Tag Archives: randomness

Book Talk: A Few Random Bookish Thoughts

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Book Talk is a sporadic feature where I talk about bookish but non-book review things.

Book Talk

So, I’ve been pretty busy with all of the review round-up posts, and for some reason, random bookish thoughts started popping into my head, so I figured I’d share them.

  • Like, this book review round-up thing is working pretty well.  My reading funk is better, and it’s (mostly) back to normal.  I did try listening to an audio book, but I had trouble focusing on it, so I put it on hold, and I’ll get back to it when I’m able to focus on it, and follow the story.  I may be doing them for a while, or I might not be.  I really have no idea, but now that I’m all caught up on reviews, there won’t be as many of the round-ups.
  • I recently read Fairest, the new Lunar Chronicles novella, and it got me thinking about novellas.  I usually read them all after I finish a series.  I have no idea why I read them after reading the series, but that really seems to be the best time for me.  I don’t know that I have strong opinions either way, because I feel like I haven’t read enough of them to have strong feelings.
  • I’m not bothered by movie adaptation covers.  I get why people don’t like it, and that’s cool, but I don’t really care either way. Partly because of having an e-reader, and the cover isn’t super-important to me (but sometimes, I wish I had a print copy to really have the cover) and sometimes I just don’t care enough to pay attention to the cover.
  • Even after several years of book blogging, I still know nothing about publishing houses or imprints, and I really want to learn more about them.  It’s something I feel like I should know more about, but I don’t even know where to start.
  • I will never understand e-book pricing, and why some go as high as $14…even $16/$17.  I have no problem paying for e-books, but that’s definitely over what I’m willing to spend.  I’m just really not understanding how it works.  Like, at all.  And it seems like no matter how much I read about it, it gets more and more confusing.
  • I definitely need to be in the right mood for audio books.  I tried listening to Ruby Red last week but I found myself zoning out a lot, which is never good when you’re trying to follow a story.  Sometimes, the narrator doesn’t work for me, which is fine, because they might be totally awesome to someone else.  What I do feel bad about is when I don’t like the narrator’s voice- I mean, it’s not their fault, and I feel bad about not liking their voice, but it’s such an important part of the book, you know?
  • I’ve been reading quite a few e-books from the library, and I do not understand why I’ll be the 4th person waiting on 1 copy and get that way before the book where I’m 1st in line for 1 copy.
  • I keep telling myself I’m going to actually get books from audio book sync but I always forget to do it. This year I will do it.  And I should probably sign up for the reminder.

I know this is random and all over the place, but that’s kind of where my mind has been.  I hope everyone had an awesome weekend, and a great week!

Currently Obsessed With #1: January 2014

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I’m actually really excited to be doing this post!  One of my goals this year was to get a little more personal, and talk about what’s going on and what I’m really into, and now seemed like a really good time to start!  This is actually inspired by a few different blogs where there’s a look back at their week (or month) and this is just my version of that.

First: Let It Go in 25 different languages!

It’s actually awesome to see it in so many languages!  Frozen is pretty awesome, and when this version of Let It Go came up at a friend’s birthday dinner, I knew I would have to look at it!  It even says what the different languages are, and it’s astounding that someone (I’m assuming someone from Disney, since it’s on their youtube channel) put it together.

Speaking of Frozen, I’m also obsessed with the soundtrack!  I don’t usually feel compelled to buy movie soundtracks, but I fell in love with the soundtrack while watching Frozen, and now I can’t stop listening to it!  It’s also one of the best Disney soundtracks. Seriously, it is.

I’ve also been crocheting a bit, and I’ve made some hats and headbands.

January Crochet Collage

I also want to make a blanket, so I’ve been looking at patterns.  A blanket is definitely a big project, but since I want to try new things, a blanket seemed like a good idea.  It is a little intimidating, because that’s a lot of yarn!  I think yarn sales will be my best friend for a while.  I’m not completely sure about colors yet- I like the idea of a rainbow, or something a bit more gradient.  But I am determined to do a blanket…

I’ve been re-listening to the We’re Alive podcast, and it’s definitely one of my favorite podcasts.  I’m really bummed that it’s ending this summer, but I guess it had to come to an end eventually.  I’ve been listening to it for a couple years now, and it’s weird to think that it’s coming to end.  But there’s also that part of me that wants to know how it ends, you know?

I’m also loving Welcome To Night Vale, which is another podcast I’m really into right now.  It’s a podcast I always look forward to listening to, and it’s actually hysterical to listen to.

I thought this post on BookRiot was really interesting.  To sum up, it’s about how people are judged for how much they read, and it got me thinking about reading and people being all judgy and stuff. Speaking of readers, I love this infographic thingy I’ve floating around pinterest lately.  I really need to take a closer look at it.  Maybe I’ll even talk about it one of these days!  Also: I love the idea of a book jar!  I have a mason jar, now I just need some pretty paper.  That I can get while I’m looking at the sale yarn at Michael’s or something.  I’ve also seen this floating around pinterest, and I love the idea of using it because my TBR pile is overwhelming.

You know how I was going to start exercising?  Yeah…that hasn’t happened.  I was sick for a week or so last month, and I just never got into the habit.  Now that I’m not sick, I am totally going to be doing the Blogilates workouts.  I’ve done a few, and I’m always ridiculously sore the next day, but it’s worth it, because I’ll be healthier and taking care of myself and all that jazz.

I think that’s all for my current obsessions, but I’ll be back with the usual book reviews and stuff!

And I think I shall leave everyone with the story of my life right now:

Gilmore Girls Interlude: Required Reading

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While there’s no new recap for this week (I promise to have one next week), I thought I’d talk about Rory’s reading habits.  I know sometimes I find Rory’s taste in books a little strange and sometimes unbelievable.  Again, what 10-year-old actually knows about The Fountainhead…and then tries to read it?

Generally speaking, I try NOT to judge people- fictional or real- on what they do/do not read.  It’s just not cool.  But Rory’s apparent love of books on the required reading list is a bit strange.  I totally admit to comparing my reading habits to that of a 16-year-old character on a t.v. show.  And while I didn’t start to read/like/appreciate some of the same books until a few years ago, I do think it’s cool that Rory loves to read and that it’s not what I’d expect from a 16-year-old.  At the very least, I don’t recall anyone in high school seeking out classics, but it wasn’t something that came up, so it’s entirely possible that I knew people who share Rory’s taste in books and I didn’t know about it.

I’m really rambling, aren’t I?  I suppose it’s time to get to the point of this *particular* post.

Recently, a friend passed along a link to someone who has a Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge going on.  I am intrigued with this, because it would be nice to read some of the books mentioned on the show.  And I keep telling myself that I’m going to branch out a little…and that I need to read more classics.  It’s definitely a good list for expanding my reading horizons.  I definitely don’t want to put a timetable on it, because that usually don’t work for me.  It’s an interesting list, and I’ve read a few.  I think there’s a few I won’t be reading, because I have zero interest or because I’ve tried to read but couldn’t finish.

I think it would be a fun project, but trying to figure out which one to start with…that’ll be hard.  Maybe I could put the titles of pieces of paper and randomly pick one!

Actually, I might just make it up as I go along.  It’s sort of my thing.  I’ll definitely share any progress…even those books I find myself unable to finish- and I’m sure there will be a few.

Happy reading!

The Gilmore Girls Project

Posted in The Gilmore Girls Project, TV by

I’m a huge fan of Gilmore Girls…and have decided to start a project relating to said show.  Gilmore Girls has been on my mind the last week or so, and after seeing watch-a-thons on a couple blogs I read (for 2 different shows), I decided to do one myself.

Why Gilmore Girls?  I love the show, and it’s been a while since I’ve watched it.  It wasn’t until I got all 7 seasons on DVD that I saw the show in its entirety (and in order, like you’re supposed to).  I saw random episodes on ABC Family, which is what got me into the show.  Season 7 was the only season I saw “live” and in order.  `

My plan is to watch an episode a week.  All GG Project episode posts will be posted on Mondays, and will start next week.

In non-GG Project news, I’m sad the closing ceremonies are tonight.  At least I have something to watch…

Let’s Hit Shuffle, Shall We?

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I’m feeling in a particularly random mood, so I decided to hit shuffle and see what comes up.  Unless there’s a song from the last time I did this, in which case I shall skip over it.

  1. Mis Disarray by the Gin Blossoms.  Another Gin Blossoms song?  Cool!  I actually really like this song, and No Chocolate Cake really reminds me of New Miserable experience.  This song is no exception to that.
  2. No Reins by Rascal Flatts.  Country music!  I really like this song.  Actually, I just love pretty much everything they do.  It just speaks to me.
  3. Give It Up by Oliver Boyd And The Remembralls.  Words cannot express how much I LOVE Oliver Boyd And The Remembralls.  It took me a few listens to figure out that it was about Cedric.  Poor Cedric.  But I love how you sort of have to pay attention to the lyrics to get its connection to Harry Potter.
  4. Breath by Michelle Branch.  Maybe iTunes is telling me to listen to Michelle Branch more?  Because this is the second time she’s appeared on this list.  I love this song, and for some reason, I always want to cry when I listen to it.
  5. Hydra Lab from the Captain America: The First Avenger score.  Ignoring the fact that I have never seen Captain America, I really like the score.  While there a few songs that stand out, this isn’t one of them.  It’s still a cool song and all, and I’m slowly becoming a fan of Alan Silvestri.
  6. Me And Emily by Rachel Proctor.  I love this song, and it’s something I listen to every once in a while.  Mostly when I need some cheering up, and no, I have no clue why it does.  I think this is the song she’s most known for, because I have no clue what else she’s done.
  7. Everywhere by Moustache.  Love this song!  Seriously, it is a great song.  I think it’s the music that drew me in, but overall…it’s just amazing.
  8. Ordinary Day by Vanessa Carlton.  Add her to the list of people I had forgotten I even had.  I may have to listen to the 3 songs I have by her again, because it’s been a long time.  It’s definitely one of my favorites…when I remember I have it, of course.
  9. Just A Dream by Carrie Underwood.  Have I mentioned how much I love Carrie Underwood?  Because I do.  I love this song (like how I love pretty much every song on this list.  There’s something sad and yet dramatic about it.
  10. 23 Days by SHeDAISY.  Wow, lots of country music today!  I’m not complaining, mind you, but I kind of forgot I had SHeDAISY on my iPod.  I do like this song, but it’s not one of my favorites by them.

That’s all for today…tomorrow will be another exciting Top 10 Tuesday post!

Spam

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Sometimes, I get spam comments.  Sometimes, they are hilarious, and I have no idea why it just occurred to me to share some of them.

The first one is in reference to my review of Illuminate.

I’ll get my complaints out of the way. I hate resort fees. It’s so deceiving, you think you’re getting a good deal then you’re hit with a $25 or sometimes even more resort fee. Why can’t they just do a straight forward price? That’s why I like booking with Harrahs properties.The other bad thing? Our room keys stopped working after a housekeeper walked in at 10pm. Okay, first of all, if I wasn’t so tired from walking around and not having slept the night before, I would have flipped out and called management on her. She had no business in our room and didn’t even do a courtesy knock, just slipped her key in and let herself in our room. WTF?!This is also the first hotel I’ve stayed at where they don’t have a double lock on the door that will let you prevent such housekeepers from disturbing your privacy even though you already have the do not disturb sign hanging on the door knob.Now that that’s out of the way, here’s what I liked:- Newly renovated rooms! Comfy bed, oh my! Flat screen and rather beautiful decor. Love the shades, we left it open so when I woke up at the crack of dawn, I enjoyed the view.- Grand Pool: wow, wow, and another wow. Considering that this is the first time I’ve ever been to a Vegas pool, I was rather impressed. Multiple pools and a lazy river? Yes, please!!! We took a lap at the lazy river and it was really fun. We didn’t even have floaters, just walked and sometimes swam and floated. All their pools are 3 1/2 feet deep from what I saw.- Take the customer survey. Not only do they give you a 20% off on your next stay, you might even get a reply addressing your concerns from their management. Right now, they are undergoing renovations and are pushing reservations by offering 15% off and free buffets with two night minimum stays.Sorry MGM, can’t say I’m a fan of your resort fees!

I don’t even know where to start with this, but it amused me to see complaints about MGM.  Thank you, search engine marketing, for the few minutes of entertainment you have given me.

So, the other spam comment is this one, a comment on my Top 10 Beach Reads.

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If I didn’t know where to begin for the last one, I really have no idea where to start with this nonsensical comment.  Seriously.

I think I’ll be sharing random spam comments periodically.  And Happy July 4th!

Random Thoughts

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I feel a little random today, so I’m sharing some of my random thoughts.

  • I got the most random piece of mail yesterday.  Somehow, I ended up on the mailing list for The Scooter Store.  Laughter and amusement ensued.
  • I’m super excited about Brave!  One more week!
  • I feel like re-reading The Baby Sitter’s Club.  The first 8 should be easy to get, because they’re available in the Nook store.  I’d have to track down the other books and various spin-offs, and that might be a little more difficult.  But do I really want to commit to re-reading it?  Maybe I should read the first 8 and go from there.
  • Speaking of books, I’d love to revisit a lot of books I read when I was a kid.  But there are so many books in my TBR pile that I feel slightly overwhelmed by doing a little bit of retro reading.
  • And another random book thought:  Last weekend, I sorted the books I read last year, and the ones I’ve read this year by author.  I’m kind of amazed at the number of books I’ve read (which really should be a topic for another day) but what was even more amazing was that I tend to read a lot of different authors.  I really should count the number of series I’ve “started.”
  • Game Of Thrones: I’ve only seen half of the pilot episode, but I already like it!  It’s one of the very few times I’ve thought it would be better off as a t.v. show than a book.  Actually, it’s one of two times I’ve thought that.  I think I’ll keep watching it.

I think I’m out of random thoughts.  At least for now, but I’m sure the randomness will continue.

Random Music Time!

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I feel like talking about random music I’ve been listening too…mostly wizard rock, but a few other things too.

I haven’t listened to a lot of wizard rock lately, but a few weeks ago, I got a few songs from The Weasel King.  At first, I didn’t realize The Weasel King was a wizard rocker, but once I listened a little more closely, I found that his music was indeed about Harry Potter.  He kind of reminds me of Oliver Boyd And The Remembralls, in that it’s not obvious at first that the music is about Harry Potter.

I also got a couple songs from The Blibbering Humdingers.  Dobby, Bang Your Head is absolutely hysterical, and No Shame In Hufflepuff is pretty funny too.

Speaking of funny, I somehow stumbled across an album by Hank Green, who is the brother of John Green.  John Green, of course, is a YA writer- and I can’t wait until I can finally pick up Waiting For Alaska.  But Hank apparently comes up with random songs, like This Is Not Harry Potter (a great song, by the way, and so true).  I currently have an iTunes giftcard, so I may have to spend part of it on a Hank Green album.

Speaking of iTunes!  I have so many albums on my wishlist that I’m just staring it, figuring out what to buy.  It’s great when I’m tired of my own music collection, and want something new, but then again, it makes it hard to figure out what I’m in the mood for.

Random Thought: Listening to movie scores when doing anything makes that thing seem so much more epic and dramatic.  I don’t have enough movie scores.

So…this is what’s going on music-wise (at least right now).  I’ll be back with other random stuff throughout the week, including a top 10 list tomorrow!

Camping and Summer Reading Lists

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First, I’m doing Camp NaNo again!  I’m excited, and while I haven’t written anything, I’m sure I can catch up.  It wouldn’t be the first time, and besides, it’s only 2 days, which is completely do-able.

I don’t really have an idea, just a girl who does stuff.  I know I want it to be a YA novel. but other than that, I have no clue what it’s about.  This means I’ll be making it up as I go along, which will be a lot of fun because there’s no pressure.  If there is, it’s a lot less pressure than November.  I’ll definitely be talking about my progress randomly this month.

And speaking of summer, there are a lot of books I want to read.  I’ve already read 93 books!  Isn’t that crazy?  It’s a lot of books, and yet, it feels like I haven’t read very much.  Especially on Top 10 Tuesday, when I realize there are a lot of books I haven’t read.

I have a couple books from the library I want to read.  One is Candyfreak, which I’ll be finishing soon.  The other is The Last Queen, which seems interesting.  I think I’ll like it.  I also have a couple library books on the way.  One is a cookbook, and the other is Looking For Alaska.

As for Nook books, I have a bunch of books on it that I need to read.  It’ll keep me busy for a while, so expect reviews for The Mysterious Benedict Society, Angelfall, Anew, and Illuminate, and more.  I’m definitely excited about all the books I purchased last month, and I can’t wait to keep reading!

June will be busy, but it will also be fun!  I can’t wait to read and do some “camping.”

Field Trip

Posted in 2012 Theme: Self-Love, General, Photos by

I went on a little field trip yesterday.  And it was fun!

After reading Night Walker, I definitely felt like going to the San Diego Mission.  Which I didn’t do…until yesterday!

It was pretty cool, especially since I had never been there before.  I totally thought I did, until I got there, and realized I had not been there.  I even took pictures!

First, we have the Casa De Los Padres.  So, there’s a replica of the mission back in the good ‘ole days.

Just ignore the fact that part of is cut out of the picture.  This was the best angle I could get.

This is what one of the rooms may have looked like.

Above is the only picture of the church I took.  There was going to be a wedding, so I just took a quick look around.  Besides, taking pictures in a church felt a little weird, like I shouldn’t be doing it.  So I didn’t.

I didn’t get to go in the sanctuary, because it was closed off, so I moved on to the garden.  The flowers were pretty and it felt very peaceful.  Plus, there were several statues.

This is the St Francis Of Assissi Fountain.  There’s also one of St. Joseph and Father Serra.  And one in the Pieta Garden.

I took a couple of pictures in the Father Jayme museum but there was a glare because of the glass case they were in.  It was pretty cool, because they had a lot of Kumeyaay artifacts, like baskets and vases.

From there, I went to the St Didacus Statue and the Pieta Sculpture.  You can see the Pieta Sculpture below.

After that, I saw a Kumeyaay hut.  The Kumeyaay are pretty important in both San Diego and California history.  Sadly, everything I’ve learned about them in elementary school is long-forgotten.  The Kumeyaay Hut can be seen below.

After that, I saw the Archaeological Site, which was pretty cool.  The thing that stuck out the most was the fact that they haven’t found any burial grounds at the Mission.  Apparently, there were pretty strict rules about where people could be buried, and they have yet to find any there.  You can see it below.

I definitely have more pictures, which I think I’ll share sometime this week.  It was really cool to see a part of San Diego I’ve never seen before, and considering it’s the 1st of the California missions, it’s a pretty historical place.  It was definitely worth the trip!