tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47936147599560630762024-02-20T00:58:08.449-05:00Serendipity's LibraryWords, Love and FamilyJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-81133395203185968882013-10-30T16:53:00.003-04:002015-07-20T11:17:55.742-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-81745312307059720032012-11-15T08:59:00.001-05:002012-11-15T10:50:47.228-05:00The story of my thyroid<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Recently actress/model/celebrity/television host Brooke Burke-Charvet</div>
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posted a video on youtube about her upcoming thyroidectomy.</div>
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In the video she talks about the scar that she will have and it made me remember how concerned I was about my scar after I had my partial thyroidectomy.</div>
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So today I would like to share with you the story of my partial thyroidectomy.</div>
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I am a hypochondriac </div>
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It is a fact that I am not proud of but it is also something that I can not conceal </div>
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so I will just lay that out there.</div>
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I also have panic disorder, which I have discussed here before, so there is that too.</div>
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Throw on top of that my need to exaggerate and I have set myself up to always be doubted.....when it comes to health issues or say how many police cars were actually on the side of the road.....usually I estimate like a thousand but actually it was only two but whatever.......</div>
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Anyway.</div>
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I felt a lump in my throat.</div>
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Wait....I should say that when I am having a panic attack I rub my throat.</div>
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I don't know why.</div>
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Probably because I always thought I was choking and so I was doing that thing you do to your dog when you are trying to get it to swallow a pill.....</div>
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It's just what I did </div>
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One day while doing that I felt a lump.</div>
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Of course it has to be cancer I thought!</div>
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Or all of those M&M's I kept thinking I was choking on had formed a large candy coated chocolate ball in my throat.</div>
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Upon feeling the lump I immediately sought out someone....anyone to feel this lump.</div>
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A crazy person needs confirmation.</div>
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So I asked my sister</div>
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She felt around and said...."there is nothing there"</div>
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I called bullshit and asked a co worker she said "oh yeah maybe" until my sister kicked her chair and then she said "no I don't feel anything"</div>
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I wouldn't give up I walked up to pretty much anyone and grabbed their hand to guide them to this lump that I just knew was there.</div>
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No one believed me.</div>
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I went to my doctor and he said it was probably a muscle and he prescribed a muscle relaxer. </div>
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And upped my Xanax dosage.</div>
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Even though I could feel the lump I started to doubt myself.</div>
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After all I wasn't having a heart attack but I kept going to the hospital because I thought I was.</div>
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I wasn't having a stroke even though I told those firemen I was when I pulled into the station blaring my horn.</div>
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Maybe this was just in my head.</div>
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Once I got my panic/coo coo crazy disorder under control I brought the subject back </div>
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up with my doctor.</div>
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I should say that during my panic crisis I literally had every test done known to man.</div>
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One of those tests was to check my thyroid levels because apparently if your levels are out of whack they can make you a whack!</div>
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So my doctor tells me this but decided to send me for an ultrasound of my thyroid just to </div>
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make me feel better. </div>
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I go for the ultrasound and lo and behold look at that I giant blob right there attached to </div>
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half of my thyroid.</div>
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The doctor suggested that maybe it was a cyst.</div>
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After, of course, apologizing for not believing me.</div>
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I love my doctor and I don't blame him.</div>
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He sent me to have the cyst drained.</div>
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Which basically meant someone was going to take a giant needle and stick it through my neck and into this cyst and suck all the gross out.</div>
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Yeah it wasn't fun at all!</div>
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It hurt like a son of a bitch and I gave birth to two giant children naturally if you get my drift.</div>
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Add the fact that you are awake so this person is walking towards you with a fucking giant ass needle that they are going to stab you in the throat with.....I am surprised I didn't pass out.</div>
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They didn't get much out and I could tell by the face of the person performing the procedure that it wasn't a good thing that not much fluid came out.</div>
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I was pretty sure I was gonna die.</div>
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Back to the doctor.....and he explained that I needed to see a specialist and that I would probably need surgery to remove "the growth".</div>
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No amount of Xanax in the world could calm my nerves.</div>
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I was done for.</div>
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I just knew it.</div>
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My surgery was scheduled and on the day of the surgery my Mom and husband </div>
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brought me to the hospital.</div>
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I was terrified.<br />
However</div>
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The surgery was a success.</div>
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They removed a plum sized tumor and 75% of my thyroid.</div>
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The surgeon/specialist said he was surprised it was a tumor that large as he expected it to be a cyst.</div>
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The only complication was that they nicked my vocal cords a little bit so I lost my voice for a little while.....my husband and children were thrilled.</div>
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bastards</div>
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When all was said and done the tumor was benign and I was told it was a good thing that they removed it when they did because it was a degenerating tumor that if left untreated would have become cancerous.</div>
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My doctor was very apologetic for not believing me.</div>
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But pretty much everyone else was like....</div>
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Well you are crazy how were we supposed to know or you complain about so many health things we just started ignoring you.</div>
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Ah ya gotta love family!</div>
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All that was left to worry about was the scar.</div>
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It was big and kind of gross. I was worried it would never stop being red and swollen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqnL8FUpJs-9Qw5bkTIpRuw0zLZExZ8TJYutWM6bXQInlUtpzhwfpT9-88wMANI24VFO0I62SRQZGD9aGW9g1kq-sgy0D1K7YkrUGdlIDViziPrKjYsXlyQ_kPwvDMTmnMPEoH7EwS5vU/s1600/camera1+552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqnL8FUpJs-9Qw5bkTIpRuw0zLZExZ8TJYutWM6bXQInlUtpzhwfpT9-88wMANI24VFO0I62SRQZGD9aGW9g1kq-sgy0D1K7YkrUGdlIDViziPrKjYsXlyQ_kPwvDMTmnMPEoH7EwS5vU/s320/camera1+552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After a few weeks it looked like this</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl_vaWSKskP3dfDpK8uTO6UaXOyOlzJrNv9nn6bvChZdAjOcsd0g3BKvYVJsQmUZAVTl5iuJfr-xAQ353HfeGnflkJFEqENtQFLI66nCNJn-MT3rCeOcXUoGDTkfg_rcPle_zaphwk8D7/s1600/camera1+545.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl_vaWSKskP3dfDpK8uTO6UaXOyOlzJrNv9nn6bvChZdAjOcsd0g3BKvYVJsQmUZAVTl5iuJfr-xAQ353HfeGnflkJFEqENtQFLI66nCNJn-MT3rCeOcXUoGDTkfg_rcPle_zaphwk8D7/s320/camera1+545.jpg.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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Then it looked like this</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQl9Od644i3Z8ed031ZYLR16hE3cJVfMYtizrKDgy0Xd5QE__E4TSjGzKVnaQ-spz_frv13abM0u8mK5vR9isD6ZEoyGWbB7prIM96anSymj118Vknsxy9fwJCNzD-bi6UDzkOeNjQRcK3/s1600/100_0913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQl9Od644i3Z8ed031ZYLR16hE3cJVfMYtizrKDgy0Xd5QE__E4TSjGzKVnaQ-spz_frv13abM0u8mK5vR9isD6ZEoyGWbB7prIM96anSymj118Vknsxy9fwJCNzD-bi6UDzkOeNjQRcK3/s320/100_0913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And now it looks like this</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0mev79ltFBWUA8mhZkw4FLdNy3wq3dIvzh5rF62Ax72eaftbzz0jxSP8aAuircxJ9ON66AIWySRHyy1-TJAOTQxgyd9nKUIpNuGkqFOEp1Lhsj7Ypt_PEOY7l7YleOSCAqzHcPuTKGZ0/s1600/photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0mev79ltFBWUA8mhZkw4FLdNy3wq3dIvzh5rF62Ax72eaftbzz0jxSP8aAuircxJ9ON66AIWySRHyy1-TJAOTQxgyd9nKUIpNuGkqFOEp1Lhsj7Ypt_PEOY7l7YleOSCAqzHcPuTKGZ0/s320/photo.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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So I was worried for nothing.</div>
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Which is pretty much the result every time I worry.....Thankfully.</div>
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When I returned to work after my surgery I wore scarves because I didn't want to gross anyone out.</div>
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But my God did it itch so after a day or two I gave that up.</div>
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Plus people seeing the scar gave me reason to make up stories as to what happened.</div>
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I said that I got injured saving a child from a knife wielding maniac</div>
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I said I took my halloween costume as Nearly Headless Nick (from Harry Potter) too seriously</div>
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I said a clown attacked me....because more people need to know that clowns are scary</div>
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I said I cut myself shaving.<br />
I said training to be a ninja is very dangerous.<br />
I said what scar?</div>
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I have to have my thyroid levels checked every year. </div>
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So far that 25% remaining has been kicking ass because I don't have to take medicine to </div>
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control my levels.</div>
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Well that is my thyroid story.</div>
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I hope you enjoyed it.</div>
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And I wish Brooke good luck with her surgery and recovery.</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-33910021107087967682012-11-13T11:39:00.002-05:002012-11-13T12:13:21.285-05:00I love the Walking Dead<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As you may know from previous blog posts....</div>
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I love the Walking Dead</div>
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I love everything about it.</div>
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The acting</div>
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the writing</div>
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the zombies</div>
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the scenery</div>
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dare I even say.....the violence</div>
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I may have also already mentioned that my brother Michael</div>
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you may remember him as the most amazing brother in the world </div>
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is the first to introduce me to the world of zombies when he took me to see Night of the Living Dead.</div>
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It was this movie that sealed my love for the decaying flesh of the zombie.</div>
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This summer I decided to read all of the comics</div>
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I originally purchased them from Barnes in Noble via Book 1 which featured the first 12 comics put together nicely in a single book.</div>
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But that started getting a little pricey as each book was 14.99 </div>
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One day while wondering the isles of Barnes and Noble I found the Walking Dead Compendium</div>
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which contained 1-48</div>
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Needless to say I snatched that up because it was way cheaper than purchasing </div>
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all of those individual books.</div>
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The only complaint I had with it is that it is about the size of a Philadelphia phone book </div>
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and just as heavy.</div>
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There are a few differences between the comics and the television show.</div>
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None that really bother me.</div>
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After all as a Stephen King fan I am used to film writers/ television writers making random unnecessary changes to a very good story.</div>
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Usually with King however it ends up being awful.</div>
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But with this it's not too bad.</div>
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My only disappointment is actually with the comics and that is that there is no Daryl Dixon character</div>
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and I love Daryl Dixon</div>
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Anyway a coworker.....well sort of.....had the rest of the books and with those it brought me up to comic 100 and since then I have been purchasing the comics myself as they come out.</div>
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The only problem with that is that I got used to the giant book or the smaller book containing multiple comics so the actual comic books seem so short.</div>
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It's kind of like someone setting a cupcake in front of you and you just want to devour the whole thing but you are only allowed to like nibble little pieces off once a month at random times.</div>
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I am a huge fan of television </div>
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I am not proud to say</div>
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But this season I have only been really addicted to two shows.</div>
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The Walking Dead and Homeland </div>
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The rest of the shows I watch I don't mind if I miss and episode </div>
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or if I read a spoiler</div>
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But these shows I can't miss and if I do then I am waking up at the crack of dawn to watch them before I go to work.</div>
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American Horror is no where near as good this year and that makes me sad because that was one of my most favorite shows last year.</div>
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Anyway......</div>
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I now consider myself a comic book nerd</div>
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just one more nerdy thing to add to the list of nerdy things about me.</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-76044075053172938172012-11-07T14:03:00.000-05:002012-11-07T14:03:08.124-05:00Charlotte the creepy puppy whisperer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have put off doing a Charlotte post because Christopher felt it was too soon after losing Perry.<div>
Recently he gave me his ok to do a new Charlotte post featuring Brayden our new French Bulldog.</div>
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So please enjoy this story about Charlotte and her new friend Brayden.</div>
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Charlotte the Creepy puppy whisperer</div>
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Charlotte was still filled with sadness over the loss of her friend Perry. He had grown to be such an important part of her effort to be less creepy. The boy was even starting to walk past her instead of running past her whenever she was placed in an area he needed to be. Now Perry was gone and a sadness had spread through the house. The family brought home a new puppy but he just wasn't the same. He was young and reckless. Charlotte needed to think of a plan because if she didn't become less creepy she feared the return of Creepy Dolls Inc and without Perry who would help her protect the family?</div>
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She fell asleep and dreamed about Perry and what he would do if he were still with her.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyj3YIPBQngi8gGofYvMHULojKRICy1iPpupYiniMn-kjL6xowsFeuMEZrPdsPBZmd16hZ-mDcmdIh9itASpoptMmii_X5Fhs1uf-KBOjMH974PlC7vNHvr8I4b6kcrgS_9PguW6ijtoS/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyj3YIPBQngi8gGofYvMHULojKRICy1iPpupYiniMn-kjL6xowsFeuMEZrPdsPBZmd16hZ-mDcmdIh9itASpoptMmii_X5Fhs1uf-KBOjMH974PlC7vNHvr8I4b6kcrgS_9PguW6ijtoS/s400/3.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">When morning came she knew what she had to do.</span></div>
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She needed to get this Brayden in line. He needed to start behaving himself and once she had his behavior in control she could train him to protect against Creepy Dolls Inc and also be her friend. She needed a friend to help in her no more creepy goal.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaO2BTlqrvIUU0XG3aQgKS3fnTG28nOUiOsy0ner-TErRJwdQhwTRjDgG8lTO1GiDFpFetdRzlObg1_4aTw3_nvZjq0JiNL-OcjuI88JFWL3aFOsSN3XshlHY3CbUeAnf7KiTsyj1TPWWP/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaO2BTlqrvIUU0XG3aQgKS3fnTG28nOUiOsy0ner-TErRJwdQhwTRjDgG8lTO1GiDFpFetdRzlObg1_4aTw3_nvZjq0JiNL-OcjuI88JFWL3aFOsSN3XshlHY3CbUeAnf7KiTsyj1TPWWP/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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She knew the other dolls wouldn't be much help. They didn't care if people thought they were creepy. They spent most of their days upstairs gossiping and didn't bother with the people. But she wanted to get their opinion anyway so she joined them for a gossip session.</div>
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Charlotte asked them what they thought of the new puppy.</div>
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"Oh he is a trouble maker."</div>
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Rachel said. "I heard the boy tell his mom that he</div>
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keeps chewing on his game controller."</div>
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Charlotte asked what they thought could be done about his behavior and they all said "he needs to be trained."</div>
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Charlotte didn't know anything about dog training but the boy loved to watch shows about dogs and she knew the answer could be found on the television.....that's why they watched it so much right?</div>
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Charlotte turned on Animal Planet and watched every show she could find about dogs.</div>
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She was ready to help Brayden!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqez84yRaVXz9kfINjwCZ7p-vh1KAmgsufRjmhbNo5lLl1yHVc59TfD0X6nOMoBIit9jKEgwtVPSwI1_y5vFlqaicu8HbW7CVkU0l21KMV6CmkdvI8-4cEYoKgBlC5Rrfbg90chIFnRmk/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqez84yRaVXz9kfINjwCZ7p-vh1KAmgsufRjmhbNo5lLl1yHVc59TfD0X6nOMoBIit9jKEgwtVPSwI1_y5vFlqaicu8HbW7CVkU0l21KMV6CmkdvI8-4cEYoKgBlC5Rrfbg90chIFnRmk/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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When Charlotte went into the family room she found Brayden chewing on the Xbox remote.</div>
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She told him that he shouldn't chew on that. She told him the boy wouldn't like it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_Vn2jj__f1H5ixa1gKFfKKAHFX_EoiIJTsDa0PCdP9RA70Uqcn4tjayv-SDLgR97qMkdsTq7mP3qYJDyxfo5EytLOcxBad7A0deOW9VVaLZ9rnamnJCgyN2dVsq7FxrTBHAeMnYdtMDi/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_Vn2jj__f1H5ixa1gKFfKKAHFX_EoiIJTsDa0PCdP9RA70Uqcn4tjayv-SDLgR97qMkdsTq7mP3qYJDyxfo5EytLOcxBad7A0deOW9VVaLZ9rnamnJCgyN2dVsq7FxrTBHAeMnYdtMDi/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Brayden looked at her and said "what are you talking about I'm not chewing on anything."</div>
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She watched as he stretched himself away from the remote but she knew what he was up to.</div>
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No sooner had she looked away before he had the remote back in his slobbery little mouth.</div>
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"Brayden No" she said</div>
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He let go and walked away.</div>
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In the kitchen he found the boy's shoe and began to chew on it.</div>
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"Brayden No" she said "That's bad"</div>
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Grabbing one of his many chew toys she told him</div>
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"This is what you are supposed to chew on."</div>
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Brayden looked at Charlotte and said </div>
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"Bitch please I don't have to listen to you"</div>
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Charlotte told Brayden the story of Perry.</div>
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She told him about how much the family loved Perry.</div>
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She told him how the boy loved Perry the most.</div>
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Charlotte showed Brayden the photo of Perry and the little box where they kept Perry's ashes.</div>
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Brayden thought that was pretty creepy but Charlotte, who knew exactly what creepy was, explained that they kept him like that because they loved him and couldn't let him go.</div>
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Brayden wanted to be loved like that not in a dead in a box way but in a I can;t let you go way. </div>
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He asked Charlotte to help him.</div>
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She first explained that her reasons for helping were somewhat selfish. She told him about how Perry was helping her be less creepy and about Creepy Dolls Inc and how they might return.</div>
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Brayden promised that he would help her but only after she helped him.</div>
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"Ok" Charlotte said "let's start with peeing in the house. They don't like it. So you need to stop. You have to pee outside."</div>
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Charlotte went outside with Brayden and showed him a good spot where he could pee.</div>
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She clapped for him and told him he was such a good boy!</div>
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When they went back inside she talked to him about only chewing on his toys.</div>
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Brayden felt good about learning all of the things he needed to do to be a good boy. </div>
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He gave Charlotte a big sloppy kiss and promised that they would be friends forever.</div>
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Brayden suggested that maybe they could even get married. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-N0wve6M3-Y-mXIQbBuEXsgdVmzXzp1OVYQVuYGc28VqMl6SfiOEjBfXEsxO6hhsAG2-OyWS1cIJjDjf0T_jXKuyIFYCMs_Wy4zrlTsUYXFfN0H1Ts_96roJOcH9y_tGse7Mu_WCGixi/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-N0wve6M3-Y-mXIQbBuEXsgdVmzXzp1OVYQVuYGc28VqMl6SfiOEjBfXEsxO6hhsAG2-OyWS1cIJjDjf0T_jXKuyIFYCMs_Wy4zrlTsUYXFfN0H1Ts_96roJOcH9y_tGse7Mu_WCGixi/s400/19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Charlotte threw her head back and laughed. </div>
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"We can't get married you are a dog and I am a doll."</div>
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Brayden said "Here is your first lesson in not being creepy....don't throw your head back and laugh like that because that is some creepy shit."</div>
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The End</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-56068021950287127762012-10-31T12:29:00.004-04:002012-10-31T12:29:55.785-04:00 I think this Ouija board is haunted<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I had a bunch of Halloween related posts that I planned to share but </div>
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Hurricane Sandy had other plans for me.</div>
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So if you don't mind I will continue to post Halloween stuff even after today.....which is Halloween.</div>
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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!</div>
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I love Halloween, as you know, it is my most favorite time of year.</div>
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I love anything and everything scary/spooky/creepy....except clowns.</div>
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But lets not talk about them.....they can feel you thinking about them and then they come for you.</div>
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Shit I just scared myself.</div>
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What was I saying? Oh yeah.....</div>
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Maybe it is because of this love for the strange that I always wanted an Ouija Board.</div>
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I kind of wanted and old one. They do still sell these in my local toy store.</div>
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But I wanted an old one.</div>
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I found this one on Etsy and it was listed as Vintage 1972......and I am also Vintage 1972</div>
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so it seemed like the perfect match.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG3EHT7QgKh8K7tO5PBtUMUX0bFgry0QAouGbeBjd0xHncdKU32pCffWjaXSGmYdXUGRWdA8LpuuvEPtzoPzpWpuTxkEPnkro4JAEMKptbEPCe1_a1oJVUgzIMvO3u-YNhv8FK9fxdiqC/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG3EHT7QgKh8K7tO5PBtUMUX0bFgry0QAouGbeBjd0xHncdKU32pCffWjaXSGmYdXUGRWdA8LpuuvEPtzoPzpWpuTxkEPnkro4JAEMKptbEPCe1_a1oJVUgzIMvO3u-YNhv8FK9fxdiqC/s640/DSC_0011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It had the original box and everything.</div>
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When it arrived bringing with it the musty smell of an old cellar I was so excited.</div>
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I immediately placed it in my Dinning Room which I set up to look like a witch's spell room.</div>
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Whatever that is......</div>
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Anyway it went perfect with the rest of the decorations.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGxXFHWMD6HCPlzDrf0vUdQvP6ycsH3OfQNP5AkcSoyzRFdHAooa4bAG-jksZK07MQXGyKribnmIhC3JVfLkGdpoQRYht4pPvzVJlQoikhUQAkfxoxKKIpoXl2fdyVVqiC1PDXrym8TFI/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGxXFHWMD6HCPlzDrf0vUdQvP6ycsH3OfQNP5AkcSoyzRFdHAooa4bAG-jksZK07MQXGyKribnmIhC3JVfLkGdpoQRYht4pPvzVJlQoikhUQAkfxoxKKIpoXl2fdyVVqiC1PDXrym8TFI/s400/DSC_0010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then things started to happen.</div>
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Things that maybe a normal person....unlike myself....would maybe not notice.</div>
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The little paddle thingy that you use to ask questions would be moved from the center of the board over to yes or no.</div>
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I asked my son if he moved it and he looked up at me from playing Minecraft and said "huh" so I know it wasn't him.</div>
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I asked my husband if he moved it and he said "No I won't go near that devil worship board. I told you I don't even like it in the house."</div>
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So I know that big chicken didn't touch it.</div>
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I purposely placed it on Good Bye and the next time I looked at it it was on No.</div>
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All of this is weird and could easily be written off as someone moving it and not saying.</div>
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Then I started hearing voices coming from downstairs.</div>
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And before you ask no it wasn't the voices of my family nor the voices in my head.</div>
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But the sound of full conversations happening when no one else is in the house but me.</div>
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The creepiest thing by far was one night when I was sitting in my bed reading the light from my iPad the only source in the room.</div>
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I felt something sit on my bed.</div>
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It was that distinct pressing down movement as if someone came up and sat at my feet.</div>
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I didn't move or breathe and then it just went away.</div>
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All of this started when I opened up that Ouija board and placed in it my dining room.</div>
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So is it haunted?</div>
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Who knows.</div>
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But I LOVE the idea that it might be.</div>
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My husband....not so much....big baby.</div>
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Happy Halloween everyone!</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-88665923186576910922012-10-23T16:59:00.000-04:002012-10-23T16:59:42.209-04:00Review: Sinister<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u>Review contains spoilers</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEfqN_1aBNI6jcacSlwoO0uVAAOwJjY7-_Xc-9FndqJn1HgCm4kZJFrU1zK3DhWBctjC-s8GM6DAqmhY6bSv-R0kqgDXlDmCqYdTwiAfM9wfqXPQhpu8XJ1gS-GtOujQtq1VSSR-Azwg-/s1600/MV5BMjI5MTg1Njg0Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzg2Mjc4Nw@@._V1._SY317_.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEfqN_1aBNI6jcacSlwoO0uVAAOwJjY7-_Xc-9FndqJn1HgCm4kZJFrU1zK3DhWBctjC-s8GM6DAqmhY6bSv-R0kqgDXlDmCqYdTwiAfM9wfqXPQhpu8XJ1gS-GtOujQtq1VSSR-Azwg-/s1600/MV5BMjI5MTg1Njg0Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzg2Mjc4Nw@@._V1._SY317_.jpeg" /></a></div>
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I saw Sinister on Friday night with my sister Judith and sister in law Letitia.</div>
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I had high hopes for this movie.</div>
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Sadly those hopes were shattered.</div>
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Who is viewing the final cut of these films?</div>
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I want to know.</div>
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So I can shake them and ask what the hell were you thinking.</div>
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The movie starts off great.</div>
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the premise is terrific....</div>
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True Crime writer moves his unknowing family into the home of a recent crime scene where a family was murdered.</div>
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He intends on writing a book about the murders.</div>
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The beginning scene is very intense and my hopes swelled and I thought if it keeps this intensity this may be.....finally a good "scary" movie.</div>
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When the police sheriff gets out of his car and his badge says Pennsylvania I was even more scared/excited/worried/excited/scared......because I live in Pennsylvania and a scary movie set in your own town/city is extra frightening.</div>
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But.......it all went down hill from there.</div>
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The scares were forced.</div>
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All haunted house bullshit.</div>
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Someone jumps out.</div>
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There is a bang.</div>
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A door slams shut.</div>
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What are we stupid?</div>
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The only scene that could have been remotely frightening was shown in the damn trailer which pisses me off.</div>
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The murder scenes were scary in that in this sick world they could happen.</div>
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And had the movie not turned into some ridiculously hokey bullshit with a bunch of white faced kids putting there fingers to their mouths in the shhhhhhh motion.</div>
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It may have actually been good.</div>
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Even though the bad guy was some supposed demon/god/monster</div>
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It still would have been better without the kids.</div>
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The ending was awful and it didn't have to be.</div>
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If it had just ended with the kid standing there looking at her father it could have redeemed itself a little but......nope.</div>
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In the end this was just another disappointing piece of garbage that I wasted my $11 bucks on.</div>
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If the movie industry wants to stop people from pirating movies they better start making movies that won't make me regret spending my hard earned money. </div>
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At least make it look like you tried.</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-13860381879165605092012-10-22T15:35:00.001-04:002012-10-22T15:35:40.713-04:00These times they are a changing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hi there blog world. </div>
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I have been absent.</div>
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No I was not abducted by aliens....although I am pretty sure they are coming.</div>
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No I wasn't killed after being crushed by a mile high pile of unread books.</div>
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I was trying to decide where I wanted this blog to go.</div>
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I got myself into a situation where I was feeling like I needed to constantly read something in order to have something to post about.</div>
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Or in order for my blog to seem interesting.</div>
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By going back and reviewing older posts I found that the posts that received the most hits weren't posts about books.</div>
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So it got me thinking.......I could still do this without talking about books so much.</div>
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Right now my life is hectic.</div>
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I don't have as much time to read as I used to.....or rather I read at a more leisurely pace so the ability to review in a timely manner just isn't possible. </div>
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I am preparing for some very important certifications so I am reading a lot of technical text books which are not really that interesting.</div>
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So I am sure you wouldn't want me to review them.</div>
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Anyway the real point of this blog was to write.</div>
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So write I shall.</div>
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Tomorrow I will post a movie review.</div>
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I also want to talk about the Walking Dead sometime this week.</div>
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I have a lot to say.</div>
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I don't know if there is anyone still out there but if you would care to listen I would be happy to talk to you:)</div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-2722998850706909172012-09-05T12:24:00.002-04:002012-09-05T12:24:45.645-04:00I miss being a kid<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Let me start off by saying I hate blogger!</div>
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I know I have said it before.</div>
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And I know I have threatened to leave Blogger for WordPress.</div>
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But I mean it this time!</div>
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All of my reviews that I have posted under my Book Chat tab are gone except for a random few.</div>
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I was going to repost them all but I just don't have the patience.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Anyway........</div>
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When I say I miss being a kid it doesn't mean I would want to be a kid today.</div>
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Because I wouldn't.</div>
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There was a feeling of innocence when I was a kid that kids today just don't get to experience.</div>
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As a parent I know I have allowed this.</div>
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I let my son play violent video games.</div>
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I let my daughter watch PG13 movies before she was 13.</div>
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But I think technology is to blame.</div>
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I love technology.</div>
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It is my life.</div>
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Without it I would be out of a job.</div>
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But kids don't play anymore.</div>
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They don't use their imaginations.</div>
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Christopher's idea of playing is going onto Xbox Live and joining a group with his cousins and playing MineCraft. Which happens to be the most ridiculous game I have ever seen.</div>
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It makes me dizzy watching it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I should probably say instead that I miss my childhood.</div>
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Growing up we played outside.</div>
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The usual games like.....</div>
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freeze tag</div>
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hide and seek</div>
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spring </div>
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(kind of like tag but you can "spring" the other players who were caught)</div>
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wall ball</div>
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street hockey</div>
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<br /></div>
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My house was on a street that had large factories on the end of the block. </div>
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A parking lot</div>
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or the "mill lot" as we called it.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Separated the houses from the mill buildings.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">It ran between my street Freeland and the street parallel Peachin. </span></div>
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We were not "allowed" in the mill lot.</div>
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And during the day we usually abided by that rule and we played in the street or at the local play ground which was a block from my house.</div>
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At night though.</div>
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When the mill was closed we made that our spot.</div>
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The mill owners locked the gates but that didn't keep us out.</div>
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I should say that my street was on a fairly steep hill. The houses at the top and the mill at the bottom.</div>
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The lot in the middle was leveled off obviously for parking reasons and this gave it an almost enclosed feeling. High walls with even higher black wrought iron fencing gave it a prison like effect.</div>
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The gates were also made of heavy iron as a kid they appeared to be 15 feet high but in reality they were probably more like six feet.</div>
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Someone from the older group of neighborhood kids bent the bars so we could squeeze though,</div>
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Or they cut one of the spokes at the bottom of the locked gate and we crawled underneath. </div>
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Usually feet first dragging her self across the still hot blacktop.</div>
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But you were a kid so who cared if you got burnt and dirty.</div>
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Squeezing through the bent bars was always easy for a string bean kid like me but some of my more pudgier friends had to be pushed from the back and pulled from the front.</div>
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The allure of the mill lot was that we were not supposed to be in there.</div>
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My house was just two doors up so my mother hanging clothes on our line out back would clearly see us so hiding behind the wall was important.</div>
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I will say that eventually the mill owners stopped being such hard asses about it and we played freely but there were times when we ran from the cops who came down the street and blasted us with their spot lights. We scattered like cockroaches running out the opposite end .</div>
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Some of the things we did in the mill lot were the usual tag, football, wiffle ball, hockey, Someone even set up a basketball hoop.</div>
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Your average childhood games</div>
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Sometimes we dared each other to "go down the little pit" </div>
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which was a concreted walk way about a three foot drop from the mill parking lot. </div>
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It separated the parking area from the building.</div>
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The little pit had steps which made it less scary.</div>
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It was dark down there though.</div>
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The "big pit"</div>
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was a 10 foot drop (this is not accurate but rather guesses) and was filled with kid high weeds and broken bottles and I am pretty sure rats and any other city related rodent/bug you can imagine.</div>
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Walking or being dared to run along the wall of the big pit was a big deal.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It was in the mill lot that we played a game called "I believe in ghosts"</div>
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I have no idea if this is a real game or if someone made it up.</div>
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But it consisted of us all holding hands.</div>
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Closing our eyes and walking though the dark deserted lot chanting</div>
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.....I believe in ghosts......I believe in ghosts.......I believe in ghosts</div>
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At which point someone would inevitably get freaked out.</div>
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Swear they saw a shadow looking out of the blackened mill window and we would all go screaming towards the fence and push each other through the makeshift exit.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Scaring each other either by daring to go down the pit or telling a story about seeing a ghost in the abandoned house....known in the neighborhood as 4112 </div>
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pronounced forty one twelve.</div>
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Or the ghost of mean Mrs. Wendel who hated pretty much every kid in the neighborhood. </div>
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Actually we were pretty sure she hated kids in general</div>
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I think my friend Mary was the only one that woman liked.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I loved it.</div>
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The scaring people with a story or being scared to walk past a house for fear of seeing a ghost.</div>
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I loved it all.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And now at the age of 40 I like nothing better.</div>
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My tastes always go to the macabre </div>
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Shows like</div>
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The Walking Dead</div>
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American Horror</div>
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are guaranteed a spot on my precious DVR</div>
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Movies like</div>
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Possession</div>
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ParaNorman</div>
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Silent House</div>
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are guaranteed a ticket sale from me</div>
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Books by Stephen King, John Saul and Dean Koontz fill my shelves.</div>
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<br /></div>
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My imagination is so vivid because I exercised it so much as a kid.</div>
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Sometimes on dark rainy nights when I am the last one to go to bed I remember those tales of my childhood.</div>
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And I can not run up those steps fast enough.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I even removed the old wooden rocker that used to sit in the Mom Cave because I was fairly certain I saw Mrs. Wendel sitting in there one night.</div>
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And she did not look happy to see me.</div>
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<br /></div>
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How about you. Do you have some childhood memories that live on in your imagination?</div>
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<br /></div>
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I am reading: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-55309028931765613012012-08-27T11:16:00.000-04:002012-08-27T11:16:47.392-04:00Review of Freak by Jennifer Hillier<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I am back from my 9 day vacation in Disney World. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will tell you all about it in another post. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right now I want to talk about the second novel by my blog friend and yours....</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.jenniferhillier.ca/" target="_blank">Jennifer Hillier</a></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy of this book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The day it arrived in my mailbox was like Christmas morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was so beyond excited!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I loved Jennifer's first book Creep and I just knew that this second book was going to be awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is the Overview from Barnes and Noble</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Overview<br style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;" /><span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">Suspense magazine chose Jennifer Hillier’s “truly frightening” debut, </span><i style="border: 0px none; font: inherit; line-height: 20.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Creep</i><span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">, as one of 2011’s best novels, while #1 bestselling author Jeffery Deaver cautioned “you better call in sick—you’re not going anywhere until you finish reading.” Now, Hillier returns to the Pacific Northwest college town where one killer’s stranglehold has ebbed . . . but another sick mind has waited for the perfect moment to pick up where the terror left off.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Sitting alone in a maximum-security prison cell, Abby Maddox is a celebrity. Her claim to fame is the envy of every freak on the outside: she’s the former lover of Ethan Wolfe, the killer who left more than a dozen dead women in his wake and nearly added Puget Sound State professor Sheila Tao to the tally. Now Abby, serving a nine-year sentence for slashing a police officer’s throat in a moment of rage, has little human contact—save for the letters that pour in from demented fans, lunatics, and creeps. But a new wave of murders has given Abby a possible chance for a plea bargain—because this killer has been sending her love letters, and carving a message on the bodies of the victims:<i style="border: 0px none; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Free Abby Maddox</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Jerry Isaac will never forget the attack—or his attacker. The hideous scarring and tortured speech are daily reminders that the one-time Seattle PD officer, now a private investigator, is just lucky to be alive. Abby Maddox deserves to rot in jail—forever, as far as Jerry’s concerned. But she alone may possess crucial evidence—letters from this newest killer—that could crack open the disturbing case. With the help of Professor Sheila Tao, seasoned police detective Mike Torrance, and intuitive criminology student Danny Mercy, Jerry must coax the shattering truth from isolated, dangerous Abby Maddox. Can he put the pieces together before Abby’s number one fan takes another life in the name of a killer’s perverted idea of justice?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Freak is a fast paced, edge of your seat thriller. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From the very first chapter I was pulled in. The intensity of the crimes leave you with chills and the desire to turn on the light in every room you are entering alone.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ms. Hillier writes very likable characters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I admittedly have a major crush on Morris the fiance of Professor Sheila Tao.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is because of the development of these characters that you really care what happens to them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The murders and the torment effect you as if you are reading about it happening to someone you know.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wanted to cry every time Jerry scratched at the scar on his throat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Abby Maddox is one crazy bitch and although you know deep down inside that she is manipulating someone to commit these crimes you do start to wonder if maybe you might be wrong. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe she is innocent.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe they should "Free Abby Maddox"</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I won't say whether she is or not because that is the fun of reading a thriller like this.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are so many twists and turns that you just have to keep reading because you have to know......you need to know what the hell is going on!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I highly recommend this book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even if you aren't a fan of crime novels you will enjoy the story and characters that Jennifer Hillier has so tightly woven together.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One last thing........</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love the Seattle setting.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have never been to Seattle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But Jennifer describes it exactly how I picture it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rainy and dark and gritty.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">yet beautiful.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do yourself a favor.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Put down that wretched mess of a book everyone is talking about and pick up this well written sexy thriller!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You won't regret it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I promise.</span></span></div>
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Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-66049417913264254232012-08-07T11:41:00.002-04:002012-08-07T11:41:15.098-04:00Writing takes up a lot of time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In case you didn't know.</div>
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Writing takes up a lot of time.</div>
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I love the fake Buddhist quote "The trouble is, you think you have time."</div>
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I say fake because the Buddha never actually said that but it is always credited to him.</div>
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Anyway sorry.</div>
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I love this quote because....it is true.</div>
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We do think we have time.</div>
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Or at least I think I have time.</div>
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I think I have time to work my full time job that actually requires me to be on call 7 days a week. 24 hours a day. 365 days a year. The price you pay for working for a hotel.</div>
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and</div>
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Time to be a good parent who is available at a minutes notice to answer any and all questions. Fix any problems at any time day or night. Being the mother of a college age child means those calls usually come at 2 am because she forgets that I actually don't function on the same hours as she does. The calls are usually very important like "Did you know the Butterbeer they make in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is just cream soda and butter extract?" or "Can you send me the tracking number for that thing you sent me because I want to know when I will get it?" </div>
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Christopher generally saves his problems/questions for that moment when I just get to sit down.</div>
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and </div>
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Time to read</div>
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and </div>
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Time to write</div>
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I am sure you have all felt the pressure of trying to find this time.</div>
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This summer has been especially busy for me.</div>
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With Amber off in Disney</div>
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and Christopher being a gypsy.....he has had more vacations with various members of my family then anyone should be allowed. He has been down the shore, up the mountains, up to the lake and back to the mountains again.</div>
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You would think that with two absent children I would have more time but it just doesn't work that way.</div>
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I am terrible with time management.</div>
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So trying to set any kind of schedule is impossible.</div>
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So here I am completely lost.</div>
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Wondering where the hell the summer has gone.</div>
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Before I know it fall will be here and every goal I have set will be out the window.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Does anyone out there have any time management advise that they would like to impart to a fellow time thief?</div>
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I am reading: I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of Jennifer Hillier's Freak......and I am loving it! </div>
</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-74752588598741122822012-07-10T11:33:00.001-04:002012-07-10T11:33:40.204-04:00I am a bad parent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;">I try very hard to be a good parent.</span></div>
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But it is just so difficult sometimes.</div>
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I would like to share with you some of my mistakes so that maybe you won't make them yourself.</div>
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When Amber was a baby she learned to walk at a very early age. </div>
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She was only around 10 months old.</div>
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Anyone who has children knows that this is an exciting but also an annoying time.</div>
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The reason it is annoying is because now you have to chase this little bugger all over the place.</div>
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And they are fast!</div>
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As a young single mother, Amber and I lived at home with my parents and some of my siblings.</div>
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My brothers Billy and Mark along with myself got tired of chasing Amber all over the place.</div>
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We were tired from work and we just wanted to sit down for a second and watch some television.</div>
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I am not sure which one of us discovered her fear.</div>
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Or who decided to use that fear against her......I am voting Mark.</div>
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But I took her fear of the Koosh ball.........</div>
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In case you aren't familiar a Koosh ball is a rubber ball that has been kind of frayed so it has all of these tentacle type of arms.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljwgY4F9xmU4bXnm50ho8pjutE12sbmfPJipJsMH_xDSJnGmCqtulUKulPLZv_dcA2gdnySgilHkWfHVP5Dx8dwC5nV4olkYGnYUJ-TOZtETlKGuxMxAtvn-qRFUhd2i7z8N1luB1iTe6/s1600/__doPostBack('ctl00$wpm$ShowProduct$ctl03$lnkZoom','').jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljwgY4F9xmU4bXnm50ho8pjutE12sbmfPJipJsMH_xDSJnGmCqtulUKulPLZv_dcA2gdnySgilHkWfHVP5Dx8dwC5nV4olkYGnYUJ-TOZtETlKGuxMxAtvn-qRFUhd2i7z8N1luB1iTe6/s200/__doPostBack('ctl00$wpm$ShowProduct$ctl03$lnkZoom','').jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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The Koosh ball in Amber's case was red and it had a hard plastic face and hands also protruding from its rubber tentacle body.</div>
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So I took that fear and we used it.</div>
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We would place the Koosh in the hallway to prevent her from leaving the living room.</div>
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We would place the Koosh at the bottom of the steps so she wouldn't try to climb the steps......a toddlers favorite thing to do.</div>
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We would put that Koosh on anything we didn't want her to touch, move or look at.</div>
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It was great!</div>
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I mean it was terrible lazy parenting.</div>
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It made my life easier but......It traumatized her for life.</div>
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We recently saw one in a store and Amber still had the same reaction after all of these years.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOlsptq4ftGq0q-wCTRwAk1h7NePebY_NGjnrXDPd0V1E7i2RTPeZkeSJm886keq0t6bfyHFYViBti2a6pszqVQSlf4cW6E2ZYVSrJop9VqPb3sqJC8b5BIYVHwXNFsYxB24eG32jGAkn/s1600/photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOlsptq4ftGq0q-wCTRwAk1h7NePebY_NGjnrXDPd0V1E7i2RTPeZkeSJm886keq0t6bfyHFYViBti2a6pszqVQSlf4cW6E2ZYVSrJop9VqPb3sqJC8b5BIYVHwXNFsYxB24eG32jGAkn/s320/photo.jpeg" width="239" /></a></div>
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My other example is the annual summertime showing of the movie Jaws.</div>
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When I go to the beach I like to sit back and relax.</div>
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Catch some rays, read a good book, people watch and talk to my sisters.</div>
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Having children ruins this experience completely especially if they want to go in the water.</div>
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It's fine if they are content digging in the sand under the umbrella but when they want to go down by the water you have to get up.</div>
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And stand down there.</div>
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So my solution was to show the movie Jaws at the beginning of the summer.</div>
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It helps when they are young if you throw in that the movie was shot at (insert your beach location)</div>
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The movie must be shown every year.</div>
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Children very easily forget so it needs to be fresh in their minds.</div>
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Treat it as a serious safety film.</div>
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Not a this is a cool movie.</div>
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More like a public service announcement.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9pKVP3yBTlcWKme_gg830NKE5pgDsoRS0KzbsQY9eM4LhsmL_3DTUruESxAUn1W4Z72oW6c-WVNhncophJnNLokuEv7HIMOth2zkmDyFFC1GxBauGsquNluUq4L0Hdbs8h5HkQlTR_iQ/s1600/JAWS_Movie_poster.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9pKVP3yBTlcWKme_gg830NKE5pgDsoRS0KzbsQY9eM4LhsmL_3DTUruESxAUn1W4Z72oW6c-WVNhncophJnNLokuEv7HIMOth2zkmDyFFC1GxBauGsquNluUq4L0Hdbs8h5HkQlTR_iQ/s1600/JAWS_Movie_poster.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Amber always had a tendency to be a little bit of a chicken......I mean she was afraid of a red rubber ball.</div>
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The boy on the other hand liked the movie from the very first viewing.</div>
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He thought sharks were awesome.</div>
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He wanted a pet shark.</div>
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He wanted to watch shark week and go to the aquarium to see the sharks.</div>
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So in order to break him </div>
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I took him to the water.</div>
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As he splashed and jumped over waves. </div>
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His back to the vast sea his face happily facing me.</div>
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I suddenly made an Oh my God face and pointed.</div>
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He flew to my side and I was like oh never mind I just thought I saw a shark fin.</div>
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He was done after that.</div>
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Happy to bury himself in the sand and build a nice sandcastle.</div>
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Terrible</div>
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Horrible Parenting</div>
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Relaxing day at the beach....yes <span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">guaranteed</span></div>
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but terrible parenting.</div>
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One last example.</div>
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For I fear if I give you too many you may turn me in to social services.</div>
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The Pinky Promise</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitACFd_PZEuCLs-hOe7AfjO6fn1D9x3jpXvGLiuRL2S5rnGD_3-akm1XAXEl7GMl11YM_FS5j38sJRz1KnImmUr2ILhinNjpB8M3mhwWF8fe9e7WNDg8n5C0TexlA8-KPbeKENylAg6AVn/s1600/imgres.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitACFd_PZEuCLs-hOe7AfjO6fn1D9x3jpXvGLiuRL2S5rnGD_3-akm1XAXEl7GMl11YM_FS5j38sJRz1KnImmUr2ILhinNjpB8M3mhwWF8fe9e7WNDg8n5C0TexlA8-KPbeKENylAg6AVn/s1600/imgres.jpeg" /></a></div>
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The pinky promise is a sweet innocent thing.</div>
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You hook your pinky to someone else and say "pinky promise"</div>
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its very sweet.</div>
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My twist to this is that I told my children that if you break a pinky promise an evil spirit will come in the night and steal your mother's soul.</div>
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She will live for all eternity knowing that you are the one who caused her torment.</div>
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So for instance.</div>
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I promise I won't do (insert whatever here)</div>
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pinky promise?</div>
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When your child knows that the promise they are making is not something they plan to keep they will retract the promise.</div>
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You pinky will sit hooked in the air until they revise the promise to something more reasonable.</div>
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The boy is especially sensitive to the pinky promise.</div>
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He is a Mama's boy and would never send his mother to torment over a broken promise.</div>
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The minute the words pinky promise escape my lips he is backing away.</div>
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Stammering and coming up with a new plan or promise.</div>
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This helps when you really want them to do something.</div>
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For instance</div>
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Mom: I will let you play your video game if you promise to clean your room after.</div>
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Kid: Ok Mom I promise</div>
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Mom: Pinky Promise?</div>
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At this point you can almost see them thinking.....Shit she got me again.</div>
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Please do not try any of these at home.</div>
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They are terrible </div>
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and I just wanted to confess that I am not a perfect parent.</div>
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I am currently reading: Summerland</div>
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</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-67335664967063604632012-07-03T07:57:00.001-04:002012-07-03T07:57:13.075-04:00Are you batshit crazily addicted to Pinterest?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73nfYCumKrhaYeplZG9EJLYXGj4M1g8-5ZqzGp8L1Zt8U09NLYw0ONPcCnreCbiOCk3U9L7YYgfP8tqTKky-4vxabvk_4iH8IxuHE2eJ_LALdLuNuShFBKqYYZk39goaMhyphenhyphen4gThe7nrUp/s1600/87538786477617321.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73nfYCumKrhaYeplZG9EJLYXGj4M1g8-5ZqzGp8L1Zt8U09NLYw0ONPcCnreCbiOCk3U9L7YYgfP8tqTKky-4vxabvk_4iH8IxuHE2eJ_LALdLuNuShFBKqYYZk39goaMhyphenhyphen4gThe7nrUp/s1600/87538786477617321.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Hello my name is Jennifer and I am a Pinterest addict.</span></div>
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I am sure you are aware that out there on the interwebs is a site so addictive it should be illegal.</div>
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It is called Pinterest.</div>
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The idea is that people go out on the internet</div>
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or post from their own blog, tumblr or whathaveyou</div>
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and find things that they like....</div>
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books, movies, clothing, art, animals Whatever</div>
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and they "pin it" onto these little boards.</div>
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It sort of takes the memory board or wish board or vision board </div>
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idea and makes it into virtual.</div>
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I waste a hell of a lot of time on there.</div>
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I am embarrassed to say.</div>
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BUT there is so much to look at.</div>
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and love.</div>
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and repin!</div>
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Currently I have an addiction to the color blue.</div>
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Any variation</div>
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Teal</div>
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Sky</div>
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Baby</div>
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Periwinkle</div>
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Navy</div>
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it doesn't matter.</div>
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If its blue....I want it. I love it. I have got to have it. Or at least repin it.</div>
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There are also so many crafts to try unsuccessfully to make.</div>
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And I say unsuccessfully because hello this shit is legit.</div>
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It isn't easy to do stuff.</div>
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Even though they present it that way with their little tutorials.</div>
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So don't fall for it.</div>
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You will end up with a disaster that looks nothing like the lovely thing you saw.</div>
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Causing you to sink into a deep self deprecating depression.</div>
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Two of my most favorite things in the world are shoes and books.</div>
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So I fill my boards with those things.</div>
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Oh and zombies.</div>
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I have a zombies board.</div>
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If you are an author it is another way to market your book.</div>
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Get your friends, family, neighbors or blog fellows to "pin" your book on their page.</div>
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Then the people who follow their pins will see your book.</div>
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Click on it and buy it.</div>
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There are times when I am pretty sure that I have wasted valuable writing time on Pinterest.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">And when all is said and done I get nothing from this site.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">It does not make me more informed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Or more creative.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Smarter.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">A better Parent.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">it isn't even entertaining.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">but it is fun!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">How about you?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Are you addicted to Pinterest?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I am reading: I just finished Gone Girl </span></div>
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</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-56911606225914732882012-06-21T10:56:00.003-04:002012-06-21T10:56:43.880-04:00Summer Reading<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;">Hello friends.</span></div>
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Are you staying cool?</div>
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It is hot here in Pennsylvania. </div>
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I took a picture of the temperature in my car which I will use to remind myself every time I complain its too cold this coming winter.</div>
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This heat is made worse by the fact that I am pretty sure I am pre menopausal because I have been having terrible hot flashes.</div>
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But thats not what I want to talk about because I do have at least one male loyal reader <a href="http://strangepegs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Andrew</a> and I am certain he has no interest in talking about hot flashes. </div>
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I have been keeping a list of books that I would like to read this summer.</div>
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Some of the books are books I meant to read in the winter but never got to.</div>
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I am a little disappointed in how short my list is.</div>
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Usually by this time I have a whole pile of books that I plan to read but sadly this year I have no pile and only a few titles written on a scrap of paper.</div>
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I thought I would maybe share with you my list and hopefully you can give me a few to add.</div>
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<b><i>Gone Girl</i></b> by Gillian Flynn</div>
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Barnes and Noble Overview:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge</span><b style="border: 0px none; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">.</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? </span></span></div>
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<b><i>Summerland</i></b> by Elin Hilderbrand </div>
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(she is my summer reading staple)</div>
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Barnes and Noble Overview:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. But what begins as a graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver of the car, Penny Alistair, dead, and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny's boyfriend Jake and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt - but the emotional damage is overwhelming, and questions linger about what happened before Penny took the wheel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents - secrets kept, promises broken, hearts betrayed. Elin Hilderbrand explores the power of community, family, and honesty, and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow, new love can still take flight.</span></div>
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<b><i>She's Come Undone</i></b> by Wally Lamb </div>
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(one of my hold overs from the winter)</div>
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Barnes and Noble Overview:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">In this extraordinary coming-of-age odyssey, Wally Lamb invites us to hitch a wild ride on a journey of love, pain, and renewal with the most heartbreakingly comical heroine to come along in years. Meet Dolores Price. She's 13, wise-mouthed but wounded, having bid her childhood goodbye. Stranded in front of her bedroom TV, she spends the next few years nourishing herself with the Mallomars, potato chips, and Pepsi that her anxious mother supplies. When she finally orbits into young womanhood at 257 pounds, Dolores is no stronger and life is no kinder. But this time she's determined to rise to the occasion and give herself one more chance before she </span><i style="border: 0px none; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">really</i><span style="font-size: 13px;"> goes under.</span></span></div>
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I also preordered <a href="http://www.jenniferhillier.ca/" target="_blank">Jennifer Hillier's</a> new book </div>
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<b><i>Freak</i></b></div>
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which I am excited to read. It somes out 8/7</div>
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Barnes and Noble Overview: </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Sitting alone in a maximum-security prison cell, Abby Maddox is a celebrity. Her claim to fame is the envy of every freak on the outside: she’s the former lover of Ethan Wolfe, the killer who left more than a dozen dead women in his wake and nearly added Puget Sound State professor Sheila Tao to the tally. Now Abby, serving a nine-year sentence for slashing a police officer’s throat in a moment of rage, has little human contact—save for the letters that pour in from demented fans, lunatics, and creeps. But a new wave of murders has given Abby a possible chance for a plea bargain—because this killer has been sending her love letters, and carving a message on the bodies of the victims: </span><i style="border: 0px none; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Free Abby Maddox</i><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">.</span></span></div>
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<b><i>Odd Apocalypse</i></b> by Dead Koontz comes out 7/30</div>
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I love the Odd Thomas series so I am very excited for this book.</div>
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Barnes and Noble Overview:</div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In advance of the much-buzzed Odd Thomas major motion picture, Odd Apocalypse chronicles Odd Thomas’s most riveting adventure to date, as his mysterious journey of suspense and discovery moves to a dangerous new level. The Odd Thomas series is kicked into overdrive as Odd confronts deadly adversaries in a decaying estate straight out of Sunset Boulevard.</span></span></div>
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And another preorder but it doesn't come out until 9/27 so its not really a summer read is the much anticipated JK Rowling release</div>
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<b><i>The Casual Vacancy</i></b></div>
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Barnes and Noble Overview: </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">And the empty seat left by Barry on the town's council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?</span></div>
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And that is it.</div>
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Not much of a long list this summer.</div>
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Do you have any you would like to recommend?</div>
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<span style="background-color: #e6e4d7; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">I am reading: The Breath of God by Jeffrey Small</span></div>
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</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-46893343664951277222012-06-18T10:12:00.002-04:002012-06-18T10:12:29.642-04:00Introducing Brayden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;">I have mentioned Brayden.</span></div>
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He is our newest family member.</div>
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Brayden is a French Bulldog.</div>
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He currently weighs 10 pounds and will weigh around 20 when he is full grown.</div>
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We bought him from the same breeder we bought Perry from.</div>
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When Christopher decided he was in need of a new friend he specified that he wanted to get him from the same breeder but he did not want to get another cream colored because it would be too hard if the new puppy looked exactly like Perry. </div>
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He opted for the black/brindle.</div>
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Brayden is extra spoiled because we all want to hold him and pet him as we try to </div>
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heal from the loss of Perry.</div>
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I took Brayden down the shore with me this weekend.</div>
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I went down to help my sister get her rental property ready for the season.</div>
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He had a great time.</div>
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I walked him down to the beach in the morning to show him the ocean.</div>
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He did not care for the sand.</div>
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Until he saw the seagulls.</div>
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But I would not let him chase them.</div>
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Because he wasn't really supposed to be on the beach.</div>
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And because seagulls are nasty suckers.</div>
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When I told him No! He made this face at me.........</div>
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it's his mad face.</div>
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We walked him down to the ocean.</div>
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He did not like getting his feet wet but we had to at least let him put his feet in.</div>
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It would have somehow been wrong not to.</div>
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Christopher quickly picked him up and the two looked out into the vastness of the ocean together.</div>
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I love how much comfort Christopher gets from having this new friend.</div>
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He is enjoying the responsibility of training Brayden and also teaching him all of the tricks he once taught Perry.</div>
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I enjoyed bugging my sister whenever I referred to Brayden as Christopher's brother or referred to her as Aunt Judy when I was speaking to Brayden.</div>
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My nieces Ashley and Miranda, who were at the shore with us, took about a thousand pictures of him and posted them in instagram. </div>
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And announced that they were stealing him because he is so cute.</div>
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But we would never let that happen.</div>
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So please join me in welcoming Brayden to my blog!</div>
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Stay tuned to find out how Charlotte is dealing with the loss of Perry and the introduction of Brayden.</div>
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Have a wonderful Monday everyone!</div>
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I am reading: The Breath of God by Jeffrey Small</div>
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</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-32142193722365844172012-06-11T11:23:00.002-04:002012-06-11T11:23:43.205-04:00Hi! Remember me?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So I have been absent from the blog world. </div>
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But now I am back and I would like to catch you all up on what I have been doing while I was away.</div>
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Sadly its nothing really exciting but that is pretty much my life.</div>
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Amber left us for Disney World</div>
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She was excepted into the Disney College Program and she will be there until January 2nd which also happens to be her 21st Birthday.</div>
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She has been having a good time. She calls and complains and I tell her to shut her face.......she is living in the happiest place on earth!</div>
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Mostly she complains about her job but I think its more having a job that she is complaining about.</div>
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She has made some new friends which has never been a problem for her.</div>
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She recently was a "four keys" recipient.</div>
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Which is like Disney's version of what we call here where I work a "hole in one card" </div>
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It's basically a recognition for doing something above and beyond your job or by doing your job well.</div>
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Not to sound too much like her friend Jason who tried to steal her thunder by saying he has received two......but I get a "hole in one card" all the time.</div>
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So......just sayin.</div>
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So life without Amber has been......quiet.</div>
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I miss her very much and I can't wait to see her when we visit in August!</div>
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Before Amber left we welcomed a new puppy into our home.</div>
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His name is Brayden.</div>
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He is a french bulldog.</div>
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We bought him from the same breeder as we did Perry so they are kind of brothers.</div>
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He was names after Philadelphia Flyers hockey player Brayden Schenn.</div>
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He is adorable and sweet.</div>
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He kind of looks like Edgar.....remember him? My Library Gargoyle.</div>
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Amber spent some time with her before she left and basically taught him everything she knows about sleeping, being lazy and laying in bed. </div>
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She is practically an Olympic gold medalist at it so.......</div>
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So now that she is gone he is the laziest one in our house.</div>
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Christopher is taking excellent care of him and I think the two of them will be inseparable this summer.</div>
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Well folks thats about it. It has been a month of just nothing and everything.</div>
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But things have settled and so I am ready to join the blog world again.</div>
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One last thing...........At the end of each post I will tell you what I am reading. </div>
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Just cause I plan to do a lot of reading this summer and I don't know if I will always post a review.</div>
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Have a fantastic day!</div>
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I am reading.........Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter</div>
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</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-10588629787662577442012-05-14T20:18:00.001-04:002012-05-14T20:18:26.857-04:00Dark Shadows a review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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On Mother's Day Amber, Christopher and I went to see Dark Shadows.</div>
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It wasn't very good.</div>
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Some parts were funny and I am a huge Johnny Depp fan and an even bigger Tim Burton fan.</div>
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Add to the fact that I love me a vampire and you would think this movie would be the perfect film for me.</div>
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But sadly it wasn't what it could have been.</div>
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It was cartoonish. It was like watching one of those parody movies.</div>
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Johnny Depp was great and Michelle Pfeiffer is more beautiful then ever.</div>
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I don't want to give anything away. You know the gist of it.</div>
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Barnabas Collins returns to his home after being cursed and buried for centuries.</div>
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He finds his beloved Collinwood Mansion in disrepair and his family's company all but shut down.</div>
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He goes against the witch that cursed his family and obviously beats her.</div>
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Again I won't ruin the end but I will say maybe the worst end ever.</div>
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The best part of the movie was not even a part of the movie.</div>
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Forgive me a minute for this.</div>
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Our seats were as follows Christopher, Me and then Amber.</div>
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Next to Amber were to empty seats and then a bunch of people we didn't know.</div>
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Before the movie started an older woman and a woman whom we assumed was her daughter came in and sat next to Amber. They had an air of self importance about them.</div>
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As if they were better than us.</div>
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But they weren't.</div>
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Amber's cup holder was in the shared seat arm of the haughty older woman.</div>
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Every time Amber took a sip of her drink the woman huffed and noisily made us aware that she was annoyed with my daughters need to drink her ice tea.</div>
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So.....the movie starts and there was a funny part.</div>
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And the younger woman of the duo laughs and ........forgive me for this.......</div>
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farts.</div>
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And Amber and I crack up like two twelve year old boys.</div>
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The funniest part of all of it was the appalled look on the older woman's face.</div>
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It was part disgust and part ewwww you stink!</div>
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After the movie was over we sat in the car laughing hysterically while Christopher cringed with embarrassment. He may never go out with the two of us again.</div>
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Well that concludes my review of Dark Shadows!</div>
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Don't let me stop you from seeing it.....after all you never know who you might sit next to that could make your experience at the theater memorable.</div>
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</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-62944071950993964352012-05-08T10:42:00.002-04:002012-05-08T10:42:32.014-04:00Sorry I was distracted by life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last week is a blur.</div>
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Actually the last couple of weeks.</div>
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Its been kind of crazy.</div>
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It was Christopher's birthday.</div>
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We went to a Stanley Cup playoff game.</div>
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Perry passed away.</div>
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I turned 40.</div>
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The Flyers made it to the second round of the playoffs.</div>
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We got a new puppy.</div>
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Amber came home from college.....and so did loads and loads of dirty laundry.</div>
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It's funny how life happens like that.</div>
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And it doesn't appear that there is any end in sight to the madness. </div>
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Amber will be leaving in two weeks to go to Disney World. </div>
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She will be there for 8 months.</div>
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She has to pack......which means I have to pack.</div>
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Hopefully the Flyers will start playing like they can and get past the Devils.</div>
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School will be out and I will need to find places for Christopher to go all summer.......</div>
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Thanks to my live in babysitter going to Disney....ahem Amber</div>
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The puppy needs to get house broken.</div>
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My kitchen is still torn apart.</div>
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but again this is life.</div>
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I wouldn't want it to be any other way.......</div>
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Well thats a lie.</div>
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It would be awesome if I was incredibly wealthy and I could just hire someone to do all of this while I lounged around the pool all summer.</div>
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I do have several book which I will be reviewing in the coming months.</div>
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I can't wait to get the time to start reading again.</div>
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How about you? Has life every tackled you and taken you prisoner?</div>
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</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-8648075828710375092012-04-30T12:55:00.001-04:002012-04-30T12:55:11.288-04:00I'm back and I'm 40<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So I took a little brake last week from the blog world to prepare for my epic 40th Birthday.</div>
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I really had no problem with turning 40.</div>
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Mostly because there really wasn't anything I could do about it.</div>
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I don't see the point in stressing over birthdays. </div>
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Thursday was the official day but saturday was my party.</div>
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I wasn't supposed to know about it but I did.</div>
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It was a lot of fun.</div>
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My friends from work bought me these awesome zombie shoes.</div>
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And my sister made me this incredible The Walking Dead themed cake.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhjh2_S2saC5iYngWLpzmMnPPQzmTd0dTXUWF3jYI26sjrIfpWHuBlsencrA-Ady5d-1ZWyzFTTm3TCxfTZpJjAMXCTT-7Y8Ynz5hOpjVKCdYdMi-tVbAOSUBaPNTP-Cv7qCu_wRoBHEF/s1600/528654_3141526222487_1394895543_32217355_1574591632_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhjh2_S2saC5iYngWLpzmMnPPQzmTd0dTXUWF3jYI26sjrIfpWHuBlsencrA-Ady5d-1ZWyzFTTm3TCxfTZpJjAMXCTT-7Y8Ynz5hOpjVKCdYdMi-tVbAOSUBaPNTP-Cv7qCu_wRoBHEF/s320/528654_3141526222487_1394895543_32217355_1574591632_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Chris had an acoustic guitar player there and he was really very good.</div>
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and he also had a tarot card reader who was okay. </div>
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Fun but not very good he was actually a little creepy.</div>
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So I turned 40 and I am ok.</div>
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I am not sad or depressed or worried.</div>
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I am happy to be 40.</div>
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This week I thought I would dedicate my posts to growing up and growing old.</div>
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Stop by and give your feedback on the subject.</div>
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Have a great day.</div>
</div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-44142029961096849412012-04-19T11:09:00.000-04:002012-04-19T11:09:27.080-04:00Goodbye Perry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">I am sad to report that Perry has passed away.<br />
You have known him as a frequent character featured with Charlotte in some of my posts but he was so much more.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDemrf-EgcnAGpBiv-w8Fi8AGnelffL0h5mdXALlKpSRQADhwbCj5hReHUPOHgli94zADvUThz2vHC5nxJmBbe8VuMBjeVoddJJrV8clLDNb5AbEuDvUHdVXxUGVGwdbLfdm91qMDNqIw/s1600/photo-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDemrf-EgcnAGpBiv-w8Fi8AGnelffL0h5mdXALlKpSRQADhwbCj5hReHUPOHgli94zADvUThz2vHC5nxJmBbe8VuMBjeVoddJJrV8clLDNb5AbEuDvUHdVXxUGVGwdbLfdm91qMDNqIw/s320/photo-3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">A few weeks ago we brought him to the vet because he was not eating and he had peed his bed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know that sounds silly but it was very unusual so it drew our attention.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He also seemed to lose control of his bowls going to the bathroom in the house which he never did.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Christopher and I took him to the vet and they sent him home with an antibiotic and some special dog food.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But he never got better.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In fact he got worse.</div><div style="text-align: center;">His stomach bloated.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He wasn't very interested in playing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He slept a lot......well a lot more.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We took him back to the vet to insist they do x-rays or something.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was determined that he had cancer in his liver.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The vet recommended we take him to see another Vet to confirm the diagnosis.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The new Vet gave us the same news only worse because he said that Perry was in a lot of pain.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That the tumors were not operable.</div><div style="text-align: center;">he could stop the bleeding but not the cancer.<br />
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Telling Christopher that his dog died was one of the hardest things I have had to do.<br />
This dog was his best friend.<br />
His constant companion.<br />
His protector.<br />
His partner in crime.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z_Z4cr7QT0rpswgA7PvTCNU2FiKJ7K4hfXRF313sL_73zGS10LuKr9xvR60MKasvw0635-Caxt6Mpa24KVQubbXTKW_tQS4SO0CpIaz4zk5jR0itYiMZtjP0VtJEK7Co7jqcuBzfmrK4/s1600/photo-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z_Z4cr7QT0rpswgA7PvTCNU2FiKJ7K4hfXRF313sL_73zGS10LuKr9xvR60MKasvw0635-Caxt6Mpa24KVQubbXTKW_tQS4SO0CpIaz4zk5jR0itYiMZtjP0VtJEK7Co7jqcuBzfmrK4/s320/photo-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
If my phone or camera was left unattended I was guaranteed to find a thousand photos like the one above under photos or saved to the memory card. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have had many dogs in my life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have never seen a dog and a boy love each other like Christopher and Perry.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBKDXA_BV8TES84qIBDNThnp6ix766rW2nBQhUt7O9X2S5-oJhDP9LJ27k8w7ZFpl2RfLMGvsYhLX693dbYAMdSLh9pq791yMYZE5s_5G9aaE1ZzHZmJTUidt4f1U2Bf3dvJMuAnshudM/s1600/christopher+and+perry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBKDXA_BV8TES84qIBDNThnp6ix766rW2nBQhUt7O9X2S5-oJhDP9LJ27k8w7ZFpl2RfLMGvsYhLX693dbYAMdSLh9pq791yMYZE5s_5G9aaE1ZzHZmJTUidt4f1U2Bf3dvJMuAnshudM/s320/christopher+and+perry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I will miss the giggles when they were doing something they shouldn't.<br />
I will miss the comfort of knowing that my son had someone to keep his from being lonely after Amber left for college.<br />
I will miss the laughter that was heard throughout the house whenever Perry did something funny....which was often he was a really funny dog.<br />
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It's quiet in our house right now.<br />
Everyone is sad.<br />
And yes eventually we will get another dog.<br />
But I say this with sincere honesty there will never be another dog that can take the place of Perry.<br />
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So goodbye boy.<br />
Thank you for bringing so much joy to my sons heart.<br />
For his happiness during your time with us I will be forever grateful.<br />
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</div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-36756883143758251562012-04-16T14:59:00.000-04:002012-04-16T14:59:42.811-04:0010th Birthday, Car sick and Flyers WIN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">This Saturday was Christopher's 10th Birthday.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">He decided that because he is 10 now and you know too old for traditional parties.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He would just have some buddies from his class over for a sleepover/all night video game party.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We also got tickets for game three of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between </div><div style="text-align: center;">the awesome Flyers and the classless Penguins.</div><div style="text-align: center;">on Sunday April 15th.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Because the Phillies also had a game and because we knew it was going to be madness in the city we decided to leave for the game by 12pm even though the game start time was 3pm.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So it was my mission to try and make sure these five ten year old boys would go to bed by 12 am.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I failed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So Sunday morning when they were up by 7am I knew it was going to be a day from hell.</div><div style="text-align: center;">five hours of sleep may work for 10 year olds but not this almost 40 year old.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After we chased the kids home I downed some aspirin for my splitting head ache and off we went to head into Philly for the game.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I asked Chris if he wanted to use out GPS in case of traffic....because the GPS will redirect you.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But he said no</div><div style="text-align: center;">after we were on the road he decided that yes maybe he would like to use the GPS.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now you need to know that I get car sick.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Especially if I try to read something or look at a screen like my iPad or iPhone.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I used to get sick really bad as a kid.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It didn't matter whether I sat up front or in the back.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I got sick.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It doesn't happen that often now.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes I feel a little queazy but I never actually vomit.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Until Sunday that is.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I started inputting the information for the stadium and I felt myself getting sick to my stomach.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And as soon as we hit the highway I puked.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In my handbag because that was all I had.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was lucky to be able to dump the contents before puking.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So there I was dramatically vomiting.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crying for my Mom</div><div style="text-align: center;">And Chris is trying to drive and poor Christopher is worried that his Mom is dying.....because I am pretty sure I said "I am dying" in mid vomit.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And then Chris misses the turn into the parking lot.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And we end up back on the highway again.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And another bought of drama puking.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When we finally made it to the stadium parking lot.....we still had plenty of time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was only around 1ish and the game didn't start until 3.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was still puking as we parked and so Chris and Christopher got out of the car.</div><div style="text-align: center;">After waiting a bit I told them to go ahead without me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would die alone in the car.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thats probably exactly what I said and because Chris <strike>doesn't care about me </strike> knows me </div><div style="text-align: center;">he took Christopher and off they went to the fun and festivities.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He left me the car keys with the car airconditioning running. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was 80 degrees outside.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I climbed into the back seat and ate some pretzels and drank some water hoping to settle my stomach.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Chris called to check on me and then suggested I step out of the car.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sit on the curb he said</div><div style="text-align: center;">You will feel better he said</div><div style="text-align: center;">Get some air he said</div><div style="text-align: center;">It smells like puke in the car he said</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I listened </div><div style="text-align: center;">I got out and sat on the little curb behind the car.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I threw up.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some nice tailgaters laughed and pointed and asked me if I needed another beer because obviously they though I was drunk.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I got back in the car.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile all this time I was trying to call my lifeline aka my sister Judy</div><div style="text-align: center;">and that bitch wasn't answering her phone!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I called my brother Michael because I was thinking I might need someone to come and get me because it was becoming obvious that I was dying.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He said of course he would come and get me but that I should probably suck it up because its the playoffs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I told him I would try.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally I called my brother Mark and found out Judy was with him and asked him to tell her to call me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She also pretty much told me to suck it up so thats what I did.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I got out of the car and slowly made my way up to the stadium.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was hot as hell</div><div style="text-align: center;">which didn't help!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I paused a minute before walking to the doors to assess the puke situation.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then I made my way in.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The smell of food very nearly sent me running back out of the door but I pushed on thinking maybe the grumbling in my stomach was hunger.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I stopped at a vendor and bough Popcorn and a Sprite.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted Ginger Ale but there was none to be had.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Why Popcorn?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have no idea</div><div style="text-align: center;">It seemed like the best choice</div><div style="text-align: center;">I gagged at the thought of a hot dog or any fried food so......</div><div style="text-align: center;">I sat in the mezzanine and ate my popcorn and drank my soda.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When enough time passed that it seemed like I was going to be ok I made my way inside.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The seats were amazing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The first period was amazing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Maybe a little too exciting as I ran to the bathroom before the end of the period to puke again.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was okay after that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some pretty little hockey girls brought Christopher a special birthday gift bag and then his name was up on the score board.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLY_vzTLFUZpL8tS8lwjb8xth_S1ONWuip2V7bDTO2UzjXSZRgYYxbXG7iC3N7Fxw1AQ45BuM7j76YojMl6PYDuiPD1BTvXuWATUONDRM8qsl-fLeY2f5U-d8hVAk2EZgvQyzhU07C81p/s1600/flyers2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLY_vzTLFUZpL8tS8lwjb8xth_S1ONWuip2V7bDTO2UzjXSZRgYYxbXG7iC3N7Fxw1AQ45BuM7j76YojMl6PYDuiPD1BTvXuWATUONDRM8qsl-fLeY2f5U-d8hVAk2EZgvQyzhU07C81p/s320/flyers2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It truly was the most exciting game I have ever been too or watched.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love hockey and I have been watching the Flyers for as long as I can remember and this game was just incredible.</div><div style="text-align: center;">There were a ton of fights and every goal was hard earned and awesome.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Final score </div><div style="text-align: center;">Flyers 8</div><div style="text-align: center;">Penguins 4</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is what I know for sure.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crosby is a classless baby </div><div style="text-align: center;">and Crosby sucks</div><div style="text-align: center;">and Crosby needs to get his teeth knocked out</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's go Flyers!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-84612391631658836262012-04-13T10:36:00.000-04:002012-04-13T10:36:52.713-04:00Happy Belated Siblings Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9LMue7mpt3dCfBOY3qF3FbYAyFHeBDXf4bEzZHXDIPYKt8aMepJ5C08bqoApBrJBtvQKrQ57C_4KjgH8Msmk_WWxxnS9gHzTUPUE6xir9CF-iXm2BvlcCnAFFSvCiaf_m8vXWnAoIM8i/s1600/2659_1050762107328_1174007236_30197081_1948212_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9LMue7mpt3dCfBOY3qF3FbYAyFHeBDXf4bEzZHXDIPYKt8aMepJ5C08bqoApBrJBtvQKrQ57C_4KjgH8Msmk_WWxxnS9gHzTUPUE6xir9CF-iXm2BvlcCnAFFSvCiaf_m8vXWnAoIM8i/s320/2659_1050762107328_1174007236_30197081_1948212_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNuDmMyTOc69QQrgOmU96x7ChyphenhyphengyJN5cMkrdwSkz7dFPHmOef4s1D5G7qedOO7PRSBGJw4hJEUCiho3j4spBw9zHPqwNSRqFHvQDifdz-npCbtVPkkEE34eHWSJczZhZKKw0buYNjLWHv/s1600/319927_2163243998569_1170681216_32007239_1665468583_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNuDmMyTOc69QQrgOmU96x7ChyphenhyphengyJN5cMkrdwSkz7dFPHmOef4s1D5G7qedOO7PRSBGJw4hJEUCiho3j4spBw9zHPqwNSRqFHvQDifdz-npCbtVPkkEE34eHWSJczZhZKKw0buYNjLWHv/s320/319927_2163243998569_1170681216_32007239_1665468583_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Did you know that April 10th was Siblings Day?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't but I just heard someone say it on the radio and then I saw it on the internet</div><div style="text-align: center;">.....so it must be true.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">From the Siblings Day Foundation website</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, arial, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">iblings Day is a day where brothers and sisters reflect upon each other; enjoy time together or a phone call; in some cases, a day of truce and more understanding; or for others a day of love and appreciation.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, arial, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">In honor of Siblings Day I would like to reflect (belatedly) on my siblings with a thank you for things they have done... TO me</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">William - I would like to thank you for using your magical powers to make my warts disappear before I started first grade. I don't care what anyone says it was not the painful acid treatments I had at the doctors office it was the magic you performed by drawing a picture of the wart. Spitting on the picture and then burning the picture in an ashtray. I also want to thank you for hiding me from Mom when I did something I wasn's supposed to do. For reading IT aloud to Peter and I and basically scaring the shit out of us. For betting me at the age of 13 that I would not chop all of my hair off and then paying up when I actually did. For these things I thank you!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Kevin - Thank you for wanting to be my Godfather and for agreeing to be Amber's and not because you look like you could be in the movie The Godfather. Thank you for making me an aunt and the ripe old age of four. For taking Peter and I up the mountains and then getting mad when we were mean to little Kevin. Thank you for making me clotheslines poles because Chris wouldn't and for making sure Amber always has a supply of the maple syrup she loves. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Jim - Thank you for the self esteem boosting nickname "Lurch" when I was a tall gangly, gawky preteen. Thank you for coming to all of my field hockey games and video taping them for prosperity. For taking me to Flyers games and not being embarrassed when I drooled all over the glass at Peter Zezel. Thank you.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Michael - Thank you for obviously answering my call for donuts and bringing them promptly to me. For not filing charges against me for the bell jingling incident. For letting me play hockey with you and your friends even though I was a girl and eleven years younger. Thank you for the dinner and horror movie nights and for taking me to my first zombie movie. And for the fact that we can scream and yell at each other one minute and then act like nothing happened the next. Thanks.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Debbie - I want to thank you for being a wonderful older sister. For buying me the Communion Dress I wanted. For taking me to get measured for my first bra. Thank you for letting me and my friends hang out in your apartment and for not getting mad when I hid all of your creepy clown items....I mean my God why did you have those?? Thank you for trusting me to watch your first born son and not getting too upset when you realized that he liked me better than you. For being the sweetest and least confrontational of us all I say Thank you.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Judy - Thank you for dropping me on my head...on the concrete pavement. For holding a pillow on my face and then singing the song "Don't cry out loud" because you know why should I cry when you were just playing around. For calling me on my bullshit during those tough teen years, the terrible twenties, the crazy thirties and soon to be forties. For your endless monetary donations which I will never pay back. For being my best friend thanks.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Theresa - Thank you for being my security blanket. For not killing me when I made you come in early because I was ready to go to bed when all you wanted to do was be with your friends. Thank you for buying me one of the dolls that were so special they were kept in a glass case behind the counter. For letting me live with you and Debbie in your apartment until Dad found out and made me come home. For saving Amber's life those couple of times when I was going to kill her and I called you and said come to my house or I am going to kill her and you came and brought Mom and didn't laugh when I was sitting in my closet crying because it was either do that or kill Amber.....Amber should probably thank you for that as well. For taking me to the hospital when I had all of those heart attacks that were really panic attacks. Thanks.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Anne - Thank you for taking me to see Purple Rain when you knew Dad said I wasn't allowed to see it and it ended up being the greatest movie ever and I love it still to this day. For letting me and Katina smoke cigarettes all summer when you being a responsible baby sitter. For letting me and Kathleen O'Brien visit you when you lived in North Carolina. For not laughing too hard at Kathleen and I when we were visiting and assumed you lived on a military base and thought we needed military id to buy soda at a local store. Thank you for our staying up all night rituals in the summer. For flirting with the lifeguard so I could stay for the adult swim time at the public pool. For making me think I was cool. Thanks.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Mark - Thanks for not killing me when I would throw myself on the floor or punch myself and tell Dad you did it. For not killing me for crying to Mom when you were splashing me when I was already wet. For not laughing too hard when I cut my hair really short and then our neighbor kept thinking I was you. Thank you for coming to get me when Dad died and holding my hand the entire way to the hospital. Thank you.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Peter - Thank you for being the greatest little brother ever. For not telling on me and Kathleen and Karen when we almost killed you playing Olympics. Thank you for being exactly the right amount of annoying a little brother should be. For being my rainy day best friend and my sunny day enemy. For not getting offended when I pretended I didn't know you in the halls in high school. Thank you for giving Monica a hickey so everyone could laugh when I asked her in health class who she got the hickey from. Thank you for always acting like you are my older brother instead of my little brother because thats not ALL annoying. For always answering the phone when I call and talking about all of our other siblings because they may be WAYYYYYY older than us be we know a hell of a lot more than them. Thanks</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Little Kevin - you aren't really my sibling but you have always been more of a little brother than nephew so I will include you in this......Thank you for embarrassing me by calling me Aunt Jenn in the school yard because having a first grader call you Aunt Jenn when you are only in forth grade is so awesome. Thank you for being a giant tattletale and telling on Peter and I every time we did anything remotely fun. Like throwing mud at you or singing "Sugar ah honey honey" or running away from you because we didn't feel like letting you tag along. Thank you for wearing peach colored sweaters in school pictures because they were great to laugh at then and now. Thank you for being a crybaby and getting all upset when I tease you on facebook. Thanks.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">So Happy belated siblings day.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Hug your sibling today and be glad you have their help in surviving in this crazy life.</span><br />
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</span></div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-73749368421390787912012-04-10T07:40:00.001-04:002012-04-10T07:41:50.361-04:00Television is running/ruining my life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeZqQUTAaYJ6jx9hXQjzk48h8xx4xQz9qLJD1s886ugJ_7N2tObVrCcUtIfFnq3zA-Gz2nM3HAZtu8Z9OB8NEpDeotZpifxjEV5i7YYzEvzbKlIYPMnfXTHgRk_lly_Nrvt8rgu8SjFq0/s1600/imgres-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeZqQUTAaYJ6jx9hXQjzk48h8xx4xQz9qLJD1s886ugJ_7N2tObVrCcUtIfFnq3zA-Gz2nM3HAZtu8Z9OB8NEpDeotZpifxjEV5i7YYzEvzbKlIYPMnfXTHgRk_lly_Nrvt8rgu8SjFq0/s1600/imgres-3.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">My name is Jennifer and I am addicted to television.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I have been an addict for many years now.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I blame Buffy the Vampire Slayer because that was the show that first got its claws into me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would never dream of missing a show.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It wouldn't matter what else was going on.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A sick child.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A party.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A vacation.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would park myself infront of the television and watch.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Completely ignoring everyone and everything around me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Other shows began to attach themselves.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Felicity</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gilmore Girls</div><div style="text-align: center;">Supernatural</div><div style="text-align: center;">Alias</div><div style="text-align: center;">and oh God......LOST......how I miss you</div><div style="text-align: center;">As the years have passed I have built up such an addiction that I hoard shows on my DVR.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Because of this I had to get my own DVR because Chris and Christopher kept recording things and clogging up my valuable space.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The nerve of those two!</div><div style="text-align: center;">On my DVR sits every episode of</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Walking Dead</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Killing</div><div style="text-align: center;">American Horror</div><div style="text-align: center;">Glee</div><div style="text-align: center;">I save these shows so I can go back and watch episodes again.....and again.....and again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is pretty much my week</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday </div><div style="text-align: center;">8 pm Once Upon A Time</div><div style="text-align: center;">9pm watch The Killing record Desperate Housewives</div><div style="text-align: center;">10 pm go to bed record GCB</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Monday</div><div style="text-align: center;">7pm watch Desperate Housewives from Sunday</div><div style="text-align: center;">8 pm watch How I Met Your Mother record Bones</div><div style="text-align: center;">9 pm record House watch Game of Thrones from sunday night </div><div style="text-align: center;">10 pm go to bed record Smash</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tuesday</div><div style="text-align: center;">7 pm watch GCB from Sunday</div><div style="text-align: center;">8 pm Glee </div><div style="text-align: center;">8:30 pm record Cougar Town</div><div style="text-align: center;">9 pm watch New Girl </div><div style="text-align: center;">10 pm go to bed.....I need my beauty sleep I am going to be 40 in a few weeks</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wednesday</div><div style="text-align: center;">7 pm watch House from Monday</div><div style="text-align: center;">8 pm watch Being Human on demand from Monday</div><div style="text-align: center;">9 pm Modern Family record Ghost Hunters</div><div style="text-align: center;">10 pm watch Revenge </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thursday </div><div style="text-align: center;">7 pm watch Ghost Hunters</div><div style="text-align: center;">8 pm watch Missing</div><div style="text-align: center;">9 pm watch Grey's Anatomy record The Office</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friday</div><div style="text-align: center;">watch anything I recorded but didn't watch yet</div><div style="text-align: center;">9 pm Supernatural</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So what do you think? Am I addicted? Should I seek help? Is there a support group?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-54317304241793004912012-04-02T11:32:00.000-04:002012-04-02T11:32:21.415-04:00Hunger Games Movie Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">I went with my book club to see The Hunger Games movie.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I thought I would share with you my thoughts on it.........There will be spoilers so if you haven't seen the movie please hop over to <a href="http://wearnailpolish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stacey's</a> blog or something and come back after you go see the movie.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I will assume that everyone has read the book.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I believe the screenwriter, director and producer of the film assumed the same.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you have not read the book then I think you will be confused and a little disappointed. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I would like to start off by saying whoever was in charge of casting did a wonderful job. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I did not have a problem with any of their choices and thought each actor was well suited for the role they played.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are my problems with the film.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I hated the in your face camera work.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't like it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It makes me dizzy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Jennifer Lawrence has beautiful poreless skin.......lucky her because if she didn't we would know. Thats how close the camera was to her face.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I heard some complaints that you did not get the full effect that district 12 is very poor.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I disagree. I think seeing the man sucking the marrow from the plate of meatless bone was enough to tell me that they were poor. I consider myself to be pretty observant and I don't need you to spell it out for me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And no the fact that Katniss was not grossly thin did not bother me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">What did bother me were her perfectly waxed eyebrows.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think the makeup artist or whoever is in charge of that could have added some fact bushy eyebrows.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the book the go into detail about the grooming of her leg hair and eyebrows because hello obviously if you can't afford food you can't afford a razor.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I needed more train scenes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">On the train (in the book) we began to see the feelings and budding connection between Katniss and Peeta so when he declared his love in his interview we were not surprised.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They did not do this in the movie so when he says it your kind of like......huh???</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can only imagine if you did not read the book what you were thinking. </div><div style="text-align: center;">At least I had the knowledge about their backstory.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I did not like the way that the Mockingjay pin was introduced.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the book it was given to her by the Mayor's Daughter whom she had a sort of awkward we are from a different social class friendship with.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We also learned more about the rebel meaning of the Mockingjay and why the pin would be looked at negatively by The Capital.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the movie she randomly buys it and gives it to her sister who then gives it back before Katniss leaves for the games.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I did not like the fact that the left out the Avox. If you did not read the book then you do not know what that is and that is a shame because their story is interesting.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I did not like the fact that you did not see the budding affection between Katniss and her prep team.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If they make movies for the other books this will be a problem.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't think they spent enough time on what was happening inside the game. </div><div style="text-align: center;">They showed too much of the people controlling the game and you never got a feel for fear, pain and torture of the games.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the book she is very close to dehydration.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They dry out all of the water in order to move the remaining tributes to where they want them to be.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You don't get any of that survival feel from the movie.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You don't understand how important it is that she knows how to trap and hunt.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of the other tributes who do not have this skill are starving.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In fact that reminds me that I was disappointed that they did not go into the detail of how and why she was so good at hunting in the first place.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was also bothered they should could not sing very well.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the book her voice, like her father's, is so beautiful that even the birds stop singing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Am I being nit-picky?? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sorry</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was upset with the ending as they did not touch on the fact that Peeta's leg is completely replaced with a new high tech leg.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The fact that they use this special super awesome medicine that literally removes any scar or cut or wound on the winning tribute was completely left out.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lastly when they arrive back home.....because you have not been given the impression that anything is going on between Gale and Katniss you don't really understand the look on her face when she sees him or the look on Peeta's face when he sees her looking at him.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Which brings up Gale.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know that in the first book we really don't learn about him much but the movie ignores him completely.....except for those awful quick shots of him during the Katniss/Peeta kissing scenes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Awkward.........</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is what I liked.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The acting</div><div style="text-align: center;">Seneca Crane's beard</div><div style="text-align: center;">Seeing the technology used for the games....although maybe shown a bit too much.</div><div style="text-align: center;">All of the scenes about Rue. Loved her in the book. Loved her in the movie.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well folks that is about all I have to say about that.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you like the series I say go and see it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But be prepared as with any book to movie scenario to be a little disappointed. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-64736694969700450112012-03-30T10:38:00.000-04:002012-03-30T10:38:22.791-04:00Amber wants me to tell you she is awesome<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">I was asking my Facebook friends who also are loyal blog readers to give me ideas of what they would like me to write about here on my blog.</div><div style="text-align: center;">All of their ideas were really terrible and it made me wonder why the hell I am Facebook friends with these people.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Because I feel obligated to write about at least one of their suggestions I decided to go with Amber's.....because she is my child.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Amber suggested I write about how awesome she is.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I reminded her that I had already done a post on how cool she is but she felt awesome was a much better description.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So here are my top five reasons Amber is so awesome.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1. She will be interning/working at Disney World from May-January - This is awesome because she is saving me a shit ton of money on tuition and rent. I will also not be receiving any can you please pay my cable bill texts because cable is provided as well as housing and classes. She will have a job so I won't have to say every time she asks me for money...."did you find a job yet?" upon which she whines and hangs up and posts this on my Facebook page.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZtU-NWJzS9-7jUFiQuiYT5x3UCIwXjdDcV3_CXtS7pQhRfKsfO0jKoIZWqdZ2YA9v7Ps2we3fWTOflOU_oolHw1yg4vT0rT7_PC-TjpAXbSU8Mc-x6NQ6oEbrqNsfUlwFwY7XGiX5nr_/s1600/photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZtU-NWJzS9-7jUFiQuiYT5x3UCIwXjdDcV3_CXtS7pQhRfKsfO0jKoIZWqdZ2YA9v7Ps2we3fWTOflOU_oolHw1yg4vT0rT7_PC-TjpAXbSU8Mc-x6NQ6oEbrqNsfUlwFwY7XGiX5nr_/s320/photo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2. She is the wolds worst liar - Look I am not proud of being a good liar but its a little disappointing that as my child she is so bad at it. I think what makes her awesome is that even though she is terrible at it she keeps trying to improve by lying constantly. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">3. She is very......very lazy - Why is this awesome because I never had to chase her as a child. She would start to run but then get tired and just sit down. I also pretty much know where she is at all times....her bed. She will get up. Take a shower. Do her hair. Put on her makeup. Get all dressed. And then lay in bed for the rest of the day. She's like the grandparents in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">4. On the weekends she sends me texts that simply say...."I am alive". She does this to let me know that her illegal consumption of alcohol has not killed her. She knows I do not approve. But she is responsible enough to tell me she is anyway and that it didn't kill her.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5. She says I look like the evil Mom from Tangled - Why is this awesome? Its not its mean and she should treat her mother with a little more respect. After all Mother Knows Best!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojMrHCToF_TvBDbmDKufNTSoaNJ08uhvcDQll2v-lrDD6AKy3qj3H0Dwp-DtR_C_3vzVPgbPT_ZHuBeVEPX6KLp9WUc72wcpmplxI2BrdK0w9_zMZKyTZOyX65OLd-8JbEoaGqpDIPibI/s1600/imgres-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojMrHCToF_TvBDbmDKufNTSoaNJ08uhvcDQll2v-lrDD6AKy3qj3H0Dwp-DtR_C_3vzVPgbPT_ZHuBeVEPX6KLp9WUc72wcpmplxI2BrdK0w9_zMZKyTZOyX65OLd-8JbEoaGqpDIPibI/s1600/imgres-1.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well there you have it folks. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Now you know how awesome my daughter is..........</div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4793614759956063076.post-70217569172925867392012-03-26T10:05:00.000-04:002012-03-26T10:05:43.936-04:00Fifty Shades of Grey.....eh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">If you are a follower of all things book related than you have heard of Fifty Shades of Grey.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">An erotic novel by E.L James.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are not a follower of all things book related I am sure you have heard about it too.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Apparently Ms. James started the book as a Twilight fan-fiction piece. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I will be honest I do not see the similarity at all but........</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway the trilogy </div><div style="text-align: center;">book one Fifty Shades of Grey </div><div style="text-align: center;">book two Fifty Shades Darker</div><div style="text-align: center;">book three Fifty Shades Free</div><div style="text-align: center;">has become a phenomenon.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And good for Ms. James.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love to see a self published author do well!</div><div style="text-align: center;">It gives hope to writers who would like to be published someday whether it be self published or traditionally published.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I have to be honest......I didn't like it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It has nothing to do with the fact that it is erotic fiction.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have read my share and I am not ashamed to say it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anne Rice writing as A.N Roquelaure</div><div style="text-align: center;">wrote an extremely hot well written erotic trilogy</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty</div><div style="text-align: center;">Beauty's <span style="text-align: left;">Punishment</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beauty's Release </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can not say for sure what it is that I didn't like.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I read it after hearing all of the hype about how incredible it was and I think that might be why I was disappointed. Which happens a lot with books and movies when they get so much attention.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I found the main character Anastasia Steele to be extremely annoying.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I did not think Christian Grey was hot I thought he was quite frankly and asshole.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Maybe its the feminist in me but I am pretty sure I would punch him in the face if he were an actual person.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I need to like the characters to like the book and I just didn't.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are interested in reading erotica there are a TON of 99 cent ebooks that will rock your world.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or buy the Anne Rice trilogy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or buy these and support an indie author......whatever.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is what my problem is with all of this Grey hullabaloo</div><div style="text-align: center;">Its on the New York Times Bestsellers list?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Really???????</div><div style="text-align: center;">I get that its popular and all but I have read a ton of books this past year that did not make it on that list that were a hell of a lot better.</div><div style="text-align: center;">better written, better character development and much more entertaining.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm probably going to get a bunch of hate mail for saying this but....whatever</div><div style="text-align: center;">And sorry to my family who reads my blog</div><div style="text-align: center;"> but maybe I didn't find it as enthralling and best seller worthy as everyone else</div><div style="text-align: center;">because </div><div style="text-align: center;">I am fulfilled and satisfied in my real life .......if you get what I am saying ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a happy monday everyone!</div></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16232979489927013323noreply@blogger.com4