Book Review: Storm Front

Book One of the Dresden Files

This is one of my favorite series. I think I am drawn to smart asses.

Instead of giving a bit of a recap, I am instead going to do what I do for my DVD obsessions. Give you quotes. If this doesn’t grab you the series is just not for you.

Harry: Paranoid? Probably. But just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that there isn’t an invisible demon about to eat your face.

Harry: I extended the staff toward it, horizontally like a bar, and shouted , “Out! Out! Out! You are not welcome here!” A touch dramatic in any other circumstance, maybe-but when you’ve got a demon in your living room, nothing seems too extreme.

Harry: A roomful of deadly drug. One evil sorcerer on his home turf. Two crazies with guns. One storm of wild magic looking for something to set it into explosive motion. And half a dozen scorpions like the one I had barely survived earlier, rapidly growing to movie-monster size. Less than a minute on the clock and no time-outs remaining for the quarterback. All in all, it was looking like a bad evening for the home team.

Best of all? His books are in the double digits

Good Fin God, or how I spent my weekend.

Boy toy’s birthday was Saturday. Spotty and I made a list of the things we needed to do:

1) pick out cake flavor
2) pick out cake design
3) get ice coffee, tea and a sprinkled donut
4) pick out balloons
5) decorate
6) go to store to get eggs and milk for cake
7) go to store to buy daddy present
8) wrap presents
9) wake up daddy

As you can see it was a busy day. Spotty decided that daddy needed a chocolate cake (his choices were yellow, white, chocolate and lemon). And a train cake (circle, square, car, castle, train). We went to dunkies and picked up the goods, then ran over to iparty so Spotty could pick out some balloons. Spotty picked out 3 blue swirly ones, 3 geometric shapes (that ended up being blow up with air and put on sticks) 2 balloons with numbers (1 and 4) a plain pink one, an enormous yellow smiley face and an enormous pink one. We tied the balloons to the door knobs to lead Boy toy to the kitchen where the last balloon was tied to the refrigerator to point him to his ice coffee. I had wanted to go shopping before we woke up daddy, but Spotty was too excited with our decorating. So we woke him up and Spotty proudly showed him all of the balloons. Spotty and I then ran to store, where there wasn’t a parking spot to be had. Now I am not one of those lurkers that sits in the middle of the parking lot looking for someone way up front to pull out. I see the first spot empty and I grab it, but with Spotty in tow I really prefer not having to park across the highway (ok perhaps I exaggerate a bit, but seriously this parking lot is like frogger). We then proceed to our neighborhood store to pick up Boy Toy’s big gift. Spotty picked out a blue ipod nano? I don’t know it’s a device that will let him listen to music. When we got home Boy toy and Spotty played some Sly Cooper 2 as I got stuff ready to make cake. Spotty was more than ready to help and we mixed up some chocolate cake. Spotty did some random sample testing to assure quality control. Once that was in the oven we wrapped presents. Spotty has never helped with presents and I had to take an extra happy pill to get through it, but get through it we did. He had picked out the reversible wrap that was blue with yellow dots on one side and green and yellow stripes on the other. Later that night we went to Boy toy’s parents where we ate pizza and did more presents. Gramie took a finger painting that Spotty did in school and framed it, (as hokey as that sounds it really looks nice.)

Sunday was spent bickering; I mean chatting and playing video games. Spotty as always wanted to play cars and we zoomed around the house looking for adventure. We were born, born to be mild. I ended up taking a nap for a few hours. I needed it desperately. The previous evening Boy toy and Spotty had been fooling around with Grumpa’s scooter he uses when he is outside. Spotty accidentally pushed the forward button (knob, whatever) and my foot got crushed between a desk and the scooter. Luckily I don’t think anything broke, but it hurts to have a shoe on, hell it hurts to have a sox on. Come 3 pm I just wanted to go to bed…and I did.
Which brings me to today, which I know is not technically the weekend, and is in fact the start of the week, but as I ran out to the car this am (all of 1 degree I believe) to warm it up for our normal morning thing I vaguely recall Boy toy telling me (at 3am when he came to bed) that I needed gas. What do you know, the gas light was on, so I hopped into the car and drove to the gas station. Yes, no coat, no hat, not a single luxury. I pumped my car full of gas and then tried to take a short cut home through the alley behind a shopping plaza. I get half way down and BAM 18 wheeler parked in such a way that I can not get through. So I turn around and go back to the entrance of the plaza where there is a light. As I am sitting there I say to myself “self, what the Frell are you thinking? Go through the parking lot, at the other end is a stop sign, no light!” So I floor it (because looking at the time, I am running late and still need to get Spotty chop dressed and into the car) as I am doing 30 backwards what do I notice sitting in the Uno parking lot? Yes a Statey. Luckily the bastard was sleeping or I was giving off enough vibes for him to ignore me. I got home, threw everything into the car, got Spotty dressed, buckled in and warm and even remembered my coat.

So how’s your day going?

Book Review: Blood and Memory

The Quickening Book 2

So…Wyl is a woman, and clearly uncomfortable as such. Wyl seems to have a harder time with this transformation and not simply because he is a woman. The realization that he may never get to “die” is quite disturbing to him. What’s worse is that he is captured by Aremys and turned over to Jessom because King Celimus wants to meet the assassin that killed Romen. Jessom knew that Fail would never come willingly. When Wyl actually meets with Celimus it’s all he can do not to kill him. Especially after he hears about the job Celimus wants Fail and Aremys to undertake. They are to kill Yulena and then go see Valentyna. If Valentyna refuses to submit to the wedding Fail is to kill her.

Meanwhile Yulena and the priest make it to the Duke of Felrawthy’s place. Where they tell their gruesome tale and get instant sympathy. The duke begins planning his revenge. And the Mountain men are getting restless. Is it because of the Mountain King Cailech? Or the Evil madman behind the King? The barshi Rashlyn.

What follows is treachery, death, a manwitch and perhaps a wedding….

What the 2009 Inauguration of our 44th President was missing

Spotty Chop is at my parents today as I work. My mom (Nannie) and Spotty were watching the Inauguration on TV when I called to see how things were going. I heard Spotty answer when Nannie asked

Who is our president?
oooBAma.
What did he do?
Put his hand on a BOOK.

But he felt that the Inauguration over all wasn’t great.

A poet read a poem, but it didn’t have Duck or Truck…maybe it had Good Luck, that’s ok


So there you have it. No Duck’s or Trucks, maybe Good Luck


Good Luck to our newest president and his family, I hope the next 4 years are good ones

Buffy - Season 2

Damn - this show just cracks me the frell up.


Cordelia: Buffy. You're really campaigning for bitch-of-the-year, aren't you?
Buffy: As defending champion, you nervous?
Cordelia: [scoffs] I can hold my own.

Cordelia: Whatever is causing the Joan Collins 'tude, deal with it. Embrace the pain, spank your inner moppet, whatever, but get over it. 'Cause pretty soon you're not even gonna have the loser friends you've got now.

Cordelia: It stays with you forever. No matter what they tell you, none of that rust and blood and grime comes out. I mean, you can dry-clean till Judgment Day, you are living with those stains.

Buffy: Sorry, but I'm an old fashioned gal. I was raised to believe that men dig up the corpses and the women have the babies.

Spike: If every Vampire who said he was at the Crucifixion was there, it would've been like Woodstock

Spike: You think you can fool me?! You were my sire, man! You were my... Yoda!

Buffy: I told one lie, I had one drink.
Giles: Yes, and you were very nearly devoured by a giant demon snake. The words "let that be a lesson" are a tad redundant at this juncture.

Buffy: Angel's a vampire, I thought you knew.
Cordelia: Oh, he's a vampire! Of course! But the cuddly kind, like a Care Bear with fangs.

Cordelia: I just don't see why everyone's always picking on Marie-Antoinette. I can so relate to her. She worked really hard to look that good, and people just don't appreciate that kind of effort. And I know the peasants were all depressed ...
Xander: I think you mean oppressed.
Cordelia: Whatever. They were cranky. So they're like, "Let's lose some heads." Uh! That's fair. And Marie-Antoinette cared about them. She was gonna let them have cake!

Willow: The Lonely Ones?
Angel: Vampires.
Xander: Oh! We usually call them the nasty, pointy, bitey ones.

Buffy: I'm not gonna lie to you. It was scary. I'm so used to you being a grownup, and then I find out that you're a person.
Giles: Most grownups are.

Buffy: Do I like shrubs?
Xander: That's between you and your god.

Buffy: I wish we could be regular kids.
Angel: Yeah. I'll never be a kid.
Buffy: Okay, then a regular kid and her cradle-robbing, creature-of-the-night boyfriend.

Buffy: Good. 'Cause I've had it. Spike is going down. You can attack me, you can send assassins after me, that's fine. But nobody messes with my boyfriend!

Buffy: Oh, Will, you're supposed to use your powers for good!
Willow: I just wanna learn stuff.
Cordelia: Like how to build your own serial killer?
Xander: Uh, it's so hard to rent one nowadays.

Spike: No more of this 'I've got a soul' crap?
Angelus: What can I say, hmm? I was going through a phase.

Cordelia: This is great! There's an unkillable demon in town, Angel's joined his team, the Slayer's a basketcase, I'd say we've hit bottom.
Xander: I have a plan.
Cordelia: Oh no, here's a lower place

Cordelia: So does looking at guns really make girls want to have sex? That's scary.
Xander: Yeah, I guess.
Cordelia: Well, does looking at guns make you wanna have sex?
Xander: I'm seventeen. Looking at linoleum makes me wanna have sex.

Oz: So, do you guys steal weapons from the Army a lot?
Willow: Well, we don't have cable, so we have to make our own fun.

Buffy: But I would do a lot better if you and Xander and I could do that "sharing our misery" thing tonight.
Willow: Great. I'll give Xander a call. What's his number? Oh, yeah 1-800-I'm-Dating-A-Skanky-Ho.
Buffy: Meow!
Willow: Thanks, I haven't gotten a Meow before.

Willow: Well, I like you. You're nice, and you're funny, and you don't smoke. Yeah, okay, werewolf, but that's not all the time. I mean, three days out of the month, I'm not much fun to be around either.
Oz: You are quite the human.
Willow: So I'd still, if you'd still.
Oz: I'd still. I'd very still!
Willow: Okay. No biting, though.
Oz: Agreed.

Willow: Don't be so jumpy... I've been in your bed before.
Xander: Yeah, but Will, we were both in footy pajamas.

Buffy: Homework.
Willow: It's my way of saying get well soon.
Buffy: You know, chocolate says that even better.
Willow: I did all your assignments. All you have to do is sign your name.
Buffy: Chocolate means nothing to me.

Giles: Cordelia, have you actually ever heard of tact?
Cordelia: Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass.

Xander: You don't know how to kill this thing.
Buffy: I thought I might try violence.
Xander: Solid call.

Xander: Oh, no, no. No. No cool. This was no wimpy chain rattler. This was "I'm dead as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore."
Giles: Well, despite the Xander-speak, that's a fairly accurate definition of a poltergeist.
Xander: I defined something? Accurately? Guess I'm done with the book learning

Buffy: So I'm treated like the baddie, just because he has a sprained wrist and a bloody nose, and I don't have a scratch on me, which, granted, hurts my case a little, on the surface.

Buffy: So, something ripped him open and ate out his insides?
Willow: Like an Oreo cookie, well, except for, you know, without the... chocolatey cookie goodness.

Xander: He was right behind me, putting his sneakers on. But it's not the Velcro kind, so give him a couple of extra minutes

Drusilla: I don't want to be an evil thing!
Angelus: Ah, hush, child, the Lord has a plan for all of us. He will use you and then he will smite you down, he's like that.

Spike: Let me guess. Someone pulls out the sword...
Angelus: Someone worthy
Spike: The Demon opens his mouth and wackiness ensues

Kendra: I call it Mr. Pointy.
Buffy: You named your stake?
Kendra: Yes.
Buffy: Remind me to get you a stuffed animal.

Giles: What do you want?
Angelus: I wanna torture you. I used to love it, and it's been a long time. I mean, the last time I tortured somebody, they didn't even have chainsaws.

Buffy: The whole earth may be sucked into Hell, and you want my help 'cause your girlfriend's a big ho? Well, let me take this opportunity to not care.

Joyce: Have we met?
Spike: Um, you hit me with an ax one time, remember? Uh, "get the hell away from my daughter."
Joyce: Oh.

Giles: You must...
Angelus: Yes?
Giles: Perform the ritual...
Angelus: Go on?
Giles: In a tutu. Pillock!
Angelus: Alright, somebody get the chainsaw!

Giles: You're not real.
Xander: Sure I'm real.
Giles: It's a trick. They get inside my head, make me see things I want.
Xander: Then why would they make you see me?
Giles: You're right. Let's go.

Thematic Photographic 31 - New

Carmi's newest theme is....NEW!
So here is a new sweater, and a new toy, a toy that Spotty Chop may be slightly exicted to play. What do you think?

I hate when blogs that I enjoy reading don't get updated in awhile don't you?

Hey, how's it goin? How are things? Family good? Had a good holiday?

Sorry I've been MIA, but we have had a bit of life happening. Everyone has chaos during the holidays and I am no exception. But add to that Boy Toy slipping the first or second week in December when he brought the Tree around back, a night in the ER. MRI's and Specialists. Finally having it turn out to be ok, getting ready to go back to work the Monday before Xmas. The Friday before the Monday getting a "sorry, we are laying you off phone call". PLUS I knit 5 hats 2 scarfs and 1/3 of the way through a stole (did I mention I now have 3 baby blankets that need to be made?) PLUS read 3 books, AND almost finished Buffy Season 3. I just didn't have it in me to look at the computer.

But....I'M BACK and joined the YMCA...I am sure there will be hilarity there somewhere....

Dear Spotty Chop you are 46 months old today

You are beginning to get “Christmas”, but you do NOT like Santa. We went to get your photo taken and you did not want to be there. This has never bothered you before and we were a bit flummoxed about it this time. You also seemed really freaked out by the fact that Santa was coming to our house. You didn’t want to talk to him. You were happy to know that Santa didn’t want to talk to you; he only wanted to come in when you were sleeping.
You had a good time picking out and chopping down a tree this year, and were super helpful hanging up the ornaments. We may have spoiled you though. I believe our tree was about 13 feet tall. Daddy did cut a few feet off of it, but I think you will now turn your nose up on a normal tree. You do not like the “yellow” lights (clear), only the color. My perfect tree will be interesting next year with….blech color lights.
You started a new tradition with B-52 this year. After we ate our X-mass eve brunch you and he made cookies for Santa. I don’t know which of you had more fun. B-52 was AMAZED with how many sprinkles you could fit on a cookie. I really enjoyed watching you so hard at work, and proud of the beautiful cookies you made.
You are a present opening champ! You wanted to see everything, and to help everyone open their presents as well. We will have to work on your “I want more” when you only get one or two gifts from folks. But you are 3 ½ ; I can totally understand why you want more. You were however incredibly awesome thanking people for their gifts.
We have been reminding you to look people in the face when you are talking to them. When we were playing at an indoor play space the other day I overheard you asking kids what their names were and introducing yourself. I am so proud of you. It’s a simple thing, but it’s really hard to do. I hate having to introduce myself to strangers, you at 3 ½ do it so much better.
You have started twisting my earrings when you are tired and sitting on my lap. It is very cute. You also hold onto my chin and pull my face when you want me to look at something.
We had our first play date with someone other than family. You guys played together well, but you also played in his basement all by yourself. You are still perfectly content playing with yourself and that makes me happy.
One of your favorite games to play now is hot wheel accelerators. You use the PS2 memory cards as accelerchargers and we race through the house through the different realms. You constantly amaze me.
Favorite toys:
T-REX rampage - sometimes you are the T-Rex and sometimes you are the car. Good times are had by all.
Hullabaloo – spinning, moving, crawling towards a color, shape or object. I really like this game
Leapster – video games for dorks

Let’s see what’s your favorite next month. You are a damn good kid and I love you.