Frightful Fall Readathon Mini Challenge #1

First of all, I want to apologize for the late posting of this mini-challenge. Hosting a read-a-thon is a lot of work. No wonder Dewey's 24 hour needs so much help! I know why now. =O) Anyway, since it is so late, I'm going to make this relatively simple. Also, since I'm doing three mini-challenges this week (and I had more prize donations, so I might be throwing in a little scary trivia contest. We'll see!), each one will run for two days. This one will kind of overlap with the next one because I posted so late. So this mini-challenge will be open until Wednesday at 10pm CST.

All you have to do is go online to an image site (Google images, photobucket, etc.) and find the scariest image you can. Post the link in the comments and as they come in, I will put the images up in the post so everyone can see them (a nod to vvb32 reads...she does this on her blog all the time). If you want to also do a blog post with the image, that is totally up to you. All I ask is that you leave the link in the comments. At 10pm tomorrow night, I will choose 3 winners randomly and each of the winners will pick a prize from the prize page. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Once I post these, I will never be able to look at my post again. Notice that they are all related. Can you guess my phobias? My scary pics:

Frightful Fall Readathon Update 1

Time Read Today: 3 hours 18 minutes
Time Read Total: 3 hours 18 minutes

Pages Read Today: 326
Pages Read Total: 326

Books Read Today: 1
Books Read Total: 1

Thoughts/Comments: Finished The Accidental Werewolf. Great fun read. Have some good looking books on tap for tomorrow.

So here goes the deets:
**Look to the left...the first item that you see is your only weapon during the Zombie Apocalypse*** (Don't cheat and try to find something cool! If the first thing you see are socks then that's what you got!)

The only thing I see to my left is a plate. A small salad plate. I could possibly use it to hit a zombie upside the head, but I really don't think it's going to be a very good weapon. To survive, I really need to find some good blunt objects. A cricket bat would be awesome! I now have the urge to go online and buy a cricket bat to have on hand. Just in case!

A to Z Movies: Waiting

Title: Waiting

Year Released/Rating: 2005 R

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Justin Long, Anna Faris,

Directed By: Rob McKittrick

Written By: Rob McKittrick

Star Rating: 5 /5 stars

Trivia: The "foreign" guests at the bar speak German with Austrian accent and the guy says, "Did you see the blonde girl? That's unbelievable, her breasts are incredible!"

We've continued our Justin Long and Ryan Reynolds movie-a-thon. Somehow we are totally fixated on the dry wit and sarcasm. I absolutely love it. Too beautiful! And all the side characters are absolutely amazing. My favorite: Chi McBride as Bishop. The resident philosophic dishwasher is genius. I can't get enough of this movie. (Just don't watch the sequel... not very funny.) We're thinking of wrapping up the letters with Zoolander. Another crazy quirky comedy to add to the collection.

Best Bits:

Floyd: [to Mitch] Welcome to Thunderdome, Bitch.

~~

Monty: That's Naomi. And she's been working here WAY too long. But she's actually a pretty sweet girl... when she's drunk.

~~

Floyd: We almost had to move it up to the 10 second rule!

~~

Bishop: You need to invent your own penis-showin' game.

~~

Mitch: All Right. Fuck this, I Quit

Mitch: [looks around the room, sees Floyd] You. You are the biggest piece of shit at this entire restaurant. I hope you burn in hell.

Floyd: Me? What the fuck did I ever do to you? I mean seriously.

~~

Calvin: You really are an asshole

Monty: Shenaniganz

~~

Dean: Hey Floyd, no bacon on that salad.

Floyd: [Looks at Dean and speaks with a southern twang] Yes massa, ain't gon' be no bacon on the salad

[Cook starts whipping Floyd with a towel while Floyd starts singing devotional-style]

Floyd: Oh lord, no bacon... No bacon the salad...

Music Monday -- Ben Folds "Best Imitation of Myself"

Ben Folds is such a weird character. I absolutely love him and his music. And this is my absolute favorite song from him. A few years ago I saw him and my hometown philharmonic at our beautiful theater. I don't think the crowd knew what to think. Half the crowd was there for the Philharmonic, a fourth was there for Ben Folds, and a fourth was there for both. I was there for both. But it definitely made for an interesting concert. My favorite part: the crowd sing a long for "Army." Awesome!!!!

Lyrics (my favorite lines in bold):

I feel like a quote out of context Withholding the rest So I can be for you what you want to see I got the gesture and sound Got the timing down It's uncanny, yeah, you think it was me Do you think I should take a class To lose my southern accent Did I make me up, or make the face till it stuck I do the best imitation of myself The "problem with you" speech You gave me was fine I liked the theories about my little stage And I swore I was listening But I started drifting Around the part about me acting my age Now if it's all the sameI've people to entertainI juggle one handedDo some magic tricks andThe best imitation of myself Maybe I'm thinking myself in a hole Wondering, who I am when I ought to know Straighten up now time to go Fool somebody else, fool somebody else Last night I was east with them And west within Trying to be for you what you wanna see But I can't help it with you The good and bad comes through Don't want you hanging out with No one but me Now if it's all the same It comes from the same place And if my mind's somewhere else You won't be able to tell I do the best imitation of myself Yes it's uncanny to see You'd really think it was me The best imitation of myself The best imitation of myself

The Accidental Werewolf by Dakota Cassidy

Title: The Accidental Werewolf (Accidental Friends #1)

Author: Dakota Cassidy

Publisher: Berkley Trade 2008

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 326

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Books Around the States - New York

How I Got It: borrowed from the library

Marty Andrews is having a bad week. First, she's bitten by a mangy mutt while walking her teacup poodle. As a result, her salon-perfect blonde hair beings darkening by the day to something that's soooo not in her color wheel. Her moodswings have turned her into The Hormonal Hulk. Worse yet, the hair on her legs is growing at a rate even a body slam into an entire vat of wax couldn't cure. Last, and most important, her dream job as a sales rep for Bobbie-Sue Cosmetics is going to hell in a handbasket...
The only high point is Keegan Flaherty, the drool-worthy man who shows up at her door. Of course, he's clearly insane. Keegan claims that he accidentally bit Marty, and since he's a werewolf, she is now too. Red meat cravings aside, Marty refuses to believe a word until a kidnapping makes her realize there's more at stake than her highlights. And she must put her out-of-control life in the hands of the man who makes her blood run wild in more ways than one...

A fun little paranormal romp. I loved the main characters, Marty and Keegan. They were fun and strong characters. It was an interesting mix of personalities. Marty was incredibly stubborn, but then so was Keegan. They were an oddly, but amazingly endearing romantic match. The storyline is fairly predictable. But again, I don't mind if the characters are fun. I liked the fun werewolf transition story. I will be picking up the next one to read soon.

Accidentally Paranormal (DNFed series)

Accidental Werewolf
Accidentally Dead
The Accidental Human
Accidentally Demonic
Accidentally Catty
Accidentally Dead, Again
The Accidental Genie

A to Z Movies: Van Wilder

Title: Van Wilder

Year Released/Rating: 2002 R

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Kal Penn, Tara Reid

Directed By: Walt Becker

Written By: Brent Goldberg, David Wagner

Star Rating: 4/5 stars

Trivia: Michael Olowokandi, Darius Miles, Quentin Richardson, and Lamar Odom, who were all players on Coolidge's basketball team, were real life teammates at the time in the NBA on the Los Angeles Clippers.

How can someone not love Ryan Reynolds? He is just awesomity awesome awesome. I love im best when he's slightly snarky and sarcastic. It's his best trait. So back to the movie. It's the usual crazy slightly ridiculous National Lampoon movie, but Ryan Reynolds makes it. I can deal with the ridiculousness if I can watch him be him.

Best Bits:

Van Wilder: Are you stalking me? Because that would be super. .

~~

Van Wilder: Richard, you rascal, you never told me you were a DIK!

[under his breath]

Van Wilder: Not that you had to.

~~

Van Wilder: Wow, If he's here, who's running hell?

~~

Van Wilder: Well just take a look at this... ya... doodles... I attended class today just about stayed the whole time too!

Gwen: I'm glad you went to all your classes today.

Van Wilder: And a few that weren't mine, I stepped in the wrong room, liked what I heard... stayed.

~~

Van Wilder: We'll be accepting donations in the form of cash, visa, and full frontal nudity.

~~

Van Wilder: Those circus midgets can NOT hold their booze!

~~

Van Wilder: I'm all out of love. I'm so lost without you. I know you were right. Believing for so long.

Sally: Dope song. What's it called?

Van Wilder: Gwen Used Me For Her Story, Then Married an Ass Wipe... and Ran Over My Heart With a Big Metaphorical Truck. Originally performed by Air Supply.

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Title: Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Orbit 2009

Genre: Steampunk; Paranormal

Pages: 373

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Steampunk

How I Got It: I own it!

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great man social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire--and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia is responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

I loved this book! A beautiful blend of steampunk and paranormal with some great characters. I really beginning to like these "supernaturals have come out" types of books. How do they integrate or not integrate into society? What is their role? Are they still dangerous or just fun oddities? These aren't Twilight supernaturals. There's always an edge of danger every time one appears. I just loved the world. Plus there was dirigibles and inventive weapons. And some gruesome experimental machines. The steampunk elements were all there. The storyline was fun with some great twists at the end. I appreciated the whodunit aspect and finding out with Alexia what was going on. It was a refreshing change from the third person omnipotent or the incredibly dense first person monologue. Alexia was a breath of fresh air. A confident spinster who operates within her academic passions as opposed to fashion and husband hunting. Nevermind that she gets the husband in the end, it makes sense for her evolution of her character and Lord Maccon is definitely dreamy. I'm also very attached to her vampire friend Lord Akeldama and werewolf Beta Professor Lyall. I loved this characters so much. There's more to them than what meets the eye. I hope they make appearances in the subsequent novels. I have the next three (fifth book hasn't been released yet) and am ready to dive in. Well, next week's readathon in which I must get rid of some library and Net Galley books first.

Alexia Tarabotti

Meals a la Tobe! #9

Sunday

-- Chicken Cordon Bleu Pizza from Sam and Louies: I love their pizza!

Monday

-- Steak with mango, peach, jalapeno salsa

-- Rice

-- Green Beans

Very yummy! J completely approved of the salsa and even requested that the dish be added to regular rotation. Only one little mishap: jalapeno juice to the eyes which left me blinded and in incredible pain sitting in the shower for 20 minutes. Next time I will be more careful. I definitely don't want to feel that again!

Tuesday

-- Gouda BBQ Chicken

-- Rice

-- Green Beans

-- Crescent Rolls

Definitely a keeper. The chicken was great! It was even great the day after for leftovers. I even got a few interested inquiries from my new coworkers.

Wednesday

-- Lasagna

A classic. I used spicy Italian sausage this time. A great addition.

Thursday

-- Eat out: Yummy Chinese food!

Friday

-- Eat out: Chicken Fingers and Beer at Old Chicago!

Saturday

-- Rotisserie Chicken

-- Cheesy Broccoli Pasta Bake

A massive list of errands made me not want to cook. So I picked up a rotisserie chicken from the deli. I did make the cheesy broccoli pasta, but that was quick and easy.

Week summary/comments: Some good dinners this week. I'm looking forward to trying a few new recipes next week and planning on having some old favorites.

Frightful Fall ReadaThon Oct. 3-9

From Castle Macabre:

It's almost that time again...my next seasonal read-a-thon! I usually host these at my main blog, The True Book Addict, but, as promised to the participants of my summer read-a-thon, I am doing a spooky theme in honor of the scariest time of year--the Halloween season. So I decided that hosting it here on my new horror blog would be quite appropriate.

Details

Dates: Monday, October 3 at 12:00am through Sunday, October 9 at 11:59pm (your time zone).

To go along with the scary theme, this time I will have a requirement. You must read at least ONE scary book during the read-a-thon. If you are not a horror fan, then make it a thriller or a mystery, as long as the book has some kind of spooky premise to it. Those of you who fulfill this requirement, and sign in at the starting line, will automatically be entered in the participant giveaway.

Read as much or as little as you want. You do not have to join in all week. Start during the week or just do the weekend. It's your decision. Just be sure to sign in at the starting line when you start reading.

I will be hosting a scary themed mini-challenge and hopefully we will have other mini-challenges and/ or giveaways (see note above).

Our hashtag for Twitter will be #frightfall

Excited to start another readathon. I haven't done one in a few months. Unfortunately I have work all next week, but I'm hoping to get some reading done each night and during my lunch breaks. I also have a baby shower on Thursday night and an all day crop on Saturday. This will put a dent in my reading time. But still, I am hopeful!

My goals:

Read at least 5 books
Review all books read
Update once a day
Participate in the mini challenges/contests

TBR List:

Jack of Fables: Americana
Fables: Wolves
Heat Wave by Richard Castle
Accidentally Dead by Dakota Cassidy
Accidentally Catty by Dakota Cassidy
The Affinity Bridge by George Mann
Night World Vol. 1 by L.J. Smith

September 2011 Wrap-Up

Books Read and Reviewed (12 books)

1,000,000 Page Goal

Monthly Total: 3490 pages
Pages Remaining: 955,245 pages

Current Read

Soulless by Gail Carriger -- Loving it so far!

Challenges Completed (1.5)

A movie challenge completed... Well almost. We tried to watch one movie for every letter of the alphabet from our collection. We have a few letters left. Specifically Q, V, W, X, Y, and Z. We have at least two movies for each of those letters, but we ran out of days. I figured we wouldn't watch one movie a night. The new fall seasons started two weeks ago. Plus some nights we spent time talking or reading or blogging. Therefore we are a bit behind. But we have recommitted to finish out those letters in the next two weeks.

And the Summer Romance Challenge! I committed myself to reading 24 books for the challenge (8 historical romance, 8 contemporary romance, and 8 paranormal romance). At the start of September, I was a bit scared. I still had 7 books to read and four of those were from contemporary romance. Thankfully I found some good books and finished the challenge out.

Comments

A new life challenge started. The Day Zero Project: 101 things in 1001 days. I am really excited to make some tangible goals for myself for the next 2.75 years. I've already made some good progress. I hit a snag this past week, but I know have a better laid out plan.

I am a bit disappointed with my reading this week. The total is lower than I would like, but I have a good excuse: I got a job! I'm so excited to start a new job, and not just because that means an influx of money. It's a small, but integral position at a great social service organization focused on kids. Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful. I've eased into the organization and atmosphere easily. I'm even out of the training portion of the job and have claimed my area and responsibilities. It feels great.

Hopefully next month I'll be able to up my reading back to its usual numbers. Plus I have two reading challenges coming up: Fall Frightful Reading Challenge and the Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon (first attempt!). Looking forward to it!