I'm a Reader

Most of you know that I am a huge reader. I love reading; I am addicted to reading; I spend a ridiculous amount of my time with my nose in a book; I spend a ridiculous amount of money at bookstores; and I truly believe that people who don’t like to read just haven’t found what they like reading yet. This reading thing really works out well if you are married to a tv-aholic. Mike loves television. I love reading. So as long as I am deeply into a book, Mike gets to watch whatever he wants. Never mind that it is probably the same thing that was on Sportscenter 30 minutes ago, over and over again. But this isn’t a blog about the completely unoriginal and boring choice of tv programming that my husband chooses, so enough about him.

Fortunately for me, I am not that picky a reader. I will pretty much read anything that holds my attention. Unfortunately for me, I am a little bit picky about my authors. If I don’t like the way they write, then I cannot make myself get too deeply involved. That doesn’t mean that I am picky about the reading material; I just don’t like having to plow through a book. I read for enjoyment. I don’t find having to force myself to read a book as entertainment. It’s torture. Most of my reading is typically something that won’t be considered a classic in 100 years.

I like authors who don’t ramble on and on with descriptors. This is just too much for my pea brain to process, and I will never remember it. Then I have to go back and forth in the book trying to figure out what is who and who is what. Too much…too much. Unless, of course, it’s Stephen King, and then he can over describe and get all wordy if he wants. That’s because he’s Stephen King, and the man is a total and complete genius. But this isn’t a blog about the completely overwritten and totally ingenius writings of one of my favorite authors, so enough about him.

I love authors who write series of books based on the same character. (I think it’s why I had a slight addiction to Nancy Drew and Babysitters Club books. But who didn’t when they were in elementary and middle school?) And they don’t have to use the same main character in every book, but I do like when they at least reference them and there is a similar theme to all the books. I love Vince Flynn and Janet Evanovich, I used to like Patricia Cornwell, and I love my new favorite author Kay Hooper.

Now…onto what this blog post is really about. Kay Hooper. I found a book of hers that my mother gave me years ago. I decided I would give it a try, loved it, realized I was reading a book that was in the middle of a series, and subsequently decided to start at the very beginning. (I am hearing Sound of Music in my head right now…love it. “…start at the very beginning. A very good place to start. When you read, you begin with A,B,C…”) Anyway, I digress. I gathered all the books that my mom had of hers, and then I bought the rest. I only have two left, and boy are they good! Once I start one of them, I just can’t put them down! They are pretty weird. They aren’t the typical kind of stuff I read; they are about a special group of investigators in the FBI who are special because they have psychic abilities. Weird, right? I know! But I can’t help it; they are really good.

Now those who are really making fun of me now, remember that you laughed when I told you I was reading a fantastic series of books about vampires that my friend (and fellow reader) Leah told me about. And remember that you loved them too! So don’t knock it until you try it. That’s all I’m sayin’…

Not that I think that anyone cares what I am reading at the moment, but just in case you are ever looking for something good to read, you can try Kay Hooper. I highly recommend her.

Side Note: Just read Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks. Not my favorite, but not terrible. I doubt I see the movie though.

Side Side Note: Vince Flynn has a new book coming out in T minus 4 days. Woo-hoo!!

Side Side Side Note: What sucks about reading and being hopelessly devoted to (hearing Grease in my head now) a “series” minded author is that when you have it delivered to your house the very day it is released, and then read it in a day and a half, you have to wait an ENTIRE year before they release the next one. That’s why it is a responsible decision to have many favorites with different release dates. “Reading dry spell” problem solved.

New Meaning to the Phrase "Snail Mail"

Okay, this probably isn't going to knock anyone's socks off, but the craziest thing happened today at work. We got an envelope in the mail that was undeliverable to the person to which the letter had been addressed. I don't even remember where it was going; I think it was Florida. Anyway, the sender was definitely from our address and suite number...from 14 YEARS ago! Yeah! 14 years.

We weren't even here 14 years ago. It was a packet of information mailed out May 19, 1994, it was marked undeliverable because the recipient was not there any longer, and then returned to the sending address. 14 years later.

A whole new meaning to the phrase "Snail Mail".

Totally Lost

Our email at work is down due to a server issue. I don't know what to do with myself! At least I still have my personal email. I would say that 95% of my job is done through email; so I am at a major standstill. This is going to be a LONG day...

O.C.T.O.B.E.R.

This is a shout out to my sibs…for only they can truly appreciate what October means to me. :) This is to be said in a chant-like singsong-like way. I can and will perform this for anyone who has an interest in actually witnessing this train wreck of a rhyme.

O.C.T.O.B.E.R
Halloween brings us a candy bar.
(Hand gestures consist of bringing your right and then left hand up to your mouth alternately as though eating a candy bar.)
Christopher Columbus has a holiday.
(Hand gesture here is hand above eyes at brow as though an explorer looking at far away land.)
Fall is here and winter’s on the way.
(Cross one arm over chest during “Fall is here”; cross other arm over chest during “Winter’s on the way”; arms should now both be crossed over chest.)
Brrrrrrr.
(With arms crossed over chest, shiver action while saying “Brrrrr.”)

Also a big shout out to Ms. Jeter at Jane Long Elementary for teaching that nice little rhyme to all four of the Smith kids in a span of over 7 years.

**We had a rhyme like this for every month…is it weird that it’s the only one that any of us can remember? Furthermore, is it weird that even a single one of us (let alone all 4 of us) can remember the words AND motions?

I've Been Tagged - This is a first...

Well, I’ve been tagged by Julie. I have never been tagged before, and I haven’t blogged in forever…so here goes.

1. Where was I 10 years ago?

10 years ago, I was in college at Abilene Christian University, was having the best time, making tons of new friends during pledging, and working hard on my major, Communication Disorders.

2. What was on my To Do List today?

Where to begin...hmmm.

- Work.
- Leave work at 4:00 since I got here before it was even light outside (which was only 7:00). :)
- Go home, cook, and read for about an hour.
- Go to my (and Candas') class for small business starter uppers...this is our last class of this session.
- Come home and go to bed.

Pretty darn exciting day I have.

3. What would I do if I were a billionaire?

Pay off my school loans, first and foremost.
Pay off my family's and Mike's family's debts - all of them.
Set aside money for each person in our family to do something with, whatever they wanted to do with it.
Start college funds for my future kids, Gaite, Paige, and any other future nieces and nephews.
Give a lot of it to church, Samaritan Inn, and the Alzheimer's Association.
Travel, travel, travel.
Sock the rest away where neither Mike or I could touch it...so that we weren't poor in a matter of minutes. :)

4. 5 Places I've Lived:
- Abilene, TX: born, raised, college
- Lewisville/Carrollton, TX: first and second apt after college
- Addison, TX: first apt after getting married
- Dallas, TX: crack shack that Mike and I moved to in the ghetto
- McKinney, TX: our first home that we bought together and where we currently reside

5. Bad Habits:
- Saying "Um" all the freaking time! Sounds so unintelligent, and yet, I can't stop.
- Eating dessert after practically every meal.
- Not good at keeping in touch with old friends...in fact, I am terrible at that.
- There are lots more, but I don't want to be too self-deprecating, if you don't mind. Thank you very much.

I tag Lisa, James, Chad, Sherry, Alison. (For the record, I don't care if you don't respond to this on your blog by completing this. I am just short on material lately and thought this could enlighten a few of you.)

TTFN

My New Favorite Thing

My new favorite thing is iced coffee. Now, I know what some of you are thinking, for I was thinking it myself just a few short months ago. But then my father-in-law got an iced coffee from McDonalds. I wasn't quite convinced until I tried it myself a week or two later. Now I am a believer...a firm believer.

I recently saw a post on Smitten Kitchen on cold brewed iced coffee. Very simple and very delicious. I must say, I am hooked! I would rather make my own cold brewed iced coffee than buy McDonald's or Starbuck's iced coffee. Not that their's isn't good. It's just a little bitter, where the cold brewed iced coffee is almost sweeter. If you don't believe me, try it yourself. It's super easy and totally painless. You won't be disappointed!

Tropic Thunder - Worst Movie of the Season

Don't go see it. If you decide to NOT heed my advice, at least do yourself a favor and rent it so that you can turn it off when you realize that you should have listened to my valuable advice. That's all I have. Later I plan on discussing the Democratic National Convention. I just have to figure out a way to do it in a non-partisan way. :) More on that later.