15 Books in 15 Minutes

Two posts in one day! I know!

My Friend Kirsten posted this note on Facebook and I thought it was a fun one so I'm posting it here as well.

The instructions are to come up with 15 books in no more than 15 mintues that have stuck with you, for better for for worse. Here is my list, feel free to post your own.

1. The Life of Pi – Yann Martel
2. Wicked – Gregory Maguire
3. The Chosen – Chaim Potok
4. The Chronicles of Narnia series – C.S. Lewis
5. Mirror Mirror – Gregory Maguire
6. The Book of Lights – Chaim Potok
7. Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolken
8. Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Dafoe – They’ve turned this into a tv show that I haven’t seen but have heard it’s awful
9. Z for Zachariah – Robert C. O’Brien – We read this book in grade 6 and I’ve never forgotten it.
10. Bridge to Terebithia – Katherine Paterson – I re-read this book a couple of years ago and I was sitting downtown on my lunch break crying at the end… felt foolish but it’s such a lovely book.
11. Make Way for Ducklings – Robert McCloskey – For some reason this book has always stuck with me, I have hardly any childhood memories because my memory is so awful yet I very clearly remember Mr. Harker reading this book to us in 1st grade. I actually found it and bought it last year at Chapters and discovered that it’s kind of a boring book but I’m excited to read it to Catie one day anyway and share those memories (I tried to read it to my Sunbeams one Sunday and they were all really bored by it).
12. The Baby-Sitters Club & Sweet Valley High – Ann M. Martin / Francine Pascal – I read these a lot when I was in my tween years, we had all of them and I loved them.
13. Gerald’s Game – Stephen King – What a horrible, horrible book that I wish I’d never read. It was this one that convinced me that I never needed to read another Stephen King book and I’m sad it’s stuck with me forever.
14. Tuck Everlasting – Natalie Babbitt – Interesting that so many of the book that made it on this list were ready in elementary school
15. The Gift of the Magi – O. Henry – I know it’s not technically a book but a short story but it’s always stuck with me

I'd love to read your list as I'm always looking for more books to read.
L

Cheating

At lunch time at work I used to sit with a bunch of women and we'd have a great time visiting but slowly one-by-one they all left the company so now I eat lunch alone. It's no big deal and I don't mind but an hour is a long time to fill with just lunch.

To solve my boredom problem I went and got a new library card and have really enjoyed my time reading at lunch but it often seems that when you solve one problems another comes along though.

I'm no longer bored at lunch but now I have to find books at the library, a daunting task. Usually I have at least one ore two specific books I'm interested in and then as filler I'll scan the shelves around that author and see what else jumps out at me. This plan usually works just fine but there's just one hang-up… I'll pick up a book that looks interesting and start to read the synopsis on the back. I get about half way through and then I feel guilty, like I’m cheating and spoiling the book so I stop reading, take the book home and then realize as I start that I have no idea what the book is about.

This method has resulted in me reading some really random books that I wouldn't normally have picked up, some have been great some have been incredibly stupid.

As an example, I'm currently working on The Olive Readers by Christine Aziz and although I'm enjoying it, it's not at all what I expected.

I need to somehow convince myself that it's okay to read the synopsis, they don't give away the book, really.
L

This One's for Jenny

If we were regular friends I'd call you but since we're blog friends I blog you.

On your recommendation I just finished The Book of Lights and read The Chosen not too long ago. While I enjoyed both books I have to admit I was surprised by them. Your impression of them was so strong that I expected to feel more passionate towards them. Until the last 5 pages of The Book of Lights (where I cried) I wasn't really sure how I felt about it. I wondered if you would share your impressions of them, you said that, "It will change your life. Or, in the words of A.S., it will start your life" and I definitely didn't feel that much pull from them.

Book of Lights did made me think about the history of the world and uselessness and cruelty of war and I feel like I know more about the routines of Judaism than ever before but other than that I don't think it's a book I would pick up and read again.

I'm definitely open to more reading suggestions though.
L

8 is a Big Number

I have a real post in the works I just keep forgetting to download the cute pictures that go with it. Until then this will have to do.

8 favorite TV shows

1. Food Network Challenge – I could watch that show all day!
2. Ace of Cakes – Again, this is an all day one
3. Gossip Girl – I know it's made for 14 year old girls but I love it, such a guilty pleasure
4. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles – not as lame as it sounds and way better than the movies ever were :)
5. How I Met Your Mother
6. Grey's Anatomy
7. Malcolm in the Middle & 2 1/2 Men – Brad didn't watch very much tv growing up and what he did watch was very wholesome so I've had to introduce him to the hilarity that comes from shows about really dysfunctional families
8. The really strange documentaries on TLC every Sunday evening. Like the girl who didn't grow, the Woman who had this disease that made her legs grow to be HUGE or the people who are morbidly overweight. I get hooked and can't change the channel. My favorite was the one where people flew to Switzerland (?? I could be making that up, I saw it a while ago) to plan their own death because assisted suicide is legal.

8 Books you recommend

1. The Life of Pi
2. The Observations (odd but enjoyable)
3. Wicked / Son of a Witch
4. Chronicles of Narnia Series

The fact that I can't list 8 books doesn't mean I don't read, because I do, constantly. I'm just really critical about the books I read, they seldom make a huge impact.

8 things that happened yesterday

1. Made the best Mac & Cheese, the cheese came all the way from New Zealand. It was brought back by Brad's co-worker (it really didn't taste any different than usual)
2. Worked, and was super bored
3. Created the greatest ice cream concoction. Melted some chocolate chips, peanut butter and a little cream together. Then stirred into ice cream. It got all chunky and super yummy.
4. Attempted to make some room on my iPod before I really run out of space
5. Played (and lost) Ticket to Ride
6. Washed some dishes
7. Had a long political discussion with Brad. He's so smart and is great at making sure I understand what's going on. I'm concerned about this coalition thing and upset that there's nothing I can do. All those out there who didn't vote in this past election? I blame you for this mess, I'm confidant that a majority Conservative Government was possible if more people had turned out.
8. Went to sleep far too late, must kick that habit

8 things to look forward to

1. Christmas Vacation - 2 weeks off is going to be a dream
2. Zoo Lights
3. Christmas Parties – 2 this week start off the season
4. My kids moving from Sunbeams to CTR's. I'm excited to move with them.
5. The end of the school semester for Brad
6. Getting picked up 3 days a week next semester
7. Living in a place with actual, working heat; and proper laundry facilities.
8. Spending time with my nephews (don't know when that one will happen)

8 things on my wishlist

1. A House
2. Dining room set – it's the plan with this year's tax return
3. New Couches – Mom's fulfilling this wish by giving me hers in September
4. A budget that's not quite as tight but still lets us save as much
5. A Cupcake Courier – such a brilliant invention
6. A car of my very own, or perhaps a new car for Brad so I can have mine back.
7. A Cell Phone – this one I get when Brad get's his new one from James
8. A vacation to Hawaii in the middle of our winter. Hawaii is paradise.

8 things I love about fall

1. It brings us closer to outdoor skating
2. Sweater weather
3. Soup season – I have a thing for soup
4. There always seems to be a rush of new music released about this time
5. It gets a little busier at work
6. We get to use our heated mattress pad
7. Time to listen to Christmas music
8. An excuse to use our car starter

I hope your December isn't too busy yet, enjoy every minute of it.
L

Filler

Not the most entertaining I know, but it will have to do.

Last Movie I Saw In A Movie Theater? I think maybe it was Batman, that's the only one I can recall anyway. I'm not a big Theater person, I'd rather skip the lines and the ticket price watch in my living room.

What Book Are You Reading? “The Observations” by Jane Harris. I picked it up because it's by the same author as Chocolat and I liked that book a lot, this one is proving to have kind of a strange plot and I have no idea where the story is going to go.
– Funny story, I just went to look up how to spell Chocolat and apparently it was written by Joanne Harris, not Jane. So I just grabbed this book randomly then.

Favorite Board Game? Carcassonne and Ticket to Ride, they're a pretty even tie. Really though, I like any of those German games that win the Spiel des Jahres (German game of the year) award.

Favorite Magazine? Martha Stewart Living though lately Maclean's has been read more frequently and is close to over taking Martha. I like that it makes me smarter.

Favorite Smells? 8 by Abercrombie and Fitch, dinner in the oven.

Favorite Sounds? Anything from my iPod, Christmas Music. Our apartment building is on the fourth floor and we're right by the stairwell, so there's a door at the top of the stairs. When the door closes it makes a little thump noise that I only seem to hear when Brad's coming home from work, that's probably my favorite sound.

Worst Feeling In The World? Losing a friend

First Thing You Think of When You Wake? Can't I stay here for a little bit longer? I'm not ready yet.

Fast Food Place? I guess Taco del Mar, I'm not much of a fast food person but I do really like their black bean burritos.

Future Child’s Name? I really like the name Cossette, though I would never actually name a child that. We have a list of them on Brad's palm so when the time comes we'll have some ideas at least.

Finish This Statement—“If I Had a Lot of Money,” I would immediately fly to Hawaii with Brad (he's never been there) and then when we got back we'd buy a house, skipping out of our apartment and forgetting about our damage deposit so we don't have to deal with awful land lady. I'd also buy Brad an iPhone so he'd stop mentioning it.

Do You Drive Fast? When I first got my car I wanted to go fast all the time, it just felt good but now I've relaxed and I drive so seldom that I'm usually pretty responsible.

Favorite place you have visited? London, I saw Les Miserable, The Lion King, The Producers and Stomp all within the week and I've never eaten anything better than the Kensington Crêperie.

Storms—cool or scary? Cool. A couple times Brad and I sat on our balcony, shielded from the rain and bundled up in blankets and watched the lightning and rain.

What Was Your First Car? A red Honda Civic, I can't remember what year but it was definitely from the 80's. It ran great and had a sun roof, I think it made me far cooler in high school.

Favorite Drink? Water. I know it sounds lame but I used to drink a lot of apple juice (it's free at work). Then I did the South Beach, the only lasting effect being that I decided I didn't want to drink those calories anymore so now I stick with water.

Finish This Statement—“If I Had the Time, I Would…” bake a lot more than I do. I'd also be a scrapbooker.

Do You Eat the Stems on Broccoli? I like the stems peeled but I know others don't so if I'm not the only one eating whatever I'm making then I normally don’t'.

If You could Dye your Hair Any Other Color, What Would It Be? Dark brown. I really liked the dark brown but I can't be bothered with the upkeep.

Favorite Sport to Watch? Baseball. Football is the worst and Hockey is close behind which is unfortunate since Brad loves it.

What’s Under Your Bed? Christmas decorations, a wrapping paper rolly bin, luggage. It's really our only storage.

Morning Person or Night Owl? I guess morning person since I don't like to stay up but I don't really like getting up early either. Can I be a mid-day person?

Over Easy or Sunny Side Up? Anyway I can get them. I love eggs but I prefer a little bit of a soft yolk.

Favorite Place to Relax? Bed on Saturday morning.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor? Birthday Cake from Lics but sadly they discontinued it. It was vanilla ice cream with swirls of frosting and chunks of cake.

Hope you're having a good Wednesday, enjoy the first snowfall.
L

HEATHER WELLS ROCKS!

"Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two – and lost a boyfriend, a recording contract, and her life savings (when Mom took the money and ran off to Argentina). Now that the glamour and glory days of endless mall appearances are in the past, Heather's perfectly happy with her new size 12 shape (the average for the American woman!) and her new job as an assistant dorm director at one of New York's top colleges. That is, until the dead body of a female student form heather's residence hall is discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft.

The cops and the college president are ready to chalk the death off as an accident, the result of reckless youthful mischief. But Heather knows teenage girls… and girls do not elevator surf. Yet no one wants to listen – not the police, her colleagues, or the P.I. who owns the brownstone where the lives – even when more students start turning up dead in equally ordinary and subtly sinister ways. So Heather makes the decision to take on yet another new career: as spunky girl detective!

But her new job comes with few benefits, no cheering crowds, and lots of liabilities, some of them potentially fatal. And nothing ticks off a killer more than a portly ex-pop star who's sticking her nose where it doesn't belong… "

I asked for a fluffy book so I suppose I've brought it on myself, but I think the chances of me liking this book are slim to none. Wish me luck.
L

What Just Happened Here?

This is one of those stories that may not translate well on a blog but I’ll do my best.

Last week I went to Chapters and bought a book that Brad and I have been wanting for a while but as I was leaving I remembered we still had a gift card to Chapters that we haven’t used, darn. We don’t buy books very often so now is a good time to use it. I didn’t have to card with me so a couple days later Brad and I decided to go back with card in hand.

The plan was to return the book and then re-buy it using our handy gift card, easy right? As we were standing in line we saw a cd that I wanted so we added that to the pile, slightly complicating things since the gift card now won’t cover the entire purchase, we’ll just give them some extra cash though.

So we get called up to the counter and we explain to the very nice man what we want and he’s on board says he’ll just need to get authorization to make the return (he seemed really new). His manager happened to be standing right beside him so he heard the story and said rather than do a difficult return how about he just gives us an additional $5 in store credit and we call it even. We agree immediately as it seems like a great idea, we make our purchase and leave.

And then we start to wonder... wait a minute, what just happened in there? Cause when you think about it, it doesn’t actually make any sense.

Goal: Use our gift card, not our bank account to pay for the previously purchased book.

Result: We got $5 off a cd.

The manager must not have understood what we were wanting to do, or perhaps he wanted to get rid of us, either way we figure we’ll take the book back and try again. Maybe we’ll have better luck this time.
L