Quiz winners and stuff

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The second round of 2012 quizzes has come to an end with a result that will surprise no one 🙂  With an almost 200 point lead over her stiffest competition, NISE (Under the Boardwalk) prevails again as the winner!  Congratulations on winning a $46 B&N gift card!! 

Nise won $46 because 46 of you participated in the second round of quizzes.  I like to reward participation and I love when you all come by and try your hand at my quizzes, SO Gage ‘chose’ a random winner for a special prize. He took his job very seriously.

And the winner is Staci (Life in the Thumb)!!!  Congratulations Staci!

I also want to send a special shout-out to Jill who went above and beyond a few weeks ago. Post here. Isn’t she awesome?

Thank you all for coming by every Tuesday and playing along with me.  I hope you will continue to do so when new and improved quizzes return next month!  Tell your friends 🙂

Final leaderboard here. Last week’s sports quiz here.

 

Let the Devil Sleep by John Verdon, TLC tour stop

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Let the Devil Sleep (Dave Gurney Series #3)Finished 8-6-12, rating 4/5, mystery/thriller, 448 pages, pub. 2012

Book 3 of the Dave Gurney series. (Book 1 – Think of a Number) (Book 2- Shut Your Eyes Tight)

Dave Gurney, highly decorated retired NYPD detective, is in a funk after his last encounter with a killer left him with both physical and mental scars.  When the reporter who helped catapult Gurney to detective stardom asks him to help her daughter with a project he said yes and that’s how he got involved in a 10 year old serial killer case gone cold.  The Good Shepherd killed 6 Mercedes drivers, all the same way, and then sent a manifesto to the police railing against greedy, moneyed folks.  When Gurney challenges the FBI’s handling of the case he immediately butts heads with Agent Trout, an FBI guy who could do some damage to Gurney’s life.

I love all three of the Dave Gurney books.  He is a complicated man who knows his strengths and weaknesses.  He is a great detective, an average husband, and a not-so-wonderful dad.  In the past two books Gurney’s relationship with his wife Madeleine added dimension to the man and in this one we get to see the dynamic between he and his son first-hand.  I loved it.  I hope we see more of his son in future books.

I was a lukewarm to the mystery at first, but it grew on me (much better than the cringe-inducing details of the second book).  There was a large cast of characters and lots of overlapping storylines, but they all revolved around the Good Shepherd case and Kim’s interviewing the families for RAM-TV, kind of a cross between Fox News and TMZ.  There was so much going on and I loved the fast pace of the book.  I will say that I did figure it out somewhere past the halfway mark, well, I had two theories and one was correct 🙂  I wish there had been a little more wrapping up of some of the storylines at the end, but that in no way took away from my enjoyment.  I love this series and highly recommend it.

I received this as part of the TLC Book Tour.  Thanks for the book!  Check out what everyone else had to say…

John Verdon’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Tuesday, July 24th:  Wordsmithonia
Wednesday, July 25th:  Jenny Loves to Read
Thursday, July 26th:  Jen’s Book Thoughts
Monday, July 30th:  A Bookworm’s World
Tuesday, July 31st:  Sara’s Organized Chaos
Wednesday, August 1st:  Life in Review
Thursday, August 2nd:  Colloquium
Monday, August 6th:  Booklover Book Reviews
Tuesday, August 7th:  Stacy’s Books
Wednesday, August 8th:  Book Addict Katie
Thursday, August 9th:  House of Crime and Mystery
Monday, August 13th:  Crime Fiction Lover
Tuesday, August 14th:  A Novel Source
Wednesday, August 15th:  Book Reviews by Elizabeth A. White
Thursday, August 16th:  Bewitched Bookworms
Monday, August 20th:  Girls Just Reading
Wednesday, August 22nd:  Thoughts of Joy
Monday, August 27th:  Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Sundays with Gage – the Beach edition

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Jason and I have lived in Cleveland for 12 years and we’ve never visited a Cleveland beach.  We visit Kelley’s Island every summer and that’s Lake Erie, but it’s also over an hour from Cleveland.  It was beautiful day yesterday so we trekked to Edgewater Beach (about 30 minutes away) and let Gage have some fun.  My favorite is the last one.  No child was injured during this photo shoot 🙂

America, You Sexy B, discussion two

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Mandy (The Well-Read Wife) started a book club and I am happy to participate in reading the book America, You Sexy Bitch by Michael Ian Black And Meghan McCain.  Here’s a link to my first discussion post and here’s one to the discussion over at Mandy’s.  I’m going to list all of Mandy’s questions just to give you a sense of the book but I’m only going to answer 5.

The following questions cover pages 32 – 134 of the book:

  1. In the Las Vegas chapter Michael and Meghan tour the Zappos headquarters.Would you like to work there? Why? Why not?
  2. While in Vegas Micheal, Meghan, and co. go on a strip club tour of Vegas. Michael points out that in Vegas exotic dancers actually pay a fee to the clubs where they work for the opportunity to dance at the clubs. What do you think of this system?
  3. What did you think of Michael’s sneak attack lap dance from Phoenix?  Gross.  As was Meghan’s obsession with getting a married man and father of two out of his comfort zone by buying lap dances for him. 
  4. Towards the end of the Vegas chapter Meghan writes: “”would it be necessary for strip clubs to even exist if there were less rampant repression in this country?” Sexual repression in the U.S., thoughts? 
  5. In the Salt Lake City chapter Michael writes the following: “I would prefer that my political leaders practiced their religion however they see fit in private and shut the hell up about it in public.” Agree? Disagree?  I don’t have a problem with politicians talking about their faith, it does speak about the person they are and we all want to know who we’re getting.  I have a huge problem with the way that churches are preaching politics from the pulpit.  Preach your beliefs and let the people figure it out for themselves.  God gave us all free will.  Encouraging congregations to buy chicken sandwiches to ‘vote’ makes me sad.
  6. In the Austin chapter Meghan’s friend Cargill calls himself a philosophical Republican and says that he does not support any of the current Republican candidates. Cargill remarks that he will probably vote for the president in the next election. Michael writes. “Yet he would never call himself a Democrat.” Do you agree with Michael that people are afraid of being labeled a “liberal” or a “Democrat”? Do you think people are also just as afraid of being labeled “conservative”?  I find the way that those on the right side (and Fox News) spit out the word liberal disconcerting.  It’s like it’s a bad word or something. I don’t get it.
  7. Cousin John. Discuss.
  8. In New Orleans, Meghan and Michael argue about health care. Whose side are you on? Meghan? Michael? Neither?  Their ‘argument’ wasn’t really a reasoned discussion.  Meghan stomped off when she couldn’t get Michael to agree with her.  This happened a lot.
  9. Meghan and Michael smoke marijuana during one of their nights out in New Orleans. Meghan even writes that she believes marijuana should be legal. Do you agree? Disagree?
  10. Were you surprised that Meghan, a Republican thinks marijuana should be legalized?  This issue never really seemed like a partisan one to me, so no.
  11. What are your thoughts concerning the section in the New Orleans chapter where Meghan writes about her tour of the Lower Ninth Ward?

July’s 5 Word Movie Reviews – Join in and win $ for Charity

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Jason’s reign as theater king as ended.  He chose 5 movies per his March Madness win so the next one is mine.  Any good romantic comedies coming out?

Every time you add 5 words of your own to one of my reviews then you donate $1 to charity.  What charity, you ask?  The charity is chosen by the person who has the most reviews once we reach 100. (Last charity here)  PLEASE leave a clear 5 word comment so I can give credit for it.

You can add reviews to any of my past movie posts AND see who is in the contributing lead here.

Dark knight rises poster.jpgBatman Dark Knight Rises, 2012 (Cast-Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Joseph-Gordon-Levitt)   Grade B

Very Dark But Satisfying Conclusion

Totally epic loved every minute (Teddyree)

Amazing ending to fave series. (Kay)

 Intense, dark, fitting series end.  (Heather)

Tom Hardy outsmarts a gag.  (Tony)

War and Peace, 1956 (Cast-Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer)   Grade C+

Better Choice to Read Book.

Ted, 2012 (cast-Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis)    Grade D

Druggie Teddy Bear Funny? Nope.

 The best part was trailer. (Kathy)

Great Animation. Amusing but vulgar. (Leslie)

I am Number Four, 2011 (Cast-Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer)                   Grade D

Tiresome, Laughable and For Teens.

Save money read the book (Teddyree)

Just another lame fantasy movie.  (Heather)

Unclutter Your Life in One Week by Erin Rooney Doland

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Unclutter Your Life in One WeekUnclutter Your Life in One Week. Finished 7-31-12, rating 2.5/5, Organization, 237 pages, pub. 2009

Remember, the less you own, the less you have to clean.”  page 164

If only I could remind myself of this every time I pick something up in a store.  In April we learned that Jason would be out of a job by October (in reality that date was last Friday) and my immediate thought went to selling the house if we had to move.  I am a master collector of clutter and knew that I’d need to get rid of much of it before it was possible to put the house on the market.  So, I saw this book at the library and thought it might help me start the process of de-cluttering the house.  If you are hoping to de-clutter in one week based on the title you should probably readjust your time frame.

I liked the first chapter, it was part therapy and part inspiration.  As a clutterer I often think if I could just live a little cleaner/more tidy/more organized I might accomplish more.  What am I letting this clutter keep me from?  Probably some very great things.  Finally, someone who understands!

On the first day I started with Monday morning’s assignment, weeding your wardrobe.  I was able to donate 8 bags of clothes and our master closet is so much nicer to walk into every morning.  I no longer feel the guilt by looking at those too-small-for-me clothes because they aren’t there.  Hooray!  I thought there were excellent suggestions, but it did take me the equivalent of one whole day.  This was supposed to be a morning assignment before you went to work and started de-cluttering there.  And then when you came home you were supposed to come home and create a reception station.  I don’t know about you but I found this a fairly silly expectation.

On Wednesday you were supposed to rid the clutter from your bedroom before you went to work to do the same there before you came home to de-clutter you kitchen AND dining room.  Here’s the thing, if you pick up this book, it’s because you have piles and stacks and random things where they shouldn’t be.  The kitchen is not an evening excercise.  The total unrealistic nature of the book and especially the false advertising of the title (which by the way gives you the weekend off, LOL) in one that was hard to get past.

I appreciated the tips (and therapy) and can recommend checking out the book if you want to work your way through it in your own time frame.  Or maybe you have less clutter and this will work for you, but I still think it would be difficult.  Even if you don’t have a little one to keep track of.  This is a useful book, the low rating is due to the promised fast results.

I checked this book out of our library, which is still our library since we are still here.  No move on the horizon, but our house is better prepared if that changes.

Sporting Quiz – guessing closed

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With the Olympics in full swing I thought I’d see if you could tell me what sport the following books feature…(Hint-no sport repeats)

You have until noon Sunday to submit your answers as a comment.  Comment will be hidden until I post the answers.  No Googling!

This round will last til August 7.  The person with the most points will win a B&N gift card (total $ based on # of total participants, so please play) and a randomly selected participant will win a fun prize from me.

Leaderboard and rules here.  Last week’s Stephen King Mix-Up quiz here.

1. Playing for Pizza by John Grisham – Football

2. Forfeit by Dick Frances – Horse Racing

3. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein – Car Racing

4. A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean – Fly Fishing

5. Gold by Chris Cleave – Track Cycling

6. Full Court Press by Mike Lupica – Basketball

7. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway – Bull Fighting

8. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach – Baseball

9. The Champion Maker by Kevin Joseph – Track

10. Miracle on the 17th Green by James Patterson – Golf

Pinteresting with Gage

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I finally got on the Pinterest bandwagon, at least I jump on every few days when I have minutes to spare, and my favorite discoveries are the ones I’ve found to share with Gage.  As he gets older I am sometimes at a loss as to help him develop and grow and I have found some great fun ideas. 

Here’s the first one I decided to try (the pin here and the orginal post here), the alphabet box.  I did a few things differently, but the idea is the same.

I started by finding the perfect box (this part was easy since I’m a box hoarder. seriously, stop by if you need some and I’ll hook you up).  I put the letters on the top using stickers.  This week we have just started the alphabet over so I’m showing you my A and B box.  Every night I put the letter of the day, 3 or 4 items that begin with that letter and a notecard with each of these items spelled out.  I then place the box the designated corner between the kitchen and family room. 

Since this is our second time through I will be trying to add at least one new thing for each letter.

After breakfast we go to the letter box and I sing the alphabet song.  After I’m done I ask him to point out or say letters.  After just 24 days he can tell you about half of the letters.

Then we open the box and see what surprises are in store.  He loves the excitement of discovering new things in the box.

I can tell you that this letter box generates happiness all day long.  He will take stuff out and when I find it I just put in back in the box for him to find later.  Before his bedtime story each night we do the same thing with singing the alphabet and going through the box.

When I first tried this I couldn’t believe how much he got into it.  Now he is OBSESSED with letters.  Frankly I am so over Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, but I am amazed at the learning that has taken place in a short amount of time.  Gage is 21 months old but I think this would work with any toddler around his age. 

Because of my success with this pin I’ve decided to join in Trish’s Pin It and Do It Challenge, Round 2.  I’m signing up as a Timid Pinner committing to 1-3 pins.  I look forward to seeing what other fun ways I can help Gage learn.+

Sorry for the funky formatting of the photos.  WordPress does weird things with pics and copy, no matter how many times I try to fix it!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson – audio

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SpeakSpeak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Finished 7-25-12, rating 3.5/5, Young Adult, pub. 1999

Unabridged audio 5 hours.  Read by Mandy Siegfried.

Melinda is starting her freshman year as an outcast after calling the cops at an end-of-summer party.  Lots of kids got in trouble and blamed Melinda.  Melinda didn’t mean to spoil everyone’s fun, she meant to report a crime, one that she has kept secret and has continued to haunt her.  Her friends no longer talk to her and the only one who goes out of her way is the new student Heather, who doesn’t know any better.  Melinda spends her year in a janitor’s closet, skipping school, and rarely talking.

The book addresses the aftermath of rape and it is a poignant story of how a young girl can lose herself when there is no one to lean on.  It is an important topic and one handled thoughtfully.  I can see why so many people like it.  High school is tough enough and having to start it with such a black cloud hanging over you is unimaginable.

There were a few things that kept me from loving this one, but it’s the way high school was depicted that bothered me the most.  Or maybe Melanie’s silence, which at first was easy to understand, but became less so as the story continued.  I had a hard time believing that not one person would talk to her in her high school.  An outcast she may have been, but schools are full of them and it seems like she may have found some solace with at least one of them. I totally sympathized with her depression, she was so, so young, my heart broke for her.  I hope that when this happens in real life there is at least one person who is willing to get to the bottom of what the problem is.  She didn’t have one person who cared enough.

Melanie’s voice, told in first person, was perfectly captured by narrator Mandy Siegried.  She captured the haunting and the hurt and depression just right.

I think I’m in the minority on not loving this one.  I don’t read a lot of YA, so maybe I’m being too harsh.  I did like it and think it is a perfect book to start a discussion with teens.

I checked this audio out of the library.

Bloodman by Robert Pobi

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Let me start by saying that when I received this for the blog tour I couldn’t make myself pick it up even though I thought it would be a book I’d love.  Why?

BloodmanThis cover is seriously creepy and I had such a negative reaction every time I walked by it.  So, last week I took the jacket off and put it away.  Deep Sigh.  I was finally ready to read!

This psychological thriller has it all.  Jack Cole, FBI agent who investigates the worst of the worst killers in the country, doesn’t look or act the part.  He is covered in one big Dante’s Inferno tatoo from his neck to his ankles with an attitude to match.  Jake is one of the more interesting characters I’ve encountered in awhile.

In simple terms he solved riddles – it was as mundane as that.

The element of the otherworldly that his coworkers subscribed to was simply confusion in the face of a mental acuity they could not understand.  Like a musical or mathematical savant, Jake was able to tap into something that those around him could not and the result was that they were uncomfortable around him.  Some were even afraid.

Chapter 19

When Jake heads home to take care of his sick father, famous artist Jacob Coleridge, he is called in to help the local police solve a grisly murder.  The two victims had been skinned alive, not a sliver of skin left on the two bodies, just like his mother 30 years before.  There is also the biggest hurricane ever recorded headed straight for them, so time was in short supply.  More bodies pile up and disturbing works are found in his father’s studio.

Those are the only details you need. I stayed up until 1 am racing through this book.  I really could not put it down.  (I regretted this 5 and a half hours later when Gage decided to get up early) I went to bed disturbed, woke up disturbed and have mentioned parts of the book to Jason all day.  The end was a mixed bag.  The reveal was great, but the end was a little unsatisfying.

I recommend this book for grisly murder and horror lovers who don’t mind liberal use of the f-word.  I think you’ll race through this debut novel and look forward to the next one by Pobi.  I am.  And so is Oprah! “O, The Oprah Magazine’s August issue, on stands now, named Bloodman one of their “Titles to pick up now” and called it a “Very suspenseful novel”!

I received this book from Wunderkind PR as part of a blog tour.  Thanks so much – loved it.

Bloodman  Finished 7-24-12, rating 4/5, horror, 345 pages, pub. 2012