Awards and Such

First, allow me to plug myself: my second giveaway ends tonight at 11:59PM (EST). Thanks to all of you who have already entered! You're fabulous.

Next, I need to show off/pass along some awards I've been holding. So thanks a ton to Misty for her supreme awesomeness. Check out her blog, will you?

This award is simply to be passed

along to those who have given me awards.

With that said, here ya go!

Jessica @ Desparado Penguin

Amy @ My Overstuffed Bookshelf

Rachy @ Parajunkee's View

The following awards, much to my chagrin, are commenting awards;

since I haven't commented on blogs in a while

I feel like a turd, especially since I'm

only now putting them up on my blog.

Yes, I am a loser.

So, anyway, the following will receive both blogs.

Snatch away!

Jessica @ Desparado Penguin
Rosie @ Books and Bakes
Amy @ My Overstuffed Bookshelf
Erica @ Soon Remembered Tales

Enjoy the awards!

Moving along: midterms are over. I'm almost through with the semester. Yay! I can't wait for winter break; I plan to sit around, drink hot chocolate, and read endlessly. When I'm not at work, that is.

I'm almost finished with The Twisted Window by Lois Duncan, which is really good so far. It was written in the 70s, but aside from a few minor details, I can't really tell the time-frame. Which is really nice, in my opinion.

Next I'm going to read The Sign for Drowning. I'm super excited for that one. Anything pertaining to the deaf or deaf culture, I'm hooked.

After the semester, I'll get around to reading the other books I've started. Jessica gave me a really good idea: focus on the smaller books during the semester. I feel much less like a loser that way. *wink* I'm a bit of a slow reader anyway, so juggling papers, homework, and 200 page (at the most) books is a lot easier.

...and now it's time for me to do homework. Hope everyone is doing well!

Happy reading!

Nothing Much Here

Thanks so much for the support regarding my last post, everyone. The comments and emails were discouraging.

School is still crazy busy; midterm is this week, so I have tons to do, but I'm managing.

Desipte the beaucoups of homework assignments, I've been able to cross The Chocolate War and soon The Twisted Window off my reading list. *smile* So, I have been quasi productive.

...this was just a little nothing post since I haven't been able to post lately.

**Thanks to those who have entered in my 2nd Giveaway.

Happy reading, everyone!

Bronte & Binchy

I always forget what a busy time of year fall is. It's right in the beginning to the school year, and professors ((mine, anyway)) like to pile on the work. It makes them feel less slacker-ish come the end of the semester when we do nothing. But, man, I don't feel like I'm getting anything accomplished -- recreationally speaking.

I'm still plundering through Jane Eyre. It's such a great book, but it's a hard read, language wise. So I find I can't sit down and really dive into it when I'm at work ((which, I'm not supposed to be reading at work anyway, shhhh.)), or in between classes, or even while at the campus libraries. People are surprisingly noisy: talking on their cell phones, having conversations across the room. It's ridiculous. I usually have to reserve Ms. Bronte for the night, when I'm crawling beneath the covers and getting ready to fall asleep. Even then, I put in my iPod and listen to the audio version as I'm following along in the book. There's something fun about hearing the British accent live while I read. Plus, Jane Eyre has French dialogue in it occasionally, and I love to listen to the accent. The voice-actor ((I guess that's what they're called)) does an tremendous job.

When I can't read Jane Eyre, I pick up Echoes by Maeve Binchy. I thought this was a newer book by an author I've never heard of; I picked it up one day on a whim while at Target. I usually do that: pick up books whenever I go out. I'm like Rebecca Bloomwood, Shopaholic that way. I always have to buy a book when I'm out.

Anyway, Echoes was apparently written in 1985 and was just reprinted again, and Ms. Binchy has been around for a while. It has a pretty cover, that's why I got it. It takes place in Ireland and spans ten years. It's predominantly focused on the main characters, Daniel Power and Clare O'Brien, but Binchy weaves in many integral supporting characters. I'm really enjoying it so far. Kind of a thick book, though. May take me a bit.

That's all in regards to an update.

Happy reading, everyone! (:

Another Random Post

From mid-morning to about an hour-and-a-half ago, I spent mowing my lawn.

I hate mowing grass. It makes me tired and sweaty and disgusting.

For the rest of the day ((hopefully)) I plan to spend my time reading, and perhaps working on a few creative writing assignments in advance. I think I'll put off the online homework until tomorrow. *wink*

Before I go, however, I'd like to pass along a couple of awards.

This first award I mentioned in my last post, but I'm only just now getting around to passing it off. I'm not precisely sure what the criteria for this award is, so I'm just gonna go with it. (:



Dixie at A Few of my Favorite Things
Jamie at Revenge of the Book Nerds
Erica at Soon Remembered Tales
Jennifer at The Forgetful Faerie
Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

And for this awards ((which cracks me up: Thanks Misty)), I'd like to give to the following::



Amy at My Overstuffed Bookshelf
April at Good Books & Good Wine
Dixie at A Few of my Favorite Things


Recipients of this award believe in the Tao of the zombie chicken – excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all.

I hope the Zombie Chickens will excuse me for not naming 2 other people, because I've noticed that pretty much everyone else has it.

If y'all don't hear from me, it's because I was pecked to death by angry zombie chickens.




PS:

I'm having a hard time believing that United Dairy's Ultra Skim milk is actually ULTRA SKIM, as it tastes exactly like 2%. That's okay though; I'm still drinking it.

Just Some Stuff

Okay, I'm finally getting around to passing out the awards that I received last week. I'm not familiar with a lot of blogs just yet, so some of you are going to be getting the same award again, but you don't mind, do you? (:

I'd like to give this one to the following::

B: Beautiful Amy at My Overstuffed Bookshelf
I: Informative April at Good Books & Good Wine
N: Neighborly Erica at Soon Remembered Tales
G: Gorgeous Dixie at A Few of My Favorite Things
O: Outstanding Jennifer at the Forgetful Faerie

This next one represents blogs that show a great attitude, and I'd like to pass it on to::

Misty at Book Rat


Moving on real quickly, as I'm supposed to be completing an English assignment *wink*...Has anyone read A Solider's Heart by Gary Paulsen? I have to read this book next for an online class. I just picked his book at random; I was in a hurry. *shrug* I hope it's good! I'll let you know.

My first giveaway ends tonight at midnight (EST). I'll have the winner announced tomorrow, and I'll contact you for your address. The beginning of next month I'll launch a new one, this time by Janet Evanovich.

I need to pretend to be a good student now.

Have a good day, everyone!

Support Stacie

Dear Readers,

For those of you who are familiar with fanfiction, I'd like to point you in the direction of the Author Auction in benefit of Stacie.

Stacie's story is familiar one; we hear about it everyday. Not only is she battling cancer, but she has a mountain of hospital bills to pay back ((out of pocket, I do believe)) as she has no medical insurance. What separates her from some others is she has a large online community supporting her, but we could always use some more help. (:

I've spoken to her once, and just briefly, as we were both involved in the same fandom. She's very sweet; I'd love to do as much as I can to help her.

With that said, as I mentioned, if you're familiar with fanfiction -- or even if you're curious -- then please head over to this site ((and this one as well)) and bid on an author to your favorite fandom or even offer her a few encouraging words. Every little bit goes a long way. Bidding starts in just over a week, and the hope is to raise bunches of money for her!

Thanks so much!

Randomness, if you please

My creative writing teacher has contributed to my dislike for 1st Person narratives. Figures our first writing assignment would be a story written in -- yes -- 1st Person.

She liked it though, as did my classmates, so that's exciting! Maybe I'll be a novelist one day after all. *wink*

I finally got The Outsiders today. It's such a thin book! I'll have it finished in no time ((I hope)). I've started reading it a little before I got distracted, and I've enjoyed it so far. The tone is very much that for a fourteen-year-old boy. Very convincing; I appreciate that.

I got another award ((displaying proudly on the left-side column))!! That was sweet! So thank you to Parajunkee, and I promise to pass it around soon!

Finally, I'd like to plug another blog and giveaway. Revenge of the Book Nerds! is having a Austen-themed giveaway. I'm pretty stoked about it. Check it out, for sure!

Now, I have reading and writing to accomplish.

Good evening!