Castle in the Clouds

We missed this party last year, which totally bummed us out.  Not that Avalanche Bay wasn't fun!  But it certainly wasn't 80s Fest.  There was no AquaNet, blue eye shadow, mini-skirts, or acid washed jeans at the water park. When we first started talking about attending this year's fundraising event, I really wanted to go as Toni Basil as she appeared in her Mickey video.  Of course, I procrastinated and didn't buy the costume.  Maybe next year. This meant I had to choose from what I already had on hand.  Luckily, since this wasn't my first 80s Festival, I had acid washed jeans and a mini-skirt on hand.  I went with the mini-skirt, black leggins, a t-shirt, my gloves, jelly bracelets, and some high-top tennis shoes.  Ken went with the do-rag and Motley Crue t-shirt look.  No shorts for him this time, though.  Not when the weather has been so miserably cold, especially for mid-April. In perfect spring fashion, though, the field we normally park in was

This is a first for me, but I find that I very much enjoyed a chance to discuss Carrie's soon-to-be-released book, so I hope it's not the last time I get to share an author interview here on the ole blog. I "met" Carrie online just a few short weeks ago.  When my sister-in-law, who happens to be a former classmate of Carrie's, discovered that Carrie would be releasing a new ebook, she thought we might have some common interests and recommended a chat.  Soon after the introduction, I was following Carrie's lead and joining up with the Support Michigan Authors Facebook group. In addition to membership in the Support Michigan Author's group, Carrie also has a blog at Thoughts That Carry .  You may find me in the comments there from time to time. Now, let's get on to the interview, shall we? ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Although I've been given access to a small sampling of All About Jane  and have a pretty good idea what this story is about, can you pl

Yesterday's bombing of the Boston Marathon...what can I say that hasn't already been said and likely said better?  It was tragic, and I am horrified by the inhumanity of the act.  It leaves me fearful not for America's future, but for the future of humanity itself.  That people can disregard human life and commit such heartless acts for whatever reason is incredibly distressing.  Perhaps even depressing. Yet, my hope for humankind is rekindled by acts of heroism. The first responders and the bystanders who ran to help instead of simply running away deserve all the accolades we can give them.  The story of Carlos Arredondo was one of the first I heard. "My first reaction was to run toward the people," he said. "There was so much commotion and a lot of people running away. I was one of the first to help people and God protected me. It was horrific."  ( Article by Susan Donaldson James)     I'm sure in the days to come we'll hear more of the

I won!  Not only will I be receiving a copy of Joely Sue Burkhart's Yours To Take , I was also lucky enough to receive a $25 Amazon gift card.  I will be positing a review of Joely's book at a later date, but I thought I'd share with her , and you, the new titles I've added to my library thanks to her astounding generosity. This image links to the paperback version because I couldn't find the Kindle format on Goodreads, but I did, in fact, buy the Kindle version. I love mythology and thought this would make a nice addition to my research shelf.  It probably won't be something I read straight through.  Unless, of course, I just can't help myself. This was on my wishlist.  I don't remember why.  I imagine it has something to do with either a literature class I was enrolled in at some point or it could have been a recommendation from a writing conference.  I tend to make lists of books in both settings, so either scenario is possible. I really

1.  Firefly   One season was just a teaser, and while I appreciate the follow-up movie, Serenity , it was not enough to satisfy the fan-girl in me.  I want more!  And the more I want is pre-Serenity, mostly because I would miss Wash and Shepard.  The problem, of course, is that the actors and actresses have aged.  Thus, the story would have to be post-Serenity.   Sad face.  Oh, who am I kidding?  Even if Wash and Shepard were missing, I'd totally love it and watch every episode with childlike glee.    2.  Stargate Universe They ended season two with a cliffhanger, a setup meant to be explored in upcoming episodes.  Poor Eli was the only one not safely stored away in suspended animation.  Instead, he was left with only two weeks worth of life support and no way to replenish those things essential to his extended survival due to a persistent enemy that had every gate and refueling source effectively blocked.   There was also the unresolved mystery surroundi

I've discussed the insane number of books I have on the to-be-read shelf, so why then did I just have to have these two books?  Well, other than the fact that I obviously have issues .   These are not bubble-gum reads.  No light and fluffy romance, quirky amateur sleuths, or orphaned heroes with magical swords will be found between these pages.  I won't devour these in a day or even three.  No, these books will require a dictionary or, more likely, a Google search or two.  They will require a little more brain power and attention to detail. And I'm excited to read them. See, total nerd moment.  I warned you. I started the first book last night.  Because the cover art isn't the easiest to read, I'll help you out a bit.   The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination, by professors Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar, is described as a "pathbreaking book of feminist criticism" ( Amazon ). I was first