Week 8

boom

The Trouble With Paris, Mark Sayers

Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card

The Pox and the Covenant, Tony Williams

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick

The Art of the Steal, Frank Abagnale

Boneshaker, Cherie Priest

Inferno, Dante Alighieri  

The Last King of Scotland, Giles Foden 

That new novel I don't know the name of, J.K. Rowling 

Ready Player One, Ernest Cline 

Only two books left for my Monthly Thing To Do, which is great because today I remembered February only has 28 days. Ack! I actually just finished The Pox and the Covenant, and was determined to finish it before I posted this blog post update.Now, let's go through a short review of each, starting with the shortest title first.

Boneshaker, by Cherie Priest, is the first in the Clockwork Century series that spans the United States during the 1800's. It takes place in Seattle, set up as the final stop before gold miners got into Canada on their way to the Klondike. Stuff happens, they have to wall off a large section of Seattle because of an underground pocket of crazy poisony gas was accidentally tapped. Kid goes in exploring, mom goes in and earns several Mom of the Year awards, specifically for "Ass Kicking" and "Keeping Secrets." It's super steampunk, and I really liked it! It's a good, fun romp that requires heavy suspension of disbelief. Like I said, it's the first in a series I plan on picking up (I placed holds on the next few books in the series, too)

The Art of the Steal is one of three novels by Frank Abagnale (you know, the Catch Me If You Can guy who lucked out by having Leonardo DiCaprio play him. Seriously. A biopic with Leo starring as you? Lucky) and covers a wide variety of scams and cons he's seen working with banks and institutions over the years (as well as some he saw while working his old 9-5). It's very interesting, if a little dated (it was released in 2002, and for instance offers quite a bit of information on check fraud [side note: what are checks]), and talks about several electronic scams still in use today. I enjoyed it, though I would have enjoyed it ten years ago if I were a little more criminal.

The Pox and the Covenant goes into great, almost annoying, detail about a smallpox epidemic in Boston in 1721, and the resistance Puritan ministers and medical doctors felt while trying to introduce inoculation as a viable means of defeating smallpox (featuring the debut of Benjamin Franklin, who talks so much crap). It's a great view of Puritan Boston, and piqued my interest in learning a little more about Puritanism (specifically, in the foundation of the country). I dislike how the book seems to skip around chronologically and how several details are missing or not explained fully at first. Also, you know in National Treasure, that documentary with Nicholas Cage, how they talk about the Silence Dogood letters Franklin wrote (spoiler alert: he hid a secret message in his letters to lead explorers in the future to a cache of artifacts)? They were written during the smallpox epidemic of 1721 and are talked about in this book~!

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was actually the first of this group of books I read. You may know that Blade Runner was based on this novel? I gotta say... read the book. Then watch the movie again. So much makes sense now. "What's with all the weird questions about animals," you may ask while watching the movie, and I say "It's because stuff, also that dust is toxic." I liked it. A lot. Maybe because I've seen the movie and was able to connect characters and locations and what things looked like. But yeah. Much greater appreciation for Blade Runner after reading the novel it's based on.

With those out of the way, let's get to the Weekly Things to Do! Last week was a "No Soda Week," but I think I failed yesterday because I made a pulled pork recipe that used Dr. Pepper instead of a stock. And it was really good and No Regrets. I'll be enjoying no soda tomorrow because of it, though, and because I had some more soda yesterday because I was like whatever.

This week, as much as it pains me to say, I have to run 3 miles. Not the worst thing ever, especially considering how much walking I've been doing recently. It's been keeping me from being totally sedentary. Let's do this.

As a quick reminder, I'll be making a post this Thursday (or Friday, I don't know) with the month-end status update, a drawing for next months Thing To Do, and I guess an update on the running? See you then

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Week 7

I have altered the book list. Pray I do not alter it further. In the interest of finishing this challenge in the time I have remaining, and not getting completely slogged down, I've removed a couple of much longer books and placed them on my "I'm going to read it next month" list. Also because the library didn't have a couple of them ready (I'm 18th out of 18 holds on Game of Thrones, and Stardust is in a similar boat). Wild Swans will probably be the first book I read next month. I'm still very interested in it, Kara!

The Pox and the Covenant, Tony Williams

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick

The Art of the Steal, Frank Abagnale

The Trouble With Paris, Mark Sayers

Boneshaker, Cherie Priest

Decoded, Jay-Z

Inferno, Dante Alighieri  (Completed)

The Last King of Scotland, Giles Foden (Completed)

That new novel I don't know the name of, J.K. Rowling (Completed)

Ready Player One, Ernest Cline (Completed)

So far, it's been very, very weird. I'm all over the place on the finished novels. The Last King of Scotland details the life of a Scottish doctor who works in Uganda, eventually becoming private doctor for Idi Amin (who I'd not had much knowledge of). Very rough to read at times, especially when detailing the various diseases and... things that go wrong with people. Reading descriptions of Amin's tortures and general insanity made me uncomfortable; knowing some of it was fiction and some not. I have a feeling some of the more stated stuff truly occurred, which doesn't help anything. THEN I READ READY PLAYER ONE, a novel that focuses on a huge billions dollar contest held within a VR Second Life style game world in the future. I really, really, really like this novel and will be buying a personal copy to loan out. The contest used 80's trivia and knowledge, forcing a huge resurgence in the popularity of video games, movies and icons from that era, in the future. Very interesting, both as a source of fictional futurism and a look at the history of geek culture. Ready Player One requires a few suspensions of disbelief... a couple of pretty big ones. Other than that, I really enjoyed it. Would recommend.


Finally, I've finished J.K. Rowling's Casual Vacancy, a novel I knew nothing about getting into it. I... I had no idea what to expect, but certainly didn't get anything I was expecting. It had her style, and I enjoyed it as a work of fiction, but it dragged on something fierce, and the several titillating sequences sprinkled throughout didn't help much either. It had a very dull premise (A small English village council chair died; an election took place, stuff happened) with a lot of dramatic situations packed in, and a Crash feel to it (in that everyone felt very interconnected -- a result of it being a small village, but still). I liked it, but I didn't. I'm not sure. I'm conflicted. I think I didn't like it more than I liked it.

I'm burning through Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? again. I set it down to read those three. I need to get goin'.

Last week's 3 hours of personal computer time per day went really well. Helped me to focus on reading and getting other stuff taken care of. This week, I pulled a No Soda this week slip :( And I just got a shipment of exotic sodas from my parents today, too. Life is so unfair. Plus my ginger ale addiction~! Truth be told, I don't drink that much soda these days -- it's very expensive -- but this will be a good exercise in restraint. At least it isn't another No sugar week, because I just got my girl scout cookies, and ain't no paper stopping me from chowin down. Caramel Delites that's whats up nerds

Peace. Thanks for reading about my reading... dawg.

Week 6

Sorry to invite you back so quickly, though a little later than usual. I've heard a few comments that my niece usually demands the songs I post be played several times, which warms my heart to no end. I'll teach her the ways of good music one way or the other. Here's another song I much enjoy.

I mentioned I was putting together a book list for the rest of the month! boom

1. The Pox and the Covenant, Tony Williams
2. The Last King of Scotland, Giles Foden
3. That new novel I don't know the name of, J.K. Rowling
4. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick
5. A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin
6. Stardust, Neil Gaiman
7. The Trouble With Paris, Mark Sayers
8. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, Jung Chang
9. I haven't decided yet, probably something cool though, Someone
10. Inferno, Dante Alighieri  (Completed)

I've already started on Androids, should be done soon. Need to get some of these reserved and sent to the library down the road (or even the one on the square, hadn't thought of that until just now). I'm slow starting again this month, which sucks, but hopefully I'll be able to knock this one out. It's safe to say I'm excited about reading all of these, except maybe the J.K. Rowling one that I heard wasn't super great? I guess we'll find out.

As I mentioned yesterday, setbacks have made me decide to extend last week's Thing To Do, No Sugah, through this week. As I mentioned earlier today, birthday cake is an exception that everyone must make. So, we'll see how I do this week!

Going nicely with my monthly goal, this week I'm limited to three hours of personal computer time (including gaming) per day. I plan on using this time to burn through a few books, do some more running, and generally being a little more active.

Okay well. Let me know what you think of my book choices I guess? I AM NOT GOOD AT BLOGGING

Week 5 and Apologies

For the past two weeks I've been getting ill. I'm back now though. My apologies for missing the post last week. Here's a song that inspired the beat for a Dr. Dre song. Listen as you read, or just listen.

Two weeks ago, I was to learn and make two new recipes. I kinda cheated and did two pulled pork recipes, but haters, etc. I did read through a lot of recipes, and have a lot of ideas -- especially Indian and Italian foods. I just need to buy additional ingredients to make a few others. Also apparently recipes come in large collections IN BOOKS? When did this start

yeehaw

I made a simple five hour pulled pork for the first. Very simple, very delicious. I adapted a recipe I found (I think from Rachael Ray?) and did some small tweaks.

Ingredients:
3-4lb pork butt roast (or whatever, I'm not your mom)
15 oz (1 can) beef stock
1 cup water
1 onion
1 bottle Sweet Baby Ray's whatever (I used Hickory & Brown Sugar Barbeque Sauce)
Spices (Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Cumin)

1. Slice onion into coaster-sized pieces. Line bottom of slow cooker. Keep out a couple to layer on top of the roast.
2. Combine equal parts salt, pepper, garlic powder and cumin and rub down the roast.
3. Lay the roast on top of onions, add beef stock and water. Place a couple of onion slices on top.
4. Low, 10 hours.Leave it alone.
5. Preheat oven, 375 degrees. Remove onions, take roast out and place in an oven-safe pan or thing. I used a glass pan thing.
6. Rip that stuff up using a couple forks. Pour 3/4s of the bottle in, mix it up. It's delicious so sneak a piece.
7. Cover dat pan in foil, then forget it in oven for 30 minutes.
8. Eat.

It's delish. So yeah. Boom. I've finished only 1 book so far for my monthly -- Dante Alighieri's Inferno. It's phenomenal, if loaded with references and people I've never heard of. I went out to the library and compiled a list of books. I'll post it up on Sunday.

My Week 5 Thing To Do is No Sugah. Because I'm awful at not eating sugah, I'm gonna extend it out through next week because I've cheated a bit this week. I'll post tomorrow once I pull the Week 6 deal, and do two at once, ahhhhhhhhhhh.

Thanks for reading. I hate having a setback like this. It's a little disheartening to lose this much time, but hopefully I can get back on the horse. Guh. Only a million more weeks to go!

Peace

Interlude 1

Apologies for my delays. I'll write this evening. Until then, enjoy this. Thanks for visiting.

Month 2

It's February! Pronounce that first 'r', DO IT. Also watch this video to get into the mood of this blog post.

LAST MONTH I HAD TO RUN 10 MILES IN 1 MONTH. Chump change for a surprisingly large amount of people, sure? Also it was friggin cold and I live near more dogs than I thought I did. When making up my Monthly Things to Do, I kinda hoped this one would show up in, like... spring? or fall? Or some nice time? Also I wouldn't have to run any time soon.

I completed the January Thing. Boom. It took me running a mile and some change on the 31st, but I did it. And I think I will continue running (albeit more when it's nicer) and trying to get my mile time down and the amount of distance run up. For a couple of years I've wanted to do the Warrior Dash (or Tough Mudder, or Spartan Race, or blahh blahh) but I've been very unrunny. I think I might try to do one. They're 5k races with obstacles. Yes? Yes. We'll see.

I said I would update people on how the chili cook-off went (two weeks ago, I entered a food competition for the first time ever) and this is that update. I took fourth place (or runner up, but shh it was fourth place) out of 13 (14?) entries! BOOM! So that feels good.

I actually pulled out Febrururarury's Monthly Thing To Do a couple of days ago, but got swamped with laziness. Oh man, I'm actually pretty excited about this one (whereas I was terrified of last months)! This month, I simply have to read 10 books! I will say, honestly, this one may actually be a little difficult. The reason I threw this one in the original mix is because I've stopped reading as much as I would like, or maybe as much as I think I should. I do have some self imposed limitations so I can't cheese it too badly.

Februarinomicon Rules

1. Books must be at least 250 pages in length
2. Books must be new to me, and not part of a series I've started
3. Books must not suck
4. If a book starts to suck, I can grab a new one and start over with it
5. No Twilight (this is for people who give suggestions)

So that's not too rough. I'm hoping to get in a good mix of religious study, fiction and non-fiction, and some other kind of book, I dunno. I'd like to get in some Lovecraft, as I've never fully read the Cthulhu mythos (probably burn through The Call of Cthulhu as a precursor to At the Mountains of Madness), and maybe try out that Game of Thorns series. They made it into a show on the television, so it can't be half bad. If you have any suggestions, lay it on me daddy-o.

This also means I have to go renew my library card, which means I have to pay a fine from teenagehood, which means I have to go in, start filling out a form, and then get a disappointed cluck from the librarian, which means I have to look all sad and give her money. UGH MY LIFE

Peace. I'll make another post tomorrow about this week's Thing (cook 2 new recipes).