realistic for vampire speed. I really loved the blur effect during the fight scenes!
I really loved the transformation of the wolves! SFX there were phenomenal! I have to say that I've seen enough werewolf slow mo transformations to last a lifetime, so to just see the wolves POOF become wolves was excellent! Watching their clothes just shred... can I say... I wouldn't mind seeing more of that! GAH!
I felt that Kristen Stewart *in case you Google yourself too* did an exceptional job as well. In the first movie I felt she stuttered way too much and was limited in her emotional acting, but in this one she seemed more real to me and not brain damaged. I loved the way she looked overall. That's probably how I would dress given that I am more tomboy than lady... LOL JS
I really truly loved the seeing the nomad vampire Victoria (played by Rachelle LeFevre). She was sexier than ever... her hair was more red than I've ever seen it... It portrayed the Victoria I envisioned from the books much better. Seeing her running from wolves and leaping into the ocean made my breath hitch... I am really glad they put the scene of Victoria swimming toward Bella too.
Bella's cliff jump was very well mastered. Seeing her there with Edward along side was an Awww moment. I really felt for Bella as she took off her jacket and bracelets to jump in when she began talking to Edward who wasn't really there.
I felt so sorry for Jacob. Every fucking time he tried to kiss Bella he got cock blocked! Never got a kiss in once! Poor puppy.
The notorious kissing scene next to the truck did NOTHING for me! I was so disappointed. There was NO TONGUE! Like @Needsntrvention said, you can only watch then roll their lips together so much ... there was just nothing but lip rolling and moans... albeit the moans were nice... they just made me wanting so much more! YES, I know the rating was PG-13...
Of course there is the scene of the race to Volturi ... I would have loved to have seen more to that part of the movie... In the book, Alice had a few visions that lead her to the outcome. It also gave Alice and Bella more time to get to know each other. I would have preferred to see Alice choosing her car to steal too.. That was a minor point, but I think it would have added to some of the angst to getting there.
Seeing Bella race to the Clock tower and finally pushing Edward out of the sunlight was the most spectacular I think. The kiss in that scene was the most touching and promising! I saw some tongue in that scene. Of course, not enough...but it was a good scene. It got me all tingly... js!
The last scene...I'm not EVEN saying it... but I melted in my seat and have already made plans for June 30th 2010!

On Saturday, we went a second time! This time we went to the "Digital" viewing of the show and we took teenagers with us. The teens really did an excellent job of containing themselves. They did MUCH better than I did! I was probably not the best example. However, when Jacob took his shirt off, I peeked at the teens.. Yep they melted and swooned and gasped and bounced in their chairs... LMAO!

I am going again with MY teenager boys this week and hubs prolly next week... Very excited for that! However, I hope to be careful not to embarrass myself in front of them all.

Just Hours Away...

2009-11-18T20:44:00.006-07:00

I'm just hours away from flying to Idaho for a visit to @Needsntrvention for the New Moon opening night. I know I am really excited to go, just hope she's as excited to have me visit. In real life she's the busiest damned woman I have ever known... That's saying a lot cuz I know quite a few who do football, baseball, Scouts, etc..but they pale next to her.

Today, she surprised the hell out of me and told me that the theater there is also playing "Twilight" before New Moon & would I be interested? HELL TO THE YEAH I told her! She told me that she got the tickets & we were going!!! I am really excited about that because that means we won't have to wait in the fuckin' cold to get in... HOWEVER, she's got mom duties before Twilight so we MIGHT be late... I don't really care about that... I'm cool. I'm like a lost puppy with her... hang out, do whatever while she gets shit done. Sometimes I think its helpful cuz I try to buffer the kids a bit. But I am sure that most of the time, I'm a lump in the proverbial road to accomplishing stuff. *grin*

My flight leaves at 9:10 am from Tucson, takes 1 hr 5 mins to get to Phoenix (takes 1 hr 30 mins by car). There is like a 45 min layover in Phoenix & then off to Idaho!

Cheers all! Enjoy your Edward, Jacob, Bella face time, in theaters beginning Friday, November 20th at midnight. To me, that's tomorrow night *Thursday's night*!!!

One Week To Go Until New Moon Opening Night

2009-11-15T23:13:00.003-07:00

The anticipation of making me wait to see New Moon is so very frustrating! Twitterdom is a flurry with people feeling the same as me. All the publicity of Rob Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner... (Why do I struggle to remember their names... I just want to call them Edward, Bella & Jacob.) Pictures are floating everywhere... videos go up... blogs are a flurry as well.

I am so inundated with stuff to do... my head is spinning. (Yes, I looked for an animated pic of Linda Blair with her head spinning... Yuck!) It's now Sunday & I fly out on Thursday to be with my best friend for opening night up in Idaho. I am so excited to go. However, there is a TON of shit that needs to happen before I go.

Since I home school the chillin's, I have to make sure they have work to do... Hubs is taking days off so that's good.. then I have to make sure everyone's got clean clothes cuz we know men just don't understand washing machines. Well, let's just say they don't know to put reds with darks and white underwear with whites. *grin* At least my boys know how to do their only clothes...

Then I have to make sure there is food for the beasts .... don't want them eating chips, popcorn, and ice cream the whole time. Or eating pizza and fast food every meal...YUCK!

I finally bought my luggage... I had luggage, but it's falling apart & also doesn't have wheels. It's a bitch hauling my ass across the terminals with a suitcase, backpack, and laptop... NO WHEELS... I told my hubs that I needed new luggage. So I just got a 5-pc set WITH wheels.

So, now I get to go fishing in my clothes basket for stuff to take... Yes, I said fish... I hardly EVER put clean clothes away. It's actually pretty funny when I do decide to put things away, hubs gets so lost. "Where's my clothes!" he'll holler at 6 in the morning while I'm trying to get my beauty rest. "Did you try the closet." I respond... *thinking now shut the fuck up*

Ahh... I need music...

Obviously... I'm so distracted... I can't finish this post. I've sat here for hours Tweeting (yes, I'm addicted. Aren't you?), playing music, and trying to remember what the hell I thought was so damned important to put in my blog... *midas shrug*

I've never seen my twitter stream so busy as it was tonight. But I'm better now... Whew!

My best friend has arranged for us to see the 12:02am show on Nov 20th.. (apparently the 12:00am show was sold out). I am very excited not only to see the movie, but also to see my bff. It's been about a 1 1/2 years since the last time...and even though I speak to her everyday, I still miss her.

After that, we're hoping to have a nice visit with some wine drinking, tweeting, an pure randomness. We'll see. She's got a house full so we'll just have to play by ear. Maybe I'll get drunk & she'll be the responsible one... I hope not. No fun drinking alone.

I come back home on Sunday, hopefully not too hungover... I face the "music" with my boys after that... one of them is mad that he can't come to see the movie with me. So I'll probably take them the following week.

Well, I am signing off this thing for the night... need to get back to my shit load of stuff to do.

Cherry's Popped, Second Times a Charm

2009-11-13T05:00:00.002-07:00

As you recall, or maybe you don't, last Monday I posted my first ever, fan made video. I'm rather pleased with that video as my first attempt.

Well, I started thinking about another video to create... Of course I was hit up by several people to make a Rob Video. I thought, hmm with all the new media coverage and images all over the Internet, I could probably do one. But I was not looking forward to the nervous sweat induced time allotted to make this video. So, I sat on my hands, surfing the net looking for fuck awesomeness! I found lots... almost too much. Hahaha!

This afternoon, well, yesterday actually, about 8 hours ago... I get a tweet from @TruebldTwilight ... She's got this video she just put up about Rob Pattinson which just oozes sex. OMFG It is steamy! You must go and see it... She's posted it up on her blog, True Blood Twilight.

In her tweet, she actually CHALLENGED me to step up and make my next video. Little did she know, I was already a bit manic from other RL stuff. But I couldn't resist the challenge!

After all my "Holy Shit", "OMFG's" and so on... I told her there was no fucking way I could compete!

Our tweets went something like this:

@HungryVampire *laughing my ass off* Turn up the smut! We should have a Rob/Smut Video Contest!

HungryVampire @truebldtwilight You FUCKIN' knew which button to push! Damn!

HungryVampire @truebldtwilight Ok, I'm hitting blip... got get in the mood... LOL

HungryVampire @truebldtwilight Trend... #robsmut... LOL

Well, you get the idea... She fucking inspires and encourages me to be creative. Hahaha.

@Truebldtwilight, you will always be my better! However, I have accepted the challenge and now submit to you, "FuckHAWT Rob Pattinson." It's only 1 minute 47 secs, but you'll get the gist and maybe later, I'll add more.

First Experiences

2009-11-09T18:52:00.005-07:00

Over the past couple months I have stepped into a lot of first experiences. Over the past couple of weeks I've wanted to put together a fan made video of Eric Northman from True Blood. I love the Sookie Stackhouse series as well as the HBO True Blood series. I had several people encourage me to give it a try, @truebldtwilight being the biggest...er... instigator... and @80slovertiff not far behind... There are others too.. you know who you are!

Anyway, using every excuse I could think of, I dragged my feet until finally I took a deep breath and decided to make this video for myself. I hate not finishing something... Also, I am trying to encourage another to write fanfiction *wink* and had to prove my own advice.

So without further ado, here it is... Please comment.

Tag! I'm it! It's MEME Time!

2009-10-30T01:19:00.004-07:00

Holy shit! I've been TAGGED! I was HOPING that I was small enough to stay OFF the MEME radar. However, the crew over at ApplesNFeathers reached out and found me. *grimace* Thank you. *Side note: I was skimming my followers on Twitter weeding out all the Brittney Cock Fucked follows and I found that ApplesNFeathers was following me! Can you believe that? So, I visit their website for my second time only to see I was tagged.*

Ok, so what do they say, "Without further ado..."

The ladies over at Twitarded started this Meme a little over a week ago so that we all (bloggy people) could get to know each other.

So, here is what they said:

So here's the deal: STY and I came up with a couple of questions for all you bloggers. If you're tagged, answer the questions and tag four other blogs. Don't forget to link back to the blog that tagged you! Let's see how many blogs we can get to participate and hopefully at the end of all this we'll know a lot more about each other. Believe it or not, we even made the questions 99% other-blog friendly! I don't think I said vagina or cock gobbling in a single question!

On your mark, get set, GO!!

1) What is the craziest/most stupid thing you've ever done (that you would be willing to share!)?
2) One my personal favorite games: Fuck, Marry, Kill. With the Twilight cast. I can't wait to read these! (Or "Eff, Marry, Kill" if you don't have my potty mouth.)**
3) What is your favorite band/type of music?
4) What is your favorite movie besides Twilight?
5) Do you RL life family/friends know you’re addicted to Twilight? A blogger?
6) How many hours a week do you spend doing Twi related things? You know, blogging, looking at pictures of the cast, reading fan fiction, etc.
7) Any random fact you might want to share. Big or small, it doesn't matter.

1. What is the craziest/most stupid thing you've ever done (that you would be willing to share!)?

I have done some stupid things in my life. I don't know what really rates as craziest though. I grew up in a very sheltered life. Having boyfriends was not allowed until I was 16, by then I was buds with all the boys and not DATE material. The only alcohol I was able to get was from my dad's glass. Hmm... there is the time when my husband and I went to watch a coworker of mine play at a jazz bar. Of course you have to order drinks, so he order one beer, I kept ordering Long Island Ice Teas. By the time the night was done, I had consumed 5 Long Island Ice Teas. I was the life of the party, or so I thought. My husband had to scoop me up and pour me into the car to take me home. We had to pull over twice so I would puke in the car. When we finally got home (an hour later) hubby had to pour me out of the car and leave me in the downstairs bathroom until all 5 drinks were gone and I was asleep on the commode. Yeah!

Of course about 3 weeks ago, we went to a friends house to sit under the desert sky and drink daiquiris, celebrating the almost purchase of our new house. My friend had already begun drinking by the time we got there, so I felt, and was prodded, to catch up. I think I had 4 daiquiris & 2 rum & diet pepsis... and while sitting on the patio, I guess I bummed a cigarette off one of the guests... I vaguely remember him saying I was about to light the butt... Oops. I took two hits and blew chunks all over myself. Yep... puked all over myself in front over everyone there.

2. Fuck, Marry, Kill (Or "Eff, Marry, Kill" if you don't have my potty mouth.)**

Yes, I do have a potty mouth... This is a difficult one to admit because of my upbringing. But we're all fantasizing over what ifs... right? *snicker* So, coming out of the closet just a little bit more, I would fuck Edward, Emmett, & Jasper, marry Carlisle, and kill Irina for blabbing to the Volturi. *shh, don't tell my husband*

3. What is your favorite band/type of music?

Well, remember what I said above about being sheltered? So, I really don't know many band names... But lately I've been introduced to various types pop, alternate, hip hop... If you've followed me on Twitter, most songs I've blipped have the words, fuck, vagina, humps...etc. LMAO

4. What is your favorite movie besides Twilight?

Oh I have so many! Before the Twilight Books, all I did was watch movies. Here's a few... I like Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, True Blood, Push, Matrix.

5. Do your RL life family/friends know you’re addicted to Twilight? A blogger?

Well, most of my RL family & friends know that I love Twilight. They really don't know that I am obsessed with it or True Blood... or any other Vampire fantasies. In fact, I get the constant eye roll, head shake, or the "Oh you're one of those!" comments. My mother would NEVER understand. I get the *First and Middle Name* how could you! That is so not the Bible. You should not read books that are not the Bible! Um, yeah mom... they're called FANTASY for a reason. And there are only a very few who know that I have this blog.... and you all of course. *wink*

6. How many hours a week do you spend doing Twi related things? You know, blogging, looking at pictures of the cast, reading fan fiction, etc.

Um, REALITY CHECK! I spend way too much time with Twi-related stuff. I have my own work-at-home business that helps augment our income... Let's just say that it's going to be a light month. From the moment I wake in the morning, around 9 am, until I go to bed at night/morning, I am Tweeting. Periodically through the day, I search for Edward/Rob stuff. But I also homeschool my kids, so I do take a few breaks. (I don't want to put a number on it for fear that I'll have a heart attack or a client or family member actually is following me.)

7. Any random fact you might want to share. Big or small, it doesn't matter.

Another toughy...On a sad note, when I was 10-years old, I was running across a residential street. I darted out from the front of a van to get to the other side. I looked both ways, (you know left then right. *your supposed to look left, right, and left again*) then ran... I got hit by a car, where the whole front wheel actually went over my leg. Broke my leg clean in half. But the doctors did put Humpty Dumpty back together again. They said, "We can rebuild here." *Cue Bionic Woman theme song* No, it was $6-million but you get the point. To this day, I remember every detail including what the woman said when she came to see the damage... "Anyone got a cigarette?"

So, it would seem that since I am such a small fry in the pond of everything Twitardia, I have some thinking to do... Whom should I tag?

*closing eyes & points* I chose YOU!

An Unhealthy Addiction

My Brand of Heroin

Are You Addicted to Twitter?

2009-10-20T23:40:00.010-07:00

This evening, I was flipping through Google looking for various things, you know, the usual stuff... pictures of Rob Pattinson, or Alex Skarsgard (both my very favorite vampires). Of course, at this point in time there are NO NEW pics. So, I cruise over to YouTube to find something smutty or endearing...anything. Each time I find something I send a little tweet... You KNOW what that is, otherwise you wouldn't be here. You send a micro blog (140 characters) of whatever piece of information that you feel is important. Of course, you're like most of us, we just KNOW there are people out there who really want to see this stuff...yeah, right.

OK, so I began to wonder, do I have a Twitter addiction? So I started searching the Internet to find out if I have an addiction to Twitter... I know I have many obsessions... but is Twitter one? Well, here are some things I found. These are in no particular order. And yes, I'm addicted to Twitter. I will tweet that this blog post is up.

You're obsessed with how many followers you have or don't have and possess a master plan for getting your numbers up.
You've got regular Twitter, Tweet Deck, and Twitter Mobile for complete uninterrupted professional tweeting.
You’ve learned how to ration out your rate limit.
You have 10-calls left to the API & it doesn't reset for another 45 minutes...yeah. You know what you have to do here but you’re jumpy. Edgy. You need to know what people are tweeting. You hate feeling left out. Boom. You blow your twitter load. See you in 45 minutes, Dumbass.
You’ve used the phrase "I Should Tweet That."
In real life, you’ve told someone or made a mental note to yourself that you should tweet about something. Worse, you’ve pulled out your phone and tweeted it while talking to someone.
You Judge People On Their Following/Follower Count.
[Some Wannabe] follows you.
You don’t know anything about [Some Wannabe].
You take a look at their image.
They look nice enough.
You take a look at their bio.
Look! [Some Wannabe] likes "Vampire" books. Very Cool!
Then you look at [Some Wannabe’s] following/follower count.
1,237 following, 15 followers.
Fuck [Some Wannabe], geez.
Meanwhile, [Some Wannabe's] a nice person who just doesn’t know Twitter convention. Yet hundreds of people have told him to f-off in their minds.
Am I right?
That’s why [Some Wannabe's] reading books or some other shit and crying all over themselves right now.
When Twitter Goes Down You Spiral Emotionally.
The strongest sign of Twitter addiction is when it’s taken away from you. Like, first thing in the morning, every weekday, you log on and nothing happens. And when you see the Fail Whale, what do you do? You start thinking of what you’re going to tweet.

OMG people! #twitterfail! fail fail.

~ OR ~

Twitter's being a whore #twitterfail #fail

Yeah.

For sure, Twitter fixed itself, adjusting to the dynamically growing, near impossible need for bandwidth just so you can drop that tweet. Yeah, your special.

That nectar of intellect.

Because that’s what we needed.
You wake at 3am & wonder which of your "friends" (*whispers* friends you've never really met) is on Twitter.
You find yourself thinking in 140 characters or less, even at dinner when you’re listening how to shorten down someones sentences that may be funny to others.
You are a walking thesaurus of Twitter acronyms - HT’s, RT’s, WTF’,s FTW!
Refer to people in public as "@their_name" regularly and don't correct it.
You find yourself pitching Twitter any chance you get, to friends, family …anyone that will listen.
You get all excited that someone added you to #FollowFriday or #FF.
You #FollowFriday or #FF everyone you follow even if it takes all Friday to do it because you want those you follow to know you love them.
You retweet constantly. In fact, you'll probably retweet this post.

I found these Twitter videos for fun...

Drop me a comment of other ways you can tell your addicted to Twitter... Better yet, tweet me!

Special Service Announcement #beatcancer

2009-10-17T15:12:00.001-07:00

We all know that cancer is a very deadly disease... and sorrowfully, it's taken loved ones from our lives. I have lost a grandfather to cancer and I have an aunt and cousin who have had to deal with breast cancer. There are others in my family that have battled it as well.

It is important that we take this seriously!

#BeatCancer has taken on a huge effort/experiment with the Social Media and Everywhere, a social media communications and content company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Their idea was to take a 24-hr period of time, starting Friday, October 16th at 9 am (PDT) and lasting until Saturday, October 17th at 9am (PDT) people all over the internet stratosphere will be asked to send tweets and Facebook status updates and to blog using #BeatCancer in their posts. Ebay/Paypal and MillerCoors Brewing Company would donate a penny ($0.01)* for every Twitter message, Facebook update or blog post that includes the phrase #BeatCancer.

Now, I've heard that Ebay/Paypal and MillerCoors Brewing Company are attempt a Guinness Book of World records...Well, I hope they make it... and I hope they end up donating a lot toward the cause... It's important for all of us!

I'm helping to raise funds to
#beatcancer, by blogging, tweeting
and posting Facebook status
updates.

Click here to join me!

Book Review: Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

2009-10-15T13:54:00.006-07:00

I finished book #4, "Blood Promise," in the Richelle Mead, Vampire Academy series. Yay!

I started this series only a few months ago after reading through other Vampire series books. It was difficult at first to delve into this series only because it is a Young Adult series. If you read anything on this blog, you will know that I don't really get into the teen angst crap. However, this had it's place.

In this series, the world as we know it has Moroi Vampires (living vampires who wield powers from air, earth, water, fire, and spirit, who still require blood in their diets, and for the most part are peaceful), Dhampirs (offspring of one Vampire and one human or Dhampir parent), and Strigoi (dead Vampires, created by either a Moroi who killed or by another Strigoi and can no longer wield their earthly powers). Of course there are humans that have no clue of any of these others.

The Moroi and Dhampirs are sent to academies for they school lives. The Moroi are trained in their earthly power whereas the Dhampirs are trained to protect and defend the Moroi. They are so strong that they are trained to be bodyguards to the Moroi, against the Strigoi. They are both trained in the same academies together. But they are trained on two different tracks.

This whole series centers around Rose Hathaway, a Dhampir, and her very close friend Moroi Princess Vasilisa (Lissa) Dragomir, the last of her line of royalty. Rose is this feisty, teenager who always gets into trouble and tends to draw Lissa into that trouble. Actually, trouble follows her everywhere.

We find out that Lissa's has a special gift or power. It is not the same as other Moroi. In fact, there are very few Moroi that have this gift of Spirit. With this gift, Lissa was able to bring Rose back from death in a very tragic traffic accident. However, if this has it's interesting effects between them. Now, Rose and Lissa are bonded together and Rose can feel all of Lissa's emotions and can slip into her thoughts without wanting to. This can be a problem when Lissa falls in love a with fellow student and royal, Christian.

During the first 3 books, Rose becomes entangled in a forbidden romance with her instructor & fellow bodyguard, Dimitri. Of course, she doesn't want to tell her best friend of this romance because she fears it will cause Lissa problems. So, she keeps it all a secret until one day, St Vladamir Academy is attacked by Strigoi where Rose is the first to sense the attack. She informs Dimitri, this godlike bodyguard, of the attack. During this battle, Dimitri is captured by Strigoi and then turned. Rose hopes that Lissa can save him, but Lissa refuses for several reasons... 1. He's now Strigoi, and 2. Rose never confided in her about her romance. Her feelings were hurt (teenage angst)... So now there's a riff between the two girls and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa – the one she has sworn to protect no matter what – and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make.

In "Blood Promise," Rose sets out to find Dimitri and kill him... again.

You have to understand that for Rose to take on this feat, she must not only find, but kill Dimitri. Dimitri has always been stronger than her and now he's Strigoi, which means, now he's even stronger. Rose is so friggin in love with Dimitri that she is uncertain of herself.

The setting of "Blood Promise" is in Dimitri's home country, Siberia. Rose goes to his home town, meets his family and inadvertently ends up telling his family that he was overtaken by Strigoi. Rose is accepted by his family as family, but Rose realizes this is not the place for her. She recaptures her goal to find Dimitri and put him at peace. In her journey she does find other Strigoi, which she quickly kills... she also finds other Dhampirs like herself who are not blood promised and whose goal is only to kill Strigoi... Finally she finds Dimitri....

Now, I have a tendency to prattle on and on about books I read...thus giving away too much. I am not going to do that here. You'll have to read this series yourself.

I will say this...I found these books exciting to read and got myself hooked enough to want to keep going. However, if I were to rate this series against all the others I've read, I would rate this 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

Some fun we missed in True Blood

2009-10-12T20:17:00.003-07:00

This weekend I spent some time looking for little tidbits to add to my blog. Most of these little bits were found all over the internet so I didn't want to bore you with more of the same.

However, in going of this last season of the HBO series True Blood, I realized they missed and changed a lot of stuff from the book. Oh well, that's Hollywood right?

There is one particular scene that I wish they would have added... if only for the eye candy. It is the part in "Living Dead in Dallas," chapter 10 where Sookie has asked Eric to help her out with the whole sex party. Sookie has an idea to check it out for Lafayette's killer... But she needs someone to protector her so she asks Eric Northman.

Eric meets with Sookie, they talk and he then dramatically throws off his long trench coat to don his pink tank top and Lycra leggings. Of course, Sookie just can't take her eyes off of Eric at this point.

"Wow," I said, since it was all I could think of to say. "Wow. That's some outfit." When you've got a big guy wearing Lycra it doesn't leave a whole lot to the imagination. I resisted the temptation to ask Eric to turn around. -- Living Dead in Dallas, pg 247

*You still looking?*

Now don't you wish that would have been in the show? Enjoy! Post me some luv too!

A Touch of Dead (Sookie Stackhouse: The Complete Stories) Just released!

2009-10-09T19:32:00.002-07:00

I was reading another blog today, True Blood Twilight and realized I missed some very big news!

Charlaine Harris' next book, "A Touch of Dead" just came out on October 6th. It is a compilation of previously published Sookie Stackhouse stories. I can't believe I missed this one. Damn!

Ms. Harris' next original Sookie Stackhouse novel will be on sale in May 2010.

Wolf Pack Does Chippendales?

2009-10-08T20:10:00.004-07:00

Wouldn't it be cool to see our favorite wolf pack doing Chippendales? Well, here's you chance.

Enjoy!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Twilight Sweethearts

2009-10-06T22:26:00.003-07:00

Whenever I get out to do errands, I try to be as observant as possible.... Really I do. Its not every day that you have a blatant display of such wonderment! So, today I went to Fry's Marketplace. It's a grocery store here in the Southwest. As I am puttering (and I do mean putter... cuz I was exhausted) down the aisles looking for my grocery list of things to get... one of which was Diet Pepsi... I see mega displays of candy for Halloween. [I've always wondered why Dentists don't leave biz cards or put posters up next to these displays... might think twice before buying... right *wink*]. They have piles of candy all over the store... pretty weird... like HEY YOU! You missed picking candy of that shelf, try this one!

Anyway, I get to this one area over by the milk, eggs, butter; and out of the corner of my eye, I see it... "Twilight"! YOU KNOW THAT FONT, right?

Well, I did that double-take ... I went over and saw this very pathetic stack of Sweethearts Conversation hearts in a black box that says, "Forbidden Fruits." Perhaps you've seen it? It was actually the worst display to Twilight that I have ever seen! I think I need to have a talk with that store manager. What do you think?

As I am pulling out my cell phone to snap a picture, an employee comes out of the door and right in my path... So I do that trick where you pretend your just walking by...right...Pointless, cuz he caught me...but there you go. He gets around me and I snap the pic...

Edward, Bella, & Edward with Bella on the packages!

Now, if only I could think of a reason why EVERY single box with EDWARD on it was open! Go on... post your thoughts on this... I know I can think of a few!!! Haha! I shit you not... I looked in that whole little pathetic pile of an Edward box that I could POP open myself.

Now there seem to be several different sayings on the hearts... just like usual... But these have words from Twilight on them... For example: "Lamb," "Dazzle," "Live 4 Ever," "I &heart; EC," and then my favorite, "Bite Me." What I found humorous, (yes I thrill easily...cheap date) It says right on the package, "Secret Scent Rub to Reveal..."

Right now, I am eating Edward [hmm, that didn't sound right] and they are sickeningly sweet. Don't think I could eat Bella by myself. [*wink* I don't swing that way anyway.]

With New Moon just around the corner, we're going to start seeing these shrines and monuments to Twilight, Edward Cullen, New Moon, etc. Keep your eyes peeled! I keep thinking I may come across something totally awesome to wear or bring to my movie night!

Look forward to reading your thoughts.

New Moon, Here We Come...

2009-10-06T00:46:00.001-07:00

Bitch enough and you get what you ask for! I am going to fly to Idaho to see NEW MOON with my bff next month. She just sent me proof that she got the tickets... so I have to wave them in front of everyone!!! Hehehe!

Nanner nanner nanner!

Actually, life has been incredibly busy for my bff @needsntrvention. However, just the same, thank you!!

Blew his Mind with my Twilight Addiction

2009-10-05T22:43:00.002-07:00

I am in need of music to work by, so the first place I visit is Amazon... Right? Well, I do. While I am there, my attention is SUCKED away from the task at hand. TADD (Twilight Attention Deficit Disorder) takes over and all I see is Twilight this and New Moon that... GAH!!! I found some very cool things on Amazon.com tonight. First off, did you know that Amazon is celebrating 10 years? They are holding a Sweepstakes where you can enter everyday between October 5th and October 11th. You can automatically enter just by adding stuff to your wish list. There are lots of things to win... First thing on the list, Trip to L.A. for The Twilight Saga: New Moon premiere.

So, I sign into my wish list and very systematically begin adding things. There are Twilight calendars & books... there are all sorts of Twilight paraphernalia that I would love to get... For instance, I want a bumper sticker that says, "I Drive Like A Cullen." I was telling my hubby about all this stuff I want to get... There is one bumper stick that says, "Be Safe" in Edward's handwriting... Nothing else to the sign said Twilight or Edward... My son sitting next to me along with my hubby both ask, "So, how will people know that's Twilight?"I told him that that was Edward's handwriting and anyone who's a Twilight fan will know that. My hubby and my 13 year old son both busted out in laughter, rolling their eyes, and saying YOU MUST really be addicted... How do you know that's Edward's handwriting?! I told them I've read the books! It's in the book! I heard terms in that laughter like, OH MAN, NO WAY! or YOU KNOW THE HANDWRITING OF A FICTIONAL PERSON???

I think this is when my hubby and my son realized just how addicted I really am...

Go take a look over at Amazon.com and enter the sweepstakes to win!

Are YOU Addicted to Blogging?

2009-10-05T20:51:00.001-07:00

So, I am reading ONE of my favorite blogs today. Through that blog, I found a "How Addicted to Blogging Are You?" badge. Of course, I HAD to click on it. Damn.... I shouldn't have... because... Now I know the truth!

My fav authors on this blog (at least one of them) took the quiz and somehow ranked 77%. (*whispers* I don't think she was honest... Just sayin'.) I took it twice... The first time, I guessed at how many blogs I read in my reader. I also guessed at how much time I spend reading said blogs... (*shh don't tell my boss!*) I ranked a 78%. Ok, so I am feelin' proud that I one up'd this author... Doesn't make me better then her... She blogs a lot more than me and she has a specific subject that she blogs about. She's got a higher reader count too...

Ok, so I took the quiz again... This time I COUNTED my feeds. I did not count the blogs I peruse that are not in my reader. You know the ones that you click on inside the blogs you do keep track of....

Here's my score!
81%

So there you go...

WARNING! Do NOT Consume Fluids While Blogging

2009-10-03T21:16:00.011-07:00

Last night I got home from my "date" with my hubby. We had a great time visiting the bookstore and I was giddy from all that I found there. I finally hauled my ass upstairs to my office/bedroom (office by.. er.. day, bedroom by night) and assumed the position behind my laptop *wink*. I started reading my tweets and all the links that come with those. I came across this one.

Oops! I Twi-tooted!!

Of course, with curiosity piqued, I click on the link. I mean, everything ALWAYS comes to a grinding halt when @JennyJerkface or @SnarkierThanYou post on their blog, right?! (Sadly, it does for me, it does.) Of course, I'm thinking what the hell could she mean "Twi-tooted?" I don't remember anything that "toots" in Twilight! Hmm...

So, sitting on my ~~bed~~ office...um...~~pillow~~... uh chair, yeah that's it and start drinking my coffee as I begin reading the post.I get to the part where she says, "Three things just happened in quick succession" one of which includes a "fart." I don't know why what happened next did, but my coffee ended up all over my laptop, out my nose, and down my shirt! I was rolling with laughter. I love this blog a lot, but I NEVER expected this from the author. Of course, I had to post!

So, I am on the phone with @needsntrvention reading the post to her and explaining my little "spewage"... We laugh over the post and then I shift to tell a dream... Won't tell you, but it was interesting! (Had NOTHING to do with farts.) Anyway, I take a drink of water while my friend makes a comment about my dream. Not one drop of water went down my throat! Gawd Dammit if it didn't go all over the fucking laptop AGAIN!

Just so you know I am NOT lying!

All over my laptop, lap, bedspread... I am not talking a little lady-like sip either. I sucked hard on that bottle before breaking out in laughter! Damn!

One reader on the Twitarded blog pinned it right, (F-Kat)TwiwasgoinginforthekisswhenIgotadickinmymouth said, "ahh... rookie mistake..." I guess I am a Rookie!

Do you think I'll ever learn?

Shrine to Twilight!

2009-10-03T11:22:00.004-07:00

I love going to the bookstore! Tonight my honey took me in so I could get my next book to read. I'll tell you about it later. This post is dedicated to what I saw inside the store.

I walked in the store and over to the YA books to get my next book when I am hit smack in the face with the biggest fucking SHRINE I have ever seen! I stood in front of this staring before I remembered to take a picture. Believe it or not, I took these pictures thinking of the ladies over at Twitarded. @JennyJerkface and @SnarkierThanYou I don't know if you'll ever visit this blog but this was something you felt you need to bow too!

Everything Twilight!

Under this table were stacks & stacks of all the Twilight Saga books! The bookshelf behind this table was COVERED with books, trinkets, posters, chocolate, canvas bags, & calendars. I swear to god my twitared-ness fell out!

I went totally ape shit. My hubby left me in my puddle of drool to go find his music! Guess he figured he knew I wouldn't get lost.

Included on these shelves, as I said, were books, posters, trinkets, canvas bags, more books, calendars, & chocolate...

So you can eat Edward's heart while watching the movie!

By this time, I am on my hands & knees in Borders taking pictures when my hubby walks over to check on me. I am, almost literally, rolling on the floor with laughter! I found these...

I am so glad there was a WARNING on the package!

...because you know, I just might put HIM in my mouth!

My hubby stood there rolling his eyes and laughing his ass off. He called me a "Silly Girl" can you believe that!

In my adventure, I came across a Borders salesperson. Yeah, I turned beat red! However, looking at her she TOTALLY looked like a Twitard. So I started talking to her. I told her I was taking pictures to share with readers. She *whispered* you're not suppose to take pictures of the displays! Say WHAT!! We both had a *wink* moment... I told her how blown away I was of their display. She grinned... Apparently, I nailed it right... She and another Twitard set it all up! She was grateful for my homage to her shrine to Edward and Twilight. She even asked me for my blog address so she could read what I post.

I wanted to buy a mini Edward and a calendar... but the eye rolling, smirking hubby made me feel guilty... so, I'll go back when he's not there!

I am SO GLAD my kids weren't with me! Although my 13 year old son is totally into Twilight too, so at least he would understand...

Oh, one last thought...

While searching for the book I actually went there to find, I found this one:

The Vampire Seduction Handbook

A Guide to the Ultimate Romantic Adventure

That could come in handy one day... don't you think?

Twilight, New Moon, Fanfic, True Blood... Oh my!

2009-09-28T20:53:00.012-07:00

I've hit a wall here... I have so many things I want to follow or even just comment about. (I guess you'd still have to follow if you want to comment... right?) Anyway, I'm having a hell-of-a-time getting ANYTHING done!

I have been reading "Wide Awake" fanfic written by AngstGoddess003, watching "New Moon" trailers, reading TwitFic on by the True Blood on Twitter Thursday group, (*whisper* They don't just tweet on Thursdays.) reading my favorite blog(s), and I started rereading "Dead Until Dark," by Charlaine Harris. How's someone suppose to get real life stuff done?

Authors that I've been reading, either have new books out or new ones are coming soon.

Richelle Mead just published book #4 of the Vampire Academy series, "Blood Promise." It came out August 24th. I haven't had a chance to run to the bookstore yet!

I've heard that Charlaine Harris has another book to add to the Sookie Stackhouse (Southern Vampires) Series, called "A Touch of Dead," due out October 6, 2009.

PC Cast & Kristen Cast have "Tempted," the next in the House of Night Series due out October 26, 2009.

Laurell K Hamilton has "Divine Misdemeanors," #8 in the Meredith Gentry series expected out December 8, 2009. She also has another book, "Flirt," #18 to the Anita Blake, Vampire Killer series expected February 2, 2010. (Hopefully that date holds, it'd be a nice birthday present for myself!)

I've heard rumors that Stephenie Meyer has books that she is writing too, but she remains silent. The silence could be due the fact that she is majorly involved with the Twilight Saga shoot and now her book, "The Host" goes to silver screen. *midas shrug* Just wish Stephenie would give a shout out more often so we have an idea of what she's doing.

With all of this, how do you get real life done? For me, I need to have a lot done before November 19th when I head to Idaho to watch "New Moon" with my bff who needs intervention too.

Heard of FanFic, what about TwitFic

2009-09-24T11:47:00.001-07:00

So, night before last, I learned about TweeterWall where you can vote for your favorite fan series. Of course I voted for several in the Twilight Saga Fan Competition... but while I was there, I found the "TrueBlood Fan Search." So I began checking out the bios and blogs of these fans for TrueBlood... another series that I watch and have read.

I went @SookieBonTemps twitter page and found her blog "Being @SookieBonTemps" and then I found Lafayette (@kitchenbitch and his blog Sexy Ho Ho. Through these two, I found other fans who apparently Tweet their lives as if they are, in fact, the real characters. I sat and watched their conversations unroll before me last night, while they met for a "family dinner." Even during the day, they tweet in character. It was really cool & a lot of fun.

Generally, I follow people on Twitter to "hear the news" or get updated on what's to come. But this was like reading some Fan Fiction... Except here, they are limited to 140 characters per line & there are multiple people (at least there seem to be... Never can really tell.) involved in putting the story together.

I understand this group does a LIVE show on Twitter on Thursdays at 9pm CDT. I am going to join in tonight to see how it plays out! I found last night to be totally entertaining! You can hook up to them here.

(The True Blood players on Twitter are fans of True Blood and Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries. Created by fans for fans. Endorsed by but not affiliated with HBO or True Blood.)

Now, I'll admit to being slow on the uptake sometimes. TwitFic has probably been around for a while... People are just so creative. I am glad I found one I can be a part of... However, I do have one problem... I work at my computer all day (and night). My workflow tends to get interrupted a lot from all the tweets that come through. I will have to figure out how to put a cap on what I read.

Hope you enjoy!

Book Review: "Marked" by PC Cast & Kristen Cast

2009-09-23T01:10:00.005-07:00

The House of Night Series, written by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast, were next set of books that I set myself to reading. There are currently 5 books in this series at the time of this post. However book 6 comes out October 27, 2009. I am sooooo looking forward to that one coming out.

The first book in this series is "Marked." It is about a teenage girl named Zoey Redbird, who is 'marked' and enters a new school just for fledglings like herself. She has been Marked as special by the vampire Goddess Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at this school called the House of Night, with special powers.

Now, as I have stated before, placing my imagination back in my high school years with all that teen angst was difficult at first... because that is where this all takes place...high school. In this story, Zoey seems like kind of the odd ball at first. However, in a very short time she hooks up with other fledglings who show her the ropes. She then discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, so Zoey has to look deep inside for the courage to embrace her destiny put before her. Of course she can only do this with help from her new vampire fledgling friends.

What I truly find fascinating here is that these kids are vampire fledglings, they are not full vampires yet. What this means is that they can go out in the daylight, they can eat regular food, they don't need blood, but they live with the idea that within 4-years, they will either die or mature to a full vampire. Now, they don't go out in the day, normally, because they are Marked with a tattoo on their foreheads. Yeah, strange...and as they mature as fledglings, the tattoo kind of magically appears and grows.

If you like vampire stories this is a good one. However, it is not like your typical vampire story. I think that is why I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"The Host" by Stephenie Meyer to be made into a Movie...

2009-09-23T00:11:00.005-07:00

Rumor has it that Stephenie Meyer's novel, "The Host" is to be made into a movie. According to Variety, Producers have acquired screen rights to "The Host."

I am very excited to hear this news. As I stated in my first post, "The Host" is one of my fav books. I wonder if it will be filmed here in my neck of the... uh... desert, yeah that's it.

I had hoped, and still do hope that Stephenie Meyer will publish a sequel to The Host... but so far, I haven't heard if that will happen. The ending of this novel left the doorway wide open for one (IMHO).

Having too much fun... Wasting too much time!

2009-09-21T17:14:00.004-07:00

Ok, I have been playing around with my new "anonymous" account. I set up a Twitter account just for this same purpose! Haha!

Check it out!

You can find me on twitter at @HungryVampire.

New Moon Extended Trailer

2009-09-21T11:17:00.001-07:00

Ok, I would be remiss, I think, if I didn't add this extended trailer to my blog. I mean, that's what I'm here for, right?

I totally squee everytime I see this... I am sooooooooo friggin' excited to see this movie!

What the hell am I doing here?

2009-09-21T00:55:00.004-07:00

Ok, so I am wondering what the hell am I doing here... I need another frickin blog like I need another hole in my head... right? Geez...

Well, by the title of my blog, you get that I love vampire stuff... I am NOT into the horror of it all but more into the fantasy of it all. Realistically, I just love fantasy, science fiction, and romance stuff.

As a child, I really loved to read. I spent a lot of time in my local library perusing all the books. I really loved finding books that had female heroines. I remember one day at the library I tried to check out a book that was listed as Adult... It wasn't X-rated, but in the 70s they had a different stroke on life I guess. When the librarian restricted what I could read, and then my mother did to, I decided I just wasn't interested anymore. Sad huh? What a waste.

One day last year, my very bff [needsntrvention], suggested that I read this book called, "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer. I bought the book and began reading. It was strange, reading something that wasn't the Bible or some bible related book. I have to admit that the book started slow for me. I almost gave up on it because I wasn't into the teen angst bull shit. I mean, I went to high school once... a hundred years ago... right... I didn't want to read about the same shit I lived through already... But, my bff kept telling me more and more of what was happening in the book. Then she starts telling me about the next book in the series, "New Moon." (She reads fast!) Very soon after starting, the book just took off! I COULD NOT LAY IT DOWN! I was HOOKED!

I couldn't believe that this author wrote so well for me... I felt as if I was Bella. I started to relate to her. She and I have a lot in common. Scary!

After "Twilight" I couldn't wait to start reading "New Moon," also written by Stephenie Meyer. At this point, I don't think I had a favorite "team." I was all about Edward. Period. I hated "New Moon" because Edward left Bella! I was so pissed at Edward. He's such a putz! (Gawd, I have to reread these books! I so miss them!) I read through "New Moon" so fast cuz I had heard that Edward came back! That gave me the umpf I need to finish the book.

Anyway, the "Twilight" Saga brought me back into reading! To me this was a major feat. I also think that this was the beginning of me coming out of my little introverted shell.

I was so excited to hear that there was to be a movie made based on "Twilight", called "Twilight." I had read the book and wanted to see it on the big screen. I so loved the movie! No, it is not exactly like the book. I did find myself disappointed to a certain point. Then I realized that it would take a lot to make it exactly like the book. Yes, they could have done a lot more. They needed to focus more on the love story that develops in the book... but overall I love the movie... So much so, that I purchased the DVD... and then when my hubby and I got our FIRST Blu-Ray DVD player, I bought the movie in Blu-Ray. I have read the books twice and watched the movie 3 times.

Soon, the second in the saga, "New Moon" comes out in the theaters! I am so on that. Woof! I have seen the trailers and have kept up on what's coming... I just can't wait! NOVEMBER 20th! Yay!

The biggest problem I have come up against since finishing the Twilight Saga, is what to read next, right? I found an author I like and a style I like to read... Well, after reading the whole Twilight Saga, I moved on to Stephenie Meyer's adult novel, "The Host."

This was strange because I was all wrapped up in the Bella/Edward/Jacob love story and all their drama... Then I step into "The Host" where there is another female heroine named, Melanie Stryder and two love interests Jarad and Ian. My imagination already created Bella, Edward, and Jacob... and now these faces were being called Melanie, Jarad and Ian in my little brain... How weird is that... Either I can't come up with another "look" or Stephenie Meyer was stuck too.

In this novel, the world is invaded and humans become hosts for these alien "souls". Their minds are taken over but their bodies remain fully functional. Melanie Stryder is one of the few remaining humans that is finally captured and her body is given to a "soul" named Wanderer, who is inserted into Melanie. But what Wanderer finds out is that Melanie doesn't want to succumb to all of this... Melanie never gives up. So Wanderer ends up sharing Melanie's body with... well eh, Melanie.

Now, I could go on telling you more, but I won't. Basically this too turns into a love triangle with Melanie completely intact and in love with Jared, but Wanderer is also intact in Melanie's conscientiousness and she is in love with Ian. Here's the kicker... Melanie and Wanderer are in Melanie's head. Therefore Wanderer has to deal with the emotions that Melanie is feeling... and BOY, Melanie pours on the emotion when she wants to get even with Wanderer. So Wanderer is kind of confused & scared. Oh this book was so cool. Shit, I said I wasn't going to tell you anymore... sorry... Go get the book... its a good read!

What's even more fun... the Twilight Saga is staged in Forks, WA... when I read the books, I lived in Idaho... Close enough to know the weather and the nature of how it looks and feels. I also read "The Host" while in Idaho, but soon afterward I moved to Arizona, and live south of the mountains and caves in that book. In fact, the book mentions several landmarks that I see on a regular basis down here. So that's kind of fun in and of itself.

Anyway, I need more! All of a sudden I have grown hungry for books, blogs, fan fiction... Hence the name, A Hungry Vampire! LOL

I hope to write frequently in this blog. I will write about books I am reading or that I have read. Perhaps there will be a day when people will comment to my ramblings. I can only hope.