Friday, September 24, 2010

Local Celebrity

That's me. I hit the big time when I wrote a guest column for the local paper. It even featured my picture which is totally scary!

It was a work related article about the work I'm doing with kids and journaling.
More like an advertisement for the program than anything.
But it was kind of neat having my name in the byline.

That morning, at work, I get a call from a man who had read my article and wanted to know more about the program. When we determined that he was too old, I explained that I would love to get a program together for adults but it's difficult to get them to attend evening programs.
He was a nice guy, though. He started telling me about how he has so much to write about; so many memories.
For example, one time in high school, he and some friends went out to the beach and built a bonfire out of patio furniture that belonged to a friend's parents and also he and his friends filled up a trash can with jungle juice and got drunk.

This all sounded so familiar and suddenly it hit me: I was one of those drunk friends. I screamed the callers name into the phone. He was a good friend from high school and he just punked me.

Suddenly, I realized the pitfalls of being famous: I have way too many skeletons in my closet!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

My Kindle was a gift from my sister. She bought a 2nd generation Kindle a while back, loved it so much that when the newest one came out, she ordered it and gave her "old" one to me.
Lucky little sister, aren't I?
She left a whole library of books on the Kindle for me. Most of them are things I'll never read because she enjoys self-help books and buys a lot of them.
However, she had a copy of Sh*t My Dad Says and I was shocked. This is not her style at all!
I follow Justin's @shitmydadsays account on twitter so obviously this is my style.

From B&N:
After being dumped by his longtime girlfriend, twenty-eight-year-old Justin Halpern found himself living at home with his seventy-three-year-old dad. Sam Halpern, who is "like Socrates, but angrier, and with worse hair," has never minced words, and when Justin moved back home, he began to record all the ridiculous things his dad said to him


This book was short and a really funny read. Justin's dad doesn't hold back...ever. He has very little patience and a quick wit that probably made him a lot of enemies but the way Halpern writes about his father is from love. You can tell even though he's saying things like,
"Do people your age know how to comb their hair? It looks like two squirrels crawled on their heads and started fucking."
it's obvious that he loves his sons and he's just trying to knock some sense into them!

Read this one. You'll be wishing you were this funny!

PS: Sh*t My Dad Says is now a sitcom on CBS starring William Shatner. I'm not sure anyone could do the real dad justice but I'll watch anyway.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Astros & Social Media

Twice now, I've been lucky enough to attend the social media events hosted by the Astros and Alyson Footer, the Senior Digital Media Director.
For an amazing price, you're treated like a VIP with an early bird tour, batting practice viewing from the Diamond Club, seats in the Budweiser patio in center field, a t-shirt, trivia games with a featured player (Hunter Pence & Chris Johnson so far), popcorn, drinks, dinner and dessert. Plus, we get to watch the game with other twitter-using fans.
It's simply the best way to watch a game!

At the second event, I was lucky enough to win during the trivia contest. I got to meet and have my picture taken with Chris Johnson, the Astros' 3rd baseman and I received a signed Craig Biggio bronze bust.
I was so surprised and excited that I didn't care how ridiculous I looked standing there smiling next to this gorgeous young major league baseball player.
Later, when I saw the pictures, I regretted it.

My mother loves the Astros and she LOVES going to the games. Of course, I had to bring her with me and she has just had the best time. At the first one, she got to meet and have her picture taken with Jim Deshaies whom she loves. She got to sit in Drayton McLane's seat during BP which was a thrill.
At the most recent event, she got to sit right next to the bullpen and watch all the pitchers warm up.
She became friends with the manager of the FiveSeven Grill and he sent her home with some baseball goodies.

The fact that my 71 year old mother can still get around and experience fun times like these makes me so happy. I'm praying that I can continue to offer her the opportunity to do things like this. When you're 71 years old, you deserve to only have happy moments in life.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Dirty Sexy Politics by Meghan McCain

Dirty Sexy Politics was my first Kindle purchase. That's pretty exciting.
I felt like I was privy to the making of this book because I follow Meghan McCain on twitter. She didn't give much away but I think a lot of her followers felt like they had the inside track on her writing process just because she shared a few things with us.
That's ok, though. This is what twitter is for...to feel like we're all connected.

From Barnes & Noble:
In this witty, candid, and boisterous book, Meghan takes us deep behind the scenes of the campaign trail. She steals campaign signs in New Hampshire, tastes the nightlife in Nashville, and has a strange encounter with Laura and Jenna Bush at the White House. Along the way, she falls in love with America— while seeing how far the Republican Party has veered from its core values of freedom, honesty, and individuality. In Dirty Sexy Politics, Meghan McCain gives us a true insider's account of life on a campaign trail.


I didn't really have any expectations about Dirty Sexy Politics and I knew she wasn't going to dish on Palin because she told us so on twitter. However, she did...a little.

I was simply expecting McCain's view on her father's campaign for President and that's what we got.
I've read reviews where people call her shallow or vapid and naive. Well...she WAS naive and she fully admits it. She was a girl in her early 20s in a scary world that, to me, seems to make no sense. This was from the point of view of that girl and she delivered. I don't think she ever pretended this book was something it's not.

If you're looking for hard-hitting political insight, this book isn't for you but I have a feeling that's not going to bother Meghan McCain because she wrote a book about her experience in the campaign not a book about the intricacies of the GOP.

Yes, she's young but you know what? I agree with her stance on politics and the GOP.
I want the same things she wants from her political party and I admire her for admitting it.
Will people listen to what she has to say? I don't know. The media has already tried to portray her as a blonde bimbo but I bet they were surprised when she had something real to say.
Maybe she will inspire more people to jump up and admit that they're not happy with the direction the Republican party is moving.

During the campaign, Meghan cried a lot, threw a temper tantrum or two, said the wrong thing at times, did the wrong thing at times, wore the wrong thing at times but she has matured enough to admit it and learn from it.

Dirty Sexy Politics was a quick fun read for me. I do have to say that there was only a little politics, not much sexy and only touched on the dirty but if you have an open mind, I'd suggest you read it.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Beginning of the End?

Without trying to break this to you gently, I'll just say it:
I now own a Kindle.

What does this mean? I'm not sure yet.
Even though I enjoy being able to carry 40 or more books with me at all times, there is something impersonal about it.
I love the paper pages of books, with typeface and curled edges. I love the spines and the smell of a book. I love the cover art and the blurbs on the back pages.
But when I had the opportunity to own a Kindle, I took it.
Can I be a bibliophile and a digital book reader owner at the same time?

My sister gave me her 2nd generation Kindle when she bought the new one and she left it with about 43 books still on it. Most of them are self-help books which I'm not interested in but there are a few good titles. I read the entire book "Sh*t My Dad Says" yesterday and I downloaded my first Kindle edition book yesterday, too.
I also made my first Kindle mistake and purchased a book I didn't mean to buy. Thankfully, Amazon has good customer service and fixed it for me pretty quickly.

So, there it is....I've assimilated. I don't know what this means for my future as a crazy book lady but it'll be fun to find out.

Monday, September 13, 2010

More Thoughts on Mockingjay

I've read a lot of other review blogs regarding Mockingjay and the "event" that took place at the end.
They were angry at the author for letting this happen.
I can understand their anger. I was shocked and extremely disappointed but after giving it some thought, I realized that Suzanne Collins HAD to do this. What happened at the end of the trilogy was poetic. It was horrible, but it was poetic.
Out of everything that was lost, at least Katniss had salvaged something...or so she thought. She couldn't get out of it so easy.
And honestly...how boring would it be if there was a big ol' happy ending? We suffered through so much on this 3-book emotional journey, a neat happy ending would really be cheating.
I don't want to give too much away but Katniss ended up with the right person at the end. One boy grew to be mercenary and dispassionate and the other never lost his humanity and that was one thing Katniss clung to; her humanity.

The author knew what she was doing...she wasn't just piecing some crap together by the end of the series like some OTHER authors I choose not to mention. She had a plan and she stuck to it.
Good for her.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

So, I did decide to ditch The Gargoyle, temporarily!
Mockingjay is the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy.
Seriously, if you haven't read these books, do it now.

I was in Barnes and Noble buying this book two days after it came out. The only reason I didn't get there that day was because of my stupid job....always getting in the way of reading.

From B&N:
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss.

Katniss Everdeen may be a teenager but she's no kid. She's faced with far more than any person should have to deal with but somehow she keeps her humanity when others around her are becoming savage and ruthless.
Suzanne Collins does a remarkable job in taking us along for the ride. Our hearts break with Katniss and we cry for her losses. As a matter of fact, I couldn't even read the last two pages for the tears in my eyes!
This may be a Young Adult series but most adults I know are loving this.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Hurricane Season

I don't even want to think about the possibility of a hurricane threatening us this year and so far we've been fortunate.
But this little tropical storm that went into South Texas is getting on my nerves!
It's filthy wet and band after band of rain is assaulting us!
I got soaked two times before 1pm today. That just ain't right!

If I didn't have to work, I'd be home, curled up with a book and my dogs. Isn't that what most sane people would do?
Then why am I so busy at work??

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Decisions, Decisions

I don't know what to do.  I'm half way through The Gargoyle but I picked up Mockingjay the other day.  I can't really concentrate on The Gargoyle because I keep thinking about my new purchase.
It doesn't help that I'm a loser who can't stand it when others have or are doing something I'm not doing.  Everyone is reading Mockingjay right now and I want to do it too!
I feel like I need to stick with what I've been reading and see it through like the adult I strive to be.  However, it's not fair to The Gargoyle if my heart just isn't in it.  Right?

All Mixed Up

After all these years, I still suck at blogging.
I guess I realized that no one is listening except for Colin. It's hard to live my life for Colin since he won't go out with me unless I wear a paper sack over my head.

Sheila is having a good time. She and her lovely friend Alex did something I've always wanted to do...they visited the home of ientologySay.
I see their commercials and it looks so beautiful and refreshing. Sometimes I just want to give myself up to them like a shocking dive into a cold pool.
I think in my case, I just want someone to take over for a while. I'm tired of always being in control. Maybe Xenu will be like my Calgon and just take me away. Of course, from what I hear, he might LITERALLY take me away...to his planet. But whatever, I need a vacation.