In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. I lucked upon finding some amazing deals at some local thrift stores. 25 cent paperbacks, amazing! These are all my fabulous finds.

Anita Shreve - The Pilot's Wife
Anne Rivers Siddons - Islands
Barbara Delinsky - Family Tree
Dan Brown - Deception Point
Darren Shaw - The Vampire Prince
Ella Kazan - The Under Study
Frank B. Gilbreth Jr - Cheaper By The Dozen
Franklin W. Dixon - The Hardy Boys
James Rollins - Map Of Bones
Jennifer Weiner - In Her Shoes
John D. MacDonald - The Green Ripper
Joyce Carol Oates - Them
JRR Tolkien - The Hobbit
Karen Chance - Claimed By Shadow
Kate Jacob - The Friday Night Knitting Club
Kyra Davis - Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights
L. Ron Hubbard - The Enemy Within
Laura Hillenbrand - Seabiscuit
Lemony Snicket Books 1 6 and 8.
Leslie Esdaile - Love Potions
Lois Lowry - Number The Stars
Matthew Pearl - The Dante Club
Meg Cabot - The Princess Diaries
Nicholas Sparks - A Walk To Remember
Olivia Goldsmith - The First Wives Club
Pat Conroy - The Prince Of Tides
Philippa Gregory - The Other Boleyn Girl
Robert Sharenow - My Mother, The Cheerleader
Robin Cook - Outbreak
Stephen King - Just After Sunset
Tilly Bagshawe - Adored
Vicki Lewis Thompson - Talk Nerdy To Me
William Kotzwinkle - ET


So, what's in your mailbox?

The 4 Month Challenge: Part Three

The 4 Month Challenge Part Three is another reading challenge that really interested me. I planned on reading books from almost all of these categories anyway, so now I just have a time limit. As I continue to read books, I will continue to update this. :]



5 Point Challenges
Read a book by an author you’ve never read before - The Lonely Bones - Alice Sebold
Read a book with a one word title - Envy - Anna Godberson
Read a book with an animal name in the title
Read a book with a proper name in the title
Read a fantasy

10 Point Challenges
Read an ‘Austenesque’ book
Read a book with a two word title - Moby Dick - Hermann Mehlville
Read a book that is part of a series
Read a book about a real person - Elizabeth - J. Randy Taraborelli
Read a mystery

15 Point Challenges
Read a book written in the 60’s (any century)
Read a book with a number in the title
Read a book by an author born in March, April, May or June.
Read a book with a three word title
Read a book by an author with three names

20 Point Challenges
Read a book with over 500 pages
Read a book with a four word title
Read a book by two authors
Read a book written in the 70s (any century)
Read a book that has been number one on the NYT Best-sellers list

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. I haven't been able to buy books in a while, so I went a little crazy today.

Today at the Goodwill Thrift Store I bought:

 Susan Elizabeth Phillips - Glitter Baby
Robert Ludlum - The Bourne Ultimatum
Alisa Valdez-Rodriques - The Dirty Girls Social Club
Elin Hilderbrand - Nantucket Nights
Emma Campbell Webster - Lost In Austen
Linda Sue Park - Project Mulberry
Lynn Mason - The "L" Word
Caroline Goode - Cupidity
Janet Evanovich - Manhunt
Jahanna N. Malcolm - Love Letters Perfect Strangers
Aurelie Sheehan - The Anxiety of Everyday Objects
KJ Parker - The Company
Bryce Courtenay - The Power Of One
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child - Riptide
James Frey - A Million Little Pieces
Faith Andrews Bedford - Barefoot Summers
Nancy Thayer - The Hot Flash Club
James Patterson - Along Came A Spider
Jane Smiley - Good Faith


The italics are the ones I plan to read for the YA Reading Challenge.

So what's in your mailbox?

Young Adult Reading Challenge.

So, I love to read. And I love to feel young. So what's better than books that make me feel young?

I recently (this morning) decided that I want to take part in the J Kaye 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge. SEE MORE HERE And what better way to really enjoy my last few months before I go back to school?

I also decided that I really wanted some guidance on some awesome books to read. So I started searching for the best YA books, and I found this years ALA list of best books for young adults. SEE LIST HERE

My goal for the next few months is to read all 90 of those books, and maybe some others. Thankfully I have until the end of the year. Stay tuned for a running list of what I completed.

Adventures In Debauchery

So, let me start by saying I love my apartment. It's in a convenient location, it's comfortable, it's home. Now, let me also say I can't stand my neighbors. Between the couple downstairs that I am sure are going to kill each other, and the couple next door who love to have sex, loudly and badly, at all hours of the day, I can't decide what's worse.

Now, you may have just read that and wondered "How can someone have sex badly?" Well, please let me explain. She never makes noise. Not ever. I hear the headboard. Bam Bam Bam Bam. Now, we all remember what happened to Carrie Bradshaw when she was in that situation in the episode when Charlotte married Harry. It's not a good situation. I am sure my neighbor can't ever walk. I have never seen her. But that only further reinforces my belief that he probably keeps her tied up to ravage at his will. And I also hear him. I have never, until now, had the pleasure of being in the proximity of a male shrieker. Let me tell you what, it's vastly over rated.

And it was not until Wednesday night that I had ever seen him. So here's the scene. I was inebriated. Badly. And I live on the third floor. So, when my friend came to get me, I had to get myself down my stairs on my own. (Why is everyone I know afraid of heights? Is it the shaky death stairs leading to my apt? The shaky banister? The fact that you can see the platform rotting out? Maybe the copious C clamps holding the whole structure together?) Well, my messed up self was hugging the wall the whole way down. Unfortunately, my neighbor chose this moment to come home. So, while scooching by, I definitely grabbed him. I don't remember it clearly, and my friend said I grabbed his front regions. Really smooth, huh?

When I got home from work on Thursday, ooh lucky me, he was outside again. He stopped me and asked if I was feeling better. I didn't even know how to handle that situation. Thank God I had someone with me, because I could have died of embarrassment. I thought I was going to have to move out. Luckily, even if he told his woman, she's probably still tied up in the closet, so I don't have to worry about an altercation. Unless she breaks free.

So if I stop posting out of no where, send in a search party. :]

A Few Fabulous People!

Hey hey everyone. So, a couple I know is trying to win a wedding! They are super awesome and I can't think of any couple that deserves this more.




I know it may seem like a pain, but I really can't think of anyone who would deserve this more. So please, take 5 minutes out of your day and help them out! 

 

http://www.ultimateweddingcontest.com/entries/32147

There's A Thin Line Between Shallow and Picky

So we've all been there. On that awkward date. It could be good awkward or bad awkward. Well, for me it was I couldn't really tell awkward. I recently went out twice with this guy. Let's start with the fact that these were my only dates in about two years. I kind of stopped dating. After the last relationship ended, I was more of a hang out and hook up kind of girl. But I am starting to get to where I don't want to be the party girl. I want to be the at home on the couch with a book and some wine girl. And if I find a guy who wants to be in the picture, woo.

But both dates were ok. I think. I had fun. We had some drinks and talked a lot. He was a perfect gentleman. He was on time picking me up. Paid for everything. Didn't keep me out super late. But I have weird mixed feelings about the whole thing.

Physically, the guy is not my type at all. He is well over a foot taller than me. His hair is longer than mine. He's not muscular and tattooed up the way I normally like them. But I can talk to him. I can have a good time with him. And at the end of the night, I really wanted him to kiss me. So what does that mean? And does it make me shallow if I don't want to continue seeing him? Or does it make me picky?

I spent a good chunk of my dating time really only dating the same "type" of guy. And now, years later, even if I wanted to expand the pool, I don't know if I can. I take a lot of pride in my appearance. Even with the weight gain, I always look my best when I go places. My makeup is in place and my hair looks good. (Except when I go to WalMart. Because really. WalMart.) And I really don't think I can date someone who isn't on that level. Does that make me a bad person? Or does it mean I refuse to settle?

My Guest Spot

So anyone who knows me knows that all I do is shop. Every chance I get. And usually I am walking out of the mall with 10 new pairs of shoes and a weeks worth of new outfits. Just recently I dropped half of my tax return between Old Navy, Charlotte Russe and Torrid. But more often than not, lately, I have gone back to spending all my money and energy on books. And I have been reading. Almost nonstop.

I was recently presented with the opportunity to write a guest blog for a very amazing friend of mine. She is giving me this fabulous chance to combine the things I love. Fashion, books and sarcasm. Seriously, how excited am I? Not to mention, definitely pumped for more exposure. And further motivation to remember that I update on a semi regular basis!

More information and linkage coming soon!

Women Too Stupid To Exist And The Men Who Love Them

Ok, so it's been a while, again. And I promise to get better about remembering to write in this thing. Before you continue to read, please let me warn you. Ahead are the things you are too scared to say. Some may be witty, or snarky, or funny, but most will just be mean. I have been a good girl, I go to work, and run my errands, and do my daily nonsense with a smile on my face. I think I deserve a little ranting and raving. So with my glass of wine in hand I trudge forward.

I don't know how much you know about my current situation, so let's bring it all up to speed. When I started this blog, I was working as a live in Nanny in Illinois. In November, after a whole lot of confusion and drama, I moved to St Louis, Mo. I now work as a waitress at a place called McGinty's. [Now please know that I don't really work at McGinty's. We aren't supposed to mention work or work related information on the internet, so I have a code word system. None of the names will be true.] I love my job. I am home by three everyday and I make bank. It's fabulous.

I looooove living alone. It is quiet. And I do miss my sister. But I love it. Slowly but surely I am getting my apartment the way I want it. Currently I sleep on an elevated air mattress and I have two desks and a camp chair. But my walls have a ton of pictures all over. So it's my little slice of heaven.

I am at this moment 7 months into a year long sabbatical from sex. I didn't exactly choose for this to happen. I moved. I didn't know anyone. I didn't get out much. But now it's under my control. And I have decided to continue in an attempt to cleanse my mind and body of needless boy drama. And let's face it, at this point it is all needless boy drama. So I said enough. I'm on strike. All my friends calling me for advice or just to vent about their drama have only further reinforced how I feel about the situation.

So, I encounter hundreds of people on a daily basis. I see behavior that is completely unacceptable. I see outfits that need to be burned. And I meet some stupid stupid people. Now, normally I would not ever make fun of someone due to their intelligence level, but some of it is just insane.

Example 1: A coworker of mine got into a verbal argument with a customer a few days ago because the customer was insisting she wanted us to put Monterey cheese on her sandwich and not the Jack. And when we tried to inform her that Monterey Jack is ONE cheese, it's just a long name, the customer got pissed. Seriously, I think this lady wanted us to have a magic cheese sifter in our kitchen or something.

Example 2: The restaurant I work at is CRAZY busy. Sundays are a shit show. Anytime after 830am you will be waiting for at least 10 minutes for a table, sometimes longer. Well, I absolutely love when I am running my ass off and the phone rings. So I answer the phone and someone asks "How long of a wait is it right now?" I tell them about 10 minutes. Then they say "Do you know how long the wait will  be in an hour?" And all I want is to scream "Sorry, but we gave the psychic the day off. I suggest you call Miss Cleo!"

Example 3: "Excuse me, Miss? What's the difference between your hot tea and your iced tea?" Seriously? Did this just happen to me? Well, other than the temperature, not a whole hell of a lot.

Example 4: This girl came walking into the restaurant the other day, wearing a pink fishnet top under a wife beater, camo capri pants and blue Uggs. Think about that for a while.

Those are just a few that popped into my head. And those are just the customers. One of my coworkers, although she is sweet as pie, is the biggest stoner I have ever met, and insists on talking in a British accent almost all of the time. And some of the things she says could probably win her some kind of Nut of the Year award. She busts right into conversations with things that make no sense, and they could give the Shit My Dad Says guy a run for his money. I wish I could set those two up.

I do believe that's all I have on the complaining front for the time being. I do however have to get caught up on shoes!