The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

My internet connection has been out for a while, and my brother discovered that one of our neighbors is using our wireless signal and stealing our bandwidth. We're both pretty ticked off, but we don't know who's doing it yet. But enough about that... it's time for another review.

~ Book Review ~

"The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" By: Stephen King
This was the first - and the best - King book that I've read so far. It's definitely one of his lesser-known novels, and I just happened to see it when I was in an antique store a few years ago. It was pretty cheap, so I bought it on a whim. Within the first few pages, I became deeply immersed in the story. Maybe a part of me kind of related to "the girl", but for whatever reason, I couldn't put it down. I finished reading it in two days, which was a bit of a challenge, as I was at a family reunion/birthday party. It's both difficult, and a little rude, to sit in a corner and read during a party, but somehow I managed it. : )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Trisha McFarland's parents are newly divorced, and in an effort to keep the family together, her mother and brother and herself take a walk in the woods, on a portion of the Appalachian Trail near their home (near the Maine/New Hampshire/Canada border). At one point, they come to a fork in the road, and Trisha, needing to pee, goes down one path to take care of business. Her mother and brother go down the other path. When she is through, she decides to cut through the woods rather than retrace her steps, after all who could get lost here?.
Although she is only 9, Trisha has a very adult grasp on her situation, and the story concentrates on all of the things that run through her mind while lost. All of the fears both rational and not, plague her mind as she follows a stream in the hope of finding a way out. At night she listens to Baseball games on her Sony Walkman in the hope of listening to a Red Sox game, as she is a big fan of Tom Gordon, a relief pitcher for the Red Sox. Maybe she's alone in the woods, then again, maybe she's not. Maybe there's someone - or something- among the trees... watching her. And only time will tell if Trisha escapes.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. *****
Amazon.com Average Customer Review: 3 and a half stars out of 5 based on 812 reviews.



~*Quotes of the day*~

Success comes to a writer as a rule, so gradually that it is always something of a shock to him to look back and realize the heights to which he has climbed.

P. G. Wodehouse

I just sit at a typewriter and curse a bit.

P. G. Wodehouse

~*Word of the day*~

Ichi (Japanese)
Meaning: One


Currently Listening to... "Wait and Bleed" - Slipknot

Lady in the Water

~ Movie Review ~

Lady in the Water
Despite the bad reviews this movie received, I decided to check it out anyway because I'm a fan of M. Night Shyamalan's earlier movies. It was actually pretty good. I enjoyed it, even though it wasn't scary at all. I guess you have to look at it as a bedtime story for grown-ups. The thing I like most about Shyamalan's movies, is that he likes to keep you guessing until the end. The only thing about this movie that spoiled it (for me, at least) is how quickly and easily everyone believed Story's story. Yes, you read that right... the lead female character's name is Story. o_O It didn't require any convincing; no one was at all skeptical. That just seems a little ridiculous to me. In this untrusting world we live in, no one would accept a story like that without some serious convincing, and hard evidence to back it up. But the acting was good, and the basic story was pretty solid, so it's worth watching if you like this kind of movie.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Apartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep (Giamatti) is rescued by someone he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains. He discovers that she is the real-life embodiment of a character from a bedtime story, who is trying to make the journey back to her home. Fighting disbelief, he rallies his tenants to help protect his new friend from the mysterious creature that is determined to prevent her from returning to her world.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I give this movie 2 out of 5 stars. **

~*Quote of the day*~

Appearances are often deceiving.
Aesop


~*Word of the day*~

Unmei (Japanese)

Meaning: Destiny
The power which appears or is thought to control events; fate

Currently Listening to... "One" - U2

My Music Mash

I have the widest taste in music of anyone you will ever meet. Certain people scoffed at this notion, and I had an overwhelming urge to to prove them wrong. So, I sat down and really thought about it, and I made this list of all the genres I like, or at least, all the ones I can remember liking... I may be forgetting a few.

A cappella
Acoustic Rock
Acid jazz
Adult contemporary
Alternative metal
Alternative rock
Americana
Arena rock
Ballad
Barbershop music
Bebop
Big band music
Big Beat
Bluegrass
Blues
Blues-rock
Bossa nova
Boy band
Brass band
Britpop
British Invasion
Bubblegum pop
Cajun music
Cello rock
Celtic
Chamber music
Christmas carols
Christian
Classic metal
Classical music
Comedy rock
Concerto
Cool jazz
Country music
Country rock
Crossover music
Crunk
Dance music
Death rock
Disco
Dixieland jazz
Doo wop
Easy listening
Electric blues
Electronica
Emo
Eurobeat
Europop
Eurotrance
Exotica
Experimental rock
Film scores
Folk music
Folk rock
Funk
Funk metal
Fusion jazz
Garage rock
Girl group
Glam rock
Goa
Gospel music
Gothic metal
Gregorian chant
Guajira
Gypsy jazz
Hard rock
Harmonica blues
Heavy metal
Hip hop
House music
Hymn
Indie rock
Industrial metal
J-pop (Japanese pop)
J-rock
Jam band
Jazz
Jazz blues
Jazz-funk
Jazz fusion
Jingle
Jive
Kabuki
Kansas City blues
Kayokyoku
Lounge music
Lullaby
Mambo
Meditation
Metal
Min'yo (Japanese folk music)
Modern classical music
Modern rock
Motown
New Age music
New Orleans blues
New Wave
Nu metal
Opera
Organic ambient
Piano blues
Piano rock
Polka
Pop music
Pop punk
Progressive metal
Progressive rock
Psychedelic music
Punk rock
Rap
Rapcore
Rave
Rhythm and blues (R&B)
Rock
Samba
Smooth jazz
Soft rock
Soul music
Southern rock
Swing
Techno
Trance
Trip-hop
Urban jazz
Waltz
Yodeling
Zydeco

I like at least some Artists/Songs of all these genres, but if I had to pick just one, it would be Alternative Rock.

~*Quotes of the day*~

Music makes me high on stage, and that's the truth. It's like being almost addicted to music.

Jimi Hendrix

I think there's some good and some bad music out there.

John Legend


~*Word of the day*~

Arigatou (Japanese)

Meaning: Thank you

Currently Listening to... "Mad World" - Tears For Fears

Cell

~ Book Review ~

"Cell" by: Stephen King
I read this book last July, shortly after it first came out. I've been a King fan ever since I read "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon", which I will probably write a review for later on. So when I saw the promo for this novel in Entertainment Weekly, I couldn't resist buying it. I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed reading it; it pulls you in and holds you captive until the end. There are only two problems... 1: Stephen King has a tendency to kill off my favorite characters. 2: The end of this book leaves you hanging. It's up to you to fill in the blank. Personally, my imagination made sure to give it a happy ending (sort of), but I'm sure some people went the other way. I think a sequel would be great, and I would definitely have to read it if there were one.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Amazon.com
Witness Stephen King's triumphant, blood-spattered return to the genre that made him famous. Cell, the king of horror's homage to zombie films (the book is dedicated in part to George A. Romero) is his goriest, most horrific novel in years, not to mention the most intensely paced. Casting aside his love of elaborate character and town histories and penchant for delayed gratification, King yanks readers off their feet within the first few pages; dragging them into the fray and offering no chance catch their breath until the very last page.
In Cell King taps into readers fears of technological warfare and terrorism. Mobile phones deliver the apocalypse to millions of unsuspecting humans by wiping their brains of any humanity, leaving only aggressive and destructive impulses behind. Those without cell phones, like illustrator Clayton Riddell and his small band of "normies," must fight for survival, and their journey to find Clayton's estranged wife and young son rockets the book toward resolution.

~~~~~~~~~~

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. ***

Amazon.com Average Customer Review: 3 and a half stars out of 5 - based on 733 reviews.

~~~~~~~~~

Yay! The pendant I ordered from Thailand arrived today! Supposedly, the design is a symbol for the Yakusa (Japanese Mafia), but I'm not really sure if I believe that or not... I just love the design.

~*Quote of the day*~

Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*Word of the day*~

Oyasumi nasai (Japanese)

Meaning: Slightly polite way to say "good night". For a more casual way of saying it, shorten to Oyasumi.

Currently Listening to... "The Kill" - 30 Seconds To Mars

Moonbeam Baby - The Centaur?

You Are a Centaur

In general, you are a very cautious and reserved person. However, you are also warm hearted, and you enjoy helping others in practical ways. You are a great teacher, and you are really good at helping people get their lives in order. You are very intuitive, and you go with your gut. You make good decisions easily.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

Heroes

Last night I went to bed after 2am, and got up at 9:00. It's been a very long day. However, a cute guy was hitting on me while I was shopping this afternoon, and that's always fun. : )

Tonight's episode of Heroes was great; one of the best so far. I love that show! Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka) is my favorite character, and Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) is second. I guess I'm a sucker for the "good guys". I wish you could watch the episodes on the NBC website (like ABC), but they don't do that. I just wish there hadn't been such a long break between the last episode and this one...

Heroes is an American drama television series, created by Tim Kring, which premiered on NBC on September 25, 2006. The series tells the story of several people who "thought they were like everyone else... until they woke with incredible abilities" such as telepathy, time travel and flight. These people soon realize they have a role in preventing a catastrophe and saving mankind.
The series loosely follows the writing style of American comics by doing short, multi-episode story arcs that build upon a larger, more encompassing arc. Even with small story arcs that move the story forward, Kring said he mapped out where he intends the show to go for the next five seasons.
When the series premiered in the United States, it was the night's most-watched program among adults 18-49, attracting 14.3 million viewers overall and receiving the highest rating for any NBC drama premiere in five years.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


To Nikki & Oddjob: Thanks for the comments on my paintings... : )


~*Quote of the day*~

Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.

Ralph Waldo Emerson


~*Word of the day*~

Sayonara (Japanese)

Meaning: A slightly formal way to say "good bye"

Currently Listening to... "Bodies" - Drowning Pool

Paintings

Okay, so now that I've said I'm an artist, I feel like I should offer some proof. Here are pics of some of the paintings I've sold so far...

This last painting was for my Brother. He drew the design, and I painted it.

I used PhotoSuite to edit out my signature... privacy and all that...

If you like my work, (or even if you don't), feel free to leave a comment. : )

~*Quote of the day*~

Every artist was first an amateur.

Ralph Waldo Emerson


~*Word of the day*~

Nihon (Japanese)

Meaning: The Japanese name of Japan.
Island nation in the northwest Pacific Ocean off the coast of east Asia, separated by the Sea of Japan from Russian Siberia, China, and Korea. The Japanese archipelago includes four major islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku) as well as many smaller islands. Its capital and largest city is Tokyo.

Currently Listening to... "Ragdoll" - Maroon 5

Dreams, Nightmares, and Sleepwalking...

I was reading a post on http://silverneurotic.blogspot.com/ about dreams, and it reminded me of a few things. I'm not even sure that I should write about this because it' kind of embarrassing, but here goes...

I'm an artist, and as such I have a very creative mind and a powerful imagination. Usually this is a good thing; it helps me write and paint, but when I'm asleep, I can't control it. I dream a LOT - almost every night I have multiple dreams. And they are VERY realistic. Unfortunately, about 80% of my dreams are nightmares, and I have no idea why. : (

I used to sleepwalk too, but that stopped when I was still very young. Until this one incident happened...

Years ago, my dog found a white mouse. I have no idea where it came from, but it was cute, so I decided to keep it for a pet. I named it Velveeta Mousekavitch (or Mousy, for short). It lived for about two years, and then it got sick and died. I must have been pretty upset about it at the time, because the next night I had a very strange dream. I'd had a headache that night, and I'd gone to bed with an icepack. At some point during the night, I started sleep-walking. I remember quite well. In my dream, I thought that the icepack was the dead mouse, and I wanted a box to bury it in. So I got up out of bed, walked down the hall, through the den and kitchen, and downstairs into the basement. (Keep in mind that I was sound asleep during all of this). I found an old cardboard box, and carried it back upstairs. The box was taped shut, and I actually got a pair of scissors and cut the tape. I then put the "mouse" (icepack) into the box, carried into the bathroom, and "buried" it in the sink. I walked back to my room, got back in bed, and that's where the dream ended.

The next morning, I had forgotten all about the dream, and I probably would never have remembered... but when I went to the bathroom, the box was still in the sink, and the icepack was inside it. That's when it all came rushing back to me. It was the first time I had been sleep-walking in sooo many years, and at first I was really embarrassed about it, but when I started telling people about it, they all thought it was really cool and funny. So it doesn't bother me anymore. Otherwise, I wouldn't be writing this, now would I?

~*Quote of the day*~

Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.

Ralph Waldo Emerson


~*Word of the day*~

Ohayo-gozaimasu (Japanese)

Meaning: Good Morning (Formal) can be used at anytime for the first meeting of the day. For a more casual way of saying it, shorten to Ohayo.

Currently Listening to... "Love Song" - 311

Scrubs...The Musical...?

Did anyone watch tonight's episode of Scrubs? It was interesting, to say the least. I remember the "Musical" episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer... the show lost all meaning after that. Oh well. Scrubs is still a great show, and from what I've heard, this is most likely going to be the last season anyway. Zach Braff is moving on to bigger and better things, (or so he thinks). Personally, I think Garden State was boring.

To Oddjob Chop! - Thanks for the comment!
I honestly can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not... o_O?

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[ (o),(o) ]
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~*Quote of the day*~

Every man supposes himself not to be fully understood or appreciated.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*Word of the day*~

Konbanwa (Japanese)
Meaning: Good evening

Currently Listening to... "Hotel California" - The Eagles

How mature are you?

You Are 73% Grown Up, 27% Kid

Congratulations, you are definitely quite emotionally mature. Although you have your moments of moodiness, you're usually stable and level headed.

How Emotionally Mature Are You?

Shark Infinity with Pet Care System

I am so tired right now; last night I fell asleep after 3:30am and got up at 9:00.
It's been a very long day. We took the Dirt Devil vacuum back to Home Depot. It was a good vacuum, but it wasn't good enough for what we needed. We looked around on the internet, read several reviews, and decided to try the Shark® Infinity Vacuum with Pet Care System. We bought it at Bed Bath & Beyond with a 20% off coupon. It's sooo much better than the Dirt Devil Reaction. Only the Infinity series offers a patent pending 24 cyclones that never clog, and never lose suction. The Pet Hair Brush really removes Chihuahua and Cat hair from furniture. And with the extra-long hose, I can actually vacuum the top of my bookshelf! So, I'm very happy with this new vacuum cleaner.

+-+ Product Review +-+

Shark Infinity with Pet Care System

Pro:

+ 24 cyclones that never clog, and never lose suction. It picks up everything.
+ Bagless, bottom release dirt cup.
+ 30 Ft. Power cord
+ Lifetime washable True HEPA filtration
+ 17' Super Stretch Hose
+ Quick-release cleaning wand
+ Brush Roll On/Off
+ Furniture Guard Bumper
+ Edge Cleaning Bristles
+ 12 Amp Motor
+ Pet Hair Brush, Low Reach Bare Floor Brush, crevice tool, dusting/upholstery tool

+ 2 Year Warranty

Con:
- None so far...

~*Quote of the day*~

The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office.

Robert Frost

~*Word of the day*~

Konnichiwa (Japanese)
Meaning: Hello, good afternoon

Currently Listening to... "It's Not Over" - Chris Daughtry

The First Wives Club - Movie vs. Book

A few days ago, I finished reading "The First Wives Club", and then I watched the movie version on DVD. Here's my review and comparison of the two.

~ Movie Review ~

The First Wives Club
In itself, it is a good movie. It's funny, and entertaining, but when you compare it to the book on which it was based, it seems shallow and superficial... barely skimming the surface of the real story. In fact, aside from most of the character's names, and the basic "get even" plot, the movie is completely different from the book. Don't get me wrong - I liked the movie; I just like the book a lot more. There were actually a few parts of the movie that I liked better. Brenda's character, for example, was much nicer; and by the end of the movie, you actually kind of like her ex-husband. The movie was filled with great actors; (Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, and Maggie Smith, to name a few), and they did a great job of bringing the characters to life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Elise Elliott (Goldie Hawn), Brenda Cushman (Bette Midler), Annie Paradis (Diane Keaton), and Cynthia Griffin (Stockard Channing) were best friends at Middlebury College during the 1960s, but marriage and children force them to drift apart. Decades later, Cynthia commits suicide because her husband is divorcing her and the remaining three reunite at her funeral. After the funeral, Annie, Brenda and Elise go out for lunch and learn that their husbands are divorcing them too - and like Cynthia's ex-husband, taking up with younger women. All three had helped their husband's careers, and all three feel they are being shafted. They plot to get revenge by ruining their husbands careers.

I give this movie 3 out of 5 stars. ***

~ Book Review ~

"The First Wives Club" by: Olivia Goldsmith
In the book, the plot centers just as much on Gil Griffin as it does on any of the other ex-husbands. There are several more characters, and the story shifts from one character's view-point to the next. The plot runs a lot deeper, and you are left feeling more satisfied with its ending, rather then the one written for the movie. I'm keeping this book, because I might want to read it again someday. However, you should know that this book is not for everyone - see the warnings below. There were a few parts of the book that I could have lived without, but at the same time, it would probably alter the story too much to remove them. So you have to take the occasional unpleasant scene. This book is definitely NOT FOR CHILDREN.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When their best friend commits suicide over her divorce, Elise, Brenda and Annie decide enough is enough. Each was crucial to her husband's career. But now that the men are successful, they've traded in their first wives for newer, blonder models.
Over lunch one day they form the First Wives Club. But this is no support group. This is the SAS in Chanel. Painstakingly, inexorably, exquisitely, they plan the downfall of the men who've wrecked their lives - and know that revenge has never tasted sweeter...

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. ****

~*Warning Explicit Content*~
If books had ratings (like video games), this one would definitely be M for Mature.

~ Violence
~ Strong sexual themes
~ VERY Strong Language -

I thought I knew every "bad word" in the english language (and a few in others), but this book taught me a new one. I'm still not sure what it means, and I don't really want to know...

If the vulgarity and sexual scenes are more than you care for, try to find an abridged version of the book.

~*Word of the day*~

Pan (Japanese)

Meaning: Bread

A kind of food made of flour or meal that has been mixed with milk or water, made into a dough or batter, with or without yeast or other leavening agent, and baked.

*+*+*+*+*

Currently Listening to... "Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

EQ

Your EQ is 133

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick! 51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese. 71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely. 91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that. 111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt. 131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin. 150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

Dirt Devil Reaction

Alright, I finally cleaned my room from top to bottom, and here is what I think of our new Vacuum...

+-+ Product Review +-+

Dirt Devil Reaction

Pro:
+ Powerful, long-lasting suction. It picks up everything.
+ Bagless, bottom release dirt cup.
+ 32 Ft. Power cord
+ Lifetime washable HEPA filtration
+ 4 year warranty

Con:
- I really hate the hose. It's too short, and when the vac is turned on, it pulls the hose together (like a slinky), and it becomes even shorter.
- The power cord comes out of the bottom of the vacuum, so you end up stepping on it a lot.
- The attachments are crappy. They don't fit very well, and they fall out pretty easily.
- Doesn't work as well on hard floors.
- It's very loud, but that's no surprise.

All in all, it's a pretty good vacuum. The only thing that really bothers me is the hose. When I clean my room, I vacuum everything. The hose is too short to comfortably vacuum the top of my dresser, and it won't reach the top of my bookshelf. I didn't even attempt to vacuum my fan blades; I could see that there was no point in trying.

~*Quote of the day*~

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.

Robert Frost

~*Word of the day*~

Kitsune (Japanese)

Meaning: Fox
A type of reddish-brown wild animal which looks like a dog.

Intuition

You Are 68% Intuitive

You are a very intuitive person. And luckily, your intuition is normally right. You're wise enough to know that relying on intuition alone can be dangerous. When your intuition seems really off, you tend to ignore it - and look at the facts instead.

How Intuitive Are You?

Collision

I know I didn't write anything yesterday, but that's because I needed time to make some illustrations... see the picture above.

Yesterday I was out shopping with my Mom and my Brother. We (the BLUE dot) were sitting at an intersection, waiting for our light to turn green, when my Brother called out "Oh, shit!". A split-second later, the car that passed on our right (the BLACK dot) plowed full-speed into the side of a car turning left across the intersection (the RED dot).

The car that was turning (RED dot) spun around, bounced off of a truck (YELLOW dot), spun around again, and came to a stop on the side of the road. The other car (BLACK dot), spun around and landed on the other side of the road. See the picture below...

All of this happened in about thirty seconds. The crash itself was surprisingly loud. It's the first time I've actually seen a car crash (except for the one I was in), and it was impossible to look away. Even when the light changed and we turned, I kept twisting my neck to look back. The guy driving the black car was pretty young; maybe in his early twenties, and he looked really upset - almost to the point of panic. The guy driving the truck got out his cell phone right away, and I assume he was calling 911. I didn't see any movement in the other car. I hope the person, (or persons) in that car were alright. As far as I could tell, the RED car was at fault, because I'm pretty sure the BLACK car had a green light. We wanted to go home and watch the news to see if they said anything about the wreck, but we still had shopping to do.

We went to Home Depot and bought a new vacuum cleaner. We struggled with the decision of whether or not we should get a Dyson, but in the the end it just cost way too much. $500 for a vacuum? I don't think so! So we got a Dirt Devil Reaction, and it's really good too. I'll post a review for it later, after I vacuum my carpet.

~*Quote of the day*~

I'm not confused. I'm just well mixed.

Robert Frost

~*Word of the day*~

Ureshii (Japanese)

Meaning: Glad, pleased or happy

Inner Peace

You Are 63% Peaceful

You are a very peaceful person. All is good in your world, no matter what's going on. Occasionally you let your problems get to you, but you generally remain upbeat. Your inner strength is inspirational - much more so than you may realize.

How Peaceful Are You?

What Color Should Your Blog Be?

Your Blog Should Be Green

Your blog is smart and thoughtful - not a lot of fluff. You enjoy a good discussion, especially if it involves picking apart ideas. However, you tend to get easily annoyed by any thoughtless comments in your blog.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

Running Out of Time Vs. The Village

Yesterday's post was a little, well... pathetic. So I'll make up for it today with a movie/book review. Beware of Spoilers...

Have you ever seen "The Village", by M. Night Shyamalan? Did anything about the story seem familiar? Is there even the slightest chance that you've read "Running Out of Time", by Margaret Peterson Haddix? If you have, you would have noticed the similarities in the two plots.

~ Movie Review ~

The Village
At first glance this late nineteenth century village seems picture perfect. However, this close-knit community lives with the frightening knowledge that a race of creatures resides in the woods around them. The villagers share the fear of the evil and foreboding force that lurks outside. So frightening that one dare not venture beyond "The Village" and into the woods. Despite the advice of his elders, a curious and determined Lucius Hunt has a burning desire to step beyond the boundaries of the town into the unknown...
I give this movie 3 out of 5 stars. ***

~ Book Review ~

"Running Out of Time" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Clifton is an 1840 pioneer village. The village doctor used to have special pills that would cure any illness. But those pills are all gone now, and Clifton is suffering from a diptheria epidemic. Mrs. Keyser, the midwife, tells her daughter, 13-year-old Jessie, a shocking truth about Clifton, and sends her for help outside of the village, into a world full of amazing things and unknown dangers.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. *****

I can't reveal the true connection between the two stories without spoiling the surprise endings of each, but if you really want to know, highlight the white text below:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In The Village, the "creatures" (a.k.a. Those We Do Not Speak Of) are not real. They were an invention of the Elders to keep people from entering the woods. They are simply a scare tactic to keep people from leaving The Village. Why? Because it's not really a nineteenth century village at all, it's a modern social experiment. The whole thing is a ruse to keep the world out, because each of the elders suffered a tragedy in the outside world. So they decided to isolate themselves and their families in a simpler, safer world of their own creation. The main female character, Ivy, learns of all of this from her Father. She then ventures out on her own to find medicines from the "Other Towns", to save her fiancé's life.

In Running Out of Time, The children of Clifton are dying and Jessie's mother is desperate for medicine to save their lives, but it is 1840 and no such remedy exists. Except that it isn't 1840 at all, it is 1996, and the critical situation forces Jessie's mother to reveal the truth. Clifton Village is actually a tourist attraction, a replica of a historical village, and tourists watch the villagers everyday through hidden cameras. After many village children become ill with diphtheria, Jessie is sent on a mission to find a cure for the disease.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I want to point out that Running Out of Time was written in 1995; nine years before The Village came out.

(The plot of the 2004 M. Night Shyamalan movie The Village is very similar to the plot of Running Out of Time, to the extent that Margaret Peterson Haddix's publisher considered legal action against the makers of The Village. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

~*Quote of the day*~

Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

~*Word of the day*~

Aka (Japanese)

Meaning: Red
Any of various colors resembling the color of blood; the primary color at one extreme end of the visible spectrum.

"Frosty Wisdom"

Today has been an incredibly boring day, and I can't think of anything to write, so I'll post one of my favorite Quotes...

You can be a little ungrammatical if you come from the right part of the country.

Robert Frost

To Nikki: Thank you for my 1st comment!

~*Word of the day*~

Yuki (Japanese)

Meaning: Snow
Frozen water vapour that falls to the ground in soft white flakes.

12 Angry Men

~ Movie Review ~

12 Angry Men (1957)

It's surprising, really, how a film with no special effects, no high-speed car chase, and no romantic side-plot can be so engaging. 12 Angry Men was playing this afternoon on Turner Classic Movies, and I couldn't resist watching it for the second time. I confess that I've never seen the first few minutes of the film. It was already on, both times I just happened to flip by and see it. I never really intended to watch the whole movie; I was just going to watch for a few minutes to see what it was about, but the plot pulled me in within minutes and I couldn't turn it off. Henry Fonda was amazing in the role of an Architect named Davis, the sole voice of dissent in a trial of a boy accused of killing his father. Davis (Fonda) is the only juror who is not certain beyond a reasonable doubt that the young man is guilty, and must try to persuade his peers to evaluate the matter beyond their initial emotion-based judgments. Almost the entire movie takes place in the jury room.

~ ~ ~

A study of contrasts in human character under the stress of grave responsibility, the movie's stars have been described as one of the finest ensembles of character actors ever assembled, and includes Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, John Fiedler, E.G. Marshall, Jack Warden, Ed Binns, Martin Balsam, Jack Klugman, George Voskovec, Robert Webber, and Joseph Sweeney (his last appearance in motion pictures). 12 Angry Men is highly regarded from both a critical and popular viewpoint; Roger Ebert lists it as one of his "Great Movies", and it has been consistently ranked in the top 15 of the Internet Movie Database Top 250 List. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. *****

~*Word of the day*~

Yume (Japanese)

Meaning: Dream
Thoughts and pictures in the mind that come mostly during sleep.

A basket of Nuns...

Today, when my Brother and I were leaving the McDonald's parking lot, we passed a minivan driven by a Nun. It never occurred to me that Nuns drive, but it did bring back an old memory. Several years ago, when I was around 8 years old, my Mother and I were out shopping when we noticed a huge commotion in an empty lot, across the street from Walmart. We pulled over to check it out, and we saw that several hot-air balloons were being inflated. Wondering what was going on, we got out of our car and walked over to watch. I don't know why they were there, or where they had come from, but they were giving free rides to people. The sun was setting, so they were only going back up one more time. There were only a few balloons that hadn't lifted off yet and my Mother got them to let me ride one. I wasn't alone in the basket; there were several Nuns riding with me. I've always been afraid of heights, but I still really wanted to go, and the Nuns promised my Mother that they would look after me and make sure I didn't fall. I remember crouching down, and peeking out of the hole where you put your foot to step up. I was too afraid to look over the edge. It was amazing, and it's one of the most unusual things that's ever happened to me.

~*Word of the day*~

Inu (Japanese)

Meaning: Dog
A domestic, meat-eating animal related to the wolf and fox.

Kitty

It's 12:36am, and I've had a massive migraine since last night. I'll probably go to bed soon, but not until I at least post a "Word of the day".

=^..^=

~*Word of the day*~

Neko (Japanese)

Meaning: Cat (a.k.a. Kitty)
A small, four-legged, fur-covered animal often kept as a pet.

Oprah - Locks of Love - Dust Mites

This afternoon I was watching Oprah. The first part of the show was about six women who hadn't cut their hair in years. They each had their hair cut on-stage, and got a makeover afterwards. The hair was donated to Locks of Love, an organization that accepts donations of human hair and money, with the stated intention of making wigs for needy children who have lost their hair due to a medical condition. I could have gone on that show last year; my hair was longer than any one of those women. In fact, I distinctly remember my hair brushing against the backs of my knees in the shower. Hard to believe, right? But it's true; I went at least eight years without cutting my hair, and I've got pictures to prove it. (Some random guy once told me that I looked like Rapunzel). Eventually, though, I got tired of having such long hair. I had to braid it every night just so it wouldn't get tangled while I was sleeping! So about six months ago, I went to a salon and got a shoulder-length, layered cut. I love it. It's so much easier to brush, and it saves a lot of shampoo. : ) I only wish that I had thought to donate my hair to Locks of Love too.

The second part of Oprah was about "How clean is your house?". It was disgusting. I couldn't believe some of the things they said. Did you know that your kitchen sink has more germs and bacteria than your toilet??? I didn't. They said that to get your sink clean, you should use a germicide and a brush with chlorine and water. The worst part was when they showed the close-up of a dust mite. I'd post a picture of one, but it would probably gross you out. They live in your sheets, blankets, pillows, carpet... basically any type of fabric. The best way to get rid of them is to vacuum a lot, and to wash your bedding once a week. Oprah says she has her sheets washed every two days, but that's just not practical for normal people like me and you. After watching the show, I changed my sheets, and my pillows are in the dryer right now.

Here's the link to the article on Oprah's website. It has more cleaning tips... http://www2.oprah.com/foodhome/home/repair/home_20040413_clean.jhtml

Bunny...

(\ /)

(O.o)

(> <)

~*Word of the day*~

Usagi (Japanese)

Meaning: Rabbit / Bunny
A type of small long-eared burrowing animal, found living wild in fields or sometimes kept as a pet.

Worms and Apples

Last night, out of sheer boredom, I watched part of an episode of America's Next Top Model. They were showing photos of each model, and pointing out the good and bad aspects of each shot. Then they showed the unretouched versions of the photos. The difference was shocking! Even with their hair and makeup done, they looked like any average person you would see walking down the street (or in Walmart). The things you can do with Photoshop are amazing.

~ Movie Review ~

Last night, I watched How To Eat Fried Worms with my family. Yeah, I know it's a kids movie. I have vague memories of reading the book several years ago. The movie wasn't great, but it was entertaining, and really, that's the point right? There were a few parts that could have been left out, like the "death ring". And if you have a weak stomach, you might not want to see a kid stuff his face with something called a "Barf-Mallow". Other than that, it was a funny movie.

Billy has just moved with his parents and little brother to a new town, and the first day of school does not go well for him. He gets on the wrong side of school bully Joe, and when he fights back -something none of the other kids have ever had the courage to do- he ends up accepting a dare to eat 10 worms in one day. As Joe and his gang strive to cook up ever more revolting recipes, Billy gradually wins the respect of his peers, and gains courage in his own abilities too. He befriends Erika, and becomes the champion of the underdog, dispelling the myth of Joe's power and unexpectedly having a blast along the way.

I give this movie 2 out of 5 stars. **

~*Word of the day*~

Ringo (Japanese)

Meaning: Apple
A round fruit (usually with a green or red skin).

Sakura & "Stormbreaker"

Last night the power went off. I hate it when that happens. I had almost 25 web pages open, and I had to go back and find them all. Maybe I should start using Firefox; it has a button that will let you reopen the pages you were looking at before your computer restarted...

My dog is laying on top of the heating vent in my floor, and my cat is asleep on top of my monitor. They both have their own ways of getting warm. ^..^

~ Book Review ~

"Stormbreaker" by: Anthony Horowitz

Unlike the movie (which sucked), the book was very entertaining. : )

Meet Alex Rider, the spy.When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, fourteen-year-old Alex Rider finds his world turned upside down.Within days he's gone from schoolboy to spy. After being forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex has to take part in gruelling SAS training exercises. Then, armed with his own special set of gadgets, he's off on his 1st mission.His destination is the depths of Cornwall, where multimillionaire Herod Sayle is producing his state-of-the-art Stormbreaker computers. Sayle's offered to give one free to every school in the country - but MI6 think there's more to the gift than meets the eye...

Imagine James Bond as a teenager, and you get the picture. This book is a YA novel, but it can be a lot of fun for adults as well. The series continues with: Point Blanc - Skeleton Key - Eagle Strike - Scorpia - and Ark Angel.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. **** If you enjoy action/adventure/spy novels, give this series a try.

Amazon.com Average Customer Review: 4 and a half stars out of five - based on 194 reviews.

~*Word of the day*~

Sakura (Japanese)

Meaning: Cherry blossoms/ Cherry tree
Sakura is the Japanese name for ornamental cherry trees, Prunus serrulata, and their blossoms. Cherry fruit (known as sakuranbo) come from a different species of tree. "Sakura" is also a common Japanese female name.

~*Website of the week*~
http://www.your-free-site.com/9158/

When you open the page, scroll down to the bottom, and click on Get your own free website! I used this site myself.

UFC Fight Review ~ Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz

Happy New Year everyone!

I started the year out right; I cleaned my room. I started from the moment I woke up this morning, and I've just finished. I didn't even stop for lunch, but in a little while it'll be time for dinner. We're having turkey, cornbread dressing, gravy, sweet-potato casserole, and of course, blackeyed peas.

~ UFC Fight Review ~

Saturday night I watched the Ultimate Fighting Championship match of Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz. Normally, I'm not that into watching guys pound the snot out of each other, but I have to admit that I was looking forward to this particular match. I wasn't disappointed; the fight blew me away. I found myself holding my breath and clenching my fists, waiting to see who would be victorious. I had this feeling in my gut that Liddell would win, and he did, with a third round TKO of Ortiz. I was rooting for him all the way. With this win, Liddell improved to 20-3; Ortiz fell to 16-5. The MGM Grand Garden Arena was packed; it completely sold out all 14,607 spots. Lucky Pay-per-view covered it too. The only other fight I watched was Forrest Griffin vs. Keith Jardine. I was so disappointed when Griffin lost. It was painful to watch. When he broke down after the match, I had this overwhelming desire to give him a hug. It was such a short fight, I really felt bad for the guy. : (

~*Word of the day*~

Tsubaki (Japanese)

Meaning: Camellia
ca·mel·lia - n. Any of several evergreen shrubs or small trees of the genus Camellia native to eastern Asia, especially C. japonica, having shiny leaves and showy rose-like flowers that are usually red, white, or pink.