My Awesome/Crazy Life!

Bone Crossed by: Patricia Briggs (4th in series)

2010-04-22T00:02:00.000-06:00

An absolutely awesome series!!! I think this is my new favorite series!

As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, ace car mechanic Mercy has had to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human within the Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington on more than one occasion. But this time she may be in over her head.

Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan. Now she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from the vampire's direct reprisal by the werewolf pack--and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha--it's not Mercy's blood Marsilia is after...

It's her friends'.

Iron Kissed by: Patricia Briggs (3rd in series)

2010-04-21T23:56:00.001-06:00

Another great book in an awesome series!

I could smell her fear, and it satisfied something deep inside me that had been writhing under her cool, superior gaze. I curled my upper lip so she could get a good look at my sharp teeth. I might only weight thirty or so pounds in my coyote shape, but I was a predator...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape--but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not.

Mercy's loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can't decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her...

Blood Bound by: Patricia Briggs (2nd in series)

2010-04-19T23:50:00.001-06:00

I really like this series, it's great!

Under the rule of science, there are no witch burnings allowed, no water trials or public lynchings. In return, the average law-abiding, solid citizen has little to worry about from the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes I wish I was an average citizen...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places--and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary--and neither is the demon inside of him...

Moon Called by: Patricia Briggs (1st in series)

2010-04-17T23:43:00.001-06:00

This is a great book, I really liked it.

Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself...and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

Bridal Shower Pictures

2010-04-16T21:55:00.000-06:00

I had a lot of fun at my Bridal Shower. It was great seeing everybody again after so long. I got so many great gifts, I don't have pictures of them, but I definitely appreciate them all.So here are the pictures from my Bridal Shower. Finally got them on here.

Here is Shanna, Nan, Lynda, and Shaela.
Nan, Lynda, Shaela, and Nikki.
Kim, Shanna, Nan, Lynda, and Delva.
Kim, Shanna, Nan, Lynda, and Delva.
Shanna, Nan, and Lynda.
Here is Nelda, Jen, Me, and Alex.
Nelda, Jen, Me and Alex again.
Here is Delva, Jen, Me, Alex, and Kim.
Here is part of Lynda, Shaela, Nikki, Sherri, Norma, part of Nelda, Delva, and part of Kim.
Here is Shanna, Nan and Lynda.
Nelda, Jen, Me and Alex.
Nelda, Jen, Me and Alex.

"Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter" series by: Laurell K. Hamilton

2010-04-14T23:48:00.004-06:00

So in case people are interested in reading the "Anita Blake" series, I figured I should put the reading list on here.

1. Guilty Pleasures
2. The Laughing Corpse
3. Circus of the Damned
4. The Lunatic Cafe
5. Bloody Bones
6. The Killing Dance
7. Burnt Offerings
8. Blue Moon
9. Obsidian Butterfly
10. Narcissus in Chains
11. Cerulean Sins
12. Incubus Dreams
13. Micah
14. Danse Macabre
15. The Harlequin
16. Blood Noir
17. Skin Trade
18. Flirt
19. Bullet

Now to warn, at some point during the series, I don't remember what book exactly, it does go X-rated unfortunately, but you can skip the naughty scenes fairly easily and not miss anything vital.

Enjoy!

Flirt by: Laurell K. Hamilton (18th in series)

2010-04-14T23:39:00.003-06:00

OH!!! MY!!! GOSH!!! This book was sooooo good!!! I devoured this book in about 2 hours. I could not put this down! If you have not started reading the Anita Blake series and, you like paranormal thrillers, then you are seriously missing out. I totally recommend this series to everybody!

"I've earned my reputation, but if you really did your research on me then you also know that I don't raise zombies for kicks, or thrill seekers, or tormented relatives unless they have a plan"

When Anita Blake meets with prospective client Tony Bennington, who is desperate to have her reanimate his recently deceased wife, she is full of sympathy for his loss. Anita knows something about love, and she knows everything there is to know about loss. But what she also knows, though Tony Bennington seems unwilling to be convinced, is that the thing she can do as a necromancer isn't the miracle he thinks he needs. The creature that Anita could coerce to step out of the late Mrs. Bennington's grave would not be the lovely Mrs. Bennington. Not really. And not for long.

Anita has been relaxing just a bit with the men in her own life. The affectionate warmth of being with them brings out something softer in her, a sense of safety she can almost trust. They do love her; that part is forever and for sure. But flirting with feeling safe is a dangerous thing...

Total Slacker

2010-04-13T01:09:00.003-06:00

Ok, so I am a total slacker, I know. I hate getting behind on this because I never want to catch back up because there is so much to do. I don't think I'm going to blog on all of the books I've read since I posted last time because I don't remember what I have read or when I read them. So I'll get back up on that from now on.

Let's see here, what has happened since January?

BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUTS!

First things first: 1/10/10-HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! You turned the big 39, hehe. I love you so much Mom and I am so grateful for all that you do for me!

Next: 1/18/10-HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX AND JEN!!! I miss you guys so much! It was great seeing you at Spring Break! I have so many great memories from you guys throughout high school and I wish we lived closer, oh well.

Next: 3/6/10-HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD AND GRANDMA KENNEDY!!! Dad turned the big 41 and Grandma never gets old, hehehe. I love you Dad for all that you do for me and all the support you have given me since I have left the nest. I love you so much Grandma and I miss seeing you. Hopefully I'll be able to see you at my wedding!

Last: 4/4/10-HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR!!! I CANNOT believe that you are 12 years old now! Where has all the time gone? I remember holding you as a baby and changing your diaper. When you broke your arm, you learned real quick what a weapon that cast made. I really wish I could have been there for your birthday, especially your birthday party! You're so lucky that you get to go play laser tag! That is so much fun! I love you so much Connor and I bet you will be taller than me by the time I see you at my wedding.

SPRING BREAK

For Spring Break, my Mom came up to Utah and helped me plan my wedding. Mom thought I had more done than I did and was a little annoyed that it wasn't, but everything turned out fine. We got all of my center pieces together, got my shoes for the wedding day, got my photographer and makeup/hair taken care of and more than I can remember now. We got to go back to Fallon, NV for a day or two for my bridal shower that was being thrown. Unfortunately, Mom killed my car right when we got to Fallon. She ran my car out of gas (Which I have NEVER done before in my life) and it killed my fuel pump. So she spent all day Saturday, the day of my bridal shower (before my party though) trying to get it fixed. She managed to get a guy to come out and fix my car and still make it to my party, so that was great. I had so much fun at my party and it was great seeing so many people from church. I miss everybody so much and it was so great seeing Mom for a week. I definitely can't wait to see you again in July, I love you so much Mom! I do have some pictures from my bridal shower that I will get on here.

Proposal Pictures

I don't have pictures personally from when Spencer proposed to me, but the guy that took the pictures for us has a website that the pictures are on. If you are interested in seeing the pictures, click here. The pictures are copyrighted, which is why I didn't just put them on here.

Anything else?

I can't think of anything else in particular to blog about, I think I am caught up for the most part. All I have been doing lately is go to school, work and finalize on wedding plans. I spend a lot of my spare time, when I actually remember too at least, getting the paper for my invitations cut out. Once I get that finished I can actually start putting them together, which will be nice, they are so cute! All I know is that I can't wait for July! That means that school will be over (Thank Goodness!) and it means all of my wedding planning will be done and I will be happily married!

Oh!

Oh I just remembered, so I do have this crazy story to tell.

Spencer and I are on this waiting list to get into an apartment once we are married. We decided to check in on them and see where we were on the list. We go in there and she asks for our name, so Spencer gives his name first. She types in his last name and it pops up "Eric Hickenlooper", which is his brother. We tell her that's not us and give her my name, which brings up us. We find that we are like #175 for a two-bedroom apartment and number #145 for a one-bedroom apartment. She asks us if Eric was still looking for an apartment, we tell her that he moved to Arizona and so, no, he wasn't. She tells us that Eric is #1 on the waiting list because he signed up in 2008 and that if he called in and asks them to replace our name with his that she could get us an apartment tomorrow! How cool is that? So instead of not knowing when we would be getting an apartment, we now know that when we are ready to move in, we can move in immediately. Totally awesome!

Heart of Darkness by: Gena Showalter, Maggie Shayne, and Susan Krinard

2010-04-12T17:00:00.000-06:00

These were really good stories. I absolutely loved "The Darkest Angel", I loved Bianka and Lysander's story. I also thought "Love Me to Death" was pretty crazy. It was really good and I wasn't expecting it to turn out the way it did. "Lady of the Nile" wasn't what I was expecting, but it wasn't that bad. I don't know if would have been something I would have grabbed off the shelf but it was pretty good.

The Darkest Angel by: Gena Showalter
A Lords of the Underworld tale

An iron-willed demon assassin, the angel Lysander has never known lust--until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of Lucifer, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the pure-hearted Lysander into temptation...

Love Me to Death by: Maggie Shayne

Twenty-two years ago four teenage boys were convicted of a young girl's murder. Now, in the form of a beautiful woman, the "victim" is seeking vengeance. And only one man dares dig into the past to uncover its secrets...and set her free.

Lady of the Nile by: Susan Krinard

Lady Tameri believes herself to be the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian princess, and Leo Erskine has set out to prove her wrong...never dreaming that the two of them are about to discover a prophecy that will bind them together forever.

New Wedding Date

2010-01-27T10:39:00.002-07:00

So Spencer called the Logan Temple this morning to schedule a room for our wedding and was told that the temple would be closed from about July 5th to about July 27th for cleaning. So we changed our wedding date to Friday, July 2, 2010, this is our new wedding date.

Tainted by: Julie Kenner (1st in series)

2010-01-26T02:20:00.000-07:00

This book was absolutely amazing!!! I was amazed at what good a book this was. I can't wait to read the next books.

Lily Carlyle has never been a good girl. She's lied, cheated, and stolen, but she did it all to protect her younger sister. To keep food on the table after their mother died. She'd made a promise, after all. A promise to take care of her sister. To keep the family together. And that's a promise she's determined to keep.

Even to the death...

When her sister is brutally attacked, a vengeful Lily resolves to exact her own justice from the monster responsible. She succeeds--at the cost of her own life. As she lies dying, she is given a second chance: Though what she has done is evil, she can earn her way into paradise by fighting for the forces of good.

Lily agrees...

...and wakes in the body of Alice Purdue--a Boston barmaid who has more than a little familiarity with the battle raging between the light and the darkness. Each side is mustering its forces for all-out war--and Lily is going to become an assassin for the light.

It's a job she believes she can really get into--but she doesn't realize that she may not be able to get out...

Darker Angels by: M.L.N. Hanover (2nd in series)

2010-01-22T02:09:00.000-07:00

Another great book. I really enjoy these, it's a new take on fantasy.

In the battle between good and evil, there's no such thing as a fair fight.

When Jayne Heller's uncle Eric died, she inherited a fortune beyond all her expectations--and a dangerous mission in a world she never knew existed. Reining in demons and supernatural foes is a formidable task, but thankfully Jayne has vast resources and loyal allies to rely on. She'll need both to tackle a body-switching serial killer who's taken up residence in New Orleans, a city rich in voodoo lore and dark magic.

Working alongside Karen Black, a highly confident and enigmatic ex-FBI agent, Jayne races to track down the demon's next intended host. But the closer she gets, the more convinced she becomes that nothing in this beautiful, wounded city is exactly as it seems. When shocking secrets come to light, and jealousy and betrayal turn trusted friends into adversaries. Jayne will soon come face-to-face with an enemy that knows her all too well, and won't rest until it has destroyed everything she loves most...

Unclean Spirits by: M.L.N. Hanover (1st in series)

2010-01-16T01:59:00.000-07:00

A great book, I recommend this to everybody!

In a world where magic walks and demons ride, you can't always play by the rules.

Jayne Heller thinks of herself as a realist, until she discovers reality isn't quite what she thought. When her uncle Eric is murdered, Jayne travels to Denver to settle his estate, only to learn that it's all hers--and vaster than she ever imagined. And along with properties across the world and an inexhaustible fortune, Eric has left her another legacy: his unfinished business with a cabal of wizards known as the Invisible College.

Led by the ruthless Randolph Coin, the Invisible College harnesses demon spirits for their own ends of power and domination. Jayne finds it difficult to believe magic and demons can even exist, but Coin sees Eric's heir as a threat to be dominated by any means--magical or mundane--so Jayne had better start believing in something to save her own life. If she hopes to survive, she'll have to learn the new rules fast--or break them completely...

Magic to the Bone by: Devon Monk (1st in series)

2010-01-10T01:52:00.000-07:00

A great book, I will have to get the other books for sure!

"Using magic meant it used you back. Forget the fairy-tale, hocus-pocus, wave a wand and bling-o, sparkles, and pixie dust crap. Magic, like booze, sex and drugs, gave as good as it got."

Everything has a cost. And every act of magic exacts a price from its user--maybe a two-day migraine, or losing the memory of your first kiss. But some people want to use magic without paying, and they Offload the cost onto innocents. When that happens, it falls to a Hound to identify the spell's caster--and Allison Beckstrom's the best there is.

Daughter of a prominent Portland businessman, Allie would rather moonlight as a Hound than accept the family fortune--and the strings that come with it. But when she discovers a little boy dying from a magic Offload that has her father's signature all over it, Allie is thrown into the high-stakes world of corporate espionage and black magic.

Now Allie's out for the truth--and must call upon forces that will challenge everything she knows, change her in ways she could never imagine...and make her capable of things that powerful people will do anything to control.

Street Game by: Christine Feehan (8th in series)

2010-01-05T01:31:00.002-07:00

Love these books!

For Mack McKinley and his team of GhostWalker killing machines, urban warfare is an art. But despite a hard-won knowledge of the San Francisco streets, Mack knows from experience that too many things can still go wrong. Danger was just another part of the game—and now he’s come face-to-face with a woman who can play just as tough.

She’s Jaimie, a woman with a sapphire stare so potent it can destroy a man. Years ago she and Mack had a history—volatile, erotic, and electric. Then she vanished. Now she’s walked back into Mack’s life, as a spy with more secrets than are good for her. Against all odds, she’s hooking up with Mack one more time to take on an enemy that could destroy them both, or bring them back together in one hot, no-holds-barred adrenaline rush.

Blood Memories by: Barb Hendee (1st in series)

2009-12-31T10:47:00.001-07:00

What an amazing book!!! I could hardly put this book down! I can't wait to read the next book. This is a great series in the making.

For ages, they have lived among mortals, in the shadows, hiding their true selves from the eyes of humanity--until now.

Eleisha Clevon is no angel, although she has the face of one. A vampire, she's far older than she looks--and she makes men yearn to care for her. A few even survive the experience. Eleisha might not like to kill, but she knows self-preservation must come first.

So when an old vampire friend kills himself, Eleisha is shocked. What she finds afterward shows how world-weary he had become--hoarding drained corpses and keeping records of vampires' actual names and addresses. Now the police know who Eleisha is and, more alarmingly, what she is. But she soon realizes that being known may have its pros--even if it puts her and her kind at risk.

Child of a Dead God by: Barb & J.C. Hendee (6th in series)

2009-12-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

For many months, Magiere and Leesil have searched for a forgotten artifact, even though its purpose has been shrouded in mystery. All Magiere knows is that she must keep the orb from falling into the hands of a murdering Noble Dead: her half brother. And now dreams of a castle locked in ice lead her south, on a journey that has become nothing less than an obsession...

Accompanying Magiere and Leesil are the sage Wynn; their canine protector, Chap; and two elven assassins-turned-guardians who must fight their distrust of this sister of the dead. For forces more powerful than they--some may even say fate--are rallying around Magiere, arming her for the conflict to come, because finding the orb may be just the beginning of the challenges that await her...

The Pirate King by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-12-14T11:44:00.001-07:00

Another great book about Drizzt, I love these books.

"DRIZZT DO'URDEN...in the black flesh," the portly proprietor said as the drow came up to the bar. "What brings you back to Luskan after these long years?" He extended a hand, which Drizzt grasped and shook warmly.

"Well met, Arumn Gardpeck," the dark elf replied. "Perhaps I have returned merely to see if you continued to ply your trade--I take comfort that some things ever remain the same."

"What else would an old fool lke me do?" Arumn replied. "Have you sailed in with Deudermont, then?"

"Deudermont? Is Sea Sprite in port?"

"Aye, and with a trio of ships of a Waterdhavian lord beside her," Arumn replied.

"And spoiling for a fight..."

The Other Side of Heaven by: John Marsden (7th in series)

2009-12-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

Since their home was invaded by enemy soldiers and transformed into a war zone, Ellie and her friends have been fighting for their lives. Thy have learned survival skills out of necessity and taken care of each other through impossibly dark times. Now, with a roar like a train in a tunnel, the war has entered its final days. There's no more sitting around, no more waiting. There are only fast decisions, fast action, fast thinking--and no room to get it wrong. As the enemy forces close in on their hideout in Hell, Ellie, Fi, Homer, Lee and Kevin, and their adopted group of orphaned children, find themselves facing the last chapter of their struggle for freedom. But it may just be the most dangerous yet. And not everyone will survive.

The Night is for Hunting by: John Marsden (6th in series)

2009-12-03T01:26:00.000-07:00

We had a good run with radio calls lately...I began our report, which was really just a matter of saying that we had nothing to report, when suddenly Homer lifted slightly beside me and leaned forward, quivering like he was made of brand-new fencing wire. I stopped tlking and gazed anxiously at him.

"Shut down," he hissed, without looking around.

I should have turned the set off straightaway, but if there was danger I wanted New Zealand to know, only because I couldn't bear facing it on our own. Sure they were a long way away, safe and sound, but it might be some consolation to know they were thinking of us.

So I whispered into the radio,"We're in trouble," then slammed off the switch.

Hell's a big place, but it gets crowded when Ellie and her friends take an uncooperative crew of orphans under their wing and into their hidden refuge. It's not easy to keep four young children busy and happy in the bush, and things only get worse when Ellie and Homer find evidence that mysterious visitors have discovered their sanctuary. Could it be a patrol of enemy soldiers sent on a search and destroy mission? They find out all too soon.

In a time and place where war robs your identity, makes you forget your past and fear your future, it seems impossible for Ellie to make sense of a world that is quickly falling apart. And after a peaceful food raid turns into a nightmarish fight for survival, escape back to Hell seems hopeless.

Ellie, Fi, Homer, Lee, and Kevin brave the worst in this electrifying continuation of their battle to stay alive and sane in a war zone that was once their home.

Burning For Revenge by: John Marsden (5th in series)

2009-12-01T01:12:00.003-07:00

So the moment had come. All those careful plans Colonel Finley and Ursula had made, so carefully, so long ago, so far away--they came to nothing. Now it was up to us, using a plan we'd made up on the spur of the moment, using our own brains and initiative, and a lot of luck. Funny, the Kiwis had only wanted us to come on this trip as guides; they thought because we were young we wouldn't be much use. Even though we'd done so much already, they thought it was all a fluke. You could tell by the way they looked at us, and the way they talked. Like they knew so much more than us.

Well, here we were, inside the airfield, about to inflict major damage. I just hoped they'd build a big memorial to us after this was over.

We reached the entrance of the lane. Going into it I felt the strongest sense of danger I'd had since the war started. I don't know why I didn't stop right there. I could have called out but it would have been noisy. I could have stopped where I was but I didn't want to be separated from them. I could have...

From Hell to Stratton isn't an easy trip, especially when the enemy's headquarters lie somewhere in between. And that's exactly where Ellie and her friends unwittingly find themselves--smack in the middle of the Wirrawee Airfield. With only five of them against hundreds of armed soldiers, escape seems like a suicide mission. The odds aren't good, and Kevin's nervous breakdown isn't helping matters.

Darkness Be My Friend by: John Marsden (4th in series)

2009-11-25T00:59:00.004-07:00

We were getting pretty good at this stuff, hiding out, living rough and tough. It seemed a funny skill to be proud of, but it was a skill. I admired the fox his craftiness, the way he could get into the chookyard and out again, leaving nothing but blood behind. Blood and feathers and a few squawks from the chooks. We were getting mroe like foxes all the time.

If they hadn't been there, if they'd been safe in New Zealand, for example, would I still have agreed to goback? It was a horrible question and one I'm glad I didn't have to answer. But all the same, I think I knew deep down what the answer would be. Sometimes there's really only one answer.

Ellie and her friends had been rescued, airlifted out of their own country to the safe haven of New Zealand. They'd arrived burnt and injured and shocked, with broken bones, and scars inside and out.

They did not want to go back.

But five months later the war is not over, the nightmares continue, and there are two compelling reasons for them to return to Australia: A planned sabotage of the air base in Wirrawee, and most important, the families they left behind.

I'M ENGAGED!!!

2009-11-22T15:37:00.006-07:00

So Spencer finally popped the question on Friday, November 2o, 2009. I said, "Yes!" I like this picture, I had put my finger over the flash, and it makes the ring look pretty.

So the question everybody has on their mind is: How did he propose? Well, Spencer was coaching a Trappers game on Friday. The Trappers are the traveling mens' league team based in Logan, UT. Because Spencer still isn't fully recovered from breaking his ankle and so he was offered a coaching spot on the time. Well the game was a slow game, not much happened. So I was thinking that I might get up and get something from the concessions stand or go to the bathroom during the break between the second and third period. So I was getting my motivation to get up and get moving when I noticed that only the opposing team had gotten off the ice. The Trappers were still on the ice.

Then the guys on the team all knelt down on the edges of the big face-off circle in the middle of the ice. As I was trying to figure out what was happening, the captain, Shimmell, got a microphone and said, "Will Makayla Schmelter please come down to the ice." I sat there shocked, wondering if he really said my name because he did sound a little garbled. Then he said again, "Is Makayla Schmelter here?" Spencer's roommate, Mike, said that they were asking for me. By this time I knew what was going to happen. So I stood up, Shimmell asked if I was Makayla Schmelter, and then he motioned me down to the ice. So I get down to the door, someone opens it for me, and Shimmell and Paul, a defenseman, offered me their arms so I wouldn't fall. They escorted me to the middle of the ice and Spencer was standing there. He kneels down on one knee, pulls out a beautiful box, and Shimmell hands him the microphone. He says into the microphone, "Makayla, will you marry me?" and opens the box and shows my beautiful ring. Of course I said, "Yes" and put the ring on my finger. We got the loudest cheering and whistling and horn blowing of the entire game. It was embarrassing but sweet. Before we left the ice, Spencer had Scott, the guy who takes all of the pictures for the hockey games, take some pictures of us. I don't know when he started snapping pictures, hopefully he took one of Spencer proposing, we will find out in a couple of days.

So here is my beautiful ring. I picked it out myself. Spencer had no idea which one to get me when we went ring browsing. This picture has both the engagement ring and the wedding band with it. The wedding band goes underneath the diamond. I think it looks prettiest with both the wedding band and engagement ring together, so I wear them both. So, here is the romantic story of how Spencer proposed to me.

A Killing Frost by: John Marsden (3rd in series)

2009-11-22T15:00:00.001-07:00

These books are really good. This book shocked me. I was totally unprepared for the ending of this book, it ended in a way I never would have seen.

When we had passed through that gate we found ouselves in our new home. This was E Wing, the maximum-security section of the maximum-security prison. In peacetime it was the home of serial killers. Well, maybe that's what we had become. Whether we deserved to be there or not, our lives were now ot of our control. Whether we lived or died would be decided by others.

It's nearly six months since our country was invaded. We've lived in a war zone since January and now it's July. So short a time, so long a time...I'm an expert on fear now. I think I've felt every strong feeling there is: love, hate, jealousy, rage. But fear's the greatest of them all. Nothing reaches inside and grabs you by the guts the way fear does. Nothing else possesses you like that. It's a kind of illness, a fever, that takes you over.

Ellie and her friends return from a camping trip to find their country at war. Learning together, they fight back--battling fear, rage, and the invading army that has stolen their land, seized their homes, taken their families, and destroyed their future.

The Dead of Night by: John Marsden (2nd in series)

2009-11-20T02:05:00.001-07:00

"Ellie! Don't shoot me!

I lowered it.

"Where'd you get that thing?"

"Over there," I said, pointing, getting the shakes a bit, but putting the rifle down carefully. Robyn seemed so controlled, and I felt like I was on the brink of completely losing control.

Robyn lost her smile suddenly; she ran to the soldier and knelt beside him.

"What happened. Did you shoot him?"

"Hit him. With a rock. And a branch."

"God, I think he's pretty bad."

"He has to die, Robyn," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "If he doesn't, he'll get his friends and they'll come looking for us. And the first thing they'll do is to climb that tree. They could track us right home, into Hell."

Let no stranger intrude here, no invader trespass. This was ours, and this we defend.

Australia has been invaded. Nothing is as it was. Six teenagers are living out their nightmare in the sanctuary of a hidden valley called Hell. Alone, they make their own rules, protect what is theirs, and struggle for courage and hope in a world changed forever.

Seeking supplies, allies, and information the friends make forays into enemy territory drawing on nerve and resourcefulness they never even knew they had. As the risks bcome even greater, so too do the sacrifices they must make.

Tomorrow, When the War Began by: John Marsden (1st in series)

2009-11-10T02:20:00.003-07:00

In the house nothing was wrong, and that was what was wrong. There was no sign of life at all. Everything was neat and tidy. At that time of day there should have been food spread out on the kitchen table, there should have been dishes in the sink, the TV should have been chattering in the background. But all was silent. Corrie opened the door behind me and came in quietly. "Jesus, what's happened," she said, not as a question. The tone of her voice terrified me even more. I just stood there.

"What's wrong with the dogs?" she asked.

"They're all dead except Millie, and she's nearly dead."

I was looking around for a note, a note to me, but there was nothing.

"The dogs were dead. That was my first thought. They didn't jump around and bark when we drove in, or moan with joy when I ran over to them, like they have always done."

When Ellie and six of her friends return from a camping trip deep in the bush, they find things hideously wrong. Their families are gone, houses empty and abandoned, pets and stock dead. Gradually they begin to comprehend that their country has been invaded and everyone in their town has been taken prisoner. As the horrible reality of the situation hits them, they have to make a life-and-death decision: run back into the bush and hide, give themselves up to be with their families, or stay and try to fight.

Living with the Dead by: Kelley Armstrong (9th in series)

2009-11-08T23:55:00.000-07:00

Such a great book. I love this series. Unfortunately, I don't own this book yet, I had to borrow it from the library. I can't wait to read the next book, but there is a waiting list of, like, 108 days. Definitely recommend this series to everybody.

They're smart, sexy, and supernatural. They're the men and women of the Otherworld--a realm of witches, ghosts, and werewolves who live unseen among us. Only now a reckless killer has torn down the wall, trapping one very human woman in the supernatural cross fire.

Robyn Peltier moved to Los Angeles after her young husband's sudden death, trying to put some distance between herself and her memories. Though she's still grieving, the challenges of her new life as the PR consultant to Portia Kane--the word's most famous celebutante wannabe--can sometimes be amusing, even distracting. But when her client is gunned down in the back room of a nightclub, Robyn is suddenly on the run as the prime suspect in the murder. And as more bodies pile up around her, it seems like only Hope Adams, Robyn's best friend, and Hope's somewhat spooky boyfriend Karl are on Robyn's side.

Hope Adams follows the kinds of stories whose headlines scream from supermarket checkout lines. But the difference is that Hope's stories are even weirder--and they're all true. Though determined to help Robyn, Hope knows it's only a matter of time before her friend is caught. But it's not the police Hope is worried about. For Robyn has gotten herself in the middle of a turf war between two powerful Otherworld cabals who'll spill any amount of blood--human and inhuman--to protect what they consider theirs for all eternity. And the only way Hope can keep her friend alive is by letting her enter a world she's safer knowing nothing about.

Prince of Swords by: Linda Winstead Jones (6th in series)

2009-11-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

These were great books, I'm glad I grabbed them from the library. I wouldn't mind owning these books, they were great!

As the forces of good and evil clash in an pic battle, the firstborn children of the Fyne witches have finally come into their own, each with a special gift that will shape destiny...

For months, Rayne has been imprisoned in the cellar of secluded house, afraid of the day when the demon-possessed Ciro--the man who has declared himself her future husband--will return to claim her. He believes that the linking of her pure soul to his lost one will produce the perfect child--one who will serve his ultimate purpose.

The Prophecy of the Firstborn spells out that Lyr Hern is to wield the crystal dagger. But his search for it is sidetracked by the beautiful prisoner he encounters. Despite his attraction to Rayne, Lyr is none too happy about taking her along once he has freed her.

Especially when--to foil Ciro's plans--Rayne decides that Lyr is just the man to corrupt her...

Prince of Fire by: Linda Winstead Jones (5th in series)

2009-11-02T23:10:00.003-07:00

The firstborn children of the Fyne witches have finally come into their own, each with a special gift...

Despite the prophesies, Keelia, Queen of the Anwyn, would never let a wild Caradon, a man who can shape-shift into a mountain cat, touch her. But when one kidnaps her, mistaking her for the caster of a spell on his people, Keelia realizes she has never been more wrong: Her Caradon captor is the very same lover as in her torrid, recurring dream...

No man alive, Caradon or not, can resist a sensuous Anwyn queen. When Joryn, the Queen's kidnapper, realizes his mistake, the two must work together to undo the wicked spell. Neither can deny the crackling chemistry between them, nor can they deny the ever-looming Prophecy of the Firstborn: She will betray love in the name of victory...

Prince of Magic by: Linda Winstead Jones (4th in series)

2009-11-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

The firstborn children of the Fyne witches have finally come into their own, each with a special gift...

Independent Ariana Kane Varden, daughter of the Sun Witch, has never let family duty keep her from reaching her dreams. She learned the practice of her gift, the power to heal others, at her mother's knee. And now she is the palace healer, tending to her emperor...

The last prophecy of magician Sin Chamblyn's late grandfather points to Ariana as the one to save Columbyana from a growing evil. Sian has hightailed it from lands afar to deliver the message. While he prepares her for the fight of her life, Sian intends to remain undistraced by his sensuously beautiful protege. But in the heat of battle--and passion--diligence might be his downfall...

Car Trade

2009-11-01T19:00:00.003-07:00

So Spencer, his parents, and I all made the 4 1/2 hour drive to Rawlins, WY to switch cars. Spencer's dad, Gary, traded in Spencer's Jeep for the Cash-for-Clunkers deal in September, I think, and got a 2009 or 2010 Hyundai Accent. So Spencer has been driving the Accent around since then. Gary was fixing up an old Toyota 4Runner for Spencer. All the repairs are finally finished and so today we made the switch. Spencer now has the 4Runner and Gary has the Accent. Unfortunately we had to leave town at 7 am this morning. That sucked! Spencer drove the first half of the trip because I don't completely trust myself with a stick-shift. We arrived in Rawlins at about 11:15 am and beat Gary and Debbie by about 20 minutes, and they left before we did. But that is because we had the new Accent that could go 90 mph and they had the 4Runner that could go 80 mph max. The truck is a beast, and it will be even more of a beast once Spencer puts the lift on it that he wants. We got back into Logan at about 6 pm, I think. So that was our fun, adventurous day we had today.

The Star Witch by: Linda Winstead Jones (3rd in series)

2009-10-31T23:59:00.001-06:00

Three "different ad engrossing" wiches coming into their own. Here, the eldest wonders how she can remain chaste with a sensuous enemy tempting her...

Some say the Circle of Bacwyr is a myth--and practical Isadoa, a young, widowed attendant to the Empress, numbers among them. But for Captain Lucan Hern, the powerful Circle is as real as the daggers he hids under his clothing. The warrior was raised solely to find--and capture--the elusive Star of Bacwyr. But his teachers never told him exactly what it was. They only made one thing clear: Stay away from witches...

Sounds easy enough. Then Lucan meets Isadora, a decidedly different kind of beauty. She is oblivious to his attraction while he is equally oblivious to the fact that she's a witch. And he believes her ring is the Star he's been searching for.

Isadora has slept in a cold bed these long years--but the arrival of this gorgeous creature sets her body afire. And after a lifetime of searching for the Star, Lucan all but forgets it, waiting for Isadora to give herself to him freely, when he will take her beyond her wildest dreams...

The Moon Witch by: Linda Winstead Jones (2nd in series)

2009-10-31T23:15:00.001-06:00

In "The Sun Witch," the Fyne sistes come to terms with their sorcery. Now, one must decide how far she is willing to go to stay true to herself...

Blessed--and cursed--with the ability to see the past and future of anyone she touches, middle sister Juliet yearns to use her gift upon herself, if only to understand the terrifying nightmares that plague her. But her fears mean nothing when she is kidnapped by the Emperor's men.

All his life, Ryn has dreamed of a woman with flame-red hair and haunting beauty. He draws extraordinary strength and senses from the wolf-beast within him--and after years of hunting, he has found his life mate. Defeating Juliet's captors, Ryn whisks her away to his home, where his wild desire leads him to defy an ancient prophecy--and only Juliet's untapped powers can stave off the dark forces that threaten to destroy them both.

The Sun Witch by: Linda Winstead Jones (1st in series)

2009-10-26T01:08:00.001-06:00

Saw this cover while browsing the library and decided I wanted to read it. Sometimes you can judge a book by it's cover, this is a good book.

For three hundred years, the Fyne women have called their cottage on the mountain home. The villagers stay away from the Fyne sisters, fearing their witchery. But Isadora, Juliet, and Sophie use their sorcery for good--most of the time...

A curse put on their family long ago makes true love unattainable for the Fyne women. Sophie's two elder sisters, both skilled witches, have accepted this and have vowed a lifetime of chastity. But young Sophie has yet to find her own power. With more luscious curves than her sisters, Sophie wonders if the fire coursing through her body might be an indication of her true strength. She dreams of a green-eyed stranger, and when she finally does meet the man of her dreams, Sophie knows her power: Nature has gifted her with fertility.

Although groggy from war wounds, Kane could have sworn that an angel came to him, healed him, and made love to him. Now, after a year of searching for the girl who may or may not have been a dream, Kane is stunned to find Sophie--with his child at her breast. But when a scorned suitor captures their infant daughter, they must call on all their strengths, both earthly and supernatural, to fight the curse that promises to end their happiness.

Skin Trade by: Laurell K. Hamilton (17th in series)

2009-10-25T22:56:00.003-06:00

Oh.My.Gosh! I absolutely loved this book! I devoured it!!! I had to leave it at Spencer's house so that I didn't read it all night and not go to sleep. And yes, it is that good a book. I definitely recommend Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, it is an excellent series. She has two new books for Anita coming out next year and I am so excited!!!

Once you tell someone certain things--say, you got mailed a human head in a box--they tend to think you're crazy.

Anita Blake's reputation has taken some hits. Not on the work front, where she has the highest kill count of all the legal vampire executioners in the country, but on the personal front. No one seems to trust a woman who sleeps with the monsters. Still, when a vampire serial killer sends her a head from Las Vegas, Anita has to warn Sin City's local authorities what they're dealing with. Only it's worse than she thought. Police officers and one executioner have been slain--paranormal style...

Anita heads to Las Vegas, where she's joined by three other U.S. Marshals, including the ruthless Edward hiding behind his mild-mannered persona. It's a good thing Edward always has her back because when she gets close to the bodies, Anita senses "tiger" too strongly to ignore it. There weretigers are very powerful in Las Vegas, which means the odds of her rubbing someone important the wrong way just got a lot higher...

The Crystal Eye by: Deborah Chester (3rd in series)

2009-10-20T22:00:00.001-06:00

Ampris's days as a gladiator and freedom fighter are far behind her. She only wants to raise her childern--half Aaroun, half Viis--away from the influence of their reptilian heritage. But the wilderness is taking its toll on her children and the other refugees. Desperate, Ampris returns to the ghetto that spawned her to seek the knowledge contained in the Imperial Archives that can save her people.

Instead she learns the truth behind the enslavement of her race--a shocking betrayal that forces Ampris to walk the warrior's path once more. It is a path that will lead Ampris into a final confrontation with her old enemy Israi--and decide the future of a universe...

The Crimson Claw by: Debra Chester (2nd in series)

2009-10-18T22:52:00.002-06:00

Ampris has begun her exile, aided by her companion Elrabin, the Kelth. She has learned the archival history of the Viis empire, its languages, its weaknesses. Now she will learn to harness the innate savagery of her race in the gladiatorial arena. Fighting for sport. Fighting for life. Fighting for the chance to lead a desperate battle for the future of the slave races...

Meanwhile, Israi, the Viis princess, is coming of age as well. The childhood friend of Ampris is about to become queen of the Viis empire...and Ampris's mortal enemy.

The Golden One by: Deborah Chester (1st in series)

2009-10-17T14:34:00.000-06:00

I absolutely love these books. I have loved them since I was a little girl.

For centuries, the kingdom of the beautiful, reptilian Viis flourished. But time, plague, and their own short-sighted arrogance have taken their toll, and an empire that once ruled scores of systems is now concentrated on one decaying homeworld.

But Sahmrahd Kaa--ruler of the Viis--is not concerned. He has just purchased a new pet for his daughter. The animal is an Aaroun--a lower creature with sharp teeth and mottled fur, one of many kept by the Viis as slaves. Unknown to the Kaa, however, is the true importance of this "pet."

History will name her Ampris the Exile. Leader of the Great Emancipation. Conqueror of the Viis.

The Darkest Whisper by: Gena Showalter (4th in series)

2009-10-16T22:56:00.003-06:00

Another great book from the Lords of the Underworld. Definitely love this series.

He is the keeper of Doubt and his entire world’s about to be rocked.

Bound by the demon of doubt, Sabin unintentionally destroys even the most confident of lovers. So the immortal warrior spends his time on the battlefield instead of the bedroom, victory his only concern…until he meets Gwendolyn the Timid. One taste of the beautiful redhead, and he craves more.

Gwen, an immortal herself, always thought she’d fall for a kind human who wouldn’t rouse her darker side. But when Sabin frees her from prison, battling their enemies for the claim to Pandora’s box turns out to be nothing compared to the battle Sabin and Gwen will wage against love…

Danse Macabre by: Laurell K. Hamilton (14th in series)

2009-10-16T22:36:00.003-06:00

Anita is definitely not happy with the possibility of being pregnant and none of the possible fathers know whether to be happy or upset. Watching the drama is so fun.

These days, Anita Blake is less interested in vampire politics than in an ancient, ordinary dread she shares with women down the ages: she may be pregnant. And, if she is, whether the father is a vampire, werewolf, or something else entirely, it's clear that being a Federal Marshal known for raising the dead and being a vampire executioner is no way to bring up a baby.

Blood Noir by: Laurell K. Hamilton (16th in series)

2009-10-15T22:49:00.001-06:00

This is another great book. Anita's power level up's another level. And Marmee Noir makes another appearance, reminding everyone why they are afraid of the dark.

A favor for Jason, vampire hunter Anita Blake's werewolf lover, puts her in the center of a fullblown scandal that threatens master-vampire Jean-Claude's reign and makes her a pawn in an ancient vampire queen's new rise to power.

The Harlequin by: Laurell K. Hamilton (15th in series)

2009-10-13T22:46:00.001-06:00

Great read! Loved it, definitely a new level of terror for Anita.

Anita Blake is about to face the challenge of her life. Into her world-a world already overflowing with power-have come creatures so feared that powerful, centuries-old vampires refuse to mention their names. It is forbidden to speak of The Harlequin unless you've been contacted. And to be contacted by The Harlequin is to be under sentence of death.

Long-time rivals for Anita's affections, Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City, and Richard, alpha-werewolf, will need to become allies. Shapeshifters Nathaniel and Micah will have to step up their support. And then there's Edward. In this situation, Anita knows that she needs to call the one man who has always been there for her...

Deceptions of Fate by: Brittney Schmelter

2009-10-10T19:10:00.004-06:00

I was looking through Brittney's poems the other days, and came across this poem again. I think this is one of my favorite poems by Brittney. It's a little dark, but you can see the imagination and creativity it takes to write something like this. I definitely can't do this.

In the back of the room, on top of a shelf, sits a box of many colors.
Take them out, just one by one, and each will tell a different story.
Each color is a piece to a puzzle, a puzzle that we like to call Life.
~What is the importance of them you ask? Well soon we shall see~

[Reach inside the box, my darlin', by fate you have ben twisted.]

The white has been brought forth, the simple color of the invisible.
"Love has consumed your heart, but not a soul loves yours in return."
Forsaking the vows of hope and job, anguish engulfs the broken soul.
~What does it matter if one person perishes? It's no cause for concern~

[Come my child, reach inside me, by fate your heart has been blinded.]

Black has been drawn; darkness enters the room, the color of the bold.
"Domination over reason, strike out, for you are the one in control."
There is no escape as the blows cascade down, they shall always rule.
~Many are strong, others are weak, in this life each person plays a role~

[Feel around and bring forth your color, by fate you have been greeted.]

The color green has emerged, the unmistakable color of the envious.
"She holds your world when she holds his hand, a world that's yours."
Jealousy controls the mind: actions come into play; death soon follows.
~Sometimes things happen, that the world and I choose to ignore~

[Stretch out your hand and grasp a color, by fate you have been hounded.]

The color red has been withdrawn; it represents the color of the angry.
"He speaks crude words when your back is turned, do not tolerate it."
Violent phrases emanate, innocent ears are soon defiled, and hatred is bred.
~Fighting happens in all family units, it's something we can permit~

[Seize a color from my lovely box; by fate you have been tempted.]

Dazzling colors remain; they are secreted inside that haunting little box.
It calls you to reach within it's cardboard walls and draw out your color.
And you will obey that mesmerizing request whether you realize it or not.
~What's the importance of them? By fate you have gained your answer~

By fate you have been twisted.
By fate your heart has been blinded.
By fate you have been greeted.
By fate you have been hounded.
By fate you have been tempted.

By fate you have learned.

Brittney Schmelter

Micah by: Laurell K. Hamilton (13th in series)

2009-10-09T22:25:00.002-06:00

Love this book! I love Micah, the relationship they have is amazing.

"'RAISING THE DEAD IS EASY. LOVE IS HARD...' There are lots of reasons to raise the dead-some private, some public. In this case, the feds have a witness who died before he could speak on the record. They want him raised so his testimony can be taken. So here I am, on a plane to Philadelphia, flying off to do my job. But I'm not alone. Micah is with me. Micah, head of the St. Louis wereleopard pard. King to my Queen. The only one of my lovers who can stir my blood with just a glance from his chartreuse cat's eyes. I was happy to have him at my side. Until he mentioned that this will be our first time alone together. No Master Vampire. No Alpha Werewolf. Just me and Micah. And all my fears and doubts..."

Incubus Dreams by: Laurell K. Hamilton (12th in series)

2009-10-09T22:24:00.002-06:00

Another great read. I love Micah and Nathaniel, the little ménage à trois they have with Anita is so fun. I think that they are my favorite characters in this series.

Anita Blake may be America's most powerful vampire hunter and necromancer. So it's no surprise that the Regional Preternatural Crime Investigation Team seeks her assistance when a St. Louis stripper is murdered and the evidence points to unusual serial killers: a group of seven vampires. It appears a master vampire has gone rogue--and may prove too powerful for Anita Blake, even if she can gain help from not only her vampire consort, Master of the City Jean-Claude, but from the wereleopard king Micah, her other lover, and the alpha werewolf Richard, her bitter ex-lover.

Cerulean Sins by: Laurell K. Hamilton (11th in series)

2009-10-07T22:15:00.001-06:00

Another great book, I love this whole series.

When a sinister stranger tries to hire the magically potent Anita Blake to raise the dead, she finds herself embroiled in the search for a vicious, supernatural serial killer, and also in the clandestine international politics of the vampires. And as she becomes more deeply enmeshed in cruel plots and counterplots, her tangled personal life only becomes more demanding, more wrenching, and more erotically fraught.

Narcissus in Chains by: Laurell K. Hamilton (10th in series)

2009-10-05T02:00:00.002-06:00

Another good book. They finally introduced Micah and I have a feeling that these books are going to get so much better now!

Narcissus in Chains continues the adventures of Anita Blake. In this novel, Anita attempts to reconnect with her friends and allies after a lengthy separation, and to undo the damage caused by her absence. Even as Anita attempts to repair the damage and come to terms with her newly developing powers, she is also threatened by a series of attacks and disappearances within the shapeshifter community.

Obsidian Butterfly by: Anita Blake (9th in series)

2009-10-02T19:33:00.003-06:00

Another good book, but this one only involved Edward, you don't hear from Jean-Claude or Richard. Heck, you don't hear about any of the lesser characters from her other books other than Edward. Definitely a good book though.

"MY NAME IS ANITA BLAKE. I'D LIKE YOU TO MEED EDWARD...'Edward was a hit man. He specialized in monsters. Vampires, shapeshifters, anything and everything. There were people like me who did it legal, but Edward didn't sweat the legalities or, hell, the ethics. He was an equal opportunity killer. I mag be one of the few friends that Edward has, but it's like being friends with a tame leopard. It may curl on the foot of your bed and let you pet its head, but it can still eat your throat out...'"

Molly

2009-09-30T00:01:00.001-06:00

Here are some pictures of the kitten that Spencer and I had for two days. Her name was Molly and she was the sweetest thing that we ever had. She was an American Shorthair, and as you can tell from the pictures, she was a gray kitten and she had gray eyes. Spencer and I fell in love with her the first time we saw her at the pound.

She was so tiny that she fit inside of Spencer's shoes. She would crawl in and disappear and all we would see would be just her little tail.

Her favorite place for me to hold her was on my shoulder. Spencer called her my little parrot.

Look at those beautiful gray eyes. Isn't she a cutie?

What's funny is that she would start out on one shoulder, then she would crawl across my chest, under my chin, and go over onto my other shoulder. And then she would crawl across my back and the back of my neck to the original shoulder. Too funny.

Cute little fluffy kitten.

I think this is my favorite picture of her. Not so great a picture of me though. Definitely not.

Look at her little tail going. Spencer and I had to give her back because we found that Spencer had a slight allergy to her and we didn't have the money to clean her. We actually really didn't have the money to take care of her the way she needed, we kinda rushed into buying her. But we gave her back, that was a sad day. I can't wait to get another kitten.

Blue Moon by: Laurell K. Hamilton (8th in series)

2009-09-29T02:26:00.003-06:00

An excellent book! I'm excited to read the next book. It's going to get so much better from hear on out, I can feel it! :)

Danger makes the world go 'round. Just ask Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter. Right now, her problems lie with her ex-fiance--a werewolf who just got arrested on an assault charge. His guilt or innocence is not the issue. The fact that there's a full moon on the rise is...

"I WONDERED WHAT JEAN-CLAUDE WOULD THINK OF ME DROPPING EVERYTHING TO GO RESCUE RICHARD...It didn't matter. I was going, and that was that. But I did spare a thought for how that might make my vampire lover feel. His heart didn't always beat, but it could still break. That's love. Sometimes it feels good. Sometimes it's just another way to bleed."

New Apartment

2009-09-29T00:01:00.000-06:00

Here is another late post. Here is a post and some pictures at my new apartment. I have three roommates in this apartment instead of five like at my previous apartment. My roommate that's in my room is Kellie. Then there is Dora and Krystal in the other room.
Here is my closet, I have more clothes in there now since this picture. There is the bookcase that has all of my movies.

Here is my bed with my stuffed puppy that Spencer gave me.

Here is the desk on my side of the room. You can see some of the posters on my wall. And there are my books. I love my books!

And here is the bathroom.

Here is the kitchen. You can't tell here, but there is no dishwasher, so everything is washed by hand.

Here is the dining room.

And here is the living room. Those are comfortable couches. We have more pictures on the walls now.

And here is the TV that we have. We don't have cable, but we have a dvd player.

And here is the outside of the apartment. The parking lot has changed since then. They repainted the lines. Now all of the cars are parked facing the apartment. So this is my apartment.

Old Car to New Car

2009-09-28T18:49:00.007-06:00

Ok, so I am going to blog about my car now. I know it's just a little late considering that I got my car back in the beginning of February. I got it just before Spencer broke his ankle. So my 1988 Pontiac Sunbird committed suicide and the engine died on me. Just died. Spencer couldn't fix it, or well he might have been able to, but it wasn't worth it, it would have cost the same to fix it as to get a new car. So that's what I did, I got a new car. Goodbye old crappy car.I now have a green 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback. It is a great car. It has leather interior, heated seats, although the drivers heated seat is broke. It is all-wheel-drive, has cruise control, and is just a much better car than my old one. Here are some pictures:

It's a nice car and I'm glad I have it.

Burnt Offerings by: Laurell K. Hamilton (7th in series)

2009-09-27T16:44:00.000-06:00

This one is really good. I love how Laurell turned Anita from a goody-two-shoes good guy into a bend-the-rules-and-hide good guy. Very good character development. I definitely recommend this series to everyone who loves the paranormal.

It's often hard to tell the good from the evil. Just ask Anita Blake. She seems to be developing a soft spot in her heart for vampires--one in particular. So, when an arsonist's flames begin licking at St. Louis's undead, it's up to Anita to save the very monsters she's sworn to destroy...

"GOOD GIRLS DO NOT HAVE PREMARITAL SEX, ESPECIALLY WITH THE UNDEAD...But here I was, doing it. Me, Anita Blake, turned into coffin bait. Sad, very sad...You can't trust anyone who sleeps with the monsters..."

The Killing Dance by: Laurell K. Hamilton (6th in series)

2009-09-27T16:39:00.000-06:00

I couldn't sleep until 9:30 this morning, I made the mistake of drinking an energy drink kinda late and so I coulnd't sleep. So I read. I finished this book in about 4 and a half hours, not bad, lol.

The dead obey her. The undead fear her. Anita Blake, animator and vampire hunter, lives a dual life--and a dual love life. She's involved with both a vampire and a werewolf. But when Anita becomes a wanted woman--with a price on her head--she'll be forced to do something she could never have imagined: choose between them.

"SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO KILL ME...Nothng new there, but this someone was hiring expert help...I almost wished I had been scared. Fear will keep you alive; indifference won't. Somewhere out ther, by tomorrow, someone would have my name on a to-do list. 'Pick up dry cleaning, buy groceries, kill Anita Blake.'"

Bloody Bones by: Laurell K. Hamilton (5th in series)

2009-09-26T16:34:00.000-06:00

This is a such a great series. I love the way she builds the characters and the stories. She is such a great author!

Vampire hunter and animator Anita Blake sinks her teeth into her work. But this day is busier than most. Two jobs pop up that make even Anita doubt her own capabilities: raising an entire graveyard of two-hundred-year-old corpses and finding out what happened to three Missouri teenagers--slaughtered in a way she has never seen before...

"COME MORNING, SOME OF US WOULD BE ALIE AND SOME OF US WOULDN'T...Of cours, maybe there was just the one newly dead vampire to deal with. If so, we might all see the sunrise. But I hadn't lived this long assuming the best. Assuming the worst was always safer. And usually truer."

The Lunatic Cafe by: Laurell K. Hamilton (4th in series)

2009-09-25T16:30:00.001-06:00

You get two preternaturl experts in one with Anita Blake, animator and vampire slayer. She's one of the good guys in a world full of bad things. Now, Anita has fallen for the leader of a local pack of werewolves. She's survived a lot, but this love thing may kill her yet...

"WAS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS HUMAN? Hell, I knew a lot of women in my age bracket that couldn't get a date at all. I'd been one of them until Richard. All right, Jean-Claude would have taken me out, but I was avoiding him. I couldn't imagine dating Jean-Claude as if he were an ordinary guy. I could imagine having sex with him, but not dating..."

Circus of the Damned by: Laurell K. Hamilton (3rd in series)

2009-09-24T16:25:00.000-06:00

When a powerful, centuries-old vampire hits town, a battle of the undead ensues, with the soul of the city--and Anita's life--at stake...

"SO I WAS AFRAID; SO WHAT? I had to go, and the sooner I left, the sooner I could go home. If only I believed that Jean-Claude would make things that simple. Nothing was ever simple where he was concerned. If I learned anything about the murders tonight, I'd pay for it, but not in money. Jean-Claude seemed to have plenty of that. No, his coin was more painful, more intimate, more bloody."

The Laughing Corpse by: Laurell K. Hamilton (2nd in series)

2009-09-23T16:03:00.000-06:00

In The Laughing Corpse, a creature from beyond the grave is tearing a swath of murder through St. Louis. And Anita will learn that there are some secrets better left buried--and some people are better off dead...

"THEY WERE TREATING ME LIKE I WAS A VERY DANGEROUS PERSON. At five-three I am not imposing. Raise the dead, kill a few vampires, and people start considering you one of the monsters. Sometimes it hurt. But now...it had possibilities. 'Do you really think I came in here unarmed?' I asked. My voice sounded very matter-of-fact...'Want to bet your life on it?'"

Guilty Pleaures by: Laurell K. Hamilton (1st in series)

2009-09-22T15:56:00.000-06:00

This is a really good series. I love it.

In Guilty Pleasures, she introduces Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter. Anita's small, dark, and dangerous. But when the city's most powerful vampire comes to her for help, Anita is faced with her greatest fear--a man capable of arousing in her a hunger strong enough to match his own...

"WHY SHOULD IT SURPRISE ME THAT I WAS ALIVE?...There on the right side of my neck was the real thing...Tiny, diminutive fang marks. Nikolaos [had] contaminated me...I bet she thought I'd be scared of her. She was right on that. But I spend most of my waking hours confronting and destroying things that I fear. A thousand-year-old master vampire was a tall order, but a girl's got to have a goal."

Old Magic by: Marianne Curley

2009-09-21T15:17:00.001-06:00

I absolutely love this book! This might be my absolute favorite book of all time. And that is saying something.

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.

Happy Birthday Spencer!!!

2009-09-19T15:08:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday Sweetie! I love you so much! I hope you loved your birthday and had fun at Lagoon! I had fun, it was especially nice because there were no lines. I hope you enjoyed your whole birthday!

Ophelia by: Lisa Klein

2009-09-18T01:57:00.004-06:00

I really liked this book. I have never read Hamlet, but I definitely love this story. I know enough about the story Hamlet that I know what happened, and this is definitely a good twist on the book. And the fact that it is from the heroine's point-of-view is a plus as well. A great love story and I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a clean romance and a new twist on an old classic.

How foolish I had been to think I was as free as any peasant girl and as worthy as any king's daughter! I gazed out into the forest.

"This courtship is ill fated. No good can come of it for you or me," I said bitterly.

I heard Hamlet sigh. Or was he blowing air on the stuttering fire? I felt him come up behind me and touch my shoulder. He turned me around to face him and kissed me warmly.

The touch of his lips somewhat banished my fears. I realized that Elsinore was for Hamlet, as it was for me, a gilded cage.

"In these woods and cottages there are no envious eyes, no carping tongues, no gossip or lies," I said. "So let us remain in this place always and speak only simple truth to each other." I rested my cheek against the rough homespun of his jacket, knowing that my wish was a vain one.

He is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; she is simply Ophelia. If you think you know their story, think again.

In this reimagining of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, it is Ophelia who takes center stage. A rowdy, motherless girl, she grows up at Elsinore Castle to become the queen's most trusted lady-in-waiting. Ambitious for knowledge and witty as well as beautiful, Ophelia learns the ways of power in a court where nothing is as it seems. When she catches the attention of the captivating, dark-haired Prince Hamlet, their love blossoms in secret. But bloody deeds soon turn Denmark into a place of madness, and Ophelia's happiness is shattered. Ultimately she must choose between her love for Hamlet and her own life. In desperation, Ophelia devises a treacherous plan to escape from Elsinore forever...with one very dangerous secret.

New CD's I'm Looking Forward To

2009-09-14T02:05:00.003-06:00

So there are some new CD's coming out by my favorite bands this month and in the upcoming months and I am so excited! I just had to blog this to remind myself when they are coming out. I love these bands, they are so awesome!

First is Three Days Grace's new album, which is Life Starts Now, which will be available in stores on September 22, 2009.
Second is Breaking Benjamin's new album, which is Dear Agony, which is available in stores on September 29, 2009.

Third is Flyleaf's new album, which is Memento Mori, which is available in stores on October, 27, 2009.

These are all the bands that I can think of off the top of my head that I really like that have new CD's coming out. I'm definitely looking forward to getting them.

HAPPY TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY, SPENCER!

2009-09-12T01:21:00.000-06:00

Happy Two Year Anniversary, Spencer! I have loved every minute that I have spent with you these last two years. I have not regretted any moment we have been together. I cannot wait until we are married. I look forward to that day and can't wait for this next year to fly by. I love you so much and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you!

The Awakening by: Kelley Armstrong (2nd in series)

2009-09-11T12:51:00.003-06:00

A very good book! I really like this series. I can't wait for the next book to come out!

"So what was that? A zombie?" Liz tried to sound calm, but her voice crackled.

"Something like that."

"And you--you can resurrect the dead?"

I stared at the crushed bat and murmured, "I wouldn't call it resurrection."

"What about people? Can you"--she swallowed--"do that?"

I nodded.

"So that's what Tori's mom meant. You raised zombies at Lyle House."

"Accidentally."

The Summoning by: Kelley Armstrong (1st in series)

2009-09-08T16:13:00.001-06:00

A very good book, very fast read. This reminds me a lot of her "Woman of the Otherworld" series. I definitely like it.

Chloe Saunders used to have a relatively normal life. But now she finds herself in the middle of some really strange situations because: 1) She suddenly starts seeing dead people. 2) She gets locked up in a group home for unstabl teens. 3) The group home isn't what it seems...

Hidden Currents by: Christine Feehan (7th in series)

2009-09-06T16:07:00.002-06:00

These are excellent books! I absolutely loved them all. Although, I think my favorite of the men are Alexsandr and Ilya, the two Russian's. Their stories were the best.

From afar, Sheriff Jackson Deveau has always loved Elle Drake, the youngest telepath of seven sisters. After a long time away, she's finally returning to the small coastal village of Sea Haven. But someone has other plans for Elle, someone who doesn't want her to make it back.

When Elle fails to arrive home, her disappearance strikes fear in the hearts of everyone who loves her. Now it's left to Jackson to uncover the mystery of Elle's vanishing and rescue her from an unseen danger. But Sea Haven is no longer sae for anyone, and it will take the powers of all the Drake sisters and their men to survive the oncoming storm.

Turbulent Sea by: Christin Feehan (6th in series)

2009-09-05T16:02:00.003-06:00

The star: Joley Drake was born with a legacyof unexpected magical gifts, but it was the gift of singing that made her an overnight sensation--a rock-and-roll goddess trapped by fame, fortune and ambition. Heated by the flush of success, Joley can have any man she wants. And there's only one man who can give her what she really needs.

The bodyguard: Ilya Prakenskii, cool, inscrutable, dangerously sexy and working in the shadow of his infamous reputation--that of a secret Russian hit man on the payroll of a notorious mobster. He's the last man Joley should get close to, yet when her life is threatened on tour, she has nowhere left to turn. But in the seductive safety of Ilya's embrace, is Joley really as secure as she imagines?

Safe Harbor by: Christine Feehan (5th in series)

2009-09-04T15:57:00.000-06:00

One of seven daughters in a line of extraordinary women, Hannah Drake has been the elusive object of affection for Jonas Harrington for as long as the rugged sheriff can remember. If only the stunning supermodel was driven by a passion other than her career. But Jonas isn't the only one with desires for Hannah.

From the shadows has emerged a vengeful figure who stalks the beauty with one terrifying purpose: to strip her of all she is and destroy her. Only one man was destined as her protector. Now, out of a storm of danger, Jonas must guide the woman he loves from a sinister darkness that threatens not only Hannah, but the entire Drake family.

Dangerous Tides by: Christine Feehan (4th in series)

2009-09-02T15:51:00.001-06:00

Dr. Libby Drake is sensible and practical. To her more adventurous sisters, she's always been the "good girl." Certainly not the kind to attract the attention of a genius like Ty Derrick--until a tragic accident leaves the handsome biochemist at her mercy.

Acting on her uncanny ability to heal, she stirs in the reawakened Ty his own long-suppressed desires for the woman who saved his life. But he's not the only man with designs on Libby Drake. Her miraculous and selfless power has also captured the attention of a dangerously influential admirer. He's pursuing the elementally gifted beauty for his own wicked purpose. And he's willing to go to deadly lengths to make it happen.

Oceans of Fire by: Christine Feehan (3rd in series)

2009-09-01T15:44:00.003-06:00

As the third daughter in a magical bloodline, Abigail Drake was born with a mystical affinity for water, and possessed a particularly strong bond with dolphins. She spent her entire life studying them, learning from them, and swimming among them in the waters off her hometown of Sea Haven...

Until the day Abby witnessed a cold-blooded murder on shore and found herself fleeing for her life--right into the arms of Alexsandr Volstov. He's an Interpol agent on the trail of stolen Russian antiquities, a relentless man who gets what he goes after--and the man who broke Abby's heart. But he isn't going to let the only woman he ever loved be placed in harm's way--or slip away from his embrace...

The Twilight Before Christmas by: Christine Feehan (2nd in series)

2009-08-28T02:40:00.003-06:00

A very good book. I love how she highlights each sister in each of her books. It's great.

Bestselling novelist Kate Drake is one of seven sisters gifted with amazing powers of witchcraft. Returning home in time for her northern California town's annual Christmas pageant, Kate catches the spirit of the season and decides to open a bookstore in a charming but run-down historic mill. Decorated former U.S. Army Ranger Matt Granite, now a local contractor, doesn't mind working in the undeniably eerie house--not if it means getting closer to Kate. There's something about the quiet, sensual woman that powerfully attracts him.

When an earthquake cracks the mill's foundation and reveals a burial crypt, Kate senses that a centuries-old evil has been unleashed...and that it's coming after her. Though Matt vows to guard her form dusk till dawn, Kate knows she will have to summon all of her and her sisters' powers to battle the darkness threatening to destroy both Christmas and the gift of soul-searing passion her hometown hero wants her to keep forever...

Magic in the Wind by: Christine Feehan (1st in series)

2009-08-26T20:15:00.005-06:00

A good book. Nice because there was only one smut scene in the whole book that I needed to skip over.

"Sarah's come home." Ever since Damon Wilder sought refuge in Sea Haven, he's heard the same breathless rumor pass the lips of nearly every local in the sleepy coastal town. Even the wind seems to whisper her name--a reverie so powerfully suggestive that it carries the curious Damon to Sarah's clifftop home, and seeks to shelter him there.

But Damon has not arrived alone. Two men have tracked him to Sea Haven, and into the shadows of Drake House, where Sarah hides her own secrets. And danger--as well as a desire more urgent than eiter has ever known--is just a whisper away...

School Has Officially Started...

2009-08-26T14:52:00.002-06:00

Ugh, I am so sick of school. I can't wait until I get my Bachelor's degree and I can be officially be done with school. I doubt I will decide to get my Master's. As of right now, that is not even an option I am considering. I am taking 13 credits this semester and I'm not really looking forward to it.

A Little "Twilight" Obsessed?

2009-08-25T14:45:00.001-06:00

Am I a little "Twilight" obsessed? Hmmm... Well I just finished reading all four of the "Twilight" books this weekend. I read "Twilight" in two days, I read "New Moon" in about 12 hours, I read "Eclipse" in one day, and it took me three days to read "Breaking Dawn" because school started. I love the series, it is so good! I definitely think that I am a little obsessed with "Twilight". I really hope Stephenie Meyer does more books for the series. It would be totally awesome.

Road to the Patriarch by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-08-18T13:17:00.004-06:00

To her, to her dying breath, you were the untouchable one, the one whose flesh her dagger could not penetrate.

THE ASSASSIN

A could and emotionless killer for whom every soul has a price, even his own, embarks on a path to find out just how high that price can be.

THE MERCENARY

A dark el of limitless guile dares to challenge a king, and carve for himself a place in the inhospitable World Above.

ILNEZHARA and TASMIKELLA are ancient dragons of great power, accustomed to easily manipulating the humans around them, but not all humans are so easily led. When the pushed Entreri and Jarlaxle into the heart of the Bloodstone Lands, not even they could have imagined the strength of the human assassin's resolve, or the limitless expanse of the drow mercenary's ambition.

Spencer Update

2009-08-02T19:32:00.003-06:00

So I'm going to update about Spencer. In case anybody doesn't know or don't remember, Spencer broke his ankle on February 21 playing ice hockey. On February 26 he had surgery done to fix his ankle. He had a plate and 12 screws put in his ankle.

During the surgery, the doctors put his leg on a metal stand to hold his leg up in the air to fix his ankle. They had just pulled the metal stand out of the sterilization machine, and so it was still kinda warm. A good analogy would be like leaning up against a warm car, you can only stand leaning against it for a little while before you had to move. Spencer couldn't move because he was under anesthesia, so his leg stayed there for an hour and a half to two hours. When he came to, he complained about his calf burning. The nurse just loosened his splint, packed ice around his leg, and gave him morphine. That's all they would do.

When Spencer got home, he pulled his bandages back a little, saw something, and wiped with his finger and pulled the top layer of his skin off. He of course freaked out, and when I got to his house after work, he told me about it. We went back to the hospital on February 27 and had the emergency room look at it. Everyone there was shocked that the hospital had burned Spencer. The hospital had us go back every day to get the dressings changed. The problem is that everyone kept telling us that it was just a second-degree burn and that it would heal by itself.

They had Spencer doing some crazy treatments. One of the craziest treatments was having him doing hyperbaric treatments. Basically he layed in a big tube and wasn't allowed to bring anything into the tube except pure cotton. Then 100% pure oxygen was pumped into the tube. He was allowed 15 minutes of normal air two times, and he was in the tube for about 2 hours. He had to do this every day for a couple of weeks. After one of the treatments, he was getting his bandages changed, and the doctor who looked at it was a volunteer from the University of Utah Burn Center. She sent him to the Burn Center and they told him that he had a third-degree burn and needed a skin graft.

So we learned that he had a third-degree burn after a month of treatment. Spencer's mom came out to Logan to be with Spencer when he got his skin graft. Spencer is now able to move around and do most things with no problem. He doesn't really have a calf muscle right now because the third-degree burn killed the nerve endings and penetrated the muscle. So when he got his skin graft, they had to cut out part of the muscle to get out all the dead skin.

Spencer is starting to play hockey again. Because he doesn't have a calf muscle, he can't jump after the puc, he has to shuffle along after it. Spencer has Seigfried and Jensen, the law firm, working on his case to sue the hospital. They have just finished building the case and have just notified the hospital that Spencer is suing them. If the hospital cooperates, he should have his settlement in about 3 months. If the hospital doesn't cooperate, it can take up to a year to get his settlement.

So here is the update on Spencer. Tada, hehe.

Promise of the Witch-King by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-07-30T19:26:00.000-06:00

Another great book.

I grant you your soul, but not your life. Be happy that I have found a measure of mercy.

THE WITCH-KING

A lich of unspeakable power that people say has been destroyed, but whose hand still somehow holds the realm in its grip.

THE KNIGHT

A champion of good with secrets as dark as any assassin's, she is the unlikeliest ally a dark elf has ever had.

ENTRERI and JARLAXLE might be strangers in the rugged, unforgiving mountains of the Bloodstone Lands, but theyhave been in difficult places before. Caught between the ghost of a power-mad lich, and the righteous fury of an oath-bound knight, they have never felt more at home.

Servant of the Shard by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-07-02T19:24:00.001-06:00

A good book.

This book brings two familiar characters into the limelight for the first time! Jarlaxle, a dark elf assassin, and Artemis Entreri, a human assassin, work together and against each other in Calimport. Their conflict is intensified by the influence of the Crystal Shard, a malevolent artifact that has been raousing trouble in the Forgotten Realms world since its introduction in The Crystal Shard.

Extras by: Scott Westerfeld (4th in series)

2009-06-20T21:44:00.003-06:00

A good book and a good end to a great trilogy. Been waiting to read this book forever. This is part of the Uglies series and I definitely recommend it to everyone. It's a YA book.

A few years after rebel Tally Youngblood takes down the Specials regime, a cultural renaissance sweeps the world. "Tech-heads' flaunt their latest gadgests, "kickers" spread gossip and treds, and "surge monkeys" are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. Popularity rules, and everyone craves fame.

Fifteen-year-old Aya Fuse is no exception. But Aya's face rank is so low, shes a total nobody. An extra. Her only chance at stardom is to kick a wild and unexpected story.

Then she stumbles upon a big secret. Aya knows she is on the cusp of celebrity. But the information she is about to disclose will change both her fate...and that of the brave new world.

The Two Swords by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-06-16T19:26:00.004-06:00

Such a good book! I love this series, they are all really good. I can't believe the twists and turns that show up in this series.

Drow stalk the shadows.
Trolls infest the marshes.
Orcs rule the mountains.
And time is running out.

Mithril Hall is under siege, Nesme is overrun, and even powerful Silverymoon braces for war. Through it all, Drizzt has fought alone, but as the conflict draws to a bloody conclusion, the Hunter will have to find allies both new and old--or die along with the rest of the civilized North.

The Lone Drow by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-06-08T15:21:00.006-06:00

Alone on the battlefield. Surrounded by death. Cornered by enemies. And ready to die.

Drizzt Do'Urden has become the Hunter, the bane of the orc hordes still ravaging the North. Cut off, alone, convinced that everything he ever valued has been destroyed, all that's left is to kill, and kill, and kill, until there are no enemies left. But there are a lot of enemies, and even the Hunter is just one lone drow.

I'm Updating!

2009-06-07T16:49:00.003-06:00

I know, I'm a slacker. I am in the process of updating my blog right now. I have to transfer my pictures over from my camera to my computer and then I will update the blog. I'll be updating about my new apartment, my new car that I got back in February, and I'll do a quick blurb about Spencer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

2009-06-07T16:35:00.004-06:00

I am 20 years old now if you can believe it. I know this is late, my birthday was on May 11. I had a great birthday, Spencer had a doctor's appt in Salt Lake and so we spent the day in Salt Lake for my birthday.On May 9, Spencer took me to shoot paintballs out in the mountain. That was fun. We painted all the rocks near us red and yellow. Here's me looking cool shooting the gun, or at least holding the gun since we shot all the paintballs.

So for my birthday, Spencer got me ice skates. We had to shop around to find a pair that fit my smallish feet. Fortunately, since my feet aren't huge and ice skates are in men's size, I could actually get Junior skates and those are cheaper than regular skates.

So what do you guys think? Spencer convinced me to get pink laces and so my skates are nice and girly. Hehe. Spencer took my to Ruby Tuesday for dinner. I got myself a steak dinner with delicious potatoes and broccoli. It was very yummy.

I have more pictures on my new camera that Mom and Dad got me and I so when I find the cord that I need to transfer the pictures, I will update this again.

The Thousand Orcs by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-05-28T16:08:00.002-06:00

A very good book, I really like this series. It is very good.

One Dark Elf. Two Enchanted Blades. One Unknown Enemy. And a Horde of Invaders.

When a blood-thirsty band of orcs, led by an as-yet-unseen enemy, comes rampaging out of the Spine of the World, it lays waste to everything in its path. Dark elf ranger Drizzt Do'Urden and his most trusted friends find themselves in the path of destruction. Ad blades slash and feet trample, even they may not withstand the Thousand Orcs.

Sea of Swords by: R.A. Salvotore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-05-21T17:28:00.001-06:00

It is good to be home.

It is good to hear the wind of Icewind Dale, to feel it's invigorating bite, like some reminder that I am alive.

Drizzt Do'Urden and his companions take to the road and sea in a search for their missing friend Wulfgar. Their only clue in this life-and-death hunt is the mark of the barbarian's lost warhammer Aegis-fang, found branded on the back of a vicious outlaw. As they travel along the reaches of the Sword Coast, the companions grapple with the puzzle Wulfgar's life has become, and they slowly uncover the terrible pain that lies at its center.

The Spine of the World by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-05-19T17:24:00.001-06:00

I really loved this book! It was great reading about characters other than Drizzt and Cattie-brie, I think my new favorite character is Meralda.

Even the brutal streets of a treacherous city can't hide a tortured soul forever.

The barbarian Wulfgar sets upon a dangerous path toward redemption when an old friend finds him in the city of Luskan. Wulfgar's journey twists up the windswept peaks of the Spine of the World. He will persevere, for at the end lies his most prized possesion--the life he thought he'd lost forever.

The Silent Blade by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-05-12T17:18:00.001-06:00

These books are so good!!! I absolutely love this series!

Wulfar returns from the Abyss to find there are demons a hammer cannot crush.

Entreri has used his dagger to carve an empire in the back streets of Calimport, as he seeks the head of his oldest foe.

Drizzt learns that not all wounds bleed. And not all blades kill.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T16:32:00.001-06:00

Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you so much and I greatly appreciate everything that you have done for me. I would not be the woman that I am today if it wasn't for me. You are my hero and I am so glad that I am growing up to be just like you. I can't wait to see you again at Lake Powell. I am so excited!

Passage to Dawn by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-05-07T16:58:00.001-06:00

Six years. Not so long in the lifespan of a drow. And yet--in counting the months, the weeks, the days, the hours--it seemed to me as if I had been away from Mithril Hall a hundred times that number. The place was another lifetime, another way of life, a mere stepping stone to...

To what? To where?

I ride the waves along the Sword Coast now, the wind and spray in my face. My ceiling is the rush of clouds and the canopy of stars; my floor, the creaking boards of a swift, well-weathered ship. Beyond that lies the azure blanket, flat and still, heaving and rolling, hissing in the rain and exploding under the fall of a breaching whale.

Is this, then, my home?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARISSA!

2009-05-03T12:00:00.000-06:00

You are getting so big Karissa! It is crazy to think that you are 9 now. I definitely wish I could be there for your birthday! Have a wonderful birthday and I will see you at Lake Powell.

Siege of Darkness by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-05-01T16:30:00.001-06:00

"Let the damned drow come!"

All about me I saw excitement, in the dwarves, in Cattie-brie, even in Regis, the halfling known more for preparing for lunch and nap than for war. I felt it, too. That tingling anticipation, that camaraderie that had me and all the others patting each other on the back, offering praises for the simplest additions to the common defense, and raising our voices together in a cheer whenever good news was announced. What was it? It was more than shared fear, more than giving thanks for what we had while realizing that it might soon be stolen away. I didn't understand it then, in that time of frenzy, in that euphonia of frantic preparations. Now, looking back, it is an easy thing to recognize.

It was hope.

Starless Night by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-04-28T18:11:00.003-06:00

Another great book in a great series!

I can find no answers in Mithril Hall . . . The apparent serenity of Drizzt Do'Urden, the brooding quiet, will show me nothing of the future designs of the drow. Yet, for the sake of my friends, I must know those dark intentions. And so I fear that there remains only one place for me to look ...

The Underdark. A place of brooding darkness, where no shadows exist, and where Drizzt Do'Urden does not wish to go. The noble dark elf must return there, though, must go back to find his friends in the gnome city of Blingdenstone, and on to Menzoberranzan, the city of drow. Only then can Drizzt discern what perils might reach out from that dark place to threaten his friends in Mithril Hall.

He finds allies where he least expects them and enemies he thought long gone. His scimitars slash at monsters too evil to reside under the sunlight of the surface world, while his inner strength wrestles with the tumult of emotions assaulting the noble drow when he looks once more on his dreaded homeland. All the while Drizzt must fend off the weight of guilt he carries for a dear friend lost to him forever.

The Legacy by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

2009-04-28T18:10:00.002-06:00

Oh man, I love the Drizzt books. They are so good.

Because of the friends I have known, the honorable people I have met, I know I am no solitary hero of unique causes. I know that when I die, that which is important will live on. This is my legacy; by the grace of the gods, I am not alone.–Drizzt Do’Urden

The Cleric Quintet by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms Series)

2009-04-12T22:26:00.003-06:00

A really good series, my favorite characters would have to be the Bouldershoulder brothers--they are Dwarven brothers, Ivan and Pikel, and they are HILARIOUS!!!

The Cleric Quintet is a group of five books in one, all dealing with the same characters.

Canticle: Book 1

High in the placid Snowflake Mountains lies a little-known conservatory for bards, priests, clerics, and others. Cloistered among his colleagues, a scholar-priest named Cadderly must contain a malevolent, consuming essence that's been uncorked, before his own brethren turn against him. Cadderly must put his studies to the test and enter the catacombs far below to save his brothers and himself.

In Sylvan Shadows: Book 2

Cadderly, the Edificant Library's eccentric young scholar-priest, has survived his first adventure, but the chaos curse is just the beginning of Castle Trinity's plans for regional conquest. Cadderly and his friends must save the inhabitants of the beautiful elven forest, Shilmista, where a new opponent leads an army of vile monsters. Not even Cadderly's powerful companions can insulate him from the trials of character and courage that he must face.

Night Masks: Book 3

Cadderly has run to the city of Carradoon for solace, but he finds himself besieged by the resident assassins, the Night Masks. He and his companion, Danica, must uncover the killer's latest activities and put a stop to them. But the young priest learns more than he wanted to know.

The Fallen Fortress: Book 4

Cadderly is charged with waging war between the combined forces of Carradoon and Shilmista Forest and the fiends of Castle Trinity, the stronghold of his nemesis. Instead he sets off with a small force of his own to conduct a smaller campaign, using his increasingly powerful priestly magic. Neither the journey nor the battle go as easily as planned, and Cadderly must come to terms with both his friends' expectations and with a past he'd almost rather forget.

The Chaos Curse: Book 5

Scholar-priest Cadderly returns to the Edificant Library to find his life shattered. Danica, the library, and Cadderly's own livelihood are at stake as he tries to put the chaos curse to rest for good.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR!!!

2009-04-04T00:01:00.001-06:00

Oh my gosh I can't believe that you are 11 already. That makes me feel so old. It is hard to believe that you are starting to become a young adult. You are 9 years younger than me and yet you are already almost taller than I am. You will definitely be the tallest in the family. There rest of us are all shorties. I really wish I could be there for your birthday, it's depressing to think of how much I have missed since moving to Utah. I really miss all of you guys. I love you so much Connor and I can't wait to see you this summer. Have a fun birthday buddy!

The Assassin King by: Elizabeth Haydon (6th in series)

2009-03-28T23:02:00.002-06:00

OMG what an excellent book!!! And what sucks is that she hasn't started the next book and she really needs to! I cannot wait for her next book and the thrill that she provides each time.

The Assassin King opens with the arrival of a mysterious hunter, a man of ancient race and purpose, who endlessly chants the names of the pantheon of demons that are his intended victims, as well as one other: Ysk, the original name of Achmed, the Assassin King of Ylorc. At the same moment, two gatherings of great import are taking place. The first is a convocation of dragons, who gather in a primeval forest glade, the site of the horrific ending of Llauron, one of the last of their kind. They mourn not only his irrevocable death, but also the loss of the lore and control over the Earth itself that it represents. The second gathering is a council of war: Ashe and Rhapsody, rulers of the alliance that protects the Middle Continent; Gwydion, the new Duke of Navarne; Anborn, the Lord Marshall; Achmed, the King of Ylorc, and Grunthor, his Sergeant-Major. Each brings news that form the pieces of a great puzzle. And as each piece is added it becomes quite clear: War is coming, the likes of which the world has never known.

Elegy for a Lost Star by: Elizabeth Haydon (5th in series)

2009-03-23T18:27:00.002-06:00

Another excellent book!!! Again, if you haven't read this series yet, it should definitely be on your to-read list.

With the long-awaited birth of the child of Time, the dark plans of assassins and rulers, and a battle to the death between two dragons of unimaginable elemental power, the seeds of chaos are planted for a war that will, by its end, consume half the world.

Requiem for the Sun by: Elizabeth Haydon (4th in series)

2009-03-07T18:14:00.001-07:00

OMG these books are absolutely amazing!!! This is my new favorite series!!! I definitely recommend this series to everyone!

Three years have passed since Achmed, the assassin-king, Grunthor, the lethal Seargant-Major, and Rhapsody, the Lady Cymrian, helped bring peace and prosperity to the land of Roland. But when the mysterious deaths of the Dowager Empress of Sorbold and her son leave empty the line of succession, the dark clouds of war threaten the fragile Cymrian Alliance. And Rhapsody must face an old nemesis--one presumed dead for centuries--who rises up to threaten all she holds dear.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

2009-03-06T10:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Dad!!! I'm sorry I couldn't be there to wish it to you personally. But I did call you today and wish you a Happy Birthday. I hope that is good enough. I miss you so much and all of the words of wisdom that you impart to me. I know you mean well when you lecture me on the various aspects of life that we talk about. I may not want to listen at the time, but I do take it to heart. It's just that sometimes it is hard to put it into action. I love you so much and I am so glad that you are my father. I would not be the woman that I am today if it wasn't for you and I am so grateful for your influence in my life. I Love You Dad!!!