A to Z Book Survey

I've seen this survey making the rounds lately, but I think it started with Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner, the queen of survey making! And so, since it's been awhile since I've done this sort of thing, and since I need a post for today, it's survey time!!

A uthor you’ve read the most books from: back in the day I read a ton of Orson Scott Card and also Anya Setton. Not sure any author has caught up to them yet (not counting re-reads of course.)

B est Sequel Ever: Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta

C urrently Reading: Just started Blackout by Robison Wells (released Oct. 1)

D rink of Choice While Reading: I've never understood this. Drinking and reading don't go together in my head. Now, reading and SNACKING maybe... like on M and M's or something! :)

E -reader or Physical Book? Okay, I love them both. Seriously. Gasp, did I just say that?

F ictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated in High School: Joe from The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nielson, Gideon from My Big Nose... by Sydney Salter, Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins, Gilbert from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.... just to name a few!

G lad You Gave This Book A Chance: The Thief (and its sequels) by Megan Whalen Turner

H idden Gem Book: Coop by Michael Perry

I mportant Moment in your Reading Life: When I started blogging. Wow, things have never been the same.

J ust Finished: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

K inds of Books You Won’t Read: erotica... other than that, there's not much I won't read.

L ongest Book You’ve Read: I'm not sure... but I think it's The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson which clocks in at 1,258 pages. Boy and those pages flew by.

M ajor book hangover because of: Poison Study by Marie V. Synder

N umber of Bookcases You Own: Are you kidding me? In the whole house? Let me count.....18 is what I come up with! Wow. Who knew?

O ne Book You Have Read Multiple Times: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I've lost track how many times now.

P referred Place To Read: The couch for sure.

Q uote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read: 

“Sometimes people are beautiful.
Not in looks.
Not in what they say.
Just in what they are.” 
― Markus Zusak, I Am the Messenger

R eading Regret: That I "hid" my love for books and reading for so long. I'm glad I've come out now!

S eries You Started and Need to Finish (all books are out in series): There are SOOO many! But The Mortal Instruments series comes to mind. Are all the books out? I think so.

T hree of your All-Time Favorite Books: The Book Thief, Pride and Prejudice and The Name of the Wind.

U napologetic Fangirl For: Hello. Markus Zusak of course!

V ery Excited for This Release More Than All the Others: Probably Patrick Rothfuss's next book in the Kingkiller Chronicles. I have no idea what its name is going to be, or when it will be out.

W orst Bookish Habit: Laying books down... open... when I'm in a hurry and will "be right back" and don't have time for the bookmark!

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book: I'm going with Run by Ann Patchett... need to read!

Y our latest book purchase: Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

Z ZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late): The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Whew! That was fun! Now... it's your turn!

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Days 6 - 10

More blogging prompts for book bloggers! I think this is nearly over now, but I'm still "catching up!"  Check out this post from Good Books and Good Wine for all the details.

Day Six: How I Shop for Books

I'm thinking that most of the time when I buy books it's because I'm going to a signing and I either want to support the author, or the bookstore, or I just really want the book! Also, I'll buy books in a series that I love and want to collect. Or I'll buy books by an author I love and want to collect. But usually, I have some idea of what the book is before I buy it, I'm not much into buying a random book anymore these days. Oh, and I'll buy cheap Kindle books too! Now and then.

Day Seven: My Blogging Quirks

Hmm... I'm  a little stumped with this prompt! What ARE my blogging quirks? 

• I'm bugged if I miss a day, though I'm trying really hard to get over that.
• I don't get very behind in reviews, not sure what this means. I don't read as much as everyone else maybe?
• I don't like writing detailed reviews. I feel it gives away too much of the book.
• After so many years at this, I still get instantly sad if a blog post has no comment love at all!
• I use these things....... way too much. 
• I'm a haphazard blogger and don't over obsess about my posts, usually. I just throw them up.
• I'm not into the technical things because I feel that bottom line, I just want to talk books and reading, and that's pretty easy, technically.
• I love writing discussion posts, but I'm out of ideas for discussions.
• I blog much better if there is music blasting... and when I say blasting, I mean blasting.

Day Eight: 15 Things I Like (and I'll add... or Dont Like) On Blogs

1. No clutter
2. Some white space
3. Fun colors
4. Lots of personal and not just reviews
5. No moving or glittering parts
6. No auto music, but talking about and sharing music is fun!
7. Lists and resources included
8. About me pages
9. A search bar
10. Social media contacts easy to find near the top
11. Easy to read fonts
12. NO CAPTCHA
13. I like it if I don't have to "click more" to read more, know what I mean?
14. I like the comment button at the bottom of a post NOT the top.
15. Drop down menus are cool and I'm starting wish I had some

Day Nine: Why Do I Blog About Books?

Because I feel this overwhelming need to talk about them. And the overwhelming hope that someone might want to listen and talk back.
Day Ten: How Do I Choose What to Read Next?

Mostly by mood, but a lot of times it's because it's something that I've committed to review and the publish date is coming up, or I'm going to a signing and I want to read the book first, or a movie has come out and I want to read the book first, or whatever book club is reading, or I just bought it and I'm going to drop everything else to read it, or I join a read along, or.....


Coming up this week.... Days 11 through 15! Don't you LOVE how I'm doing this all wrong!! :)

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Catch Up Days 1-5

When I got home from vacation, I discovered this fun little blogging writing prompt going on, so I want to participate even though I'm behind! Check out this post from Good Books and Good Wine for all the details.


Day One: 15 Book Related Confessions:

1. I'm an old middle aged mom that loves to read YA romances.
2. And I always seem to like the dark haired one...almost always.
3. I don't care about plot holes, at all.
4. I also don't care about grammar mistakes.
5. I'm okay loaning out books as long as you've proven yourself a good returner...
6. ... that is unless it's a signed book, especially a Markus Zusak signed book, and then no one will be getting that one!
7. I'm not overly concerned about matching book sets, because a book is a book is a book.
8. Which also means I've come to terms with the whole ebook/ereader thing and have embraced it!
9. And about cover art? Eh, I'm not that into it, at least I don't think I am. Unless I'm being somehow subconsciously messed with.
10. I used to read tons of classics, and now I think they are hard.
11. I'm worried that I tend to remember some of those classics overly fondly, and that if I re-read them, they won't be as good as they were before.
12. If I absolutely love a book with all my heart and someone argues against that book, it makes me so sad. 
13. I lay in bed at night and stare at all my unread books on the shelf and worry about ever getting to them.
14. I think messy books are just as fun as organized books (do you remember Sabrina's dad's apartment in that movie, the one with Harrison Ford? I loved that place!)
15. It doesn't totally freak me out to see the movie before the book... only a little.

Day Two: Bedtime ritual: I don't really have a ritual for reading at bedtime, except that it must happen. Lay down, grab book, and read... every night, without fail.

Day Three: Blogging BFFs: I can't tell you how much I hate this question. I have many blogging BFFs! Too many to list! You all know who you are! Many have become IRL friends thanks to the wonderful bookish community we have here in Utah! It's awesome.

Day Four: Book I flung: That other Yann Martel book! Loved Life of Pi, but hated Beatrice and Virgil! Talk about a book that manipulates its reader. Crazy. (Okay, so this is not the LATEST book I flung, but the one that stands out in my mind. Actually, I can't think of a book I flung lately.) And yes, I literally threw this book on the floor when I read that last sentence.

Day Five: Tear Jerker: The first book that I remember making me cry was The Good Earth. Even though that Chinese farmer was a mean old cuss, he worked so hard to make it on his farm, and in the end, all his sons wanted to do was sell it right from under his dying body. That KILLED me people!

Stay tuned for more catch up prompts!

The Classics Club April Meme: Favorite Literary Hero

The question this month for The Classics Club is a good one, and a hard one. I want to ponder and answer, but I think it's going to be a struggle!

“Who is hands-down the best literary hero, in your opinion? Likewise, who is the best heroine?”

So, let me refer you to my fictional hero Pinterest board...we'll start there, shall we? Here's who I have listed:

Captain Wentworth

Samwise Gamgee

Gilbert Blythe

Marius

Edmund Dantes

Mr. Thornton

Aragorn

Mr. Darcy

Colonel Brandon

(And since my board is "fictional" and not necessarily "literary" I also have:)

Hans Solo

Malcolm Reynolds

Indiana Jones

Batman

Hmmm... my board is really just a beginning, is it not? Ha. Funny to see what struck my fancy when I thought of this idea and started the pinning!

But after looking at my meager list, I lean toward Samwise as my choice for "hands-down" best hero. I did a Character Connection post on him quite awhile back and here's what I said then:

I don't think there's a single other literary character that can match him in loyalty, faithfulness, steadfastness and pure courage. He is amazing. I love him with all my heart.

Yep, I stick by that assessment!

As for a favorite heroine? This one I haven't considered as much as the hero question. Does she need to have accomplished something heroic? Overcome great odds? Taught us something valuable and long-lasting? 

Elizabeth, though we love her, doesn't really fit that description. Jane Eyre maybe, if we think of the things she had to endure in her early life. Anne Shirley taught us how to look on the bright side of life and have fun. Anne Elliott might work also. But none of them really stand out to me! I don't know... who would YOU pick for a "hands down" best heroine?

Bookishness Around Town

This last year I've had fun participating in the Where in the World are You Reading meme hosted by Trish, Lisa and Kelly.  But they are closing it down now with the prompt, "Bookishness Around Town."  

And so, I thought I'd compile a bunch of my bookish pictures from the past couple of years into a quick, very quick (only 30 seconds!) slide show. 

So, I give you my contribution to Bookishness Around Town:




It's been fun guys! 

Check out links to other posts here.

Oh, and P.S.

Today I'm being featured over at Jenni Elyse's blog! Come say hi there!

Where In The World Are You Reading: Comfy Spot

The question this month for the Where in the World Are You Reading meme is:

Where's your comfy reading spot?

And the answer is:

My bed of course!!!!


And for those of you keeping track, see that blank wall above the bed? THAT'S where my hexagon wall quilt is going to go, along with an awesome wooden quilt hanger thing that I'm going to get my husband to make! Should we keep track of how long that's going to take us??? 

Anyway, reading in bed with lots of quilts and pillows piled around me (or the ceiling fan going if it's summer) is the best comfy reading spot I know!

Where's your comfy spot? Link up this month over at The Written World.

The Classics Club January Question: Best So Far

The January Classics Club question:

"What is the best book you've read so far for The Classics Club — and why? Be sure to link to the post where you discussed the book! (Or, if you prefer, what is your least favorite read so far for the club, and why?)"

Having just started on this official classics quest in September, I've only read three books for the challenge so far. The best of the three without a doubt is A Tale of Two Cities. (My review here.) And why is it the best?

• an unlikely hero
• a tumultuous historical backdrop
• witty and at times sarcastic writing
• it's a Charles Dickens that's not huge but manageable!
• love and sacrifice at its very best
• plot twists and other sneaky stuff
• an ending that will stick with you forever

What's a favorite classic you've read recently... and what makes it so good?

Where in the World Are You Reading November: With Who?

This question this month for the fun meme Where in the World Are You Reading... is.... WHO are you reading with? Who's your reading buddy?

Well, for the most part, I'm usually found reading  alone. But every night before going to sleep, this is what you'll see at my house:

Yep, reading with my husband, Mr. Stuey!! Sweet, yes? 

Come play with us and link up this time over at Kailana's place, The Written World.

The Classics Club November Question: Am I Scared?

Today I would like to answer The Classic Club's November question, which is:

What classic piece of literature most intimidates you, and why? (Or, are you intimidated by the classics, and why? And has your view changed at all since you joined our club?)

While I'm not too very intimidated by the classics (at least I wasn't, I find them harder than they used to be lately!) there are some pieces that do scare me quite a bit!  The one that comes to mind right off the bat is Ulysses by James Joyce. Not sure I'll ever have the guts and fortitude to tackle this one! 

I remember one time I checked it out of the library simply because I'd heard it about it somewhere   (I think it was back in the beginning of online book clubs) and so I saw it and thought, what the heck. The librarian at the counter sort of freaked when he/she saw it and basically said to me... "Seriously?" I wondered why.

Until I read the first page or two and I instantly knew... this book was HARD. It made no sense. And when I came to understand that it was ONE day in the life of some dude and it was... what?.... nearly a thousand pages long? Oh, boy. How? Just how?

Well, of course I took it back unread, and I haven't tried again since.

Some are scared of War and Peace. That book isn't so bad really. I read half of it and I'm determined to finish it some day. The peace parts are awesome. The war parts.... those I don't get, but maybe, just maybe I can do it!

What classical book intimidates you?

Why Read Classics?

Remember how I joined that Classics Club thing awhile back? The one where you read 50 classics in the next five years? Yes? Well they ask a sort of meme question every month and this month's question is:

Why are you reading the classics?

What a good question, eh? Why indeed. I must ponder.

1. Reading classics makes you smart! These books make you think and make you wonder about things and give you fuel for small talk. They even make you catch all the references in shows like Gilmore Girls. Classic books tend to  have substance and usually, you have to work for it... which... in the end... makes you smart.

2. The classics have all the best characters. Whether you love them or hate them, you have to admit, the characters found in classic books are memorable. Mr. Darcy, Pip, Heathcliff, Mr. Thornton, Jo and Laurie, Tess... just to name a few. I find myself falling in love (or hate as the case may be) over and over and over again.

3. Classics, by their very nature, are still relevant today. There's something to learn from these books, the moral of the story if you will. Even today, years later, that still holds true.

4. Why not? I mean, if you cut them out of your reading buffet, you'll be missing so much! None of us wants to do that now, do we? We want to read ALL the books! Some (a lot) of my very most favorite books are classics and to think that I may have missed them if I wasn't keen on reading classics just makes me shudder.

5. Bottom line: It's fun to read the classics! Sometimes it's also a little hard, but in the end, you feel such a sense of accomplishment. And often, you have a movie to watch that goes with the book. And you've got to admit, that's fun!

Do you read the classics? Why? Or... why not?

Where In The World Are You Reading.... While Waiting?

It's time for another installment of Where In the World Are You Reading? a monthly meme hosted by Trish, Lisa and Kailana. The theme for the month is... Waiting! You can head on over to Lisa at Books. Lists. Life. to see where people read while they wait.

As for me....



I read while waiting for the day to start
or the night to begin.

I read while waiting for the kids to come home
or jump in the car for a ride.



I read while waiting in a waiting room
or a for a movie to begin
or a play to start.

I read while riding in a car to get somewhere
and sometimes I even read right in the middle of the afternoon while waiting to get some energy back.

I read while waiting
for dinner to cook
clothes to wash
and the house to get clean.

I read some books while waiting for other books to be released!

It would be safe to say that I'm reading pretty much while waiting to do anything.

How about you? Where do you read and wait?

Where in the World Are You Reading: My Library!

The prompt this month for Where in the World Are You Reading, the new monthly meme brought to us by Trish, Kelly and Lisa is Library... with this month's link ups over at The Written World.

As you may know by now, I have two libraries that I love. But for this post I'd like to highlight the one that I work at... the one I've been supporting for years and years... the one that is truly "my" local library.....Orem Public Library! So one day, I walked around and took a bunch of pictures and here's what I have to share:

The approach! This whole side that you see is the "new" wing which was added in 1995.. I was there for the ribbon cutting! A very exciting day! The old wing is to the left a bit of this picture. This new wing houses the children's books. Before, all the children's books were crammed in the dark and dreary basement. What a difference now!

 

This is the view through the bottom of the new wing, across the stacks of the picture books, you can see the  famous stained glass window way in the far distance.

This is the "little kid" corner.. I know it has a more official name, but forget.
Anyway, some storytimes for the babies take place in this corner.

Here's just half of the famous window.

Downstairs in Media is an awesome CD collection.....

.... and DVD collection. These two pictures show only a very small fraction!

You can walk between the two library wings using the bridge shown here,
or go outside through the garden as I'm doing to take the picture.

Abe recently joined the ranks... and we've already had a patron complain that he's here!
They don't believe in his politics, so they wanted him OUT!!

I've shared this one before, but here's the view from my desk.
And another view of Abe!

The non-fiction stacks. Notice the new lighting! That happened in the most recent remodel.

And here's my sister (who was along for the picture taking fun) enjoying the little boy statue ,
just as all the little kids do when checking out books!
I can't even begin to guess how many kids have climbed on him!

Stuff I've loved about this library over the years:

• summer reading program
• local author appearances
• The Big Read and Orem Reads (including free copies of the book)
• puppet shows
• checking out CDs and movies (we were there when they first got CDs and thought it was the COOLEST thing ever!)
• book club sets
• participating in a blog panel!
• storytime when my kids were really little
• awesome fun programs
• artsy performances
• big name author appearances
• the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival
• TONS and TONS of books!!

I remember thinking a few years ago, that I come to the library so often, wouldn't it be cool if I could come and actually get paid for it? In a few weeks, it will be four years since that dream came true for real. Lucky lucky me!

And that's my library. If you find yourself in the neighborhood, come say hi!!

Where in the World Are You Reading: Local Bookstore

A bunch of my favorite bloggers (Trish, Kelly and Lisa) have started a new fun monthly bookish meme called Where in the World Are You Reading? How could I not participate!?? Please click here for the main details.

This month's theme is: your local bookstore. Sadly, the only real local bookstore I have now that Borders is gone, is Barnes and Noble. While they are fine for an emergency, I don't often go there for my bookish needs. They do have some fun author events though, which I will support when I can.

However, a few miles away in Salt Lake, there is a very cool local bookstore called The King's English. I'm often wishing this store was a little bit closer to me because they have non-stop author events that I'd love to go to more often! As it is, I manage to go to maybe two or three a year.

This store is situated in what used to be a house, I think, so the store wanders in and out of many little rooms, each devoted to a different genre. A few years after opening, they bought out the part of the building next to them and expanded their kids and YA sections. It's a very quaint and cozy space.

The owner, Betsy Burton, has written a book about her story, which I've read and found fascinating! As a bonus, each chapter ends with a book list that pertains in part to that chapter. I love it.

What do you love about your local bookstore? Write up a post and participate! Come here to link up.

Next month's prompt: Library.

TGIF: Musical Stories

Here's a new-to-me bookish meme that I found this morning that I feel like responding to. Check it out over on GReads blog! It's called TGIF.

Here's the question:

Musical Stories:

 If you could read a book about any song, 

which song would you love to see written down in story form?

I've sort of mentioned this before, but the song that always comes to mind when I think about this is Hazard by Richard Marx. What a story in this song! There's a boy who's not quite normal who goes to this town and finally finds a friend, but then she turns up missing he's accused of murder? What?!!! I want to know more! I want to be in his head! I want to know what REALLY happened!

Here's the lyrics:

My mother came to Hazard when I was just seven
Even then the folks in town said with prejudiced eyes
That boy's not right 
Three years ago when I came to know Mary
First time that someone looked beyond the rumors and the lies
And saw the man inside 


We used to walk down by the river
She loved to watch the sun go down
We used to walk along the river
And dream our way out of this town 


No one understood what I felt for Mary
No one cared until the night she went out walking alone
And never came home 
Man with a badge came knocking next morning
Here was I surrounded by a thousand fingers suddenly
Pointed right at me 


I swear I left her by the river
I swear I left her safe and sound
I need to make it to the river
And leave this old Nebraska town


I think about my life gone by
And how it's done me wrong
There's no escape for me this time
All of my rescues are gone, long gone


I swear I left her by the river
I swear I left her safe and sound
I need to make it to the river
And leave this old Nebraska town

And here's the song being performed:

See? Doesn't this tragic song just BEG for a book to go with it?

Why I Blog Meme

A few months ago I saw this meme making a bit of a come back.... specifically I remember seeing jt over at Trish's from Love Laughter and a Touch of Insanity. So I nabbed the questions and decided it would be a perfect blogiversary type post... to ponder on this blogging hobby... so here are my general blogging thoughts.

1.  How long have you been blogging?


This week marks five years blogging here at It's All About Books. But I actually started blogging more than a year before that when Yahoo 360 was a thing, and I loved doing personal type essays over there. But I got frustrated when I wanted to talk books and no one talked back. Then... 360 died anyway, so....

2.  Why did you start blogging?


I was a member of several online book clubs... Yahoo groups mostly, and they started talking about reading challenges and posting them to your blog and on and on, and so I thought, dang, I really should have a blog that's "all about books" and so, after pondering the idea for a long long time, I decided what the heck and went for it.

3.  What have you found to be the benefits of blogging?

I love the creative outlet that blogging provides. It's just simply a way to put thoughts to words and share them... which makes me feel happy. I love the interaction with so many other book fans. I love how author stalking has become a true hobby since I've started blogging. I love discussing books with people. 

4.  How many times a week do you post an entry?

Every day, except I skip Friday and Saturday sometimes. If I feel there's a lot going on, I will post twice in a day. 

5.  How many different blogs do you read on a regular basis?


Are you kidding me? I have no idea what the number is. Hundreds of book blogs. Tens of family blogs.

6.  Do you comment on other people’s blogs?


Of course! Why blog if you don't comment? However, that being said, I've been really lousy at it in recent months. But I do go in spurts, and there are moments of commenting blitzes!

7.  Do you keep track of how many visitors you have?  Is so, are you satisfied with your numbers?


Yes, I mean, I keep track a little. Google Analytics can be a fascinating thing to look over now and then. Then Blogger added a stats page awhile back and it's fun to see what it's saying (the two of them rarely agree by the way, so who knows how many visitors I really have!) Yes, I like my numbers. They are good enough that I know there are readers out there, but not so high that I feel pressure or panic or whatever bloggers feels when they have a huge audience to please! I like seeing the numbers growing, and this year, they've grown quite a bit. I think it's because I've put myself out there a little more. Yeah, that only took five years!

8.  Do you ever regret a post that you wrote?


No, not really. Sometimes I get embarrassed if I've been too personal... or too fan girly, or something, but I don't really regret it. Those posts make the blog real, right? And you truly have the real me here, and I'm good with that. So if I gush about certain authors or singers, or books or events,  it's because you let me and I have fun doing it! 

9.  Do you think your audience has a true sense of who you are based on your blog?

As I said above, most definitely yes. Except I'm much shyer and less talkative in person. Well, depending on the people I'm with I suppose. But that's probably true for us all. 

10.  Do you blog under your real name?


Suey is my real nickname, one I've had since college (and I'm old so that was a long time ago) I never really liked it all that much, but now I've totally embraced it and I enjoy that it's weird and different and hopefully memorable.

11.  Are there topics that you would never blog about?


Yeah, I'd rather stay away from religion and politics for the most part. And though I blog about my family, I don't think you'll see a lot of detail about them here either.

12.  What is the theme/topic of your blog?


LOL... well.... how about "It's All About Books and life's other adventures too!" :) My theme is books and reading with a lot of personal ruminations thrown in.

13.  Do you have more than one blog?  If so, why?

Nope. That would make me crazy. That's probably why even though this blog started out as "all about books" it has now morphed into a discussion of so many other things I enjoy. I'll just add whatever I'm thinking about, loving or experiencing to this here blog, books or not books. When I first started it, I still had my other blog, until 360 died, then I tried blogging at Multiply for awhile, but found I was having much more fun here, and so I stopped with the other and concentrated all efforts here. 

Questions originated from this blog back a few years ago.




Feel free to answer the questions on your own blog! 

TAGGED!

Wow! It's been awhile since I was tagged for a thing. And since it's Jenni that did the tagging, you know I have to play along. Besides, I have a mind blank about what to post today anyway, so perfect for a tag meme, right? Here's the scoop:

THE RULES
1. You must post the rules.
2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you’ve tagged.
3. Tag eleven people and link to them on your post.
4. Let them know you’ve tagged them!

Jenni's Questions to Me:

What is your favorite book of all time?  The Book Thief

Who is your favorite author? Markus Zusak... I think... yeah... probably him

Who is your favorite literary character of all time? Seriously? Ed Kennedy, Mr Darcy, Heathcliff, Anne, I DON'T KNOW, there's too many. I can't think of an all time favorite.

When did you start blogging? March 2007

Why did you start blogging? To join challenges, make lists, and find other book lovers, and talk books

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Europe... all of it.

If money were not an issue, what would you buy yourself at this very instant? A trip to Europe, one that would last the whole summer.

Who is your favorite actor? Wentworth Miller, though I've only seen him on Prison Break. David Tennant has recently come to the top also, though I've only seen him on Doctor Who.

What is your favorite movie? Star Wars... and The Princess Bride, and A Knight's Tale and Ladyhawke

Who is your favorite musician/band? I really quite like Josh Groban :)

What is your favorite song? There's too many. Sky High by Jigsaw, Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues, Knights of Sedonia by Muse, My Confession by Josh Groban, Across the Stars by John Williams... just to name a few....

My Questions:


1. Do you bake? What's your favorite thing to make?


2. What's your favorite quote?


3. What's your biggest pet peeve?


4. Who's your current favorite TV couple?  (or movie, or book couple)


5. Where's the best place you've ever visited?


6. What would you do if you could do anything for a whole day?


7. Look on the floor by your bed... do you have books there? How many?


8. What's the best book you've read so far this year (since January)?


9. What's your favorite book genre?


10.  What are you making for dinner tonight?


11. Why eleven questions? Any guesses?

TAG YOU'RE IT!

1. Melissa at The Avid Reader
2. Kristina at Kristina's Favorites
3. Megan at Leafing Through Life
4. Lisa at Books Lists Life
5. Lisa at Lit and Life
6. Jen at The Introverted Reader
7. Alita at alita.reads
8. Ms. O at Ms. O Reads Books
9. Kaye at The Paper Reader
10. Kailana at The Written World
11. Jessica at The Bluestocking Society

I hope you can all play!

ABCs of Me Meme

Here's a fun random "about me" meme I've seen around a bunch this week. First on The Written World and next on Amused by Books... who both got it from Fizzy Thoughts. I figured it's been awhile, so what the heck, and maybe you'll learn something you don't already know!

Me, at one year old.

Age: My birthday is coming up in 2 weeks and let's just say that I'll be closer to the half century mark than I was before! But I FEEL like 17 always! (Well, except for the occasional achy bones and such.)

Bed Size: King, and I'm begging for a new mattress. For my birthday maybe? :)

Chore that you hate: mopping the floor. It feels impossible.

Dogs: you know, they are okay, but I would only want one if  I lived out in the country on a farm. Then I'd like a German Shepard, or a Collie, or a Lab.

Essential start to your day: checking email, though there's usually nothing very exciting there.

Favorite colors: Lavender and/or plain old purple, but truly, I like them all.

Gold or Silver: Silver

Height: I'm really not sure, but probably about 5'5" or so.

Instruments you play: I can play the piano, sort of, and once upon a time, I played the clarinet, which was a blast. (Ha, was that a pun?)


Job Title: Mom first and foremost, but 12 hours a week I'm a library clerk.

Kids: There's four of them. Two boys, two girls. How's that for planning?

Live: Utah! A pretty great state.

Mother-in-Law’s name: I think I'll pass on this one but my great grandma's name is(was) Goldie. When I was a kid I called her Grandma Goldilocks.

Nicknames: Suey

Overnight hospital stays: When I had kids. 

Pet Peeves: Being late

Quote from a movie: "Have fun storming the castle! or "It's not you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you." or "I love you!" "I know." 


Right or Left handed: Right


Siblings: I'm the oldest of 9 kids. I have three sisters and five brothers.

Time you wake up: 6:30 weekdays to get the kids up and out the door. Weekends I sleep in until 9 or 10 sometimes.

Underwear: Yes.

Vegetable you hate: Celery would have to top the list I'd say.

What makes you run late: Other people... or a phone call.

X-Rays you’ve had: At the dentist, on my teeth, is all, I think. 

Yummy food that you make: I like to bake. Rolls, cookies, desserts, etc.

Zoo animal: Gorillas. I could watch them forever.

Join in if you so desire! Tell us more about you!