Tax Frustration

So I went to get the application for my residency on Monday. The girl at the counter gave me the paperwork I needed and proceeded to tell me everything that I needed to know, than she said that I could not be claimed on my parents taxes. Now, Dad and I had decided for them to claim me because we thought the FAFSA needed it, but that conflicts with getting my residency. I have already filed my taxes and gotten my return, I got $179 back. Well I talked to my financial aid advisor and she said that for me to get my residency, Mom and Dad can't claim me for 2007, if they do, I have to wait until Spring 2009 to get my residency, which would suck. So today, I went to get my taxes amended. I just went to the VITA on campus, they did my taxes. I get there and tell them I needed my taxes amended and the girl who was going to help me immediately calls over someone else and asks what to do. He tells me at first that they didn't do amendments. He then decides to just help me himself so he takes me over to his computer. He proceeds to tell me that he wasn't sure how long it would take or if it would work, but he wanted to help so I wouldn't have to go to an accountant and pay them to help me. After 30 minutes, he finally finishes and prints it off and tells me that I have to mail it in. I was like, "ok, no problem". The catch was that the IRS might deny my amendment because I can be claimed on my parents taxes. I have to wait until my amendment gets there, and then an indefinite time before they get back to me to tell me if my claim was passed or denied. This sucks! I need to be independent or else I can't get my residency, I think I'm going to go to my advisor tomorrow or Friday and explain to her what is going on and to see if that will affect my getting residency, hopefully everything goes good! Pray for me! Love you all!

Sojourn by: R.A. Salvatore (3rd in Dark Elf Trilogy)

I really enjoyed this book! It was really good and I liked the humor that R.A. Salvatore put into it, I definitely laughed a couple of times in this book.

Far above the merciless Underdark, Drizzt Do'Urden fights to survive the elements of Toril's harsh surface. The young drow begins a sojourn through a world entirely unlike his own--even as he evades the dark elves of his past. He begins to understand his new home and its inhabitants, but acceptance among the surface-dwellers doesn't come easily.

Page Excerpt:

"Run, Eleni!" Connor Thistledown cried, waving his sword and bearing down on the drow. "It is a dark elf!"

Of all that Connor had cried, Drizzt only understood the word "drow." The young man's attitude and intent could not be mistaken, though, for Connor charged straight between Drizzt and Eleni, his sword tip pointed Drizzt's way. Eleni managed to get to her feet behind her brother, but she did not flee. She, too, had heard of the evil dark elves and she would not leave Connor to face one alone.

"Turn away, dark elf," Connor growled. "I am an expert swordsman and much stronger than you."

Drizzt held his hands out, not understanding a word.

"Turn away!" Connor yelled.

On impulse, Drizzt replied in the silent code of his people, an itnricate language of hand and facial gestures.

"He's casting a spell!" Eleni cried, and she dove into the blueberries. Connor charged, his sword leading the way.

Before Connor even knew of the counter, Drizzt grabbed him by the forearm, used his other hand to twist the boy's wrist and take away the sword, spun the crude weapon three times over Connor's head, flipped it in his slender hand, then handed it, hilt first, back to the boy.

Drizzt held his arms out wide and smiled. In drow custom, such a show of superiority without injury signaled a desire for friendship. To the oldest son of farmer Thistledown, the drow's display brought only terror.

Connor stood, mouth agape, for a long moment. His sword fell from his hand; his pants, soiled, clung uncomfortably to his thighs, but he didn't notice.

A scream erupted from somewhere within Connor and he grabbed Eleni, who joined in his scream, and they fled back to the grove to collect the others, then farther running until they crossed the threshold fo their own home.

Drizzt was left, his smile fast fading and his arms out wide, standing all alone in the blueberry patch.

Work Out

Today Spencer and I worked out after Institute. I ran 3.41 miles and I burned 3.29 calories in 35 minutes. I'm doing great! I have definitely been doing better each time! Spencer is doing a lot better than me, running twice the distance and burning twice the calories that I am, but that's ok, I don't mind.

Exile by: R.A. Salvatore (2nd in Dark Elf Trilogy)

I really like these books, they are really good. I definitely recommend them!

Hostile in ways that a surface-dweller could never know, the tunnel-mazes of the Underdark challenge all who tread there. Among these souls are Drizzt Do'Urden and his magical cat, Guenhwyvar. Exiled from his drow homeland, Drizzt must fight for a new home in the boundless labyrinth. Meanwhile, he must watch for signs of pursuit--for the dark elves are not a forgiving race.

Random Tag Meme

I was tagged by Craig at with a meme.

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you. (See above.)
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag at least three people at the end of your post and link to their blogs.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the fun begin!

1. I am going to college at Utah State University.
2. I absolutely LOVE to read sci-fi/fantasy books.
3. I need to find a job or else I'm going to lose my phone (EEK!!!)
4. I am a horrible procrastinator!
5. I love to eat food and I actually eat a lot of it, it just doesn't show. (I'm bragging, I know =P)
6. I have over 40 aunts and uncles from both sides of my family, and half of them are younger than me.

I tag Shanna, Montse, and Shaela. I changed my blog because Craig showed me how to do the cool link thing! =D

Sherri Dew Fireside

I realized as I was looking at my blog today that I forgot to blog about my choir concert with Sherri Dew. On Friday night, we had the fireside. It was really good, well at least the parts that I was awake for were really good. I will admit that I have a problem with church meetings and dimmed lights, I don't know what it is but it always puts me to sleep. The opening song with the congregation was "We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet" and I must say that the spirit was so strong after we were done singing. Before Sister Dew gave her talk, the choir sang "My Kindness Will Not Depart From Thee". That is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard and sang.

For a little while Have I forsaken thee; But with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee For a moment. But with everlasting kindness will I gather thee, And with mercy will I take thee ‘neath my wings, For the mountains shall depart, And the hills shall be removed, And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea, But know, my child, My kindness shall not depart from thee!

Though thine afflictions seem At times too great to bear, I know thine every thought and every care. And though the very jaws Of hell gape after thee I am with thee. And with everlasting mercy will I succor thee, And with healing will I take thee ‘neath my wings. Though the mountains shall depart, And the hills shall be removed, And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea, Know, my child, My kindness shall not depart from thee!

How long can rolling waters Remain impure? What pow’r shall stay the hand of God? The Son of Man hath descended below all things. Art thou greater than He?

So hold on thy way, For I shall be with thee. And mine angels shall encircle thee. Doubt not what thou knowest, Fear not man, for he Cannot hurt thee. And with everlasting kindness will I succor thee, And with mercy will I take thee ‘neath my wings. For the mountains shall depart, And the hills shall be removed, And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea, But know, my child, My kindness shall not depart from thee!

These are the lyrics to the song, beautiful aren't they. Sister Dew's talk was on Joseph Smith and the prophets, and for what I was awake through, it was really good. One thing that she said that really stuck in my mind was something that she said at the beginning of her talk. She told a story about her friend looking for a house and her asking Sister Dew to come help her. They found a very nice house that seemed like the best for the standards that she had chosen, so she asked Sister Dew to pray and ask the Lord if it was the right house. Sister Dew went on to pray and she said in her prayer, "...Let them get this house if it suits Thee, or help them find something better..." Now this is an indirect quote and I don't know if I even quoted it right, but what stuck with me was asking the Lord to find something better. Not putting a limitation on what God can do for us. It really made me think and realize that that is what I need to do when I ask the Lord if what I am praying for is good, or if He can get me something better if it suits His needs.

Another thing that Sister Dew said at the end of her talk was she was talking about Abraham 3: 16-17, the scripture about the Noble and Great Ones and how before, she used to always attributed that to the prophets and apostles and church leaders. Now she attributes that scripture to everybody, saying that everybody is a Noble and Great One. It was a really good talk and I was glad that I was there to listen to most of it. For a closing song, the choir sang "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing", arranged by Mack Wilberg.

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;Streams of mercy, never ceasing,Call for songs of loudest praise.Teach me some melodious sonnet,Sung by flaming tongues above.Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;Hither by Thy help I’ve come;And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,Safely to arrive at home.Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,Prone to leave the God I love;Here's my heart, O take and seal it;Seal it for Thy courts above.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,Wandering from the fold of God;He, to rescue me from danger,Interposed His precious blood.Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,Prone to leave the God I love;Here's my heart, O take and seal it;Seal it for Thy courts above.

O to grace how great a debtorDaily I'm constrained to be!Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,Bind my wandering heart to Thee:Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,Prone to leave the God I love;Here's my heart, O take and seal it;Seal it for Thy courts above.

Work Out

I worked out again today, I'm starting a good habit. =) Today I only ran on the Elliptical machine. I started playing with the buttons, trying to get a good workout, and I tried doing a Fat Burn workout, but they wanted me to go really slow, and I tried for about 5 minutes and then I decided to do something else. I then did a Cardio workout and I liked that one. I did 3.21 miles in total today, including my 5 minute cool down. I burned 308 calories.

Homeland by: R.A. Salvatore (1st in Dark Elf Trilogy)

Travel back to strange and exotic Menzoberranzan, the vast city of the drow and homeland to Icewind Dale hero Drizzt Do'Urden.

The young prince of a royal house, Drizzt grows to maturity in the vile world of his dark kin. Possessing honor beyond the scope of his unprincipled society, young Drizzt faces an inevitable dilemma. Can he live in a world that rejects integrity?

Work Out

So last night I went and worked out. I went with Spencer. We went running around 9 pm. The rugby team closed the main floor of the Fieldhouse down so they could use it for their own personal use. Before they closed the floor down I got in 5 laps jogging and 3 laps walking. So that is a mile. After they closed the main floor, Spencer and I went upstairs to where the treadmills and elliptical machines and weights. I went on an elliptical machine and jogged/ran 3.25 miles. I burned approximately 350 calories in all last night. I thought I did really good. So I did 4.25 miles in total last night. Afterwards, Spencer and I went swimming afterwards and soaked in the hot tub. It felt really really nice.

My Car

So I finally unburied (is that a word? I dunno know.) my car today. I started about 5-10 minutes after Spencer brought me home, which was around 3 I think, and I didn't finish until about 5. I was out there forever! My arms were so tired when I was done too. I forgot how heavy snow could be. There was a lot of snow to move as you can see. I'm very glad that I finally did it though!

Valentine's Day!

So for Valentine's Day, Spencer and I hung out as usual. I got him Phase 10, a frog that makes kissing noises (which was so totally cute!), and a pack of gum. He got me a card that was really cute, 3 roses, a stuffed puppy, and he took me out to ice cream! It was really sweet! We watched the first half of Varsity Blue before he had to take me home because he left today to go to Montana; which is sad for me, but oh well.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Crazy Weather

So today we had some CRAZY weather. On Monday and Tuesday, the weather was in the 40's and it was sooo nice! It was soo warm and I was so excited! Than today, it was pretty warm this morning, and clear too. At about 11:30, it started to snow, and I mean REALLY snow. It was dumping on us. When Spencer took me back up to campus for Institute at 1:20, there were already roads that were being blocked off. When I left Insitute at 3, it looked like there was a blizzard outside. It was absolutely crazy! It was snowing so hard! So I make a mad dash for the TSC and the comfort of being inside and I start wandering around the Bookstore, just to see what there was. I saw some stuff that I would like to buy as Christmas presents, I'm thinking early for once. While I am wandering around, Spencer calls to see how I am doing and to tell me that there is a blizzard outside, not that I didn't know that already =). I told him that I was not looking forward to walking to my math class, because my math class is about a 7 min walk that is mostly outside, I can cut through some buildings, but I would still be outside most of the time. Spencer asked if I had a test in math today, I told him "no" and he suggested I skip class because of the bad weather. I had already contemplated skipping class, so he just helped me decide quicker. He picked me up and we went swimming for about 2 hours, it was so nice. The pool was warm and the hot tub was very hot, it was great! When I got home, which was about an hour ago, I was talking to Keely and she told me that all the classes after 3:30 approx. were cancelled, so I didn't have a math class to go to. It was great! The weather here is pretty crazy, but I hope it stops soon so I can get my car safety inspected and registered.

Old Magic by: Marianne Curley

JARROD THORNTON IS MESMERIZING, BUT KATE WARREN DOESN'T KNOW WHY.

The moment the new guy walks into the room, Kate senses something strange and intense about him. Something supernatural. Her instincts are proven correct a few minutes later when, bullied by his classmates, Jarrod unknowingly conjures up a freak thunderstorm inside their classroom.

Jarrod doesn't believe in the paranormal. When Kate tries to convince him that he has extraordinary powers that need to be harnessed, he only puts up with her "hocus pocus" notions because he finds her captivating. However, the dangerous, uncontrolled strengthening of his gift finally convinces Jarrod that he must take Kate's theories seriously. Together, they embark on a remarkable journey--one which will unravel the mystery that has haunted Jarrod's family for generations and pit the teens against immense forces in a battle to undo the past and reshape the future.

Speak by: Laurie Halse Anderson

Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth.

"Out of Small Things" Talk

So I had to give a talk today in church. I really did not want to do it! I wrote the talk last night at like midnight, and I whipped it out in about 30 minutes. I had to base my talk on the Oct. 2007 General Conference talk by Elder Michael Teh, it was called "Out of Small Things". The talk was basically on service. You know what, I'm going to put my talk on here. Let you all know about what I mostly said. This is going to be long, so you don't have to read it if you don't want to.

So I started out by telling everyone my name and saying how most everybody didn't know me because I am anti-social and this would probably be the first time anybody had heard me talk. Than I got started. Now most of this won't be exactly what I said, I did a lot of improv. I just put down the main points to read and just blabbed something of my own to fill in between. So you will just get the main points and not my blab.

"The following advice, given by the deceitful Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood in C. S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters...The great thing is to direct the malice to his immediate neighbours whom he meets every day and to thrust his benevolence out to the remote circumference, to people he does not know. The malice thus becomes wholly real and the benevolence largely imaginary."-Elder Teh

"Finally, serve willingly. You are a mighty force for good, one of the most powerful in the entire world. Your influence ranges far beyond yourself and your home and touches others all around the globe."-President Monson (Nov. 2007 Ensign)

"...Much of the service needed in the world today relates to our day-to-day associations with each other."-Elder Teh

"Often small acts of service are all that is required to lift and bless another: a question concerning a person's family, quick words of encouragement, a sincere compliment, a small note of thanks, a brief telephone call. If we are observant and aware, and if we act on the promptings which come to us, we can accomplish much good. Sometimes, of course, more is needed."-President Monson (Nov. 2007 Ensign)

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another--I say unto you that if ye should serve him from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another--I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants."-Mosiah 2: 17, 20-21

"-That assurance from the Master can help those of us feeling overwhelmed by our circumstances. In the hardest trials, as long as you have the power to pray, you can ask a loving God: “Please let me serve, this day. It doesn’t matter to me how few things I may be able to do. Just let me know what I can do. I will obey this day. I know that I can, with Thy help.”-The quiet invitation to you may be to do so simple a thing as to forgive someone who has offended you. You can do that from a hospital bed. It may be to go to help someone who is hungry. You may feel overwhelmed by your own poverty and the labors of the day. But if you decide not to wait until you have more strength and more money, and if you pray for the Holy Spirit as you go, you will when you arrive know what to do and how to help someone even poorer than you are. You may find when you get there that they were praying and expecting that someone like you would come, in the name of the Lord.-For those who are discouraged by their circumstances and are therefore tempted to feel they cannot serve the Lord this day, I make you two promises. Hard as things seem today, they will be better in the next day if you choose to serve the Lord this day with your whole heart. Your circumstances may not be improved in all the ways which you desire. But you will have been given new strength to carry your burdens and new confidence that when your burdens become too heavy, the Lord, whom you have served, will carry what you cannot. He knows how. He prepared long ago. He suffered your infirmities and your sorrows when He was in the flesh so that He would know how to succor you. The other promise I make to you is that by choosing to serve Him this day, you will feel His love and grow to love Him more. -By serving Him this day, you will come to know Him better. You will feel His love and appreciation. You would not want to delay receiving that blessing. And feeling His love will draw you back to His service, wiping away both complacency and discouragement."-President Eyring (May 2007 Ensign)

"We can't do everything for everyone everywhere, but we can do something for someone somewhere."-Elder Richard L. Evans (1906-71) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."-Matthew 25:35-40

"No man can be a true Latter-Day Saint who is unneighborly, who does not reach out to assist and help others. It is inherent in the very nature of the gospel that we do so. My brothers and sisters, we cannot live unto ourselves."-President Hinkley

"Our service to others should be independent of race, color, standing, or relationships. After all, the commandment to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees" did not come with qualifications."-Elder Teh

"This service is to be given unselfishly, with no thought of personal gain or reward. It is to be given as needed, not when convenient. Opportunities to serve may not always seem obvious, as it is human nature to worry about our own wants and needs. We must resist such tendencies and look for opportunities to serve. When we visit with those who are suffering from sickness, loss of loved ones, or other heartbreak, it is not enough to simply say, "Call if there is anything I can do." Rather, look for ways to bless the lives of others through seemingly simple acts of service. It is better to do even things of little consequence than to do nothing at all. Service requires unselfishness, sharing, and giving."-Elder Steven E. Snow (Nov. 2007 Ensign) of the Seventy

"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned."-D&C 58:26-29

"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. Serving others need not come from spectacular events. Often it is the simple daily act that gives comfort, uplifts, encourages, sustains, and brings a smile to others."-Elder Teh

"Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed. Has anyone's burden been lighter today because I was willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there? There are chances for work all around just now, opportunities right in our way. Do not let them pass by, saying, "Sometime I'll try," but go and do something today. 'Tis noble of man to work and to give; love's labor has merit alone. Only he who does something helps others to live. To God each good work will be known."-"Have I Done Any Good?" (Hymn no. 223)

Ella Enchanted by: Gail Carson Levine

That fool of a fairy Lucinda did not intend to lay a curse on me. She meant to bestow a gift. When I cried inconsolably through my first hour of life, my tears were her inspiration. Shaking her head sympathetically at Mother, the fairy touched my nose. "My gift is obedience. Ella will always be obedient. Now stop crying, child."

I stopped.

Father was away on a trading expedition as usual, but our cook, Mandy, was there. She and Mother were horrified, but no matter how they explained it to Lucinda, they couldn't make her understand the terrible thing she'd done to me. I could picture the argument: Mandy's freckles standing out sharper than usual, her fizzy gray hair in disarray, and her double chin shaking with anger; Mother still and intense, her brown curls damp from labor, the laughter gone from her eyes.

I couldn't imagine Lucinda. I didn't know what she looked like.

She wouldn't undo the curse.

My first awareness of it came on my fifth birthday. I seem to remember that day perfectly, perhaps because Mother told the tale so often...

Princess Academy by: Shannon Hale

IT WAS A LOVELY IDEA AND MIRI WISHED SHE COULD BELIEVE IT, BUT SHE KNEW LOWLANDERS WOULD NEVER ALLOW A CROWN TO SIT ON A MOUNTAIN GIRL'S HEAD.

High on the slopes of rock Mount Eskel, Miri's family pounds a living from the stone of the mountain itself. But Miri's life will change forever when word comes that her small village is the home of the future princess. All eligible girls must attend a makeshift academy to prepare for royal life. At the school, Miri finds herself confronting bitter competition among the girls and her own conflicted desires to be chosen. Yet when danger comes to the academy, it is Miri, named for a tiny mountain flower, who must find a way to save her classmates--and the future of their beloved village.

Last Night

So Thursday night, Spencer's sister, Julie, and her husband and daughter came to visit. So yesterday night, we all hung out for the most part. We went to dinner at Olive Garden and had fun there, and then after that, Julie and Kelsy didn't want to go to the hockey game with the rest of us, so they went back to Kelsy's house to watch "The Nanny Diaries" while they put Callie, Julie's daughter, to sleep. The rest of us, Brad, Eric, Ben (Julie's husband), Spencer, and I all went to the hockey game. It was USU vs. BYU. We beat BYU 7-2. It was a great game, although we didn't finish it. We left after the second period to go to Brad's house. I thought we were going to talk and have fun, but all we did was finish watching "The Nanny Diaries", oh well. Spencer and I amused ourselves by rolling a green ball to each other. It was fun. I found out the score from Spencer, who found it out from someone on the hockey team. I wish I could have finished the game, but it was fun hanging out with the others.

Specials by: Scott Westerfeld (3rd in series)

FRIGHTENINGLY BEAUTIFUL. DANGEROUSLY STRONG. BREATHTAKINGLY FAST.

Tally thought they were a rumor, but now she's one of them. A Special. A super-amped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.

But maybe being perfectly programmed with strength and focus isn't better than anything she's ever known. Tally still has memories of something else.

But it's easy for her to tune that out--until she's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.

Pretties by: Scott Westerfeld (2nd in series)

These books are really really really easy reads. But they are sooooo good!!! They hook you in from the start and the whole time you are wondering what is going to happen next. I loved them!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PERFECTION ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH?

GORGEOUS. POPULAR. PERFECT. PERFECTLY WRONG.

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is toally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun--the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom--is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life--because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

Uglies by: Scott Westerfeld (1st in series)

IN A WORLD OF EXTREME BEAUTY, ANYONE NORMAL IS UGLY.

EVERYBODY GETS TO BE SUPERMODEL GORGEOUS. WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH THAT?

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license--for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from repellant ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really good time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk her life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world--and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choise she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Dragon Venom by: Lawrence Watt-Evans (3rd in series)

First came Dragon Weather: a wave of incredible heat, oppressive humidity, dark angry clouds...and dragons. Dragons with no remorse, no sympathy, no use for humans; dragons who destroyed an entire village and everyone in it. Everyone, that it, except the young boy Arlian. Orphaned and alone, Arlian was captured by looters and sold as a mining slave. He finally escaped, fueled by his vow to bring justice to all who had wronged him.

After killing those who enslaved him, Arlian sought out The Dragon Society, whose sworn purpose was to stand against the dragon menace. It was there, among his peers, that Arlian discovered he is humanity's best hope for defeating the dragons...permanently.

Now, Arlian seeks his final vengeance: death to all of dragonkind. But with each death of the evil beasts, wild magic seeps into the Lands of Men, sowing chaos and destruction in its wake. Will Arlian's all-consuming quest for justice consume humanity as well? The answer may lie within his ancient foe's most lethal weapon: Dragon Venom.