Zombies vs. Unicorns

Title: Zombies vs. Unicorns

Edited by: Holly Black (Team Unicorn) and Justine Larbalestier (Team Zombie)

Publisher: McElderry Books 2010

Genre: YA Short Stories; Zombie; Paranormal

Pages: 415

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; 2011 - It Wasn't Me

It’s a question as old as time itself: Which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? This all-original, tongue-in-cheek anthology edited by Holly Black (Team Unicorn) and Justine Larbalestier (Team Zombie), makes strong arguments for both sides in the form ofspectacular short stories. Contributors include bestselling authors Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan.

Discover how unicorns use their powers for evil, why zombies aren’t always the enemy, and much more in this creative, laugh-out-loud collection that will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

This is definitely the best anthology of the year.  I love every single story included here.  Half were zombie stories (of course I would like them) and half were unicorn stories (kinda surprised I liked them).  It was really hard to narrow it down, but here are my four favorite stories:

1. "Bougeinvillea" by Carrie Ryan -- Set in the same world as The Forest of Hands and Teeth, this story was a classic post zombie apocalypse story.  Our heroine (can't think of another word, so I'm going with that) lives on an island in the Caribbean visited by pirates and traders.  Her father controls everything, but of course that never works right?  I loved how the story switched back and forth from the present and bits of her past.  We get a lot of character information in just a few pages.  And it's action packed and filled with zombie dread.  Perfect!

2. "The Children of the Revolution" by Maureen Johnson -- You ever read about one of those crazy cult religions and think "what's really going on there?"  Here's your story.  It has a crazy religion, an unsuspecting participant, a famous actress, a big house in the country, five little kids and a secret.  Can you guess what the secret is?  I guess before I even started reading, but that didn't make this story any else creepy.  Just how I like them.

3. "Princess Prettypants" by Meg Cabot -- Just what I would expect from the author of The Princess Diaries.  It was a fun little story with a pretty interesting unicorn.  And I'm not even a huge fan of unicorns.  It had the right blend of action, despair, and fantasy.

4. "The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn" by Diana Peterfreund -- Uber fun story.  I had absolutely not clue where the author was taking us, and that's the fun part.  Definitely check this one out.

Overall, amazing collection of stories.  Although I'm still squarely in Team Zombie, I have a new found respect for Team Unicorn.  They can really pull in the creep factor when they want to.  Kudos to you!

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Websites/Organizations/Apps, etc.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists Hmmm... where to go?  What to choose?  I'm going with Bookish websites.  I'm not including book bloggers on this website.

1. LibraryThing -- I just started using this a few weeks ago and I love it.  I now have a way to catalog my books and check out some great reviews.  Plus, I've won two books already from this site!

2. Allen County Public Library -- This is my local library.  (or at least for the next three days until I move out of state)  My library is absolutely amazing.  The collection is extensive and they have some great programs.  Plus, we have the premier genealogy collection east of the Mississippi.  It is the place to go.  I used to go to the main branch every week for the last five years.  If you in the Northeast Indiana area, check it out!

3. Amazon.com -- My favorite website to buy books.  It may be the big box store without the box, but it still has awesome deals and selection.  Plus I just traded in a book to them and got a gift card.  Yippeee!!

4. Book Closeouts -- A weird little book website.  Check it out, they have some great deals.

5. Booking Through Thursday -- I love this meme!  Had to add it.  They have great book questions.

I can only think of five, so there you go!

Music Monday - Matisyahu "Youth"

This might seem like a strange choice today, but it fits.  I really like Matisyahu and his lyrics are just amazing.  This song in particular has such a great message.  I dedicate this song to all my former students.

Lyrics:

Some of them come now Some of the running Some of them looking for fun Some of them looking for away out of confusion Some of them don't know where to be Some of them don't know where to go Some of them trust their instincts That somethings missing from the show Some don't fit society Their insides are crying low Some of them teachers squashed the flame 'fore it had a chance to grow Some of them embers still glow Them charcoal hushed and low Some of them come with hunger supressed Not fed them feel the death blow, yo

[CHORUS:] Young man control in your hand Slam your fist on the table And make your demand Take a stand Fan a fire for the flame of the youth Got the freedom to choose You better make the right move Young man, the power's in your hand Slam your fist on the table and make your demand You better make the right move "youth is the engine of the world" Storm the halls of vanityFocus your energyInto a laser beamStreaming shattered lightUnites to pierce between the seams And it seems The world open peering The children see Rapid fire for your mind Half a truth is just a lie They rub me the wrong way They say their way or fall behind Seventeen disconnect left out The concept as to why There's a spiritual emptiness So the youth them get vexed Skip class and get wrecked Feel with beer and cigarettes To fill the hole in their chest!

Track from the studio album...

Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale

Title: Calamity Jack

Author: Shannon and Dean Hale

Publisher: Bloomsbury 2010

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library

The sequel to Rapnzel's Revenge was definitely worthwhile.  This time we see Jack's back story.  How and why he ended up in the Old West with a goose.  I liked Jack, but his story wasn't the best.  All stupidity and running.  But then once he met Rapunzel, he became a much more interesting character.

I liked the book once we caught up with where Rapunzel's Revenge left off.  Then it started to progress like I thought it should.  I liked the inclusion of other fairy tale style monsters and creatures.  It was a nice touch.  It started to make a lot more sense.  If Rapunzel and witches and golden laying geese are in this world, why shouldn't other creatures?  Made sense.  The dialogue was fun.  The visuals fun.  Everything about it was fun.  Definite fun 20 minute read.

1. Rapunzel's Revenge
2. Calamity Jack

Saturday 9: Make You Feel My Love

Make You Feel My Love

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

1. What has someone done unusual to make you feel their love? -- Wrote notes.  I know doesn't sound that unusual, but I've never really gotten love letters before.  Someone took the time to sit and write a series of letters about me, about them, and to me.  I cherish those letters.

2. Do you own a smart phone? If yes, is it everything you wanted? If no, how seriously have you considered a purchase of the new smart phone? -- Nope.  Soon, soon soon.  Right now, I just have a crappy non-Internet phone.

3. Have you ever camped out to purchase something? -- Absolutely not.  Nothing is worth camping out to get it.  I can just wait until I can walk in and buy it quickly.

4. What is your worst habit? -- Messiness.  I am not the cleanest person of all.  I don't leave food and stuff around, but papers, piles of mail...  that stays.  I need to do better at constantly picking things up.

5. What is your best habit? -- Writing...  At least I'm trying to keep it up.  I see writing as a great exercise.  It's a great habit.

6. In your opinion, what is life's greatest mystery? -- Love.  How does it work?  Is it all chemical?  Is it all from that thing called a soul?  Such a mystery.

7. Are you one of those people who is constantly busy with projects, social outings, etc. or do you just like to lay low and stay home? -- I would say half and half.  I like going out and doing things, but I need some down time.

8. Whether you're busy all the time or like to just chill, have you always been that way? -- Yeah.  I love social time, but I have to have alone time to regroup.

9. Is there something you'd like to change about how you spend your time? If so, what is it? If not, why not? -- I would love to actually have a job.  Weird, I know.  But I hate sitting around not having a somewhat semiregular schedule.

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale

Title: Rapunzel's Revenge

Author: Shannon and Dean Hale

Publisher: Bloomsbury 2008

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library

I absolutely adored this graphic novel.  A great alternate story of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel.  Meant for children ages 9-12, I was delighted to find that I enjoyed a children's book.  I don't usually pick children's books, but this one was written by Shannon Hale.  And I loved her adult novel Austenland.  So I thought, why not?

The art s fun.  Not too detailed to lose children, but with enough reality that it was visually appealing.  Colorful and fun.  The character facial expressions were especially fun.

As to the story, I loved the twists.  We start with the "classic" Rapunzel story,  but then it changes.  She doesn't wait for her Prince to rescue her from the tower.  This Rapunzel takes matters into her own hands and escapes.  And starts a journey through her world to bring down her evil "mother" Gothel.  Along the way she meets some fun characters, specifically her sidekick Jack (of "and the Beanstalk"?).  A fun story to go along with fun characters and fun visuals.

Overall a very enjoyable 20 minute read.  And I found that there's a sequel: Calamity Jack.  Maybe I'll find out Jack's back story.  I'll have to pick it up.

1. Rapunzel's Revenge
2. Calamity Jack

Friday Fill-Ins #1

And...here we go!

1. Getting away to another state soon.

2. Music to start your day off right.

3. Coffee, tea or a beer.

4. Insomnia in place of sleep.

5. The lights of that incoming train are really bright.

6. Seize happiness.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to movie night with the boys, tomorrow my plans include grad parties, Rock the Plaza, and Cougar Hunter and Sunday, I want to lay around all day, alas I need to keep packing and attend more grad parties!

Quote Wednesday - Quindlen

Dr. Seuss is remembered for the murder of Dick and Jane, which was a mercy killing of the highest order. -- Anna Quindlen

It seems like my Quote Wednesday posts have been really serious as of late.  I thought I needed a lighter subject, so I turn to this quote from Anna Quindlen.  Even though I put Dick and Jane on my favorite children's book Top 10, it was mostly because those books were so memorable at a young age.  It definitely doesn't mean that I think they are amazing books.  Dr. Seuss is far superior.

And now on to the exciting news....

I finished another reading challenge!!!  As of today, I finished my Young Adult Challenge!!!!   I read 12 books from the young adult character that I didn't count in the other genre specific challenges.  12 doesn't seem like a lot, but I haven't read a lot of YA in past years.  When I was a YA, it seemed like the only options where Sounder and Goosbumps and Sweet Valley High. Crap in my opinion.  Thankfully the genre has really expanded and improved in the past few years.  I read some great YA fiction and plan to keep the genre on the radar for future reads.  So yeah!! One more challenge done, how many to go?  Oh yeah A lot.  But I'll get through it.  I'm past the halfway point (at least I'm telling myself that).

And the super duper amazing exciting news....

I have been cleared to move.  I am picking up the truck next Tuesday, packing it on Wednesday, and driving out to Nebraska on Thursday!!  The boys will be flying out on Saturday, giving us a few days to get things settled.  I'm so excitd that this is finally happening.  It's been almost a year in the maling.  There were times that I thought it would never happen, but now I'm letting my hopes get up.

Pretty soon I'll be blogging from another state, but I don't think anything will be changing on here.  I'll still be doing my weekly posts (sorry about Monday, things were way too hectic to focus on a Music Monday post) and my book reviews and my random writing and my little posts about life.

Wake, Fade, Gone by Lisa McMann

Title: Wake, Fade, Gone

Author: Lisa McMann

Publisher:  Simon Pulse 2008, 2010, 2011

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 224, 272, 240

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; Young Adult; A to Z Titles: G

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody- notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....  (review for Wake only)

Since I read these back to back, I decided to do one review of the trilogy instead of separate book reviews.  Overall, I liked this series.

The characters intrigued me.  A character who gets sucked into other people's dreams was interesting.  The main character, Janie, is likable and relatable.  She's someone who would be a good friend, although I guess sleepovers are out of the question.  The main male character, Cabel is the enigma in the first book but comes out to be the kind of guy anyone would want as their boyfriend.  (Not really a spoiler, I could see that plot development within the first 20 pages)  The side characters are more of caricatures, but that's okay.  The story's not really about them.  My only issue with characters: it's very convenient for Janie and Cabel to not have any present parents.  They can only do most of the things they do because there is no parental supervision.  A little too convenient.

As to the plot, I have mixed feelings.  The first book I really liked.  Although the last  30 pages seemed like either too much of a setup for the trilogy or an out of the blue occurence.  It seemed out of place unless you view the three books as one giant story.  Then it makes more sense.  The plot of the second book was a bit contrived.  Not bad, but definitely not great.  The third book redeemed the series for me.  We really get into the ramifications of Janie's actions and meet (well sorta meet) a very important person.  I thought that the trilogy tied up very nicely with Janie understanding her choices and choosing the path that she feels is the best.  It's the path that's the right choice for her.  I liked how the trilogy doesn't end with a fairy tale "they all lived happily ever after" ending, but an open-ended finale.  We see Janie starting off on her new life, wherever that may lead.  Definitely a good ending to a this series.  I'm interested in reading McMann's other books... They're going on my TBR list.

Side note: I absolutely adore the covers for these books.  So simple, yet very intriguing.  They remind me of the black, white, and red Twilight series covers.

Top Ten Tuesday: Reasons I love Being a Book Blogger/Bookish Person

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists This week the topic is "Top Ten Reasons I Love Being a Book Blogger / Bookish Person."  Since there are technically two topics in there, I thought I would split my list in two Top Fives!

Reasons I Love Being a Bookish Person

1.  New Worlds -- How else could I travel to 14th century Scotland?  Or a world of wizards and trolls?  Or Wonderland where everything is always just a bit off?  Books offer me a way to travel without ever leaving home or more importantly spending all that money.

2. Way to Satisfy My Zombie Addiction -- I love zombies, as I'm sure anyone whose read my blog has figured out.  Unless the zombie apocalypse were to happen soon, I don't think I'll be able to encounter any zombies.  Even so, I wouldn't actually want to encounter a zombie.  So instead, I get to read about them in books.

3. Inspiration for Writing -- Every writer needs an inspiration.  I find mine in fiction.  It fills my mind and eventually filters into my dreams.  From there, I create new stories from the ideas.

4. Comfort/friend -- I've at least hinted at some of the problems I've had lately with the concept of friends.  To that end, books have always been there for me.  They have been a source of comfort, humor, every emotion.  It's a great position.

5. Brain stimulation -- I have this fear of developing Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.  It's not as crazy of a fear as you might think.  They both run on at least one side of my family.  Although there is no cure for either disease, the research suggests brain stimulation may help slow down the progression.

Reasons I Love Being a Book Blogger

1. New Friends -- Although I have only physically met two of the bloggers that I follow (full disclosure: I knew them from before we all blogged), I enjoyed the correspondence with many new people.  It's a great tool for socializing, but one that doesn't force me to be someone I'm not.  I'm a very shy person in general and hate being thrust into social situations where I have to meet new people. Blogging allows for a level of safety.

2. Accountability -- With the sheer fact of not knowing most of the people who follow my blog, I have no reason to lie.  I am me.  I am who I am on my blog.  I don't hide any part of myself.  I keep some of the details of life private, but the public areas are not lies.

3. New Topics -- I love reading about new ideas.  For example, I follow a primarily comic book blogger.  I have just started reading comics (pushed by J of course) and this particular blogger's ideas are of great interest to me.  I'm not reading things I already knew.  I am learning new.  The same goes for all the technology blogs I now follow.

4. Additions to My TBR List -- I love getting new suggestions for reading books.  I love it so much that I now have over 1000 suggestions.  It's getting a bit out of hand, but I still love reading about new ones.

5.  Place to Write -- I've started on a new endeavor as of late.  I want to write.  I don't know exactly what I want to write, but I know I want to write.  And now I have a place to write.  And I have critics.  I've always been a bit apprehensive about showing my writing to anyone.  Blogging offers me a safe place to show my writing and getting feedback.  Thanks for everyone who has commented on my few pieces.  I hope to be writing more soon.

The Prestige by Christopher Priest

Title: The Prestige

Author: Christopher Priest

Publisher: A Tor Book 1995

Genre: Thriller?

Pages: 360

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; Page to Screen

Two 19th century stage illusionists, the aristocratic Rupert Angier and the working-class Alfred Borden, engage in a bitter and deadly feud; the effects are still being felt by their respective families a hundred years later. Working in the gaslight-and-velvet world of Victorian music halls, they prowl edgily in the background of each other's shadowy life, driven to the extremes by a deadly combination of obsessive secrecy and insatiable curiosity. At the heart of the row is an amazing illusion they both perform during their stage acts. The secret of the magic is simple, and the reader is in on it almost from the start, but to the antagonists the real mystery lies deeper. Both have something more to hide than the mere workings of a trick.

This book took much longer to read than I thought it would, but it was definitely worth it.  One of my favorites for this year!!! (You know how I hate movie tie-in covers for books,  but it was the only version the library had.  If I bought it, I would definitely have searched for a different version.)

Book

The book was set in two separate time periods.  We meet Andrew who by the intervention of a mysterious stranger begins to learn about the history of his birth family.  The book then switches to Alfred Borden's (Andrew's great grandfather) diary.  We glimpse his life and struggles with the world of magic.  In his diary we meet Rupert Angier (The Great Danton) with whom Borden had a long standing feud.  Then the story switches back into the present and we learn more about Angier's great granddaughter, Kate.  Kate and Andrew discuss the feud, what happened when Andrew (or Nicholas?) was just a toddler, and then we are again transported into the past.  We are privy to Rupert Angier's diary of his life.  We learn of his view of the feud and about his strive to create The New Transported Man.  I won't give away any of the mystery, but I will say that there are a couple.  And the promise of mystery and explanation drives the book.  I read the last 150 pages in one sitting because I just had to know.  Very intriguining mystery!  And the ending did not disappoint.

Movie

I confess that I saw the movie before reading the book, but that is of little importance in this case.  They are very different entities.  The movie director, Christopher Nolan, made sure to keep the main story between the two magicians, but left out the present day appearance of Andrew and Kate.  He also changed the catalyst to the magicians' rivalry.  However, the spirit was there.

And the actors!!!  I absolutely love Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale.  They show such complex emotions that they make the film.  Michael Caine was amazing as Angier's ingeniur.  And David Bowie as Nikola Tesla was perfect casting.  My only casting issue, Scarlett Johansson as Olivia.  I understand that her part in the book is limited, but she just seemed so flat on film that I didn't see her appeal to either of the men.

This was definitely a great film.  Reminded me how much I love Christopher Nolan.  And it was a great adaptation of the novel, even with the changes.

The Outlaw's Bride by Catherine Palmer

Title: The Outlaw's Bride

Author: Catherine Palmer

Publisher: Steeple Hill 2010

Genre: Christian historical romance

Pages: 277

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; Summer Romance - Historical Fiction

Isobel Matas's hope of marriage to her betrothed depends on recovering her dowry from the outlaws who killed her father and stole her inheritance. But, while traveling in New Mexico territory, she witnesses a murder that changes everything. Suddenly, her own life is threatened—until she's rescued by fast-talking cowboy Noah Buchanan. Isobel's only chance for survival is to marry the rugged trail boss—who needs her to fulfill his own destiny. As the mismatched newlyweds unite against Lincoln County's tumultuous violence, Noah's deep faith challenges Isobel's quest for vengeance. And will lead them on a journey neither ever imagined.

Not a horrible romance, but definitely not one of my favorites.  My main issue with this one: the main female character.  Isobel Matas was just too annoying.  I couldn't get over her annoying persistence for revenge to the point of danger.  The male lead, Noah, was a much more endearing character.  I liked him, but her, no way.  And that was the problem with the book.  I couldn't get overally excited about the book because I couldn't connect to the character.

Other than that, the story was fairly decent.  It was more of an adventure than a straight romance and that was the part that I liked.  I just couldn't get into it completely without the character connection.  Really that's all I have to say about this book...

Autumn: The City by David Moody

Title: Autumn: The City

Author: David Moody

Publisher:

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 330

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library

The sequel to Moody's Autumn doesn't fail to live up to the first one.  This volume happens during the same time period as the first, but focuses on a group of people in the city.  We don't get a mention of what city, but that doesn't really matter.  All we need to know is it's a city somewhere in England.  And that works just fine throughout the book.  We're focused more on the survival of the characters than the setting.  Once again, the zombies are more of an ever-present threat than the focus.  This time they're even more present, constantly just outside the university buildings.

There was a wide range of characters unlike just the few we met in the first one.  My favorite was definitely Cooper, the soldier tucked away in a bunker until after the event and then left in the outside world.  He had the biggest learning curve of all the survivors, not being present during the event.  We see the event fresh through his eyes.  I loved his matter-of-fact approach to the threats and his clear thinking.  He sounds like someone I could have gotten along with.  I also enjoyed Donna, the no-nonsense office worker.  Her strength grew as the book enfolded.  She would definitely be an asset in case of a zombie apocalypse.  We even remeet Emma and Michael from the first book.  They made it out and away from the farmhouse, but they're definitely not out of danger.

Once again, we get a nonending.  There's no "happily ever after," no epilogue, no grand event and that's why I love these books.  It's like we're looking at one chapter of a greater saga.  It leaves the ending open to the imagination or horror depending on your outlook.

An ad in the  back of the book mentioned two other volumes in the series. I will have to do some research.

Autumn

• #1 Autumn
• #2 The City
• #3 Purefaction
• #4 The Human Condition
• #5 Disintegration
• #6 Aftermath

Non-Review Reads - Week of June 13, 2011

While traveling to and from Disney World, I read or skimmed some books.  Thought I would do another Non-review reads to wrap up my reads of the past week.

Juicy Writing by Brigid Lowry

Full of some great advice for young writers (I'm including myself as I am just starting to write seriously).  I loved all the of the writing exercises highlighted.  Hopefully you'll be seeing some of them on my blog in the future.

The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron

Another how-to/advice guide to writing.  Definitely didn't find this one as engaging or helpful as Lowry's book.

Buffy Omnibus Vol. 5

This volume covers some fun side stories plus Oz's travels.  I'm moving through the Buffy comics!

The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide by Stephenie Meyer

Title: The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Publisher: Little 2011

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 524

Rating:   4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library

Note: I finished another book (The Prestige) before this one.  However, that book is part of my page to screen challenge and I didn't have time before leaving for Disney to watch the movie.  So I decided to review this book first.

The Official Illustrated Guide gives fans of Twilight an indepth look the characters, sets, timelines, and insight into Meyer.  For the most part, I skimmed through this book.  I picked the sections that I wanted to read instead of reading every word printed.  My favorite parts:

• An in-depth interview with Stephenie Meyer by her friend Shannon Hale (Austenland, Rapunzel's Revenge, Princess Academy) -- Their friendship comes across loud and clear while giving readers more insight into Meyer's inspiration and process.  Did you know that Meyer originally wrote Forever Dawn (what would become Breaking Dawn) write after Twilight and her publishers asked her to expand the time in between giving us New Moon and Eclipse?  Or that Jacob was initially just a plot device and not intended to be a full character?  Learned a lot about Meyer.
• Playlist -- Meyer writes to music and so created a playlist for certain scenes throughout the four books.  Her song choices are very eclectic, but eerily similar to my choices.

The rest of the book gives us a lot of information about each of the characters, but it's a lot of rehashing if you actually remember the books.  Not the best parts, but good enough to skim.  Probably a must own book for Twihards.  Others, just skip it.

Quote Wednesday - Disney Mania

In honor of our Disney World vacation, today I am offering some of my favorite Disney quotes.  Enjoy!

 Do not be fooled by its commonplace appearance. Like so many things, it is not what outside, but what is inside that counts. -Aladdin

Look, you're really cute, but I can't understand what you're saying. -Finding Nemo

You know, you worry too much. In fact, everybody worries too much.  -Fun and Fancy Free

Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you.  -The Little Mermaid

What do you want me to do, dress in drag and do the hula?  -The Lion King

Let me get this straight. You know her. She knows you. But she wants to eat him. And everybody's okay with this? DID I MISS SOMETHING?  -The Lion King

Oh, it's not the first time I was tossed out of a window, and it won't be the last. What can I say? I'm a rebel.  -The Emperor's New Groove

Oh, stuff and fluff! - Winnie the Pooh

Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again? - Winnie the Pooh

When you go after honey with a balloon, the great thing is not to let the bees know you're coming. - Winnie the Pooh

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you. --Winnie the Pooh

Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed that I’m not all there myself. --Cheshire Cat, Alice in Wonderland

And some from the man himself:

I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse.

Laughter is America's most important export.

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island.

When people laugh at Mickey Mouse, it's because he's so human; and that is the secret of his popularity.

You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.

And my all time favorite:

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.

Disney or Bust!

It's official.  In about one hour we are piling into the car and heading to Indy to catch a plane to Orlando. We're going to Disney World!!!!! I have decided to have a computer free vacation.  I will not be taking my laptop.  I will not be on Facebook.  I will not be updating my blog.  I will have my phone, but will mostly leave it in the hotel.  I want to spend some great time with the boys away from most technology. So I won't be around to respond to any comments on the blog or FB crap.  Never fear, I will be back on Sunday.  And then I will return to my regularly scheduled posting!

Top Ten Tuesday: Disney World

This week the topic was supposed to be  "Top Ten AWWWW Moments in Books."  I couldn't think of many (I'm sure I will eventually) so I thought I would do a Top Ten related to what we're doing this week.  So I give you Top 10 Things I am Looking Forward to at Disney World!  I used to go all the time as a child, but haven't been there in at least 15 years.  I think I am looking forward to this trip even more than my boys. 1. The Haunted Mansion -- My absolute all-time favorite ride at Disney World.  I love this one!  It's not the "scary" ride but more of a fun house ride.  You get to ride in Doombuggies, see a room grow, and have an unexpected addition to your party.  I have fond memories of going on this ride as a child.  Can't wait to experience it as an adult.  One year one of the CMs scared the crap out of my mom in the growing room.  She screamed and jumped at least three feet.  It was priceless!

2. Pirates of the Caribbean -- Close second on my all time favorite rides.  Even with the introduction of Jack Sparrow, I am sure I will still love this ride.  It's so cheesy, it's great.

3. Animal Kingdom -- Never been there.  This park was built after I had moved back to Indiana.  I've heard mixed reviews of the park, but I really want to say I got to see it at least once.  We picked this park over EPCOT for the boys' first time.  I adore EPCOT, but think it would be a bit much for the boys.  Maybe next year.

4. Princess autographs -- In preperation for the trip, I made the boys their own autograph books. Premade ones are so expensive and I was planning on ripping out the autographs to scrapbook anyway.  So I made temporary ones out of note cards and book binder rings.  And I even made one for myself.  I want autogpahs of the princesses.  Yeah, that's right, I am a girly-girl underneath all this "looks like I don't care-ness."  I especially want ot meet Sleeping Beauty and Alice -- my favorites!

5. Press coins -- One of the Disney blogs mentioned pressed coins as a cheap souvenir.  I love the idea!  I went the bank and got the boys each a roll of quarters.  I still have to clean some pennies, but we have a ton laying around the house.  I even want to collect some of these.  Pressed coins and postcards -- those will be my souvenirs.

6. Hotel -- We're staying the Dolphin, one of the older Disney resorts.  Okay, techincally it isn't owned by Disney anymore, but is still considered to be one of the Disney resorts.  We get some of the perks of being at a Disney resort, but not others. Still, looking forward to a new hotel.  And I know the boys are looking forward to the pool!

7. Tom Sawyer Island -- In all my years of going to Disney World, we never once went onto Tom Sawyer's Island.  I really want to go!

8. Disney food -- Really looking forward to some park food.  It may not be the healthiest, but boy does it taste good!

9. Disney ice cream bars -- Classic Disney treat.  I always got one of these as a child.  Really can't wait to have one with the boys.  I'm sure N will love them!

10. Carousel of Progress -- Cheesy, but always one of my favorite rides.  Looking forward to seeing it with adult eyes.  I know it won't have the mystery that it held during my youth, but it is such a unique ride.

One more day and we're off!  So excited about this vacation.  What are your favorites things about Disney World?

Music Monday - Kate Voegele "Chicago"

Contrary to many people, I did not discover Kate Voegele from One Tree Hill. Funny since that's how I found Tyler Hilton, my Music Monday selection two weeks ago.  No, I first heard Kate on tour with Josh Kelley.  I adore Josh Kelley and a friend and I saw him in concert at Jake's in Bloomington around 2006.  It was before Kate's debut album, Don't Look Away was released in 2007.  She and another singer, Alexa Wilkinson, opened for Josh Kelley.  The best part of the concert was that it was tiny.  Jake's is a bar, not a huge auditorium.  I think there were less than 50 people at the concert.  Alexa played, Kate played, and then Josh took the stage for an acoustic set.  I loved all three performers.  B and I immediately bought both Kate and Alexa's cds.  Kate's was only a three song demo, but it was amazing.  My favorite song, and subsequently favorite song when the album debuted, was Chicago.  The song speaks to anyone who has been through a break-up (classic song writing material).  My favorite part is the imagery with cigarette.  The pain is very raw, but now she's moving on and on a train to Chicago!!!  I love the rawness on the demo, but the cd version isn't bad either.  Bonus points for the title, one of my favorite cities! Kate just released a new cd (her third full length!) called A Fine Mess.  It's good.  Not as great at the first cd, but I have been listening it nonstop for about a week.  Pick it up!

Lyrics:

I've never known you But I'm no stranger to this feeling I know it's over but the hurts not What do you call it? What do you call it when broken hearts are not done healing You threw down your cigarette but it's still hot Well I've learned to lie And here's what I've got

Chorus: Well didn't I think you would always love me And didn't I want you to take care of me baby Well that ain't happenin' No no no Wouldn't I love just to rise above this You gotta believe I have suffered enough to be free So I'm officially leavin' With just a kiss on the cheek and I'm gone. I'll be up at 7 o'clock whoa oh oh whoa oh oh 7 o'clock to Chicago Whoa oh whoa oh

It's never easy Breakin' this old addiction I've got the reasons But no rational And I wanna hate you cause you don't give me no conviction Your betrayal oughta make this break down no trouble at all So let the rubble fall Cause I'm running off

Chorus

I'll be on the 7 o'clock to Chicago I ain't got no second thoughtsBecause I know I'm on my way to the topOn my way

Chorus

All the live versions really, really suck, so I had to go with just the song...

As an extra, find a version of her singing "Hallelujah."  Love it!!! Not the best video and sound quality, but best I could find.

And a cover of Muse's "Starlight"!!!

Where to go from here?

I find myself at a crossroads today.  It's been a week of reflection and planning.  The main question: Where to go from here?  Physically, mentally, education-wise, career-wise, relationship-wise... Let me back up a bit.  Last year at this time, I had lost my job as a teacher.  (The school closed due to financial difficulties.)  I was mourning the loss of my career.  I loved teaching, loved the school (even through the problems and difficulties), and I definitely loved my students.  Although very difficult, we hobbled along to give the seniors a proper send-off.  They graduated and have gone on to the next stage of their lives.  My sponsor class wasn't so lucky.  They were junior last year and had the difficult task of entering a new school for their senior year.  Personally, I was ready for a break from education.  I had a plan of moving to Omaha, NE and going to law school.  I was ready (or at least thought I was ready) to get out of teaching and try something new.  I was excited and sad about my new direction in life.

Fast forward a few months.   Come August, complications arose and I ended up staying here in Indiana.  There were no teaching jobs available.  I tried to find other work, but ended up mostly being unemployed through the school year.  My boys entered a new school and thrived.  I languished in limbo-land in regard to my hopeful move.  All through, I kept track of my former students.  Seeing them occasionally.  Watching them transition to different schools, and in some cases different activities and interests.

Now.  I find myself at a crossroads.  I am this close to getting an okay to move this month to Omaha.  A proposal is in the works.  Not exactly what I wanted, but a livable proposal.  The boys, my mother and I are preparing to go to Disney World next week.  These things are very exciting.  Things are moving forward!

But then I start to look back...  I am trying to write graduation cards for my students.  They've graduated, made it through their senior year.  And I am sad!  I am very proud of all of them for making it through and succeeding.  But I am sad that we lost our senior year.  We had such plans for their senior year.  Parties, fundraising, senior trip, graduation.  We had no idea that the year would be taken away.  And so I am writing these cards and I don't really know what to say.  How do I convey all these emotions in a little card?  How do I tell them how proud I am, but how sad I am that we couldn't experience it all together?  Part of the problems is that I don't know what to say about myself.  I realized this year that I really do want to go back into teaching.  I loved being a teacher, having a group of students that I could watch grow. I loved those feelings of accomplishment at the end of the year.  But I also want to go to law school.  I want to further my education.  Be a student again myself.

So Where to go from here?  Such a big question.  One that I can't answer today, but hopefully can make some progress soon.