I have already pre-ordered the newest Ellen Hopkin's book, Perfect. It will be released on September 13, and I will not get it in the mail until 2 or 3 weeks after that! lol.
I have already ordered Impulse, the first book in this new series. (I once gave that book to a friend in high school and never got it back. That was well over four years ago! So now I have to order all the Ellen Hopkins books I lost.)
I ordered all that from Amazon.com. I guess I could go to Barnes and Noble or even half-priced books to see if they have copies of those books, but I can find these books for like, 2 or 3 dollars! If I go to Half.com (a site belonging to EBay) I have found books for 75 cents, sometimes even less than that!
I love ordering books online, but I wish the shipping price would go down. I can order a book for a penny (seriously!) and still have to pay $3.99 shipping and handling. Ugh!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
stuff that goes wrong
Oh man oh man. The last couple of days @ work have been CRAZY.
On Monday afternoon the gas stopped pumping. Simply stopped! A co-worker, A., tried re-setting the pumps twice thinking there was some glitch in the program. In the meantime she had called a fuel repairman. He took two hours to get here, two hours to go to Delafield to get the parts he needed, and another 6 hours to fix the stuff going haywire in the basement.
Oh yeah, there was not a glitch in the program. There was something seriously wrong with the parts. In the basement there were sparks flying, parts were drowned out in water... it was a major mess! That was on Monday. I came in on Tuesday to check out my work schedule. When I showed up @ 1000 everything was aok and people were pumping out their gas. So thankfully everything was alright outside.
But today things went really wrong with the frappochino machine. Some of the funnels weren't working and they were not spitting out the coffee. The repairmen took a look and said everything was fine. Like not even two hours later one of the funnels started spitting out HOT HOT water all over the damn place. I was rushing around putting cups in the place of the water so it would not overflow.
T., our assistant manager, had to turn the machine off so he could stop the hot water going all over the place. By the time he turned off the machine there was water everywhere! He kept me at the cash register while he mopped/wiped up all the water that had gotten on the counter top and the floor. It took him well over an hour to mop everything up! :P
I have to come into work tomorrow pretty early. What will go wrong then?
On Monday afternoon the gas stopped pumping. Simply stopped! A co-worker, A., tried re-setting the pumps twice thinking there was some glitch in the program. In the meantime she had called a fuel repairman. He took two hours to get here, two hours to go to Delafield to get the parts he needed, and another 6 hours to fix the stuff going haywire in the basement.
Oh yeah, there was not a glitch in the program. There was something seriously wrong with the parts. In the basement there were sparks flying, parts were drowned out in water... it was a major mess! That was on Monday. I came in on Tuesday to check out my work schedule. When I showed up @ 1000 everything was aok and people were pumping out their gas. So thankfully everything was alright outside.
But today things went really wrong with the frappochino machine. Some of the funnels weren't working and they were not spitting out the coffee. The repairmen took a look and said everything was fine. Like not even two hours later one of the funnels started spitting out HOT HOT water all over the damn place. I was rushing around putting cups in the place of the water so it would not overflow.
T., our assistant manager, had to turn the machine off so he could stop the hot water going all over the place. By the time he turned off the machine there was water everywhere! He kept me at the cash register while he mopped/wiped up all the water that had gotten on the counter top and the floor. It took him well over an hour to mop everything up! :P
I have to come into work tomorrow pretty early. What will go wrong then?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
smoothies
Why bother going to your gym's juice bar when you can make your own smoothies at home? All you need is a decent blender, plenty of your favorite fruit, and whatever toppings you want. Right now I am eating a banana/peach/whipped cream smoothie and it tastes delicious. My dad took a couple bites and he said it tastes like banana cream pie (though he might have said that just to be nice to me.)
And it makes a great drink too! Plus it feels good to eat healthy (even if I did top off my smoothies with a lot of whipped cream!).
Because I used up all the peaches we have I am going to have to go shopping for more strawberries and other fruits. A banana - strawberry smoothie sounds great right now! Haha.
And it makes a great drink too! Plus it feels good to eat healthy (even if I did top off my smoothies with a lot of whipped cream!).
Because I used up all the peaches we have I am going to have to go shopping for more strawberries and other fruits. A banana - strawberry smoothie sounds great right now! Haha.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
sad news
My dad told me that the baby robins died this morning. =[ He does not know how they died. Overfeeding them? Dehydration? Something else? He buried them in the backyard. Their parents are still here, chirping and flying around.
It sucks that these poor little birds had to die. I just hope they did not die in pain or anything like that. Sorry babies! I hope you can find yourself a nice little nest in the sky.
It sucks that these poor little birds had to die. I just hope they did not die in pain or anything like that. Sorry babies! I hope you can find yourself a nice little nest in the sky.
Monday, August 1, 2011
baby robins
My dad found two baby robins in our backyard on Sunday. He guesses that they fell out of their nest. They were waddling around and chirping for their mommy and daddy. He got a big ol' box and filled it with straw and poked the birds into the box. We have been feeding them a steady diet of mulberries and worms. For little birds they are sure loud. If they are hungry, they chirp. If they want some shade, they chirp. If they are taking a crap, they chirp.
I already called the Humane Society to see if they would take them. They suggested leaving them out on the grass for their parents to pick up (how? Would the momma or poppa bear pick up these chicks with their beaks or something?). As turns out, the whole thing about human scent on a bird is a wives tale so they are okay to pick up.
In any case, the parents are not going to pick them up. I do not know how they could! I'll give it another day and call the Humane Society and see if they will take the robins in. We have a couple cats in this neighborhood and I don't want to see these chicks get eaten!!
I already called the Humane Society to see if they would take them. They suggested leaving them out on the grass for their parents to pick up (how? Would the momma or poppa bear pick up these chicks with their beaks or something?). As turns out, the whole thing about human scent on a bird is a wives tale so they are okay to pick up.
In any case, the parents are not going to pick them up. I do not know how they could! I'll give it another day and call the Humane Society and see if they will take the robins in. We have a couple cats in this neighborhood and I don't want to see these chicks get eaten!!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
City of Bones
I promised I would do a review of Clockwork Angel and I will. But first I need to do a review of City of Bones. You will see why soon.
Ever hear of Cassandra Clare? If you reside on fanfiction.net you might have. Cassandra Clare used to write a lot of LOTR and Harry Potter fanfiction. Her favorite character was and probably still is Draco Malfoy. This is important to keep in note because (a) she uses a lot of her own fanfiction material within her own books and (b) you are going to see a lot of Malfoy in these books, just with a different name and in a different setting.
Okay. So what is the plot of City of Bones? Well have you ever seen Star Wars? Star Trek? Harry Potter? Buffy? Lord of the Rings? Twilight? You have? We are already half way there!
Here is how the first book begins. Clary Fray and Simon Lewis (her bff and token Jew) go to a club to have a good time. There Clary witnesses a bunch of teenagers covered with all sorts of tattoos basically waste a demon. Problem is, she is the only one who can see what is happening. Simon Lewis and the other humans can't see what is going on. (Is Clary on acid? Oh, if only. This would be a much better book!) Turns out that there is this whole "Shadow world" where all sorts of humans and creatures reside together. The three teenagers are Shadow Hunters, demon hunters whose role is rid the human and magical world of all sorts of nasty, evil things. There is Isabelle Lightwood (resident fashionista), her brother Alec Lightwood (your resident gay character and the ever loyal sidekick), and the douche bag himself Jace Wayland. Jace Wayland seems to have all the mannerisms and characteristics of Draco Malfoy. He is arrogant, wealthy beyond reason, very sarcastic, blond, and has his own stern father who was a huge bigot and taught him to "love is to destroy" and all of that crap. The father trained and spoiled his son in equal measure. Wayland is a lean, mean killing machine with enough ego and attitude to rival the size of Texas.
As a Shadowhunter, the teenagers use things called steles, a wand-like object that can pick locks, draw tattoos, and do all sorts of magic. (Its called a wand Miss Clare. Just because J.K. Rowling used it does not mean you cannot use it too.) So about 16 years ago there was this guy called Lord Voldemo--- erm, Valentine Morgenstern who wanted to get rid of anyone and anything who wasn't a pureblood --- I mean... uh... get rid of anyone nonhuman. So his plan of action was to attack the government of Idris (the super special magical place where all the Shadowhunters either come from and or currently live and work at). The plan failed, HORRIBLY, and Valentine (supposedly) died along with his wife and child. His supporters (in a group called The Circle... wait the Circle? You couldn't find anything better than that? Really? Sorry, moving on) either died in the attack or turned themselves in. They were somewhat co-opted within the government, but never really truly trusted or respected again.
Clary, as expected, turns out to be connected to Valentine. Her mother, Jocelyn, was Valentine's wife (I am giving away major plot points away here because even I could see these things coming from a mile away. Anyone could!) and she was his child. And guess what?? Turns out Jace Wayland was a child of Valentine as well. This is a little problematic because Jace and Clary have the hots for each other. (But like I said, if you have ever seen Star Wars you know where this is going.) And it turns out Valentine never really died! He pretended to be Michael Wayland, Jace's father, and raise and make him into the douche bag demon-fighter he is today. DUN DUN DUN.
Valentine eventually sends demons after Clary and her mother and succeeds in capturing Jocelyn. Clary goes to Hogwarts -- I mean the Institute where she learns the truth about her family, her past, and her destiny as a Mary-Sue who can grasp concepts and tactics as easy as picking up flowers. Reviewer Morgan L. Meyers put it best when she said the story combines some good elements like "friends, a knowledge of occult mythology, sectarian groups and violence, fun villains who may or may not be related to you, etc --- but that does not mean it's original." You can take a lot of pretty things and overused ideas and "blend them together to come up with something generically pretty" but that does not mean it will be good.
The side characters (like Isabelle, Alec, and this warlock Magnus) are more fleshed out and far more interesting then the main characters. Clary is kind of bitchy with a major side of cardboard flavoring and Jace... UGH. I wanted to shove him out a window every time he came on the page. That said... the book has a lot of potential. It is up to you whether you like or not, and whether you can gain some inspiration off of it. Read it for yourself.
(NOTE: I used the Amazon review from Dreamsend to write my own review.)
Ever hear of Cassandra Clare? If you reside on fanfiction.net you might have. Cassandra Clare used to write a lot of LOTR and Harry Potter fanfiction. Her favorite character was and probably still is Draco Malfoy. This is important to keep in note because (a) she uses a lot of her own fanfiction material within her own books and (b) you are going to see a lot of Malfoy in these books, just with a different name and in a different setting.
Okay. So what is the plot of City of Bones? Well have you ever seen Star Wars? Star Trek? Harry Potter? Buffy? Lord of the Rings? Twilight? You have? We are already half way there!
Here is how the first book begins. Clary Fray and Simon Lewis (her bff and token Jew) go to a club to have a good time. There Clary witnesses a bunch of teenagers covered with all sorts of tattoos basically waste a demon. Problem is, she is the only one who can see what is happening. Simon Lewis and the other humans can't see what is going on. (Is Clary on acid? Oh, if only. This would be a much better book!) Turns out that there is this whole "Shadow world" where all sorts of humans and creatures reside together. The three teenagers are Shadow Hunters, demon hunters whose role is rid the human and magical world of all sorts of nasty, evil things. There is Isabelle Lightwood (resident fashionista), her brother Alec Lightwood (your resident gay character and the ever loyal sidekick), and the douche bag himself Jace Wayland. Jace Wayland seems to have all the mannerisms and characteristics of Draco Malfoy. He is arrogant, wealthy beyond reason, very sarcastic, blond, and has his own stern father who was a huge bigot and taught him to "love is to destroy" and all of that crap. The father trained and spoiled his son in equal measure. Wayland is a lean, mean killing machine with enough ego and attitude to rival the size of Texas.
As a Shadowhunter, the teenagers use things called steles, a wand-like object that can pick locks, draw tattoos, and do all sorts of magic. (Its called a wand Miss Clare. Just because J.K. Rowling used it does not mean you cannot use it too.) So about 16 years ago there was this guy called Lord Voldemo--- erm, Valentine Morgenstern who wanted to get rid of anyone and anything who wasn't a pureblood --- I mean... uh... get rid of anyone nonhuman. So his plan of action was to attack the government of Idris (the super special magical place where all the Shadowhunters either come from and or currently live and work at). The plan failed, HORRIBLY, and Valentine (supposedly) died along with his wife and child. His supporters (in a group called The Circle... wait the Circle? You couldn't find anything better than that? Really? Sorry, moving on) either died in the attack or turned themselves in. They were somewhat co-opted within the government, but never really truly trusted or respected again.
Clary, as expected, turns out to be connected to Valentine. Her mother, Jocelyn, was Valentine's wife (I am giving away major plot points away here because even I could see these things coming from a mile away. Anyone could!) and she was his child. And guess what?? Turns out Jace Wayland was a child of Valentine as well. This is a little problematic because Jace and Clary have the hots for each other. (But like I said, if you have ever seen Star Wars you know where this is going.) And it turns out Valentine never really died! He pretended to be Michael Wayland, Jace's father, and raise and make him into the douche bag demon-fighter he is today. DUN DUN DUN.
Valentine eventually sends demons after Clary and her mother and succeeds in capturing Jocelyn. Clary goes to Hogwarts -- I mean the Institute where she learns the truth about her family, her past, and her destiny as a Mary-Sue who can grasp concepts and tactics as easy as picking up flowers. Reviewer Morgan L. Meyers put it best when she said the story combines some good elements like "friends, a knowledge of occult mythology, sectarian groups and violence, fun villains who may or may not be related to you, etc --- but that does not mean it's original." You can take a lot of pretty things and overused ideas and "blend them together to come up with something generically pretty" but that does not mean it will be good.
The side characters (like Isabelle, Alec, and this warlock Magnus) are more fleshed out and far more interesting then the main characters. Clary is kind of bitchy with a major side of cardboard flavoring and Jace... UGH. I wanted to shove him out a window every time he came on the page. That said... the book has a lot of potential. It is up to you whether you like or not, and whether you can gain some inspiration off of it. Read it for yourself.
(NOTE: I used the Amazon review from Dreamsend to write my own review.)
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