Something Else To Distract me

Stupid STUPID TOYS

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

This week was Zoey’s birthday. Overall the gifts have been fine. She got a 4 foot tall dinosaur she needs to color. Her heart was a little broken when she saw how much she need to color and that it was two sided.

Two Barbie’s, two stamp sets and lots of odds and ends.

But she got this:

Yep, its a game. You feed a dog. Each player takes hold of the leash, rolls the dice and squeezes the leash. If the dog poops when your holding the leash, you pick up the poop.

The winner needs to have three pieces of poop on their shovel.

WHAT!

Who came up with this idea?

Who approved it?

What do the factory workers who MAKE the game feel about it?

Why do store owners stock their shelves with this?

Most importantly, WHAT PARENT APPROVED THIS PURCHASE?!?!

Here’s the thing, there’s NO CARD on the gift. If you’re going to give such a stupid gift be proud and sign your name to it.

Book review Tuesday: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

From Goodreads:

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My reaction:
I have to say it was a slow start for me. Maybe because I was at my daughter's dance class when I started reading it. But the only reason I stuck it out was because it was one EVERYONE's BEST OF 2011 list.

SO GLAD I DID!

WOW. The language was stunning. The story was perfectly crafted. I did figure out the the plot twist pretty early on, but I didn't mind at ALL. It didn't take away from the story or the reading experience.

Karou was a fully formed and fascinating character. Akiva was yummy with the emo angst that makes him so appealing.

There were a few minor plot points that weren't fully fleshed out, but the book was the first in a series and maybe those ideas will appear later on.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.
9.5 out of 10.

Have you read Daughter of Smoke and Bone? What did you think of it?

On a personal note: today is my daughter's 4 birthday. Happy Birthday kiddo.

Happy Monday- Being a part of a commuity

2012-01-23T08:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday

Genre: General Awesomeness
Topic Being a part of a community.

Picture from http://thesituationist.wordpress.com

No man is an island, because it's really hard to grow trees and dirt on your stomach and you'd have be formed from magma leaking from the planet's core... Yeah that didn't go the way you thought it would, did it?

There are things I'm fully capable of doing myself:
1) Getting dressed in the morning- I'm happy to report I haven't gotten stuck in my sweater in over three years, right around the time I switched to V necks and not turtle necks. (Full disclosure my tanktop on backwards)

2) Brewing my coffee- it's a matter of survival.

3) Putting on my shoes- note I didn't say tying them-- I abandoned shoe laces around the same time I stopped wearing turtlenecks.

But there's tons of things I can't do on my own... like writing.

It takes a community to build one writer. It takes a community promote a book. It a community to send a book to the New York Times Bestseller list,

I love being a part of the nerdfighter community and the YA writer/blogger community.

Being a part of an established network is necessary for our creativity and survival,

Besides instant and shady news, make up tutorials and online banking, online community has been the best thing born from the internet.

What's your favorite online community?
Which website do you think provides the BEST way of communication?

Fail Fridays

2012-01-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Erinn Fail

I’m a teacher, and somewhere along the way I picked up the habit of walking around the room. But not while the students are doing their work to help. No, I walk around when I’m giving directions. Kids twists their heads and spin their bodies in the their chairs like how ducks follow bits of bread being thrown into a lake.

Sometimes I have a piece of paper in front of my face, because you know, that’s what I’m reading from.

No big deal.

Really it was only a matter of time before I walked into a wall.

And I did.

I gave perfect directions.... to a wall.

My students... not so much.

In my many fails, this one wasn’t too bad, And I’m not even going to crack a joke like talking to a wall is more responsive than my students. Because that’s not true at all. My students are amazing. In fact when I turned on my heels and continued to give them directions. They all collectively smiled at me, we shared a fun little giggle and moved on.

Last time I checked, walls don’t giggle and enjoy a joke.

Kids are awesome, walls not so much. :-)

<-- my class without kids.

The wall that got perfect instructions. And in case you were wondering, there's a framed picture of Stitch reading and two pictures of Phineas and Ferb (drawn by my students) and Comic Book Guy saying, Best. Teacher. Ever. And some pictures of Zoey.

Writer Wednesdays

2012-01-18T07:36:00.000-05:00

How NOT to write a sequel.

Do you watch a show called Storage Wars? I do. It’s all about these people who bid on abandoned storage lockers. You get to see what’s inside and how much it’s valued. Will they make money, will they break even. Will Dave Hester be a jerk? Who knows. But most likely yes.

The original Storage Wars takes place in LA. OK fine.
You have a pretty easy plot to follow, they got to a storage location, they bid on an locker after they get a chance to look at it but NOT TOUCH IT and then you see the bidders go through the lockers and you find out the value.

What makes the show interesting is the characters.

You have Brandy and Jarrod- the couple. She’s level headed, he’s impulsive. You understand why they work as a couple and you sort of root for him.

There’s Darell. He’s been doing this for a while, he makes his living at Swap Meets and he’s basically the voice of reason.

There’s Dave Hester-- her a businessman, he’s arrogant and you sort of hate him, but he’s good at his job and you can’t really fault him for it.

Then there’s Barry- According to my husband who researched it, Barry has the most money out of the group and he buys the lockers to fill in his own collection. He’s wacky and is the only one who ham’s it up to the camera. He’ll ask the crew, “Did you get that shot?” HE’s sort of my favorite.

The show is great and PURE entertainment.

Then we have the SPIN OFF--- Storage Wars: TEXAS.

This is how you DON’T MAKE A SEQUEL.

It’s the exact same show.... But not as interesting.

The formula is the same. Even the characters are the same.

And that’s the problem. There’s NOTHNG original about this.

Think about how many times you’ve read a sequel or a spin off by an author and thought, un yeah I liked this the first time I read it in the first book.

Maze Runner- GREAT
Scorch Trials-- good But LOTS OF THE EXACT SAME THINGS
Death Cure- UN- READ ABLE--- seriously it was too much of the same and fifty pages in I simply didn’t care.

Sequels or spin off should a whisper of the original but not a FULL ON COPY.

I ask you this, dear readers: What the best or worst sequel you’ve read?

Book Review Tuesday Something Strange and Deadly- EXTRA EDITION

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Book review ARC

Summary from goodreads:
There’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance

My reactions:
Zombies- um ok. Philadelphia high society-- Ok -- BUT YOU MIX THEM TOGETHER AND IT”S AWESOME!!!!

Eleanor is a complete understandable character filled with her own set of problems- like a crazy mom, some dude that’s kinda rude but seems to be into her and oh yeah ZOMBIES!.

The characters are rich and lively. The plot is fast paced. I read it in a day. A DAY! And I don’t know if you know this about me but I have a kid so that makes reading sort of difficult. I’m not sure what my kid did that day, I’m sure whatever it was, it wasn’t as interesting as Eleanor.

Oh and the sexy love interests... um can we say YUM.

It's a book I can recommend to my students and friends and of course my readers.

Look you need to read this book. TRUST ME!
8.5 out of 10

Go check out the other WOA girls this week for more info on Susan and Something Strange and Deadly.

Yesterday Holly's blog had an awesome interview and all the of about winning the ARC I read! SWEET.

Tomorrow check out Kat's blog for an Interview with Susan about what happens AFTER your book gets sold

Thursday check out Pam and Quita's Y(A)? Cuz We Write

And Friday check out Alicia's Slice of the Blog Pie

Click down below if you want to enter the ARC TOUR contest.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Monday- John Green

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Things that make me happy

Topic :JOHN GREEN
Genre: General Awesomness

Every YA writer loves John Green. I will willingly admit I am nerdfighter and john green fangirl. Back in August when John announced The Fault in our Stars was up for preorder, I had my copy pre-ordered BEFORE the video was over.

Then he announced he was going on tour, when he listed the locations I said, “WAIT I LIVE NEAR DC.” I canceled my preorder and bought myself a ticket to meet him.

HERE ARE MY PICTURES:

When I first got there I saw this!!!

See the Washington DC--- that's where I was!

Shortly after taking this picture, I burst into tears. There was a nerdfighter gathering and a bunch of kids were singing a song about puppy sized elephants. I couldn't help it. I've said it time and time again, but I am so insanely grateful for the internet. I was a nerdy kid who had to hide it. It was a lonely time growing up. But seeing all these smart, well meaning, hopeful kids kids gather together without fear of bullies and wearing doctor who shirts, it was amazing. Crying was the only way I could express it.

Good news, that was the only time I cried!

John and Hank on ONE BOOK

Check out all my swag! I also bought a poster and two Hank Green CDs.

John comes to greet the crowd.

Hank greets the crowd and sings a song.

300 nerds singing and dancing to Shake Your Booty.

The girl in the picture had my favorite Doctor Who tee shirt on, it was very cool, little TARDIS everywhere.

I waited for 2 hours after a book reading, concert and Q&A. 100% worth it. While waiting in line I finally got to meet SARAH ENNI in person! WIN FOR LIFE

Reflection:
I have blogged many times about how much I love John Green as a writer. I walked up to him and said, "Thank you. Out of every author I have the biggest love/hate relationship."
He blinked, "Why did you read the book?"
Me, "not yet, every time I read one of your books I love it so much and yet I know I'll never be able to write as well as you do."
He laughed, "I have the same feeling whenever I write books."
"You stole one of my jokes and wrote it better." I said.
He smiled, "Just keep writing."

John Green told me to keep writing.

JOHN GREEN TO ME TO KEEP WRITING.

HE SAID HE HAD THE SAME FEARS I DO AND HE TOLD ME TO KEEP WRITING.

Then I walked over to Hank and thanked him for Project for Awesome and creating Nerdfighter community. He thanked me for being apart of it.

And for a brief day, the community I always felt like I was apart of but watching from a distance, welcomed me.

And I cried.

Full disclosure--- I'm tearing up right now as I write this.
Although by the time you read it, the tears will be LONG dried.

TIME TRAVELING KEYBOARD COVER!!!

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago my daughter poured coffee over my laptop. Thankfully, it dried out and I was spared the hassle of trying to sell a child on the black market. But I did decide I needed a keyboard cover. Hubby bought me one of those super cheap ones and I hated it. Seriously I almost considered giving up writing all together because of it. So instead I bought a MOSHI one and it's amazing.

Not only does it protect my keyboard without making me mistype everything but it travels IN TIME!!!

Behold the SHIPPING progress report

According to the website on January 5 @ 9:36 PM, it arrived in Hagerstown on January 6 @ 12:49 AM.

I don't know HOW it did it.

It's a time machine, and it give my computer the ability to bend the time vortex at its will. Although it does beg the question, what good is a time travelling keyboard protector... at least a Police call box and a car make sense.

So readers, if YOU could turn ANY item into a time machine, what would it be?!?!?!?!

Book Review Tuesday

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Over Winter Break I read The Astonishing Adventure of Fanboy and Goth Girl. The book was published back in 2006 so I'm a little behind on the times.

In the interest of full disclosure... I am a fangirl.
To an outsider a fanboy/girl is someone who really like comic books or Doctor Who or other sort of geeky stuff. It's not just a passing interest, but a fanboy/girl knows all the intimate details of multiple story arcs, origins, strengths and weakness of all the major and minor characters.
The stereotype is that we are fat, virgins who will live in our mother's basement.

UM. NO!

Fanboys./girls are smart, funny, detail orientated, analytical and generally made out of awesome.

Anyway back to the review.

From goodreads.com
Fanboy has never had it good, but lately his sophomore year is turning out to be its own special hell. The bullies have made him their favorite target, his best (and only) friend seems headed for the dark side (sports and popularity), and his pregnant mother and the step-fascist are eagerly awaiting the birth of the alien life form known as Fanboy’s new little brother or sister.

Fanboy, though, has a secret: a graphic novel he’s been working on without telling anyone, a graphic novel that he is convinced will lead to publication, fame, and—most important of all—a way out of the crappy little town he lives in and all the people that make it hell for him.

When Fanboy meets Kyra, a.k.a. Goth Girl, he finds an outrageous, cynical girl who shares his love of comics as well as his hatred for jocks and bullies. Fanboy can’t resist someone who actually seems to understand him, and soon he finds himself willing to heed her advice—to ignore or crush anyone who stands in his way

My reactions:
Barry Lyga knows his stuff. He got every reference right and Brian Michael Bendis is God. I know I showed up an HOUR ahead of Bendis' schedule time at Comic COn '04 just to meet him. In fact that entire subplot about meeting Bendis mirrored my own life (well not exactly).
Fanboy feels 100% real. His emotions and thought process was realistic, likable and genuine. Personally, the teacher in my, cringes when he fantasizes about a school shooting. But everything about Fanboy is handled correctly, with a dose of reality and fantasy mixed together.

Maybe because I loved Fanboy so much, it was hard to relate to Goth Girl. I've been friends with girls like her, and I think that's what I didn't like about her. She didn't feel as fleshed out as I would have liked, but of course that could be a POV issue instead of an author issue. (The book is told from Fanboy's 1st person POV)

I would recommended with a rating of 8 out of 10.

If fact I'm too see what else Lyga has written.

Dude he wrote, Goth Girl Rising.... oh, yeah um wow, I am SO BEHIND THE BALL one this one.

So readers, what book have you been a little late to the party with?

Happy Monday, Good friends

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday:

So, in the ever growing list of things that make me happy, today I'm going to talk about my friends.

Week 2
Theme: General awesomness
Topic: Writer friends.

The single most important thing writers need is other writer friends.

You know, just behind an understanding of language, a story, characters and a way to write the story down, writer friends are super important.

Thanks to blogger I've found some of my bestest writer friends.

I cheer for them when they succeed. I cry for them when life seems to screw them over. I make awkward jokes to make them laugh.

Kat, Pam, Quita and of course Alicia have been my rocks.

Meg and Mo have been my sounding boarding, they've hugged me when cried and we've laughed at my fails.

But Holly has been my sanity. My sister from another mother. Somehow that doesn't sound as cool as I thought it would. Anyway, back to the awesomeness of Holly. She's talked me down from a nasty case of "I suck at everything and I should give up." She's been my dose of reality. She's read my query. She's my rock star. At this point, I'm sort of lost without her.

Without writer friends I would have given up or failed WAY bigger then I have. Without writer friends I would have been alone in my necrotic writer mind.

Real life friends are amazing. But for writer problems, writer friends are the best.

And they make me SUPER HAPPY.

QUESTION:
Have writer friends helped you out in your writer time of need?

(also I've been watching Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends with my kid so that's been fun too.)

Friday Fails-- Holiday Fails

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Holidays are over, or at least the ones that count.

Is it just me or does anyone else think the new year should just start the day after Christmas? It seems like a whole lot of build up, then a week of work and then another day off. That one weird week annoys me. But clearly that's just me.

Over my little blog break took two pictures. One is so clearly a cake wreck. I think it's a snowman with a head wound, which is why the snow is bleeding. Or maybe that's why the face has been swooshed. Don't know but it's creeping me out. I don't want to eat it because it might eat my soul instead.

The highlight of my year is the Ugly Christmas sweater. It's when a bunch of my friends get together and wear ugly Christmas sweaters. For the last few years, My sweater was lame. But not in an ugly sweater way, but just tame, in fact it was pretty cute. This year I was determined to go all out. I searching second hand shops around my town. And I discovered the only thing uglier than a sweater, a sweater VEST! Matched with a holiday turtle neck and I was golden.

Then I put it on.

I cried.

It's suprising hard for woman who has "ugly girl syndrome" to wear an ugly sweater willingly. (BTW "ugly girl syndrome" is not a real thing recoginzed by the medical community, I just made it up)

But being the trooper I am, I headed out to the party because I KNEW FOR SURE I was going to win.

I didn't.
I wasn't even a condenter.

I did get grooped by a guy who was reaching around to put his arm around his bros for a picture, and got me instead.

That didn't do much for my UGS at all.

The rest of the holidays went fine.

What was your biggest Holiday fail?