(another) 1% well-read challenge

I was given a copy of the book "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die" for my birthday, which makes the start of this challenge perfect.

Pick 1:
Read 10 titles from the original list from March 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.
Read 10 titles from the new list from March 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.
Read 13 titles from the combined list (of almost 1300 titles) from March 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010. In other words, “What were they thinking dropping titles from Dostoevsky and Jane Austen?”

I am picking choice 2, since my book contains the "new" list.

1. the reader - bernhard schlink
2. love in the time of cholera - gabriel garcia marquez
3. the curious incident of the dog in the night-time - mark haddon
4. the red queen - margaret drabble
5. the bell jar - sylvia plath
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Day 57

Haven't posted a picture of my aerogarden in a while. I mean, my forest. The herbs are going crazy! I have been putting basil in everything - spaghetti sauce, scrambled eggs, chicken breasts, cakes... (Not really cakes) but I can't use it as fast as it is growing... LOVE IT!
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

lent

i have almost paid my sleep debt and spent all day yesterday pondering what, if anything, i was going to give up for lent. one thing that immediately came to mind was the snooze on my alarm. done. i will set the alarm for the time i actually want to wake up for the next 40 days. healthier to do this anyways instead of getting little five minute pieces of sleep until the time when i absolutely HAVE to get out of bed.

instead of removing anything else from my life i think i will add in exercising everyday. i went running yesterday for the first time in quite a while (damn you oscar! <>) felt good but i have a long ways to go before my triathlon in TWO WEEKS! eek! so everyday until easter you will find me running around the block, at the gym, or doing one of many pilates and yoga dvds i have at home. for a while last year i was exercising everyday and i felt so good! im looking ahead to the next couple races i want to sign up for and remembering that one of my new years resolutions was to beat my 5k time. i need to get a move on!

27

the love of my life turned 27 yesterday. we have been together for a quarter of that time (6 years!) and i cant believe how fast the time flies. hes in his late 20s. hahahahaha!!! he had to go to work (blah!) and we didnt even get to sleep in at all. cricket did come in bed and give him a good morning happy birthday snuggle which he LOVED of course. i met him at the mall after work for dinner and a movie. we got to talk to shane (also his birthday, weird how that works) and connect with him on blackberry instant messenger. he and darci drank the koolaid earlier this week! love it!

didnt get to watch biggest loser because of the movie but we have lots of tv to catch up on already. just add that to the list with all the oscar coverage and american idol. tonight is going to be very "busy."

slumdog millionaire

jeremy and i went out last night to celebrate his 27th year of life. we ate at changs then saw slumdog millionaire. i can see why the film won 8 oscars. it was really good. the colors and music and people were beautiful to look at and hear.

the story (based on the book q&a which i am putting on hold at the library now) was sad and happy and poignant and wonderful. at first the flashbacks seemed disjointed and pulled me out of the story a little bit but 20 or so minutes in i was spellbound. we dont see movies in the theater very often so it was hard to sit still for two straight hours and watch it but that had nothing to do with the film itself.

of course, my favorite part was the song and dance number at the end to the oscar winning song "jai ho." i want to learn that dance very very badly.

if you havent seen this one yet, it is a good one to hit the theaters for. the colors and sound are so much better as a theater experience. i dont want to say anything about the plot in case you havent seen it...

dev patel and freida pinto are my new heros though. and ms. f looked pretty darn good on the red carpet on sunday in my opinion.

my co-workers cesario and lupe are in the background of this one (over her sleeved shoulder). fun!

25

I just turned 25 about a minute ago and I'm sitting outside in the cold all night. You'd think I would have learned not to do that in a quarter century of life. Actually tonight isn't that cold. Certainly not warm though!

If you try to call this weekend and I don't answer remember I am hanging out with oscar, working nights and sleeping days. Try calling on monday. It will help keep me awake when I am back to work at my "real life" job where it would be inappropriate and strange to wear ski pants (current outfit) or an evening gown (tomorrow's outfit).
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Anniversary

A year ago yesterday we went to the animal shelter and picked up our baby cricket. She came home with a cold and jeremy nursed her back to health while I worked overnights for the academy. I'm working overnights again this year and cricket decided to celebrate her year anniversary of being a koci cat by waking me up while I'm trying to sleep. Goof!
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

This is... AhhhMERacun aidole!

Several questions to ask after viewing tonights results show (spoilers ahead)

1. Is anyone else ecstatically happy that emotion laden tatiana del toro is leaving? That girl creates drama like nobodys business.

2. Does anyone understand how the top twelve is actually created? I get that three from each set of tweleve will be in the top 12 but where do the other three come from? Do we vote or do the judges pick? Is there a chance that tatiana will come back? If so, I may have to not watch. She makes me crazy. But I guess it is good tv.

3. Is it weird that danny gokey still wears his wedding ring and has his brother carry around a picture of his dead wife to strategically flash to the camera or heartwarming and sweet? I can't decide.

America, you decide.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

cake class #1

i took my first cake decorating class at kake kreations. i am taking it with my boss, karla, and her daughter natasha, cara, gaby, and kim. we have way too much fun.

here is my first cake from start to finish. take an 8 in round, cut it in half and put the halves back to back.

crumb coat that sucker. you can tell my crumb coating wasnt the best ever because you can still see crumbs in my final project.

then we really frosted it (with my homemade frosting, after the creation of that stuff i am NEVER eating frosting again. the crisco and powdered sugar... ick!

then we made our own piping gel and picked the colors for the stripes of the butterfly. striped it up, smeared it and frosted the body and head and around the base.

Its raining; its pouring

My old man is snoring in bed next to me, cricket is in my lap and I'm reading a funny book by al gore's daughter kristin about a junior staffer for a junior senator who is a klutz and a hypochondriac while drinking my fair trade organic shade grown coffee. So far this day off is a ok!
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Rainbow roll

The tuna and salmon sushis were actually good. Now that I eat fish I may try more sushi...
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

valentines day

yesterday we slept in and ate orange rolls with mimosas for breakfast. YUM! we drove down to h&h early to shop for my oscars dress and so i could get my credentials before the long week of work. after trying on several dresses at bcbg i found the perfect one. i will post pictures soon.

we ate shabu shabu and sushi early then came home and watched stranger than fiction and relaxed and went to bed early since i had to work today and jeremy was serving at church.

i got off work earlier than expected so when jeremy picked me up from the subway stop we went to target to buy cake mix and frosting ingredients and i baked my cake and made icing for tomorrow's class. we are making butterfly cakes and i am excited and nervous at the same time. baking has never been my thing (more jeremy's) so we will see how this cake turns out.

there was a minor incident with overfilling the cake pan and having to cut off the huge bubble coming out of the pan and scoop out some of the gooey center in the middle of the baking cycle but the cake looks ok. jeremy may not be interested in eating it but its for the decorating practice anyways... oh welll!

hapy hearts day to you all!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

valentine's day couples survey

This is kind of like the 25 things - except there are pre-decided questions and it's about you and your significant other, not just you! Then tag whoever you want to do this! Come on, play along - inquiring minds want to know! ;-)

♥ What are your middle names?
rae and scott

♥ How long have you been together?
almost six years

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
about a year or so

♥ Who asked who out?
he did

♥ Who is older?
jeremy by almost exactly 2 years

♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most?
bryce visits the most but when we are in kansas it is about equal

♥ Do you have any children together?
No

What about pets?
cricket, our siamese long hair mix. cosmo and roxie, the late great hamters. and goodbye and good riddance to babe the californian rabbit, wherever you may be

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
dunno. we actually have a pretty good life together, at least at the moment

♥ Did you go to the same school?
we met in college: go state!

♥ Are you from the same home town?
nope

♥ Who is the smartest?
me

Who is the most sensitive?
me

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
olive garden? we dont eat out that much...

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
the bahamas

♥ Who has the craziest exes?
i guess jeremy by default because i dont have any exes. but there are no scary stories or stalkers or anything.

♥ Who has the worst temper?
definitely me. jeremy is one of the most ever keeled people i have ever met.

♥ Who does the cooking?
mostly me. he cooked alot more when we had our grill.

♥ Who is more social?
once again, me. but these answers shouldnt be shocking anyone.

♥ Who is the neat-freak?
jeremy. he organized the whole closet when i was out with friends last weekend (see previous question)

♥ Who is the more stubborn?
ohhh definitely me.

♥ Who hogs the bed?
cricket. hahaha just kidding. me.

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
this one might surprise you: me. if you count who gets out of bed at least. he stays in bed until the last possible second so i dont think he wakes up before my alarm goes off.

♥ Where was your first date?
dunno. we "hung out" for so long before we actually started dating. i think to a wedding.

♥ Who has the bigger family?
jeremy keeps in touch with much more extended portions of his family than i do but if you count cousins me. if you count siblings him. we both have pretty big families.

♥ Do you get flowers often?
every so often randomly.

♥ How do you spend the holidays?
thanksgiving and christmas holidays we usually travel around here. we take a trip to kansas every year towards the end of my school year. kinda to celebrate mothers day???

the final countdown

two more days of freedom until oscar takes over my life... i work during the day on sunday then my overnights start monday night. SO thankful for presidents day off! jeremy has a wonderful valentines day planned which is great, since it will be almost the last time we see each other until my birthday is over. seriously next week i will see him on the way to the subway and on the way home from the subway, both of which times i will be tired and not in the mood for conversation.

im so glad for our ski clothes purchases as it looks like it will be raining next week (as it apparently always does during oscar week) and the insulated, water resistant pants will definitely come in handy!!! i also bought "oscar gloves" when we were in florida - they are just normal gloves except they go up my arm to about halfway between my wrist and the crook of my elbow. last year my wrists got really cold since the jacket i am required to wear had too short sleeves and the gloves i had were not for people with my size of hands (while large, they are perfectly proportionate. just not typical lady hands, but definitely NOT man hands.)

i have my first real cake decorating class on monday. we are jumping right into things and making a butterfly cake. whoo hoo!

tonight is laundry night. also the office and greys anatomy. also cleaning out my closet. very very busy.

working from home part 2

i can watch tv and work on the computer at the same time (and blog...). so i am watching rachel ray for the first time ever (and thinking about you darci) and she had a single ladies dance off... you know... if you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it... these teachers came in third and were my favorite because they made the video for fun to send to one of the teacher's husband who is overseas serving in our military to make him smile. the guy (yes thats right the GUY) that just won was pretty darn good. i swould like to take a class that teaches me how to copy music vidoe dances. this one is pretty good. for a not-as-good version, check out beka's post here.

Working from Home

is harder with one hand...
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

apparently, my blog is fabulous

just ask miranda! the rule of the game are that now I’m supposed to give this award to 5 other people and then list 5 of my addictions.

so my awards go to:

annao
mandy lynn
amy m
the strickers
the sandbergs

congratulations to you all on a well-deserved pat on the back!

addictions:
1. i have a cup of coffee every morning with heavy cream and honey. i only skip it on days that i fast and it makes me cranky.

2. i go to an amazing step sculpt class on monday nights. on days that i miss it (which are few and far between) i feel icky and cranky.

3. there are far too many tv shows to which i am addicted. house, greys anatomy, american idol, girls next door, biggest loser, private practice, big bang theory and the office among others. when i miss any of these shows, i get cranky.

4. obviously, i have a slight reading addiction. i crry a book with me everywhere and read in line at the grocery, in the car (only when jeremy is driving of course) and on my breaks at work. when something interupts me from a really great book (unless that something is jeremy or cricket) i get really really cranky.

5. i have many online addictions, none of which are as scandalous as that phrase may suggest. i read several blogs, check facebook, read go fug yourself, check my email, and visit netflix and shelfari every morning first thing. when something changes in this routine, you guessed it, i get cranky.

sounds like i am a really cranky person but really i just like my routines. i may be addicted to routine. anyone who knows me would prolly agree with that. if life monday through friday could be exactly the same every week with fun different things happening on the weekends i think i would be really really happy. i know thats not realistic and i have done a really good job working on adapting to change and spontanaeity. jeremy says i am doing good at this! in our almost four years of marriage i can tell a difference too. he is so good for me! love you babe! happy early valumtimes!!!!

It is cold!

She is covering her nose with her paw to keep warm. She is sleeping on her favorite blanket - one that jessie made for jeremy.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

What's In a Name 2 Challenge

Dates: January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009*

The Challenge: Choose one book from each of the following categories.

1. A book with a "profession" in its title. Examples might include: The Book Thief, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Historian

2. A book with a "time of day" in its title. Examples might include: Twilight, Four Past Midnight, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

3. A book with a "relative" in its title. Examples might include: Eight Cousins, My Father's Dragon, The Daughter of Time

4. A book with a "body part" in its title. Examples might include: The Bluest Eye, Bag of Bones, The Heart of Darkness

5. A book with a "building" in its title. Examples might include: Uncle Tom's Cabin, Little House on the Prairie, The Looming Tower

6. A book with a "medical condition" in its title. Examples might include: Insomnia, Coma, The Plague*

You may overlap books with other challenges, but please don't use the same book for more than one category. *

Again, there will be some small prizes scattered throughout. No set schedule, so just be sure to check in once a while. There will also be a prize awarded at the conclusion to one participant who completes the challenge.

1. once a thief - michele hauf
2. some enchanted evening - christina dodd
3. secret agent, secret father - donna young
4. thigh high - christina dodd
5. love in the asylum - lisa carey
6. the astonishing life of octavian nothing, traitor to the nation: volume 1 the pox party - m.t. anderson

The Guardian's 1000 Novels Challenge

The British paper, The Guardian, has come up with a list of 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read Before They Die. (In case they take that link down, I've also posted the list here.)

So, the challenge is to read 10 and review read and review 10 books off the list (that's 1%) between February 1st of 2009 and February 1st of 2010.

Of these 10, you must read 1 from each category and, if possible, 1 should be a book you have never heard of until you saw it on this list.

1. the curious incident of the dog in the night-time - mark haddon (comedy)
2. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (love)
3. the bell jar - sylvia plath (self and family)
4. sophie's choice - william styron (war and travel)
5. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M Cain (crime)
6. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (science fiction and fantasy)
7.
8.
9.
10.

aargh matey!

cricket is a pirate cat. she is getting a cold (apparently she gets one every year at oscar time) and one of her eyes is crusted shut so she walks around squinting. she needs a little kitty eye patch. she isnt sneezing though so maybe she ran into something and poked it shut. either way, if she is still a pirate on monday jeremy will take her to the doctor.

"i dont wanna be a pirate!"

rainy thursday

i woke up this morning early to go to the gym and realized that whatever kept jeremy home from work yesterday had made its way to the other side of the bed and there was no way for me to work out. i reset the alarm and didnt feel any better an hour and a half later so i stayed home from work. what a perfect day to do so. its raining. i get to curl up and watch tv that i have had dvr-ed for ages, clean my dirty house, catch up on skiing laundry and do a million other litle things that have been waiting for me.

im going to go make some tea.

what a great day! (minus the achy back and scratchy throat of course.) i think i will drink throat coat tea. yum.

the fantastical challenge

This challenge is for Feb and March. Read a fantasy book. Or 2. Or 3. Read to yourself or to your kids.
Choose adult fantasy or young adult fantasy. Heck, go to the library and read a million children's books. Just go somewhere new and fabulous and be sure to tell us all about the journey.

1. alanna: the first adventure - tamora pierce
2. personal demon - kelley armstrong
3. the tales of beedle the bard - j.k. rowling

i cant let my mom beat me!

so far she has come up with 75 things and is working on more... i think i left off with...

42. i dont know how to drive a stick shift. shane was supposed to teach me when we both lived in manhattan, but then he got married and then jeremy and i got married and moved away.

43. my favorite color is black. at one point in college i could have moved to new york and fit in really well because most of my clothes were black, but not in a goth way. the funnier thing is that i feel prettier wearing blues and purples (and get more compliments too!)

44. my nana always told me i was born to wear purple just like elizabeth taylor and then i grew up and moved to kansas and went to k-state. go purple and white!

45. i've never had a ticket or really been in a wreck. i got pulled over once but was crying so hard the officer let me off. and one time i changed lanes into someone but the scratch on his truck buffed right out. and one time a lady hit me and i used the insurance money to buy a new computer instead of fixing walter. poor guy.

46. i dont like strangers and HATE the part in meetings or church when they tell me to shake hands and introduce myself to others. its not like im going to remember these people so why torture me?

47. if i want a snack it has got to be salty. chips especially. not a sweets person really. i enjoy dessert every so often and love my dark chocolate but i never crve it like i do with a bag od tj's veggie flavored flaxseed tortilla chips. sounds kinds gross but you have no idea how good those suckers are.

48. i originally learned how to crochet during a girl scout sponsored project at cowtown where we all dressed up in 1800s fashion and reenacted stuff. i really loved doing that.

49. my nana made my dress for said reenactment but she put a zipper in it and had to take tit out and replace it with buttons. soooo... my dres had buttons on the front and back. you wouldnt believe how many people felt the need to comment on that fact.

50. when i am reading a book (especially when i am physically reading it and not just carrying it around) i HATE when people ask so... what are you reading? i will tell you the title but please dont expect a plot summary and dont judge me. i read a lot of fluffy books and i feel like people expect me to be reading "weighty tomes" all the time just because i read a lot. anna karenina? no thanks. confessions of a shopoholic? gimme more!

51. which is funny because my top ten favorite books are all less fluffy than my usual reading fare. mostly sci-fi/fantasy and historical fiction.

52. one of my favorite childhood memories is playing inspector gadget with bryce and my cousin jay. jay would be the inspector, i would be penny, and bryce would be brain, the dog. we would always put him on guard duty then go off and play without him for hours.

53. while i like to try new things, i am somewhat resistant to change, unless it was my idea. i also like having a plan and sticking to it.

54. new things i have tried this year include skiing, aerogardening, and participating in reading challenges. and its barely february!!!

55. i am officially eligible for lasik. next time i have a couple extra thousand dollars, (when i get out of this elevator) i am getting my eyes lasered.

56. that crackberry thing that everyone talks about? get a blackberry and you will know what they are talking about. im totally addicted.

57. i hate recommending books to people because i am always nervous they wont like it and then think i am stupid. irrational? maybe.

58. i am a procrastinator to the max.

59. like my mom (it is prolly genetic) i hate dusting. unlike her, i do not feel the need to vaccuum once or twice everyday. once or twice a week is sufficient to meet my cleaning needs at this time.

60. one day in the future i would like to be a hippy and live on a self-sustaining farm. jeremy wants to too. i think i will keep wearing deodorant though.

61. the first dvd i ever owned was bring it on. still own it, still watch it, and have watched all the delightfully awful sequels on tv.

62. i love all fruits and vegetables except celery and pineapple. (and mushrooms if they are a vegetable) with celery and mushrooms it is a texture thing, not a flavor thing. if the pieces are itty bitty and i cant see them, i will eat them. i love my friends who cook with big chunks of mushrooms and celery to make it easier for me to pick out.

63. the pineapple thing has more to do with a gallon of solution i had to drink in 1997 before my first colonscopy that was super salty and pineapple flavored. between my trips to the bathroom and chugging down the gross pineapple drink, the mere thought of pineapple flavors make me gag. still. 12 years later.

64. one of my favorite childhood memories is my dad bringing home a tv from the church over christmas break (i was in fifth or sixth grade i think because max wasnt born yet) and my family renting ed sullivan vhs tapes and watching elvis's censored hips, the beatles shaking their hair, and countless other hours of entertainment.

65. my favorite drink is water. (evelyn anyone? anyone? anna?) just kidding. pomegranate martinis and strawberry margaritas are the best. sweet dessert wines arent far behind. i cannot stand the taste of beer. everytime jeremy has one i take a sip to see if i magically like it all of a sudden. still hasnt worked.

66. sitting on the couch sipping good earth tea under my blanket that darci made me with cricket in my lap and jeremy next to me watching house or lie to me is my current favorite thing. or would be if it wasnt 80 degrees in february.

67. my favorite restaurants are: n and j's in wichita, arigato in tampa, and in and out in los angeles. i miss garlic bread from applebees. i love alfredo dipping sauce at olive garden.

68. i love throwing themed parties and showers. (see photos on acdc baby shower, award ceremony baby shower, etc.) i think all the years i wasnt allowed to dress up for alloween exploded inside me and now i will dress up for anything themed.

69. i would give almost anything to own my very own customized playboy bunny outfit complete with cuffs and ears. however, they dont even let the waitresses at the playboy bunny club take them home - they stay locked up and they have to change into them at work. therefore, i see this as being a lifelong dream that will die a sad death with me when i finally draw my last breath. overly dramatic much?

70. when i was little (3rd grade?) i started my own animal answer hotline. i posted signs around the house instrusting anyone with questions about animals to call me and i would answer them. i had the whole set of encyclopedias in my room and i was ready to go. my parents tried to come into to the room and ask but i really wanted them to call. how they would do this from inside the same house (before cell phone era) i am still unsure of.

71. i also would read through said encyclopedias for fun and keep a list of all the animals that were mentioned. i dont know why i did this or what i hoped to accomplish.

72. i am a little bit scared of clowns. this is prolly why i cant eat at jack in the box.

73. the number 43 has followed me around since middle school. it was my basketball number, and so much more.

74. i have been swimming since beforei could walk.

75. i apparently like to swallow weird things like a penny (18 months), straight pin (16 years), and part of my tooth (24 year).

ok. i have offically caught up to my mom. maybe more later?

hittin the slopes

friday jeremy took the day off work and i took a half day so we could drive up to big bear lake, about 2 hours away in the san bernadino forest. there is a beautiful lake that people boat and water ski on in the summer and two mountains for downhill skiing: big bear mountain and snow summit. lance and kris were already up there skiing - they are old pros. they brought callie and zuma, so we rolled into town and played with the dogs for a while, waiting for ryan and kim to arrive. when they got there, we headed to the village center for shopping and "fine dining." we had drinks and appetizers at the pub, aptly named "the pub," as ther ewas only one in the town. once the mountain closed for the day, we met the ochsners back at the cabin for lasagna and hot tubbing. talk about a great night. then we started a game of milles bourne. love it!

saturday morning we woke up extra early to get to the mountain and rent our equipment in plenty of time for our 8:45 ski school class. lance and kris switched from skiing to snowboarding, so they were in class too. it was the first time skiing for the rest of us, so we practiced getting our skis on and off, falling, and turning downhill. then we learned the wedge and we were ready to hit the baby slopes. while waiting in line for the magic carpet, the ski mountain version of a people mover in an airport, we were watching the baby bears kids' ski class. i wanted to take them all home with me, then decided against it because who wants a kid who is a better skier than they are when the kid is only 4 or 5? not me! also because 20 kids would be rather expensive! but they were darn cute! the instructor was playing ski school red light green light with them, which means she was yelling pizza! and the kids would wedge their skis like a slice of pizza to slow down... then she would yell french fries! and they would make the skis parallel and take off. it was great.

after taking a couple of cross country trips down the bunny slopes our instructor decided we were ready for the lift. the ski lift was basically the reason why i felt like i needed ski school. i am terrified of it, somewhat unreasonably. of course i was fine, especially since the lifts on the bunny slopes are really slow. we all got the hang of it then were let loose on the slopes. jeremy and i picked it up pretty quickly, but i was surprisingly more of a daredevil than him when it came to steep slopes and quick turns.

when the mountain closed at 4, we were all exhausted and more than ready to head back to the cabin. taco soup had been simmering in the crock pot all day, so after another wonderful hot tub session we scarfed it down. more milles bourne, some settlers, and hot chocolate and we were in business.

sunday morning we went back to snow summit for more skiing and everyone else went home. we warmed up on the bunny slopes then headed up the big lift to the top of the mountain for a more adventurous couple of runs. we skied down some blues and a little bit of greens and generally had a fabulous time. i only fell all weekend when almost at a complete stop and trying to avoid other people. jeremy had a bit of a deceleration problem ad took a couple of spills but neither of us had more than a few sore muscles (my calves are like rocks and my triceps arent much better) so we were happy with that. no broen necks or falls from the ski lift like i was worried about.

i am in love with skiing and with my hot pink ski jacket. can life get better???

A Colorful Reading Challenge

The point of the challenge is to read 9 books with 9 different colors in the title. Six colors are required, while the last 3 can be your choice. Books may be overlapped with other challenges. At least 6 of the books should be new to you (doesn't matter which 6). All of mine happen to be new to me, but it is not required. (blue, red, white, silver, gold, black are the required colors)

blue: blue christmas - mary kay andrews
red: redwall - brian jacques
white: vision in white - nora roberts
silver: silver flame - hanah howell
gold: aspen gold - janet dailey
black: black hills - nora roberts

choice: (peach) the secrets of peaches - jodi lynn anderson
choice: (chocolate) the chocolate war - robert cormier
choice: (pink)the secret history of the pink carnation - lauren willig

2009 Young Adult Book Challenge

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. Read 12 Young Adult novels. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

3. Challenge begins January thru December, 2009.

4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.

1. theodora twist - melissa senate
2. play me - laura ruby
3. thirsty - m t anderson
4. bad kitty - michele jaffe
5. the luxe - anna godberson
6. the thirteenth tale - diane setterfield
7. bratfest at tiffany's - lisi harrison
8. evolution, me and other freaks of nature - robin brande
9. story of a girl - sara zarr
10. the city of ember - jeanne duprau
11. alanna: the first adventure - tamora pierce
12. the boyfriend list - e. lockhart

In Their Shoes Reading Challenge

1. The challenge starts January 1, 2009 and ends December 31, 2009.

2. Books have to be either a memoir, autobiography, or biography.

3. You can overlap with other challenges.

4. Re-reads count.

5. You pick how many books you want to read.

6. You do not need to make a list. This challenge is flexible and the goal is to have fun and read.

I will read at least one a month on average so my goal for this challenge is 12.
1. girlbomb: a halfway homeless memoir - janice erlbaum
2. i'm with the band: confessions of a groupie - pamela des barres
3. no lifeguard on duty - janice dickinson
4. loose girl - kerry cohen
5. seinlanguage - jerry seinfeld
6. bringing home the birkin - michael tonello
7. losing it - valerie bertinelli
8. the geography of bliss - eric weiner
9. wishful drinking - carrie fisher
10. called out of darkness - anne rice
11. always looking up - michael j fox
12. callgirl - jeanette angell

Numbers Challenge

The challenge is to read 5 books whose titles have a number in them from Jan 1, 2009 to August 1, 2009.

This includes written numbers like 'one' and numbers like 10th or first.

You can choose up to three that are on lists for other challenges. So two of the choices must not be on any list.

You can re-read books but all books must NOT be read until January 1, 2009.

1. at first sight - tamara sneed
2. the thirteenth tale - diane setterfield
3. alanna: the first adventure - tamora pierce
4. the first assistant - clare naylor, mimi hare
5. english as a second language - megan crane

New Author Challenge 2009

The challenge will run from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels, but anthologies are also a great way to try someone new.

I want this to be an easy challenge, so you state how many new authors you want to try this year and then that’s your challenge. If you want a number given to you, try for either 25 or 50.

When you read a new author, write your review (either at your site or the group blog) and then come back here and post a link to your review.

1. lost and found - jacqueline sheehan
2. play me - laura ruby
3. luscious lemon - heather swain
4. roommates wanted - lisa jewell
5. bad kitty - michele jaffe
6. i'm with the band: confessions of a groupie - pamela des barres
7. peaches - jodi lynn anderson
8. the great indoors - sabine durrant
9. adored - tilly bagshawe
10. the city of ember - jeanne duprau
11. alanna: the first adventure - tamora pierce
12. evolution, me and other freaks of nature - robin brande
13. story of a girl - sara zarr
14. loose girl - kerry cohen
15. snowed in - christina bartolomeo
16. fat chance - deborah blumenthal
17. the reader - bernhard schlink
18. the thief - megan whalen turner
19. the vampire diaries: the awakening - l.j. smith
20. the gift bag chronicles - hilary de vries
21. kushiels dart - jacqueline carey
22. english as a second language - megan crane
23. love in the asylum - lisa carey
24. does my head look big in this? - Randa Abdel-fattah
25. killing moon - rebecca york

all my reviews can be found on shelfari.

First in a Series Challenge

Guidelines for 1st in Series Challenge 2009

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
2. Read 12 books that are the first in any series. You may read & list your chosen books any time during the year.
3. Challenge begins January thru December, 2009.
4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.

1. redwall - brian jacques
2. the sharing knife: beguilement - lois mcmaster bujold
3. the city of ember - jeanne duprau
4. alanna: the first adventure - tamora pierce
5. the astonishing life of octavian nothing, traitor to the nation: volume 1 the pox party - m.t. anderson
6. peaches - jodi lynn anderson
7. the vampire diaries: the awakening - l.j. smith
8. kushiels dart - jacqueline carey
9. the thief - megan whalen turner
10. city of bones - cassandra clare
11. poison study - maria v snyder
12. inkheart - cornelia funke

Books Into Movies Challenge 2009

When?
The challenge will start January 1, 2009 and end December 31, 2009.

How?
The goal is to read 2+ books made into a movie or books that relate to TV series (Murder She Wrote and the likes).

1. coraline - neil gaiman
this book is geared toward youngish readers - maybe middle schoolers? i saw advertisements for the movie and the book had been on my tbr list for so long i had to pick it up. it was a great story and i look forward to the movie.
2. the reader - bernhard schlink - what a great story. even though it didnt have the happy ending i usually go for, it was a really powerful story.

Reading My Name Challenge

When: February 1, 2009 - June 30, 2009
Your challenge if you choose to accept it is to read at least two books by authors that share your name OR book titles with your name in them. They can share your first name, middle name or last name. They can share your nickname or online name or email name. They can share a form of your name. If you have a very rare name, just do your best to get as close as you can. (e.g. If your name is Raina, then Rain or Rayne would be okay.) The character can have the same name as you too.

1. english as a second language - megan crane
2. the thief - megan whalen turner

A to Z Reading Challenge

Option B: Read titles A to Z. Commit to reading 26 books theoretically speaking.

A again the magic - lisa kleypas
B bad kitty - michele jaffe
C coraline - neil gaiman
D does my head look big in this? - randa abdel-fattah
E evolution, me and other freaks of nature - robin brande
F the first assistant - clare naylor, mimi hare
G getting warmer - carol snow
H the heiress - jude deveraux
I i'm with the band: confessions of a groupie - pamela des barres
J josie and jack - kelly braffet
K kushiels dart - jacqueline carey
L lost and found - jacqueline sheehan
M mr. cavendish, i presume - julia quinn
N night fall - cherry adair
O oscar season - mary mcnamara
P perfect stranger - gina wilkins
Q the queen of attolia - megan whalen turner
R redwall - brian jacques
S scandal becomes her - shirlee busbee
T theodora twist - melissa senate
U up close and dangerously sexy - karen anders
V the vampire diaries: the awakening - l.j. smith
W whose wedding is it anyway? - melissa senate
X
Y
Z

2009 Chick Lit Challenge

Rules:
From January 1 through December 31, 2009, read at least 10 chick lit books. Books can overlap with other challenges and you can change your list at any time.

1. secrets of a shoe addict - beth harbison
2. the breakup club - melissa senate
3. there's no place like here - cecilia ahearn
4. slim chance - jackie rose
5. thigh high - christina dodd
6. adored - tilly bagshawe
7. the first assistant - clare naylor, mimi hare
8. getting warmer - carol snow
9. a clean slate - lauren caldwell
10. whose wedding is it anyway? - melissa senate

666 horror/paranormal reading challenge

rules:

You must read 6 books in 6 categories by at least 6 authors
Books must be horror, thriller, or supernatural.
You cannot include audiobooks, journals, comic books, or manga. You can include ebooks.
Keep a running book count/completed list.
If rereading a book, you have to have finished it at least a year ago.
Books can overlap categories.
You can use books for this challenge that you are reading for other challenges.
This challenge will run January 1, 2009-December 31, 2009

1. mate of the wolf - karen whiddon (category 2)
2. thirsty - m. t. anderson (category 1)
3. the sharing knife: beguilement - lois mcmaster bujold (category 4)
4. megan's mark - lora leigh (category 8)
5. artemis fowl: the eternity code - eoin colfer (category 5)
6.personal demon - kelley armstrong (category 10)

super bowl sunday

i will post soon about our ski trip awesomeness but first, a few thoughts about super bowl xliii.

quarters 1-3: boring
halftime: bruce who? oh wait... is he "the boss" they always talk about in archie comics? how about someone who has produced an album that has received airtime in this millenium? or are we too worried about nipplegate 2?
quarter 4: semi interesting but not really
commercials: seriously??? there was an average one with theclysdales talking about how his great grandpa found his calling but it wasnt great. and i was happy to see jack get hit with a bus. but overall - not so much. did anyone see a great one this year? im guesing not.

i got a secret thrill everytime they said raymond james stadium in tampa on dale mabry. i miss tampa sometimes. and i love that they did halftime from inside the pirate ship. go bucs!

overall, the best part of the super bowl was catching up on emails and working on my next baby blanket. john and emay welcomed baby ethan yesterday morning 2 weeks early! ive got to get my crochet hook moving!!!!