the laanba blog

Heir of Novron

Heir of Novron by Michael J. Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very satisfying end to a wonderful series. I love the characters of Royce and Hadrian and want to spend as much time as possible with them. I'm sad to see their stories end, but I will definitely be revisiting these tales again.

Work and Books

Well UIL is in the books.  I'm neither happy nor sad.  I guess that's an improvement because I'm usually sad.  My treble and mixed got 1's on stage and had difficult times in sight reading.  My assistant's treble choir got sweepstakes.  The boys did their best.  I'm definitely proud of all my kids, but right now I feel empty.  I feel like I want to cry but the tears won't come.   I definitely feel like I can't go through that again, but I'm sure that's because I'm only about 24 hours removed from it.  

My aunts husband told me that I should do something different with the second half of my life (11 days until I'm 40).  As I have mentioned here before that is a dream, but I don't even know where to begin and right now I feel drained of any energy or motivation to even think of something so big.  

Anyway, enough of that.  I had to mark today down as an interesting day in books.  I finished up one book this morning (The Magicians), read an entire book (The Hunger Games) and started a third (The Black Prism).  Three books in one day!  That's  record for me.  I am so happy to watch my Goodreads book list start to fill out.  We are on week 15 of 2012 and I've already read 12 books.  That's averaging about a book a weekish!  Wow!  I'm sure I can't keep this pace up but it is definitely the most I've read since I was a young kid and I love it.  

I've started doing this thing where I set my wallpaper on my iPhone to the cover of the book I'm currently reading.  I like it because every time I use my phone it reminds me that with whatever free time I have I could be reading.  I moved the Kindle app to my home page and even though I haven't used it much I have used it here and there.  It puts reading front and center and that can never be a bad thing.  I have long wanted to reclaim my life as a reader and I am finally on track. 

 

Theft of Swords

The last time I remember looking Goodreads did not have a generic html review option.  You could export your review to Wordpress and Tumblr I think, but not Typepad and no generic option.  In fact I submitted it as a support ticket as a suggestion.  I'm going to pretend I am the reason they have it today.  I wrote a review of this book (something I don't normally do) and saw the blog html on the side.  So yay!  I guess that means I will be writing more reviews.

Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm a slow reader. It isn't often I read a book in 2 days, but that is exactly what happened with Theft of Swords. I stumbled across it on Amazon purely by happenstance and I'm so glad I bought it. It isn't high fantasy or deep thought provoking fantasy and most definitely not the grim fantasy that is in fashion. It is just pure fun with two main characters that have quickly moved towards the top of my "people I would like to hang out with" list. I love the banter (man I love witty dialogue...), the story and even though I could sometimes see plot points coming from a mile away it didn't bother me. Instead of saying "that was obvious" I instead was saying "I knew it!" and couldn't wait to see how the other characters reacted.

I have always been drawn to these kind of light reads starting with my first foray into fantasy with the Myth Adventures and carrying into The Belgariad and Harry Potter. I am glad to find this type of fun read out there because it is few and far between.  People always try to point me to satires but they just aren't the same for me.  A good story, with fun and smart characters that sweeps me away is always a pleasure.   I need to slow down though because there are only two more books and it will be over far too soon.

Reading Time

I've read all day and I feel guilty about it.  Probably because I let so much other stuff go like laundry, grocery shopping, taking the trash out or cleaning.  All things that needed to be done and all things I have ignored the last week and especially today when I had the time.  

Instead I've indulged in a book and I'm scheming for ways to have more reading time during the work week.  I could use this last hour and a half before bed time to at least make a half hearted attempt on these chores, but I doubt it will get done.  I love the idea of being a reader and spending my free time reading but it is such a different lifestyle than what I do now (internet/TV) that it feels weird.  

But that was one of my goals right, to disconnect from screens?  So I have to figure out how to do it without letting my world fall apart around me and without feeling guilty for ignoring my internet and TV.  

Dave Barry

I love Dave Barry.  I can't remember how I first picked up his humor books but I think there is only one or two that I don't have.  You can see that when I love a book, I really love it to the point of losing dust covers and reading it so much the bindings show wear. I was sad when he stopped writing his column on a regular basis and his humor books have slowed down considerably as he has transitioned to fiction.  He was in Houston to promote a young adult book that he wrote with Ridley Pearson and even though I don't read the series, I went to the book signing to see him talk.  I love living in Houston that gives me opportunities like this, I love the location of my "new" apartment that makes going to things like this on a weeknight considerably easier and I love Dave Barry.

 

Training a Reader

I used to read.  When I was a child, tween and teenager books were my friends and my escape.  I have always continued to think of myself as a reader and while I have been reading almost every day since my youth, my focus on reading has diminished greatly.  I still called myself a reader but deep in my heart I didn't feel I really was one.  Not the way I used to be.

Life, lifestyle change, and the internet are all big factors.  I love the internet and am so glad for the positive changes it has brought to my life, but I also know that it has eroded my attention span and has me in its addictive claws.  In my loner isolation the internet is my new friend, my new escape and I turn to it all the time.  I routinely find myself clicking aimlessly around various websites sometimes visiting the same social sites over and over in a short span to see if anything new is posted.  Once I realize what I am doing then I try to do something more productive, but it is a problem.  When I eliminated cable in November my hope was to stop aimlessly watching TV AND stop aimlessly clicking around the internet and to start doing more productive, life affirming tasks like cooking, exercising or reading.  I haven't been entirely successful although my TV watching certainly is way down.  My computer time though hasn't really changed.  I surf in silence now whereas the TV used to keep me company.

But there is the slight hint of change on the horizon.  One part has been ushered in by the iPad of all things.  With the iPad it is easy for me to check on my sites and do a few things but I don't find myself endlessly surfing around like I do on my computer.  This is what I was hoping for and now I need to set a pattern and make it a habit.  I need my laptop for photo editing and blog posting and certain kinds of surfing but I'm hoping the iPad will actually help me wean myself from the computer.  The computer laptop and mouse is where I lose the most time with my internet wanderings. Most people will say that I will just replace my computer with m iPad, but I don't think so.  It has a different feel and while I check in just as often I don't tend to stay on as long.

I have also had a nice couple of weeks of a reading pattern that was established when I went to Panama and I hope to continue it.  Right now it is a small ember that I hope to fan into a flame.  I have read three books in the last four weeks.  That may not sound like a lot to some people, but for someone who has seriously declined in their reading habits this is a big accomplishment.  The Kindle has been wonderful in this process because I am able to start reading immediately the next book I am interested in.  It hasn't been easy. Many times I find my mind wandering or I sit down and immediately pop back up to do a chore or to check something real quick online (it is never quick).  I realize it is something that I'm going to have to re-learn.  I'm going to have to train myself to be a reader again (sit, stay, read) and redevelop my attention span.  But there have been a few moment where I felt the old spark.  Where I couldn't wait to get back to the book.  Or when I looked at my options of internet, TV or book I decided I would rather read.  So there is hope.  The old reader is still in there somewhere.  And she will emerge again.

 I started my Goodreads account over so I could keep track.  You can follow with my progress.
http://www.goodreads.com/laanba

 

Water

There is no reason that the universe should be designed for our convenience.  
John D. Barrow - English physicist and mathematician

I am going to ask that you read this book, Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession With Bottled Water.  No, scratch that.  I am going to INSIST that you read this book.  Everyone needs to read this book and I promise you I am not going to shut up about it.  And sorry there will be no short cuts.  There is a documentary on the subject called Tapped, but it is not good so skip it.  You are going to have to read the book.

I am going to start with an excerpt from the last chapter on the future of water.

The world's rapidly growing dependence on expensive, commercial bottled water is a symptom of the fundamental failure to provide safe and affordable drinking water to everyone on the planet— which should be a basic human right.  Those of us who live in the richer nations of the world are buying more and more bottled water because we increasingly fear or dislike our tap water, we distrust government to regulate, monitor, and protect public water systems adequately, we can't find public fountains anywhere anymore, we are convinced by advertisers and marketers that bottled water will make us healthier, thinner or stronger and we're told that is just another benign consumer "choice." If we let our tap water systems decay, however, soon bottled water won't be a choice—it will be a necessity, as it is already in countries without safe tap water.

And how about that tap water, one of the reasons most people that I know turn to bottled water. People who are wary of tapped water bring up cleanliness and taste.  Government water systems are required to test the water hundreds of times a month which means municipal water is tested multiple times throughout the day.  There are no such regulations for the bottled water industry.  In fact it is one of the least regulated industries and is run by the Food and Drug Administration which is already overworked, overwhelmed and has bigger things to worry about than bottled water.  Federal regulations only apply to product that is traveling between states and state regulations are rarely followed up on because it is assumed that bottled water is safe.  Circular reasoning.  The times when problems were found in bottled water voluntary recalls weren't issue until six months or later in many cases because the industry is not required to have outside testing or to report problems.   And taste test after taste test have found that people can't tell the difference between bottled and tapped.

That's just one problem with bottled water.  There is so much information in this book, this just scratches the surface. The book covers areas like the damage to the environment with these large companies setting up shop on streams and clean water resources, paying the municipalities fractions of a penny for the "product" and then making millions upon millions of dollars while they deplete the resources.  Then there is the waste and trash from disposable plastic water bottles.  No matter how much people recycle only the smallest fraction is actually being reused. The water bottle companies are fighting bills around the US to add water bottles to bottle bills which charge an extra 5¢ to help in the cost of recycling.  5¢!!!  And then there are the advertisers who have convinced us to pay thousands of dollars more for individually packaged convenience containers with something we get for free (ish).  

There are certainly times where bottled water is convenient and necessary like during disaster relief, but I think all of us could make a more conscious effort to use tap water and reusable water bottles. For a sturdy spill proof water bottle I recommend the Intak Hydration Bottle by Thermos.  I have bought three and got them on Amazon and at Target.  I bought those before I read the book, but I will be even more fanatical about using them.  I also just bought some anti-bottle bottles from Vapur.  These are small foldable plastic bottles that are convenient for on the go.  When empty they can be folded up and put in a bag or purse and can be refilled from taps anywhere.  

We are in a fight against the big corporations who have on record declared tap water as poison and vowed to relegate tap water to taking showers and washing dishes.  Think about the fact that when we were growing up there were working water fountains everywhere and as bottled water has become more ubiquitous they have fallen away.  And look around next time you are out and see liter on the road.  More often than not it is going to be a plastic water bottle.  

Book List

Need to add book #7 The Crystal Shard and book #8 Shakespeare to my list of books read in year #38.  More than halfway to my goal of 15.  

Updated to add #9 The Perfect Thing: How the iPod Shuffles Commerce, Culture and Coolness.  I'm not an amazing speed reader.  I was halfway through this book when I stopped reading it and read the other two.  I made an effort the last few days to finish this one off.

Checking In

Let's check in on my lists shall we.  First up Checklist #38.

1.) Find a new hair salon - I just ended up going back to Ulta and I liked the girl that did my hair.  And she was $15 cheaper than my previous person who was the manager.  Works for me.

2.) Go to the doctor for a check-up - Not yet.  Don't even want to think about it.

3.) Posting schedule at Assignment: Houston website - Not yet, but hopefully this one will be coming soon.  I considered ditching the site but I don't want to do that.  I've considered writing it from a more first person perspective.  Regular readers might be jarred with the change in writing style, but then again I don't think there are that many people reading so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.  I'm still contemplating the change.

4.) Get fitted for a bra - Nope

5.) Buy new bedding - Nope, but I think I have decided on a color scheme for the bedroom (gray) if that counts for anything.

6.) Hang curtains in the living room - I wrote this list before I moved and it just so happens that my new living room has floor to ceiling blinds so no room for curtains.  Consider this one done.

7.) Hang artwork in the living room - I currently have in a box in my apartment three prints that I have selected for hanging on the wall.  They are unusual sizes so that is why I haven't hung them yet, but hopefully soon.

8.) Netflix at least twice a month - I think I am on schedule for this one.

9.) Send at least one card/postcard a month.  I've sent two so far so technically I'm on schedule.

10.) Read 15 new books this year - I just finished book #6 American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson.  I will make this goal no problem, thanks in part to the Kindle.

As for the New Year's Resolutions,  I just looked at the post and I have done nothing, nothing, to forward any of those goals.  Oh well.  Hopefully having to look up my goals will help fire them up again.

The Run Down

I have really been a bad blogger the last few months.  It comes and goes but I'm going to try to get things going even if I just write a paragraph or two.  Don't expect genius.  

1.) The maintenance person came by today with good news and bad news.  The bad news is that he and an air conditioning contractor who happened to be working on other units looked at my unit and I just happen to have a loud compressor motor.  He said there is another air conditioner on the complex that has the same problems and the tenants just get used to it.  So I'll just have to get used to it.  I have ideas for how to be able to chill in the bedroom at non-sleep times and I think once the school year starts it will be easier.  At least I'm hoping so.  Cross your fingers.  And in the spring I'll start talking to them about a downstairs unit.  I hate the idea of moving again, but that move shouldn't be so traumatic.  

The good news was that he had the key to the storage closet downstairs.  When I first talked to him a few weeks ago I mentioned that I was going to have to get used to carrying my bike up and down the stairs (and remember this is no professional sports bike... it's a heavy cruiser) and he said that I could use the storage downstairs.  Since I hadn't heard from him I thought he had forgotten, but there was the key today.  I had already figured out the best way to carry the bike, but it is definitely a chore.  That hasn't stopped me from riding though.  I love riding my bike!  I'm very out of shape and slow but I'll get better and faster the more I do it.  This is a happy development.

2.) I've been on a reading binge the last few weeks.  Two Kindle books and one regular.  I think I figured out why the Kindle works well for me.  I get very moody about books and with the Kindle I can start reading the exact book that fits my mood.  I download the sample chapter and if it drags I try something else.  If I breeze through it I make my purchase and then I'm off.  I'm happy to be reading again except that Kindle books are expensive and I'm not always in the mood for what is on the free book list.  

Book #3: The Lightning Thief  (book)
Book #4: Hot Mama (Kindle)
Book #5: Garlic and Sapphires (Kindle)

3.) Weight Watchers recipes surprise me.  I've picked up the magazines not because I'm following the program but because the recipes looked fresh and easy with few ingredients.  I haven't tried very many but the few I have are good.  Tonight I made a side dish of lemon broccoli and it was quick, fresh, easy and tasty.  It is something that I would actually make for other people and I don't say that often. I don't even know who I am anymore.

4.) My aunt and uncle have a 50th wedding anniversary celebration Sunday and my aunt called me today and asked me to take photos.  Of course I said yes, but this is going to put me very out of my element.  I don't do weddings or people shots or any of the stuff that I will apparently be doing on Sunday.  She said that I would do better than them in that I probably wouldn't cut people's heads off and I can at least guarantee that much.  

5.) HMNS has a corpse flower blooming this weekend.  I am ridiculously excited about a smelly, stinky, cantankerous flower.

6.) I am 99% moved in.  I put the perfume bottles in the cabinet today and hung my clock.  I have a few boxes to still get rid of and then I'm done.

7.) I have jury duty tomorrow. 

There is something else that is supposed to go in this post, but I can't remember what it is.  Oh well.  Hopefully it won't be so long before my next post and hopefully it won't be so sporadic.  Now to finish off the strawberry ice that I made today.  Yes, that I made from scratch.  Again, I don't know who I am anymore!