Guilty as charged!

New Words and Tidbits

• Valetudinarian - A person who is unduly anxious about their health.("Emma" by Jane Austen)
• Chuse - An obsolete spelling of the word "choose"("Emma" by Jane Austen)
• Aisy - Archaic spelling of easy ("Little Women" by Louis May Alcott)
• Injudicious - Not judicious; showing poor judgment; unwise ("Leave it to Jeeves" by P.G. Wodehouse)

I would be a/in...

• Ravenclaw | Hufflepuff | Gryfindor | Slytherin
• Man | Hobbit | Elf | Dwarf | Wizard
• Abnegation | Candor | Amity | Dauntless | Erudite | Faction-less
• District 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

More to come...

My very own Percy Jackson

This morning I made a Camp Half-blood t-shirt for my son to wear on Book Character Day next week at school. Of course I wanted him to dress as something Potter related - but he said no. His first choice was to dress as Frodo or Bilbo, but there just wasn't a way for me to come up with a quick costume and as it is March, there really aren't many halloween costume stores to go to. So, Percy Jackson it is. So here's the dilemma: do we add wings to his converse or not? If we stay true to the book, Grover is the one who wears the wings, not Percy. However, in the movie, Percy is the one who wears them. The reality is that most kids haven't read the book(s) and have only seen the movie. Of course, I am a book-purist and want him to dress as Grover just so he can wear the wings on his converse rightly so. I also thought of a cool way to make goat horns for his head. I am going to make a lightning bolt out of cardboard and aluminum foil. I am not sure if I am going to send him to school with a small sword or a pen... decisions, decisions.

True Story

Historical Fictional Friday: Lithuania

I am stuck at home today so I will be joining Lina and her family in Lithuania and Siberia. I was not aware of these events and was shocked to read about them. I encourage you to watch this video. Although this is a YA book, it's a great read for anyone.

50 Books in 2013

My challenge for 2013 is 50 books. I will keep this updated as I progress towards my goal :-)

Let's be friends on Goodreads!!!

1. City of Bones - Cassandra Clare 02/07/13
2. Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 02/10/13
3. Between Shades of Gray - by Ruta Sepetys 02/11/13
4. City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare 02/15/13
5. Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult 02/18/13
6. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - C.S.Lewis 02/19/13
7. Beauty Queens - Libba Bray 02/24/13
8. Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green & David Levithan 02/26/13
9. Plain Truth - Jodi Picoult 02/28/13
10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling 03/01/13
11. The D.U.F.F. - Kody Keplinger 03/03/13
12. A Dog's Purpose - W. Bruce Cameron 03/13/13
13. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling 03/05/13
14. Safe Haven - Nicholas Sparks 03/08/13
15. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn 03/11/13
16. Delirium - Lauren Oliver 03/14/13
17. Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver 03/16/13
18. Requiem - Lauren Oliver 03/18/13
19. Divergent - Veronica Roth 03/19/2013
20. Cinder - Marissa Meyer 03/26/2013
21. Insurgent - Veronica Roth 04/23/2013
22. Flat-out Love - Jessica Park 04/25/2013
23. Sharp Objects - Gillian Flynn 04/30/2013
24. Dark Places - Gillian Flynn 05/04/2013
25. Her Royal Spyness - Rhys Bowen 05/08/2013
26. The Kitchen House - Kathleen Grissom 05/10/2013

*Italicized entries are re-reads

Favorite Spot on My Bookshelf

Fictional Friday: Gatlin, South Carolina

I will spend Fictional Friday in Gatlin, South Carolina. I have read this book before, but want to read it one more time before the movie comes out next week. I'll update this a little more during my lunch break. However, right off the bat I will tell you that I will be visiting one kick-tastic library and the Daree Keen. I will meet Casters, Incubi, and Seers. I will learn about the Book of Moons and even a bit about the Civil War!

Update (02/09/13) 

Lintel - "A lintel can be a load-bearing building component, a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. It is often found over portals, doors, windows, and fireplaces." In this instance, it is most likely a combined ornamented structural item. Ethan finds this at the front door of "Old Man Ravenwood's" home (described as "Greek-Revival Architecture", which I am sure you have seen before). This one had carvings with circles and crescents. Ethan decided to push the center crescent moon and the front door opened. I am not sure if I have seen a Lintel before, but I will be on the look out for them now.

Rosemary and Lemon - this is a scent that Ethan finds himself indulging in time and time again throughout the book. It is the scent of Lena. The first time I read this book, well over 2 years ago, I have searched for some type of in-home fragrance or even a perfume that has only these 2 scents. I have been unsuccessful. However, I am starting the hunt again. I'll let you know :-) Here is the closest thing I have come across - but let's be honest here, am I really going to go through all that trouble? Rosemary, Lemon and Vanilla Potpourri

Words by Amma- "Amma had a crossword for everything, the bigger the better, and liked to use them. The way she spelled the words out on you letter by letter, it felt like she was paddling you in the head, every time."
A.C.C.L.I.M.A.T.E. - "As in, get used to it. And don't you think about settin' one foot out that door till you drink the milk I gave you."
C.A.S.T.I.G.A.T.E. - "As in, punish. As in, if you can't get yourself to school on time, you won't be leavin' this house."
H.E.B.E.T.U.D.I.N.O.U.S. - "As in, you don't have a lick of sense, Ethan Wate."
T.I.M.O.R.O.U.S. - "As in, another name for a coward."

Words, Not Pictures

P.S. - Please, can someone please explain this to my husband?

Am I a Horse?

I have an annoying fixation with things methodically taking place. Everything that we do has a process - even the simplest of things. For example - brushing your teeth. If some of those steps are not done in the order needed to make your pearly whites sparkle- you could really get yourself in a mess. That might sound silly, but it's true. And my desire to have all things completed in a timely, efficient, and systematic way really puts a damper on life. Sometimes it can be a valuable trait to have; at other times it is my greatest enemy. Sometimes at work, I get very anxious and uncomfortable when things seem "out of sync" to me. Now and again, I will speak up - but most of time it is so unnerving that I just sit there and turn into a recluse. It's not just work, any decision-making task sends me into a frenzy. It often leaves me in a place of discontentment. A place with no resolve. I get too hung up on the proper steps and I lose my way. This might sound totally bizarre to you. Once, I tried explaining this to a close family member who noticed my behavior and was pretty much scoffed at. "Just do what you have to do and stop thinking about it - what's so hard about it, RhiANNon". I wish it was that easy. I don't want my every move and decision to be based off of a flow-chart, I want to "go with flow" like everyone else. Everyone has their issues - I am just learning how to deal and cope with mine.

P.S. Thank goodness I found this flow-chart, how else would I know if I was a horse or not?

Pole Wars

May the force be with you!

Georgia On My Mind

Greetings, Earthlings!

My husband (Matt) and I went to Savannah, GA this past weekend. I have had all sorts of crazy-mad stress going on for some time now and I just needed to get out from my little (but very LARGE) town. We stayed at a quaint little Inn called 17hundred90. I had heard that this place was “haunted” but had never stayed at the Inn or eaten at their restaurant. The legend goes something like – A young girl named Anna met a young German soldier (Hans) and they fell in love. He offered her his hand in marriage and she accepted. She was visiting from England and decided to stay at 17hundred90. Later that week, Anna found Hans wooing another woman. Anna was so distraught that the following night she threw herself out of the 3rd story window and died. She was staying in room 204 (which is on the 3rd floor). Supposedly the building is haunted and all sorts of patrons have reported numerous encounters and oddities. I think every “ghost-finder” type show has been there. I wasn't too fussed about all the ghost stuff - but there were groups of people gathered outside of the Inn during the night time. I pulled back one of the curtains and stuck my face out and they all screamed. And then they all laughed hysterically. Matt and I couldn't stop laughing.

We did hop on one of those trolley tours, Old Savannah Tours. Was it worth the $52 - ehhh. I wish we would of just gone on the Oglethorpe Tours - it would have only been $30. Matt had never been to Savannah, so it was nice for him to hear the history and all that jazz.

The most fun, interesting, and edeucational activity was going on the Capturing Savannah Tour. This is an a unique tour that is only offered by Pablo and Brit. They are a young couple who are professional photographers. They walk you around Savannah and help you with your DSLR camera. We already knew the basics - so we were able to dive right in within 5 minutes of meeting each other. We got some great tips and some great pics (cheese OVERLOAD). If you are into photography and you plan on visiting Savannah - check them out!!

All in all, it was a great trip. There was a serious lack of the relaxation that I was hoping had hoped for - but it was still gratifying.

P.S. Our dinner at 17hundred90 was magnificent. Our dinner at The Olde Pink House, not so much.

Narwhal

P.S. Just in case you don't know what it is.