Witches in India?

From what I can see the 2 most known areas for abuse in the name of witchcraft is in Africa and India. I have been hearing a lot about Africa, so I decided a momentary spotlight on India was in order.

The best targets are the widowed, poor and even ugly women. Women are still 2nd class citizens in India. You will see many cases of the witch in question being a widow refusing to give up her husband's land, or a single woman refusing a neighbor's advances. Or simply an older woman who simply uses up more resources than she creates...especially in times of famine.

Ramond Fisman is quoted in an article in the Times that creating a pension for elderly women would eliminate the limited resources cause of witch accusations...it would give these women some protection.

Bhuri Bai was accused by an Ojha (kind of a preacher/wise man) of the village of being responsible through witchcraft for the death of a young boy. During the burning of the funeral pyre the villagers came together to attack her. She was a lucky one to have her husband to save her, but they were forced to leave their home.

Changes in the law unfortunately do more to punish the accused than stop the attacks. If a woman is accused of witchcraft, they want to remove her to a prison for up to 5 years for her own protection. While the Ojha receive nothing in punishment, and the actual attackers, if arrested at all receive less than a year or nothing but a warning. Clearly some humanitarian work needs to be done here.

Between 2001-2006 about 700 women have been killed after being accused of witchcraft, and that is only in East India. Police rarely step in to help, telling people to work it out for themselves. How terrifying to live in a place where those whose jobs are to protect offer no protection. Keep these women in your thoughts and prayers.

Global Giving has numerous charities in India. Recently they raised over $8,000 in legal aid. Click here to see what you can do.

Resources:
BBC News
Religious Tolerance.org
The Times Online
The Women News Network
RT Question More

Witch Discrimination OK?

Carol A. Smith was allegedly fired from TSA for being a witch. I've read a couple articles on this topic and basically her coworkers were uncomfortable with her religious preference. Her firing was based on her refusal to go to mediation to defend and discuss her religion. She is quoted as saying "would have I have to go to mediation if I were jewish?" And that is a good point. Everyone would be up in arms if she were part of a "recognized" religion. Since she is a witch, we should just accept it.

What I find hilarious about these stories, is that by saying she was casting spells on co-workers, they are announcing their own belief in witchcraft. What I don't like is that if a person is having a bad day - and we all do at some point - they feel justified in blaming someone they know who practices witchcraft. How lovely to no longer have to take personal responsibility. I'm sure now that Carol is gone, her co-workers never have anything bad happen.

I hope she wins this lawsuit. Discrimination of any kind really need to stop now. We have bigger problems in this world than what religion someone practices, what sexual orientation they have, or any disabilities or race.

Again I want to send you all to go see Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom as she has really great posts for the 30 days of Advocacy Against Witch Hunts.

Witch Hunts???

Today begins 30 days of advocacy against witch hunts. I see quite often from Mrs. B (of Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom fame) articles about honest to god, real witch hunts still going on. A lot of them are in Africa, but there are still problems here. Not much of a surprise considering you are still encouraged to hide if you are gay, jewish, islamic or anything out of the "norm" - god forbid you are pagan, you'll have everyone after you.

Today I want to share a couple of great blogs that are featuring articles on this topic.

• Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom
• Bones, Buried Treasure and Beliefs
• The Secret Life of the American Working Witch

These are great blogs that I enjoy reading on any given today. Today they are especially deep articles that will tug at your heart and make you think.

Sunday Stealing: The 5000 Question Meme, Part Two

Cheers to all of us thieves!

26. Who has done something today to show they care about you?
Dick bought the weight watchers dark chocolate raspberry ice cream bars that I like.

27. Do you have a lot to learn?More than I can even imagine


28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not by working what would they be?
make jewelry, paint with acrylics, and how to write computer code

29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do or how other people make you feel?
how they make me feel.

30. What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship?
honesty, love, trust and commitment

31. What 3 things do you want to do before you die?
travel across the ocean, see my grandkids, drive across the country

32. What three things would you want to die to avoid doing?
cleaning my bathroom, cleaning up animal poop, watching the world end in a fiery storm.

33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause?
Early childhood education-you can't say education is key with one hand and take away funding with the other

34. What does each decade make you think of:
that's a lot of decades. 40s&50s nostalgia, 60s free love, 70s ass ugly colors, 80s big hair, 90s big hair bands, 00s wish they were the 90s, 10s wishing it was the 80s.

35. Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why?
40s & 50s, just love the movies and the ideal of the housewife and family unit. Like everyone knew what their lot in life was, it wasn't so hard with limitless choices we have now.

36. What is your favorite oldie/classic rock song?
Too much time on my hands - by Styx.

37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of that country?
United States and Wal-Mart...wait I mean Obama.

If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country what would it be?
I wish I could trust you.

38. What's your favorite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night?
Used to be TVLand, now netflix Roseanne reruns.

39. What Disney villain are you the most like and why?
I can't think of one, because they all have crazy ambition and I don't have any.

40. Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout?
no, we couldn't afford it.

41. If you were traveling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat?
Boat! Let's go on a cruise and drink lots of alcohol, eat lots of food and soak up lots of sun.

42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night?
the sky is blue due to something about refracting sunrays. The night sky is dark cause the earth is in the way of the sun and our side is in shadow.

43. What does your name mean?
Angel - lol not real difficult.

44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space?
Ocean

45. Word association - What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:

Air:water
Meat:cleaver
Different:me
Pink:panther
Deserve:money
White:black
Elvis:presley
Magic:wand
Heart:beat
Clash:titans
Pulp:fiction

46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be?
Henry VIII

47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive?
John Saul

48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it everyday?
Waitress, The 10th Kingdom, SuperTroopers, The Other Guys and the Invention of Lying

49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do?
Bag full of books

50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved?
No I have had a blessedly calm life.

Review - Tin Man

I recently signed us up for Netflix. It has made vast improvements since the last time I belonged, lots of instant movies and shows to watch. Only $7.99 a month, add $2 to get 1 DVD at a time in the mail, too. We are all enjoying it. The kids are watching Oswald and Diego, Chris and I are enjoying Futurama and I am exploring all sorts of stuff.

I stumbled upon Tin Man a few days ago, and sat down to start watching it last night. It stars Zooey Deschanel, Alan Cumming, Neal McDonough, Kathleen Robertson, and Raoul Trujillo. Zooey is basically Dorothy, she goes by DG (Dorothy Gale) and lives in rural Kansas with whom she thinks are here parents. After going thru a tornado the the O.Z., she meets Glitch (Alan Cumming) who isn't really a straw man but is missing his brain. They rescue the Tin Man - which is another way of saying police man who is played by Neal McDonough. The Tin Man is not missing his heart but is understandably limited in his openness. And finally they get their cowardly lion, played by Roul Trujillo who has a fantastic ability common to his people to see the future and read peoples minds.

DG is a long lost princess sent to our world until she reached a safe age and could come back and defeat her evil sister (Kathleen Robertson). She never felt she fit in, and she has these dreams that are increasing in frequency. And then her adventure begins. Will she find her parents, defeat her sister, get back her memories?

This was the best interpretation for the Wizard of Oz I've seen. I love the extra depth the characters have. The reality mixed with the magical. And the visual depictions were very pleasing to the eye. I think the cast spent a lot of time in a green room, but the results were gorgeous and sometimes haunting.

If you have Netflix - click the picture above and go see this movie. If you don't have it yet, they do offer a free 1 month trial. Honestly I think it is well worth the money. Much cheaper than cable, and while it does have to reload (sometimes frequently when using the WII), it is no worse than commercial breaks. And yes you can watch it on the WII, PS3, Xbox, computer, and networked TVs and Blue-Ray players. It says you can have up to 6 unique devices.

Costume Super Center Review

Costume Super Center was kind enough to let me review one of their costumes. After much searching, we finally settled on Spiderman - I knew he would want that but it was fun to look. About the website I would like to say they have it organized great, it is easy to browse and you can also do a search if you know exactly what you want.

The costume arrived within a week of placing the order. Christopher was so excited he wore it from the time we got home on Thursday until it was time to dress for school on Friday. Seriously, he slept in it.

The quality is surprisingly good for the price. It has managed to stand up to solid play, ripping it on and off over and over, and even being slept in very well. Not even a thread is out of place. Much better than what we got at Wal-Mart - and that was going for the same price!

My only complaint is that I did ask for a medium and was sent a small. I was informed that there is a "liberal exchange/return policy" and you can read it in detail here: http://www.costumesupercenter.com/csc_inc/html/static/returns-exchanges.html. It is pretty good, and I like the idea that when doing an exchange, you are asked to order the replacement item first then you send back the return once you receive it. There is small print, but it is generally reasonable. And if you return 4 or more of the same item there is a 15% restocking fee. I think that discourages people from ordering the costumes to sell on their own.

So all in all I am so happy with my purchase. The size is true, we got the small and it fits CW like a dream. Last week we walked around CMU campus and CW made a lot of people smile. He got a free cookie and we even had a squirrel stop and stare. CW told me, "Mama! That squirrel thinks I'm the REAL Spiderman."

I'm so sorry - and the winner is...

So sorry, I completely forgot to draw the name last night. I put everyone's entry or entries on a piece of paper - folded them up real small and had my toddler draw one. The winner is Liz. Just email me your address and I'll forward that to Quirk.

Thanks for playing!

Review & Giveaway - The Jane Austen Handbook

The Jane Austen Handbook - Proper Life Skills from Regency England

by: Margaret C. Sullivan - release date March 8, 2011

First let me thank Quirk and Eric for the opportunity to review another book - and for hosting this giveaway.

I was really excited to look at this one, not because I'm a giant Jane Austen fan - actually can't stand her writing. But this time period is fascinating. So to get answers on how their society was structured was so awesome, I was more than happy to do this review.

The book itself is so petite. It is easy to hold and read and the size, the hardcover and even the scent of the pages just beg you to dive right in and take the book anywhere you want. An easy reference tool to say the least.

The Jane Austen Handbook is arranged in sections such as "Jane Austen's World and Welcome to it" and "Making Love." There are 4 sections and an Appendix. Each section is loaded with How To chapters like "How to Chose a Perspective Husband" and "How to get rid of Unwelcome Guests."

This book moves fast and is an easy read. Took me about 3 hours total. I couldn't put it down. And the thing I was mostly looking for was what that damn income is they are forever talking about in period pieces from this time and around it. The explanation was so simple that I was amazed. This is the one thing I'll give you - it's from estates. Everyone had estates of varying size, and how well you managed that estate, not to mention how large it was, determined the size of your income. There are also tidbits about the woman's dowry, extra children and all the little bits of history and behavior that just make this the most charming read.

So enter the giveaway and if you don't win or can't wait - go buy it.

Hardcover from Amazon - $11.53
Nook Book - $9.99
Kindle Book - $9.99

Now onto the giveaway! For the first entry you must be a follower of this blog (if it's with GFC please use your alias, as I can't figure out how to get the e-mail to show up) and leave a comment..

Extra Entries:

• Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per day - that's a total of 5 times you can get this one)
• Blog about this giveaway (1 extra entry per person)
• Invite friends to follow this blog (have friend leave a comment that you referred them - 1 entry per referral, unlimited entries)
• A bonus 2 entries - grab my button and add to your blog (if you have already done this you can still get the bonus just leave a link) - leave a link to your blog as a comment. 

The giveaway starts today and ends Friday at 6:00pm EST. This is open to the continental US only...sorry guys. Good luck!

Sunday Stealing The Burnt Toast Meme

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?  Yeah I need a shower.

2. How much cash do you have on you? I think there is $3 in the other room...I rarely have cash, even that is from a friend for our split on a b-day present.

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR? Good god I can't put the first word that popped in my head, you all think I'm nice.  Ok, give me a minute...btw the one I thought of starts with w....Boar.  There that is better!

4. Favorite planet? Jupiter - in fact I used to go around telling people I was from Jupiter.  Only kid I know of that spent more time embarrassing a parent than the other way around.  lol

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?  Big shocker here - my husband!  I am such a wild woman!

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?  I had the horn intro from the Modest Mouse CD for awhile.  I loved that, always knew it was my phone.

7. What shirt are you wearing?  Still in my jammies, but its a red lacy thing I got for like $2 at wal-mart.  Very soft and comfy.  The lace is on the edge, tasteful enough that I can wear it as a regular shirt (i have with the black on, looks like a sweet blouse)

8. Do you label yourself? Yeah - and not in a good way.

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing?  I have barefeet - I hate shoes.  I do not even have a favorite brand.

10. Bright or Dark Room? Bright.

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you? Well I saw it on Lilith's blog, so I would say that I adore her, she's a wonderful friend.

12. What does your watch look like?  Grey and pink plastic, kind of huge, it's a heart rate monitor too.

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?  Watching Blood and Chocolate.

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? "it's grey here" husband is downstate, I told him it is so lovely up here, and I guess it's not down there.

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?  Probably a couple miles, I can walk it if I really want to. It's on the edge of campus, I guess that's how they are surviving.

16. What's a word that you say a lot? Poop...Ivan are you poopy?  Ivan do you need to go poopy?  Henry needs to go poop.  CW is done pooping.  Someone needs to clean up that poop!  Yeah, I live with men...they come with a lot of poop.

And the winner is...

Wow - 2 whole entries! I'm amazed.  Oh well, here is the deal.  I'm giving Kallan odd numbers since she commented first and Suzanne even numbers.  I'm now going over to random.org dice roller application and selecting 1 die.

And Suzanne is the winner.  Kallan I have the copy I read for the review that I will be happy to mail you as a consolation prize.  :)  Send me your mailing addresses ladies and thank you for commenting!

Review & Giveaway - Skipping a Beat

Skipping a Beat
by Sarah Pekkanen

Julia has been with Michael since she was 16 back in the small West Virginia town they both grew up in.  Her father with a major gambling problem that destroyed her family and Michael with a father that ignored the horrible teasing and beatings he received from his brothers.  No surprise his mother felt the need to leave that man.  So they both have their childhood trauma they want to forget, and a strong desire to get away from that town.

She is a successful party planner in DC and he is the multi-millionaire owner of an organic drink company.  They live in a house that she didn’t decorate, go to parties that she can’t stand and just float through life.  In fact, she is so miserable that she carries around a divorce attorney’s card.  Then she gets a call – Michael is in the  hospital and he had been revived after being dead for over 4 minutes.

Being dead changed Michael completely and changed the unspoken rules of their marriage.  He fights to win back his wife, and fully sees the man he had become – much to his shame.  They sort out a few HUGE misunderstandings…but can she forgive him for what he was and accept him as he is?

This is Sarah Pekkanen’s 2^nd novel and she has a writing style where there is one central character that you really get to know, and then all the other characters that orbit around her.  Julia is our center, she has her husband Michael, her father and mother (whom she never sees), her quirky best friend Isabelle, a strange boy she meets in the park and his even stranger dog, and the evil lawyer for her husband’s company.  Ok, maybe not evil but…no he’s evil…Dale.  I love this style because you really get to know Julia so well, you root for her, cry with her, cry FOR her and even yell at her.  It really pulls you in because it mimics real life.  We are all the center of our own stories.

As I said earlier, this is Sarah Pekkanen’s 2^nd novel.  She also wrote The Opposite of Me (which I also recommend).  She lives in Maryland with her husband and 3 boys, and is (according to her book jacket) a writer for Bethesda Magazine.  You can find her on Facebook and at her own website www.sarahpekkanen.com.  You must go read her bio at her webpage...it's a hoot!

Now lucky readers - since BookSparksPR (part of Simon & Schuster) accidentally sent me 2 copies, I have a giveaway open for 1 copy of this book.

For the first entry you must be a follower of this blog (if it's with GFC please use your alias, as I can't figure out how to get the e-mail to show up) and leave a comment..

Extra Entries:

• Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per day - that's a total of 3 times you can get this one)
• Blog about this giveaway (1 extra entry per person)
• Invite friends to follow this blog (have friend leave a comment that you referred them - 1 entry per referral, unlimited entries)
• A bonus 2 entries - grab my button and add to your blog (if you have already done this you can still get the bonus just leave a link) - leave a link to your blog as a comment. 

And since I am the one sending it, I will leave it open to international shipping.  Now start entering! Almost forgot - I will do the drawing at 7:00 pm EST Thursday March 3, 2011.

A big thank you to Sarah Pekkanen for the story and BookSparksPR for the books.

(I received a free review copy and have written this review as an entry in the Simon & Schuster Sweepstakes, the review is my own opinion and no payment was received)

Sunday Stealing: The Seven Deadly Sins Meme (Plus the CSNstores winner!)

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1 - Pride. Seven great things about yourself.

• the color of my eyes
• I learned to read when I was 3
• I can understand most of what my 2 yr old says to me.
• I am very loyal
• Great listener - swear I give that off in pheromones.
• I make a mean blackened chicken
• I'm really good at something that's a secret.  ;-)

2 - Envy. Seven things you lack and covet.

• Pink netbook
• smartphone with all the bells & whistles turned on
• The Medieval Sims
• Audi station wagon
• a nice house with 3 bedrooms
• a job at CMU
• nice furniture

3 - Wrath. Seven things that piss you off.

• people who don't use their turn signals
• people who cut me off...or anyone off - ok stupid driving in general
• pee on the bathroom floor
• mouse poop...anywhere
• Henry disappearing on his bathroom break
• people expecting me to remind them to give me information once a month...because they are far too busy to remember (and apparently I have nothing better to do than track down the entire church once a month!)
• people thinking the minute they aren't happy they can screw up everyone's lives while they go off to chase some stupid sh** that won't make them happy anyway!!!  Leaving the rest of us to clean up their mess.

4 - Sloth. Seven things you neglect to do.

• Clean the floors
• Clean the bathroom
• Wipe down the stove
• vacuum (altho not having a working vacuum helps in this area)
• laundry (only as long as I can before husband starts complaining about not having underwear)
• dusting
• finishing craft projects

5 - Greed. Seven worldly material desires.

• money
• job
• house
• car (altho I do like the car I have now, one always wants something newer)
• computer gadgets
• new tvs
• cell phone

6 - Gluttony. Seven guilty pleasures.

• chocolate
• The Young & the Restless
• Mojitos
• Black & Blue burger @ mountain Town
• Mountain Town Cookie @ Mountain Town (chocolate chip cookie baked in little cast iron pan, covered in hot fudge and topped with ice cream)
• Pizza Sam's pizza
• Abba

7 - Lust. Seven love secrets. - sorry, skipping this one.  If I tell my secrets they aren't secrets anymore, and these ones are between me and my husband.  ;-)

Thank you for making it all the way through that - and the winner is...Tim - check your inbox.


Thanks everyone - this was a very successful run - and a big welcome to all my new followers.

And a HUGE thank you to CSNstores.com for supplying the $65 gift code and hosting this giveaway.

CSN Stores Giveaway

I have, for one lucky reader, a $65 CSNstores.com gift code. Here's how to make your entry:

• Leave a Comment about what you'd like to buy from CSNstores.com
• Be a follower of this blog 

(Both of the above are 1 entry)
Extra Entries:

• Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per day - that's a total of 3 times you can get this one)
• Blog about this giveaway (1 extra entry per person)
• Invite friends to follow this blog (have friend leave a comment that you referred them - 1 entry per referral, unlimited entries)
• A bonus 2 entries - grab my button and add to your blog (if you have already done this you can still get the bonus just leave a link) - leave a link to your blog as a comment.

I have made purchases from CSNstores.com, I have also received gift codes to review products and recently I even won a gift code from another blog.  I do really enjoy this store. I've been overall happy with everything I've purchased.  I have a computer/lap desk, a wood train set (for Ivan), a lamp base, an espresso maker, and most recently I've purchased a weight bench because with the sale code it was cheaper than wal-mart.  They have a lot of stuff that is free shipping, customer service is great, and they have a rewards program to earn 3% back on all purchases.

And most recently they've set up a high end store with a referral deal.  If I send someone over there and they make a purchase, I get a $15 referral bonus!  The store is called Joss & Main. I've looked around there, it's stuff I dream of buying. lol

So get ready and get those entries posted.  Giveaway ends Sunday night at 9:00 pm EST.  Winner will have 48 hours to confirm and will be drawn randomly out of a hat ('cause I think that is truly more random).  I'll even video tape that drawing and post it here Sunday night.

Good luck!

Computers Galore

A few weeks ago my husband collected broken computers from his friend during a visit. He comes home, tinkers with them and all of a sudden we have 3 working desktops, 1 laptop and a netbook. Plus there's a big hard drive floating around.

Now what we need is a living room full of computer desks for home. The boys after all love playing on PBSkids and watching videos there. I think having a workstation for everyone would be terribly indulgent. But I also think it would be much more practical than a living room full of sitting furniture that never gets used.

I would like little desks for the boys, a minor workstation for me and a roving desk for Chris. I'm not asking too much, right?

(stay tuned for a CSNStores giveaway later this week)

Review - Women Know Everything

I just received Women Know Everything from Quirk this week.  I haven't read it cover to cover, but I've gotten enough to do a good review.  And yes this is a positive review.

This is an updated version with a new cover and new quotes from the 2007 version.  The quotes are arranged in an A-Z format of topics by many famous women who are anything from politicians, actors and even madams.  This is a book that will get your mind working.  Some topics are taboo (prostitution, abortion), some are quite ordinary (fashion, age).

I think both women and men should buy this book, no matter what your background it will broaden your horizons, induce conversations, and maybe even inspire you.

Contraception (under Reproductive Rights)
"Japanese Women are refusing to take birth control pills, opting to leave contraception up to men.  Do you know what they call women who leave birth control up to men? Mothers." - Jenifery Valley, 20th/21st Century American Comedian.

Clothes
"A little bad taste is like a nice dash of paprika." - Dorothy Parker (1893-1967), American Writer and Critic

Procrastination
"One thing that's good about procrastination is that you always have something planned for tomorrow." - Gladys Bronwyn Stern (1890-1973), English Writer

Smoking
"I quite smoking. I feel better. I smell better. And it's safer to drink from old beer cans lying around the house." - Roseanne Barr (1952-), American Comedian (I love this, I remember my parents putting cigarette butts in their cans, YUCK!)

In the back there is an index by name, I used that to find this Roseanne Barr quote.  Really fun book that I will be picking up, randomly selecting a quote to think on.  And whenever I do go back to work, it'll go with me and live on my desk for inspiration or to share.

Sunday Stealing The Sunset Meme

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. What is your favorite Mexican dish? Carne Asada tacos at El Vaquero in Alma, MI (aka Mexican Laundromat)

2. When you were a kid, did you get started on your homework right away after school, or did you procrastinate? Both, time was all I had, I didn't get out much.

3. What is your favorite store for home furnishings? Jay's Furniture Barn in Elwell, MI (near Alma).  Good furniture and we go to church with the owners, they are really nice people.

4. When you were young, did you like school lunches? Some of them.  Pizza was good.  And the chicken sandwich, especially with nacho cheese on it (geesh I wonder why I'm fat!)

5. Is religion a crutch? No, I think used correctly it can be very comforting.

6. In your region, what is the “big” high school sport? Football (not soccer, I guess I mean American Football)

7. Do you consider yourself rich? Oh hell no! Not money wise, I guess family and health wise I AM rich.

8. Which of these would you have the best chance administering:

A) CPR - I've been trained
B) Heimlich Maneuver - yup, trained on this one too.
C) Changing a flat tire - nope, I'd be stuck.

9. Which dance would you prefer to learn and why:

A) Salsa - sure, fun dance, fun music and great exercise.
B) Hip Hop - eh, moves too fast I'm not coordinated enough.
C) Waltz - oh yeah, this would be great!
D) Swing - yup, same reason as the Salsa.

10. What’s the worst news you’ve ever delivered to someone? I want a divorce

11. Name something you learned in college that had nothing to do with classes or academics. Hmmmm, nothing ends a party faster than police - they also have the ability to make drunk football players cry.  lol

12. New variation on an old question: If there’s a song in your head that just won’t get out, what is your favorite (or most repeated) line in that song? A Styx song, "the water it touches my life like the waves on the sand, all roads lead to Tranquility Bay where the frown on my face disappears."

The Y&R Confusion

Or maybe I should say annoyance.  I've been watching The Young & the Restless for my entire life.  It's one of my mom's favorites.  I never really watched it but after 18 yrs of snow days, sick days and summer vacations I obviously absorbed some of it.  I remember certain characters, and I know old plot lines.  So when I had CW it was natural that I picked right up.

Now granted this is a soap opera, and the name of the game is drama.  But when I had CW, Nick left Sharon because he knocked up Phyllis.  And they were all lovey dovey for a few years.  GAG.  Anyway, Sharon married Brad...I think...wait no, I think that was Victoria.  Ummmm Oh yeah, Sharon married Jack.  But she couldn't stop obsessing over Nick so they split.  Then troubles started for Phyllis and Nick and he knocked up Sharon.  So...that's it there...they dragged it on but eventually Phyllis said screw it.  So Nick and Sharon end up back together.

Now in this we've got Adam, long lost son of Victor (Nick and Victoria's 1/2 brother).  He convinces Jack's sister (her name escapes me now) that she is pregnant but she isn't.  Then he has a doctor lie to sharon that her baby died in childbirth and then took said baby to Jack's sister.  I never did figure out the reason for that plot device.  But it all was discovered and the baby was returned.

So, knowing what Adam did here you'll understand why I'm so annoyed.  Sharon was briefly married or dating Adam before this came out.  It seemed she was getting back with Nick.  Completing their happy family.  Granted I don't watch too much, the plot lines take forever to get to the end and I get sick of people whining for 2 weeks.  lol  Anyway, I tune in and see that Sharon is with Adam, and Nick is suing for custody because Sharon is being a nitwit.  He won, BTW.

I'm so done with Sharon.  As I said, I know drama is the game but she creates extra drama and whines and messes up ALL THE TIME!  I told my mom I wish they'd finally kill her off after this last one.  I mean, seriously what is more unforgiveable than someone telling you your baby is dead and then kidnapping it???  Only thing I can think of is actually killing your baby.

Thank you for participating in my Y&R rant of the day.  What soap plot drove you nuts?

Sunday Stealing...Feb 07, 2011

Cheers to all of us thieves!

68. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? All time I'd have to say Roseanne, I never tire of watching reruns.

69. WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T LIKE? Avoid them as much as possible, and if I have to deal with them be civil without openings for friendship.

70. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Bryers Strawberry Cheesecake

71. DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES? Yup.

72. SO IS IT GOING TO BE THE STEELERS OR THE PACKERS? I really don't care.

73. PLANS FOR TONIGHT? Watching TV in bed.

74. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE WHEN YOU RETIRE? Near my boys...maybe even my grandkids. 

75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? No opinion

76. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO? PBS kids on TV

77. LAST THING YOU DRANK? Iced Coffee

78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My 2 yr old so he could say goodnight before the movie I went to see started.

79. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN THE SEX(ES) YOU'RE ATTRACTED TO? smile

80. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? crochet and read

81. FAVORITE THING TO HATE? Can't really say here but husband knows.

82. FAVORITE SEASON OF THE YEAR? Summer

83. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF CANDY? chocolate

84. HAVE YOU EVER REALLY AND TRULY HAD A BEST FRIEND? Yes

85. WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR? brown

86. EYE COLOR? blue

87. SHOE SIZE? 6 1/2 W

88. FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE? Oh My! Burgers & Fries!

89. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? It was the Embers, guess it's Mountain Town now.

90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI? Yes, some of it.

91. WATCH TV TODAY? Well, not personally but kids have.

92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? Christmas

93. PLAY ANY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS? Nope, I have no musical talent

94. POLITICAL PARTY? Nope, think they are all stupid and keep us from getting anything done!

95. KISSES OR HUGS? Only from my husband and kids.

96. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS? Depends on my mood - lol  No relationships, one night stands leave you feeling hollow.

97. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT? A movie ticket

98. WOULD YOU EVER BE A HOUSE SPOUSE? I am right now.

99. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult.

100. DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE: that's so personal.

NookColor - review

With the refund money was allowed to pick up a Nook Color.  I had a choice between Kindle and Nook and of course the other ereaders out there.  It was a tough decision but honestly, the Nook Color acts like a cheap Ipad.  And that's enough for me.  I can also check out e-books from my library.

Every Friday Nook gives away a e-book for free.  Plus there are tons of 99 cent deals.  And if I find an epub formatted book somewhere else, with just a little finagling with Adobe Digital Editions, I can move it to my Nook without it throwing a fit, as  kindle would do.  

So now I've had the Nook Color for a week, what do I think? I love it.  It is a small computer screen so I can read it when I'm sitting with the boys at night without needing an extra light.  I can get on the internet - to a limited extent but I can do facebook and shop for books and check my e-mail if I wanted to.  I can watch some youtube videos, although the video quality leaves much to be desired.

As an e-reader, I love it.  I can organize my books on shelves.  There are books for my kids, some of which need work but overall it's fun.  And best of all, I can get free books from the library...oh did I already say that?  Ok, well what I like is that I'm not a slave to purchasing e-books.  I have some wiggle room that Kindle doesn't allow, and it's from an established company.  That gives some peace of mind.

I haven't had any issues with it yet, I downloaded a software upgrade already.  And while the android platform it runs on is locked, I've heard rumors online that they plan to unlock it to the apps that are out there.  I'm not terribly worried about it.  Mostly I use it to read books.  I love turning on the Pandora app, hooking up my headphones, loading a book and hopping on the Elliptical without having to fight with pages and holding the book open - that alone makes it worth it.

Sunday Stealing...Jan 24, 2011

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?  When I was 3 I reached up on the ironing board it it ironed 3 of my fingers on my left hand.  I don't even remember not having those scars.

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM  Oh well in the Living Room I have some Egyptian papyrus paintings, a cross and a wreath we received as gifts, CW hand-prints from preschool...corn...I need to take that down.

3. DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOUR SLEEP?  I snore (used to wear a CPAP machine), I do grind my teeth...I don't think I talk tho.

4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?  I like a little bit of everything.

5. WHAT TIME WERE YOU BORN? I think it was around 10 am.

6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW? A job that I love.

7. WHAT DO YOU MISS?  I miss knitting.

8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION(S)? I would say my kids, but since I don't really possess them, I guess my laptop.  :)

9. HOW TALL ARE YOU?  5'1"

10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC? No, in fact if I am alone I love enclosed spaces.

11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK? Yes, I still think something will reach out from under my bed and grab me.

12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY? Central Michigan University...not even an interview.

13. WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR? That I will lose my family.

14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON PEOPLE YOU'RE ATTRACTED TO? Dark hair, eye color...not sure on that one.

15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF PROPOSING?  Considering I am married, I think that one is not going to happen.

16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK?  Coffee - energy drinks are awful.

17. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING? Mushrooms.

18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? bacon

19. FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME? Cornflower blue in the crayola box.

20. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH? EWWWW NOOOOOO

21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED? I guess it would be my first 2 wheeler.  I think it was my 5th birthday from my grandpa kurrle.

22. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH? Sure - who doesn't?

23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED? No.

24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND? Don't have one, I like what I like.  Don't care where or who I get it from.

25. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE/MALE CELEBRITY? Sandra Bullock and Brenden Fraser.

26. DO YOU HAVE A PET RIGHT NOW? Yes, a golden retriever named Henry.

27. WHAT KIND IS IT? Golden Retriever

28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING? Sure, I'm dumb like that.

30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED? 26

31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES? brunette

32. FAVORITE QUOTE? "You may not get hurt, but huff-puff, you won't get loved either." Wolf from the 10th Kingdom talking to Virginia about her trust issues.

33. FAVORITE PLACE? Out in the woods on a mild day.

My time in Early HeadStart

When CW was 2, and shortly after I discovered I was pregnant with Ivan, I signed him up for Early HeadStart. I was hoping to get him into the center, but the line for homevisits was shorter. When AB came to our first visit, I was really glad I made that choice and took us off the list for the center.

AB was tons of fun. She brought toys that CW enjoyed, she chatted with me and occasionally gave my family extra support, like playing with Ivan while I got some time with CW or helping me get a gas card to help with the frequent trips to Lansing. I couldn't have asked for a better homevisitor. She felt like a good friend, even tho I knew she was getting paid. She never treated us like that and she genuinely loved the boys.

Then when CW got into HeadStart, she accepted a teaching job within the organization. That meant we were getting a new homevisitor. Things were also being shaken up. When I started there were 2 visitors, and 1 got a teaching job and the other had a baby and chose motherhood. So everyone got new visitors.

K was from the EHS center. She was nice, loved Ivan and took perfectly good care of my family. Not her fault she came in after the coolest homevisitor ever! We had her quite a few months, but then money came into 8-cap from the government stimulus (AAHA or some collection of letters I can't remember). A EHS center opened in Ithaca and since that was her home turf, she took the offer to head that up. You go girl!

So then 8-cap got a bunch of new homevisitors and we got AO. She was good, too. She loved Ivan, and he adored her. She even had fun with CW, laughing at his quirks. But she got engaged and moved out of state. I haven't had a visit since mid-December. They send a paper with activities on it, but it's not the same. As an added bonus no one bothered to tell me that playgroup was moved from Thursdays to Tuesdays. That was a big bummer when I got all organized to go and no one was there.

Ivan misses AO. I told him we were going to playgroup this last Thurday and he starts saying AO's name. Broke my heart! I had to tell him that she was all-gone and we wouldn't see her again. He spent 3 days saying "ao, all-gone?" He even cupped his hand over his mouth and said "AO, THAT YOU?"

All this adds up to me not being the excited involved parent that I used to be. I don't want to have another stranger coming into my home and family. I'm not big on meeting new people, so it's way out of my comfort zone. I also don't want to ever have to do this again. It's not fair to Ivan to get attached to someone, he doesn't get that this is just her job. I don't think it was as bad when AB left because CW had started HeadStart and Ivan was still a baby.

I love HeadStart and Early HeadStart, and I'm grateful to 8-cap for all the support they've given my family. I'm just worn out on the homevisitor dance. So I am in this for the kids, what I hope is the new girl makes it until Ivan gets into HeadStart - which could be as early as next September. Then I won't have to worry about that anymore.

Also - CW does remember AB and we have pictures that pop up and he remembers that part of his life. Ivan is that same age now, I want it to be good for him.

CSN Review

I was contacted by CSNstores.com to post some links and then review products of my choice. I chose 3 items.
Melissa and Doug Figure 8 Train Set
Lite Source Sharp Heavy Weight Floor Stand
and Alden Lap Desk

First let me say that even though CSN has many different stores, it's fairly painless to get all your items into one cart. Just find what you want and then find it at the CSNstores.com main site then add to your cart. The items I ordered are all in different stores, Games & Toys, Lighting and AllCoffeeTables.com. But I found them on the main site and added them to the cart there. Each item having it's own number makes it fool-proof.

My order went thru easily enough and I'm very happy with the amount of communication. They send you your order, then announce as each item is shipped from the warehouse, along with tracking information. Everything came fairly fast as well, and made it by the assumed dates listed at time of order.

Now for the items. :)
Melissa and Doug Figure 8 Train Set

For Christmas Ivan recieved a thomas train set from Auntie Deb & Uncle Tim, but it was wood. However, Ivan LOVED it - it was the favorite Christmas gift. I immediately regretted everything I had bought him. So when I saw this and from reviews heard it would work with the Thomas sets I hopped on it. Less than $20...when a similar Thomas set would probably go for $80 or more. It does fit...not perfectly but close enough to work. I also like that the rounded pieces can work both ways so there's no end to how to fit the pieces together. I'm very, very happy with this and the price...$19.85.

Winsome Alden Lap Desk

I have been dreaming about this desk for months. Priced right at $40.00 I snagged this as a review item as well. I dreamed of taking my laptop into bed with me and being able to use my mouse and comfortably watch a movie or play games.

It's worked well for that. Plus the boys fell in love with it and have eaten a meal or 2 there. But once I moved it to my room, the dowels on the legs pulled out and it was pretty wobbly. However, this is easily fixed with some wood glue. I'm still really happy with this item. It's a fair price and it's really useful - there's even a little drawer and part of the top props up.

Lite Source Sharp Heavy Weight Floor Stand in Polished Steel
This is the item they show:

This is the item you get:

I was very disappointed. Partly this is my fault, it does say floor stand. Partly it is theirs for a misleading picture. Really any company knows you show what the person will be recieving, not what they can make. I also think they should have made it obvious with featured links to lamps that would fit this stand.

My disappointment aside, my husband assures me this was a great price at $53.10, and it really is solid. Now I just need to get a lamp that fits it. The polished steel is attractive and truly it's a heavy solid piece with wheels that make it easily moved.

Sunday Stealing...late...or maybe early...

Cheers to all of us thieves!
But I was reminded by my friend Anna who stole it first at Anna - Me, Unapologetically

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:00 am

2. How do you like your steak? Used to be well, has changed to med-rare

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Tangled

4. What is your favorite TV show? Ummmm....Raising Hope

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Ireland countryside

6. What did you have for breakfast? hotdogs and coffee

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Mexican

8. What foods do you dislike? olives

9. Favorite Place to Eat? Mexican Laundromat (el vaquero) or Mountain Town Station

10. Favorite dressing? Blue Cheese

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? 96 Prizm

12. What are your favorite clothes? jeans and a bulky sweater

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Stonehenge and Hawaii

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 empty (i really want it to be 1/2 full, tho)

15. Where would you want to retire? someplace warm but most likely by my kids

16. Favorite time of day? early evening

17. Where were you born? Owosso, MI

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Ick - don't like it at all. Ok does T-Ball count?

19. Who do you think will never call you again? Probably lots of people...definitely my biological father.

20. Person you expect to call you next? Ummm...no one calls me.

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to Stealing? nah

22. Bird watcher? yes, love to see the birds. Usually see lots of crows for some reason.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? night

24. Do you have any pets? yes, 1 big furry dog named Henry

25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share? finished my taxes and we are getting more than I expected!!!

26. What did you want to be when you were little? archeologist

27. What is your best childhood memory? reading with my Great-Grandma Keehn and playing in the rocks outside her house...tied with a trip to my Grandma and Grandpa Hursh's campground in the UP.

28. Are you a cat or dog person? yes

29. Are you married? yes

30. Always wear your seat belt? yes

31. Been in a car accident? yes, minor tho.

32. Any pet peeves? tons

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? mushroom

34. Favorite Flower? lilac (duh!)

35. Favorite ice cream? mackinac island fudge

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Oh My! Burgers and Fries

37. How many times did you fail your driver’s test? zero

38. Who did you get your last email from? Bill Me Later

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? TJ Maxx

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? not really

41. Like your job? yes!

42. Broccoli? yum

43. What was your favorite vacation? cruise with my parents, brother and Kurrle grandparents who paid for us all to go.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? My good friends Jen & Steve and their kids. We tore the place up!

45. What are you listening to right now? silence...finally!!!

46. What is your favorite color? blue

47. How many tattoos do you have? zero - I hate needles

48. How many times have you tagged someone to do a meme? a few

49. What time did you finish this meme? 9:20 pm

50. Coffee Drinker? oh yea

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: The First 2011 Alphabet Meme

I stole this from my friend Anna. Not sure if she wants me to link people over to her blog or not. But this I'm taking - click the link above to see what this new Meme is about.

A is for Age: 36

B is for Beer of choice: Leinenkugel's Raspberry Wheat

C is for Career: Accounting and Mom...mostly mom...

D is for favourite Drink: Iced Mocha Mocha or Pumpkin Spice Late (depending on my mood)

E is for Essential item you use everyday: Laptop

F is for Favourite song at the moment: Ack - I have no idea...White Stripes - We are gonna be friends


G is for favourite Game: The Sims 3

H is for Home town: Owosso, MI

I is for Instruments you play: voice, I can't play anything but my husband tells me I don't totally suck at singing and I enjoy it.

J is for favourite Juice: Juicy Juice Fruit Punch

K is for Kids: 2 boys

L is for Last kiss: few minutes ago...my honey has returned

M is for marriage: I'm on the 2nd and last one

N is for full Name: Lilac Wolf ;)

O is for Overnight hospital stays: 6

P is for phobias: spiders, bees and heights

Q is for quote: "havin' a laugh..." from The Matchmaker

R is for biggest Regret: Going to college

S is for sports: don't like sports

T is for Time you wake up: whenever Ivan crawls over me.

U is for colour of underwear: black with pink edging

V is for Vegetable you love: green onion

W is for Worst Habit: Facebook

X is for X-rays you've had: Not too many, recently my neck after a rear-ending.

Y is for Yummy food you make: Blackened chicken (especially wrapped in pepper bacon)

Z is for zodiac sign: Virgo (in fact we are all virgos, except CW who is a Capricorn i think...)

Review - The Other Guys & Dinner for Schmucks

This is my new favorite movie! The Other Guys staring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg is hilarious! When the movie started I actually checked what I was watching because there was a high action chase scene with the Rock and Samuel Jackson. I'm not joking, I'm like WTF is this??? It's a cheesey scene and as the movie progesses it's obvious that the Rock and Samuel Jackson are enjoying making fun of characters they regularly play.

Ferrell plays a cop who likes to be safe and actually enjoys doing paperwork, known as the "paper bitch." Mark Wahlberg plays a decent cop who accidentally shot a baseball player during the World Series and cost the Yankees their shot. He was sent down and partnered with Ferrell for that one. They accidentally end up on a very big case and bumble thru it all the way.

I never laughed so much, not since SuperTroopers. Michael Keaton plays their captain, and he moonlights at Bed Bath and Beyond so his son can explore his sexuality at NYU. Plus he keeps giving TLC references, but when Ferrell calls him on it, he has no idea what the guy is talking about. Even at the end, "Stop it! It's not funny anymore!" Ferrell yells at him. "I have no idea what you are talking about." he replies.

I got this as my free Redbox movie for the month and I watched it Monday and then again Tuesday morning before I had to return it. I'm going to own this one soon!


This movie was not as high on the funny meter, but it was still well played and really good. It actually had some very serious moments that were well played. Barry is the schmuck, played by Steve Carell who is befriended by Tim (Paul Rudd's character) after hitting him with is car.

Barry makes these amazing scenes using dead mice that he performs taxidermy on. And the idea is Tim is up for a promotion and has to find an "idiot" to bring to a dinner his boss hosts. Everyone brings an idiot and whoever has the biggest idiot (or makes them laugh the most) wins.

Tim's girlfriend is not impressed, but Barry thinks they are really friends and even though he makes a mess of almost everything he touches, Tim can't help but be moved by recieving the true friendship that Barry offers. When Tim tells Barry what the dinner is really about, Tim must help him win anyway so that he doesn't lose another thing to his boss and arch enemy.

Honestly everyone is laughing at Barry's mice, but I thought they were amazing! Yeah, creepy dead mice, but still...anyway, check this out. Discover what friendship really means and enjoy a quirky, funny story.

New TV?

I have been watching a lot of tv shows on my laptop and have begun dreaming of getting a new TV and that includes looking at TV stands for flat screens. I'm suprised there are so many out there, but www.tvstands.com have quite a few to choose from.

I then start thinking about how to stream from my internet to my tv. There are ruku boxes, blue ray players, and I think the xbox also streams.

What I do have is a laptop (thanks to the Andersons), internet (thanks to Frontier) and 3 old tvs (thanks to mom, the Hansens and a secret santa). The dream keeps going up in price. So I think my 1st step is to get a job...pay off bills...then maybe get a new TV and stand and blue ray player. Who knows....

Actually send some luck my way, I did apply for a good federal job in Lansing! - I think...which is really the issue, the website for the federal jobs are really confusing.

So in closing, go check out these TV stands for flat screens if you already have the nice TV. :)

(csn stores requested the placement of link, product reviews will follow in Jan.)

Book Review - Metro Girl

Today I am reviewing Metro Girl.  This story is about Alex Barnaby, a girl who grew up rebuilding engines in her dad's garage, but chose the safe life of an insurance adjuster until she gets a mysterious call from her fun-loving and irresponsible brother who lives in Miami.  She goes to rescue him yet again, meets Hooker, a NASCAR driver who helps her find her brother and rescue him.  They have an adventure, she loses her job and remembers what she truly loves.

I really enjoyed the Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels, so when I saw someone reading this it was like discovering a hidden gem.  Something new by Janet Evanovich, time I don’t have to spend waiting for her next book.  I enjoy her novels because they have good pacing and are funny.

J. Evanovich is a down to earth writer.  She writes in plain English, has great pacing, and keeps it so close to reality – even when going to the very unreal – that it’s silly.  Like Stephanie Plum always blowing up her cars, and bumbling thru her work.

This book is for someone who enjoys mystery/suspense, light reading and silliness.  J. Evanovich has been writing for years.  If you want to learn more, you can go to her website http://www.evanovich.com/.

If you enjoy this book you might want to wander to the next title in this series, Motor Mouth.  Also you can pick up the Stephanie Plum books.  I would also recommend Donna Andrews, who writes Meg Langslow books – which are even sillier.  And MC Beaton, who writes the Agatha Raisin novels and the Hamish McBeth novels.  They are mystery books and less silly but still funny and entertaining.

Book Lag...

I have been lost in thought lately.  I realize that I have to give up knitting.  My carpel tunnel won't cooperate.  I can crochet mostly, but I loved knitting.  So I have had to mourn that a bit.  Then I am growing restless with staying home.  I love the kids, but I'm not challenged.  I miss working.

I've managed to read a few books between then and now.  And I really want to review 2 of them. 

First is Family Ties by Danielle Steel.  Notice there's not a link to amazon here - because I'm telling you to not waste your time.  I feel dirty for the time I wasted on it.  She is literally a Harlequinn romance writer who gets way too much hype and pay.  The plot is thin, the characters are shallow. 

A woman inherits her sisters 3 kids and spends her entire life raising them.  They grow up in about a chapter.  And they all have their own problems.  The oldest is practically anarexic working for Vogue - and her job is to run around like a chicken with it's head cut off and playing with expensive jewelry.  That sums that one up.  Then the boy is in law school until he gets sucked into a stormy affair with a teacher.  The youngest wants to be a tatoo artist and is dating a boy from Iran.  And the aunt is an architecht - and her job is also running around like a chicken with it's head cut off and yelling at contractors.  The characters talk like weirdos, no one talks like that in real life.  Really, really just didn't like it.

Now this one I enjoyed.  It's not some great classic, but it's silly and entertaining.  Diesel is back from the Stephanie Plum Between the Numbers books for his own story.  Also we have a new character - Liz.  She makes great cupcakes.  All she wants out of life is to sell her cookbook so she can pay for her foundation and save the house she inherited from her aunt.

She finds out she is an unmentionable, one of only 2 people that can find enchanted objects.  Diesel and Wolf are after the same stone, and Diesel is using Liz and protecting her from Wolf so they can get it first.  It has to due with the 7 deadly sins, each sin has a stone.  They have to find 4 charms to get the one stone for Gluttony.  Liz is affected by each charm, overeating, wanting to get nasty (punished cause she's a bad girl), collect stuff and have babies.

She keeps the story moving and with the addition of the monkey and one-eyed cat, there is extra entertainment.  Evanovich even keeps a dose of reality in there.  When her father comes to visit she forces Diesel to leave because she can't handle how much it would anger her parents for her to share a bed with a guy - no matter the reason.

Fun read - this one I recomend.

Teen Stuff

Once upon a time when I was a teenager I once spent a day with my best friend L and her dad.  First we went to see his friends.  The couple had a basement rec room with bar tables and stools and real working slot machines.  He gave us each $5 or $10 (I can't remember) but said if we won we could keep it.  If I remember correctly I quit while I was even.  I don't like losing money.  lol

So after that he sent us to the best, fanciest chinese restaurant in town and said order what we want and have them charge it to his account.  And yes you are getting this right, he didn't go with us.  That was the day with her dad.  I was dazzled as a teenager.

As an adult, I think he sucks.  I mean he really sucks.  That was the extent of a day with his daughter - who he did not have custody of.  In our senior year when her mom moved to California, she moved in with her aunt.  I knew he really sucked then because who doesn't take in their kid???  She had to stay in a spare room at her aunts house, and she really grew up fast. 

I am glad I know now what I know - but I wish I could have been more knowledgeable then, to have been a better friend.

(Thanks to CSNstores for an opportunity to review products in upcoming months)

Book Review - Creepy Cute Crochet

I asked Quirk if I could review Creepy Cute Crochet. And to be honest after Witch Crafts, I was leary about how clear the directions would be. A few of the crafts in Witch Crafts were really difficult to follow with the limited space.

But let me tell you - I was wrong. This book is fantastic! It has a Model T approach. Most of the creatures use the same head and body. Then there are little things that make them unique, including color, weapons and clothes.

I recieved it on Friday, and finally today I finished a Ninja for my son. I still need glue, and I'm not happy with my eyes.  I used Peaches & Cream or Lilly and Cream - whatever it is at Wal-Mart.  And it really doesn't take much yarn.

Creepy Cute Crochet is written by Christen Haden, whose dayjob is computer progamming.  I like that she lets you know right off that you do need some crochet skills before you get started here.  This is not a how-to-crochet book.  But she does include a list of resources, and always lets you know what she used.  Each creature in her book was created with Lion Brand Cotton.  Right up front she lists the tools you will need to work with and what she recommends.

The way it works is each creature has a few page spread.  The picture is surrounded by everything you will need to complete the project, then it goes through the basics, and then the details and finally assembly.  The basics usually include moving to the back of the book to get the pattern for the basic head and basic body.

I also like that the book is set up for 2 different kind of people.  The step by stepers and the map readers.  She has a chart alongside all the crochet directions.  Personally I can't make the chart out to save my life, but then again I don't do well with maps either.  The directions are very clear, and easy to read.

The only thing that held me back was my own crochet limitations.  But even I managed to get this guy finished and together.  I only had to restart a few times.  I really enjoyed making this, and I plan on making more now.  I'm sure I'll be addicted before long.

So go to Quirk or Amazon to pick up this book.  It will fulfill your desire to crochet and reign as god over the epic battle between good and evil.

Craft Catch-up

I've been a crocheting mad-woman lately. I did a scarf, but didn't get a picture of that.

I finished Ivan's lizard to go with CW's. Ivan's lizard is the blue one, and CW picked that multi-colored yarn. I bought the pattern from a girl on Etsy, but I don't think she's selling it anymore.



I did a hobo bag. I found the pattern at Lions Brand yarn. And used the Hometown USA yarn I purchased at Wal-Mart. I think the yarn may have been too bulky. If I do it again, I will use a larger hook and more yarn.



Then this last weekend I met up with my friend in Battle Creek to teach her to crochet and hang out. We chose a market bag pattern, and it turned out ok. I'm not too crazy about it. The holes catch every corner and it's too stretchy.


I also need to share what my good friend over at Tribal Designs sent me. She sent me a pair of leg warmers that she fashions out of old sweaters (talk about green) and some new jewelry. I love the new necklaces, especially the one with the red chain. And she sent me a ring, which I tried to take a picture of but it was just too close. Also some earrings - which have already been added to my collection. And finally she spoiled my boys with crocheted hats. They love them so much, Ivan just carries it everywhere. Currently it's out in the car after having travelled with us to Jo-Ann's.


And now I'm off to try knitting "Thrummed Mitten" that I can then felt...maybe.  I don't know, I'm nervous now.

Review - Full Dark, No Stars

Stephen King is back in all his terrifying glory!

Full Dark, No Stars is a book of stories like Different Seasons, Four Past Midnight and Nightmares and Dreamscapes. This book has four stories that are each scary in their own way.

1922 is a story about a pre-depression era farmer working like hell to keep his farm and avoid a big pig processing plant next door. It means so much to him that he not only murders his wife, he manipulates his teenage son to help him do it. But is she really gone?

Big Driver is about a small time mystery writer who is brutally raped on her way home from a book club luncheon and appearance. She doesn't want the publicity, so she avoids the police, but is she just going to take it? And what secrets does she uncover in her bid to get revenge?

Fair Extension is a story that reminded me of his book Thinner. The man has cancer, and is really going to die soon. He finds a character that will give him an extension for a price. 15% of his annual income for the rest of his life, and he must pass his misfortune onto someone he hates (in Thinner to get rid of the curse, he had to feed it to someone else). Read to find out who he hates, and how it plays out. It's not just passing the cancer to this person, it's much more sinister.

A Good Marriage is a story about a woman who thinks she has a perfectly good marriage until she makes a terrifying discovery in the garage. What can she do at this point? She doesn't want to disrupt her children's lives, and also she has been a housewife for the last 30+ years, what would she do? Read to see if she makes the correct choice (and for the record I think she does).

In the afterword he explains that his goal here was to explore what ordinary people might do in extraordinary circumstances, and he does that, fully. I was the most touched (and haunted) by Big Driver and A Good Marriage, in part because the characters were women, but also because they were the least ficticious. I mean, how well do you really know the people you meet, even someone you have shared your life with? You can't fully know anyone but yourself, and in a dark corner of the mind that can be scary.

If you like a scary story, get this book, arm yourself with a flashlight and have a good read. I am not kidding, I finished the last 2 stories in one night (even though I was exhausted) and then made Chris come to bed, because I was too terrified to be in my own room alone (even with my boys).

**standing ovation for Stephen King**