Lately I've been wanting things I don't really need, just things I'd like to have eventually. "Eventually" is a key word here. I have no problem being on a budget. I put a few dollars aside for a nail polish I want or a handful of items I can get under $10 a week. I can give myself a limit. It is probably easy because I make a list of things I'd like to have/that I am looking for. I have to "hunt" for certain items, which helps with the fact that I don't need it right away. Even when I find it, I don't go psycho. I make note of where I found it, that way I can save up and know where to go.
My wants might change. Like my nail polish color preference. Now I've never been big on painting my nails. Don't know why I wasn't or why I am now. But I am. The most I have painted my nails were black or a deep red with red shimmers. I still have those polishes too. But now it's time to update my list, write a few paragraphs on my finds. And share a few other things.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
iPad vs Physical Books vs nook
I've enjoyed the iPad so far. I've had it for a few weeks and I have read an entire book on it, virtual cover to virtual cover. Some people prefer the nook or Kindle because it isn't backlit like the iPad, but it hasn't bothered me. Mainly because I use it more than my computer at the moment and it is easy to read on, in my opinion. But comparing the readability on the iPad to reading an actual physical book and what I know of the nook is the reason I'm writing this.
VS A "REAL" BOOK:
This is where it gets me. I LOVE having an actual book in my hands. I like being able to display them if I buy them. I do browse book prices on the 3 applications I have; nook (Barns & Noble), Kindle (Amazon), iBooks (Apple) and compare to the in store price and/or Half Price books store if I'm in Pickerington (which is rare anymore). I bought Sworn to Silence at the mall bookstore (Walden/Borders) for $8 (paperback). The sequel Pray for Silence just came out this summer and was $25 (hardcover) new. It was in the iBooks store for $11.99, but this is where I prefer the real book copy over virtual (even though virtual is great if there were a fire, but I don't have the money to have ALL of my books virtually) because I don't want to break up the series. I found Pray for half the new hardcover price and it was only a dollar or two more than the iBooks price, but I made the exception because of the series.
VS NOOK (what I know of it):
I do not own a nook, but my mom bought one when I was down there last. The readability is similar to that of the Kindle, which she was contemplating buying. She went with the nook and likes it. You can lend out books (only certain ones) for two weeks but only one time. Which is ridiculous because she bought the book. You also can get library books too.
OVERALL:
I enjoy the iPad, but if it's a series that I already physically own I will continue that. I also would like to see a library application. I'm sure that will be in the future, but until then I will enjoy a bit of both options.
VS A "REAL" BOOK:
This is where it gets me. I LOVE having an actual book in my hands. I like being able to display them if I buy them. I do browse book prices on the 3 applications I have; nook (Barns & Noble), Kindle (Amazon), iBooks (Apple) and compare to the in store price and/or Half Price books store if I'm in Pickerington (which is rare anymore). I bought Sworn to Silence at the mall bookstore (Walden/Borders) for $8 (paperback). The sequel Pray for Silence just came out this summer and was $25 (hardcover) new. It was in the iBooks store for $11.99, but this is where I prefer the real book copy over virtual (even though virtual is great if there were a fire, but I don't have the money to have ALL of my books virtually) because I don't want to break up the series. I found Pray for half the new hardcover price and it was only a dollar or two more than the iBooks price, but I made the exception because of the series.
VS NOOK (what I know of it):
I do not own a nook, but my mom bought one when I was down there last. The readability is similar to that of the Kindle, which she was contemplating buying. She went with the nook and likes it. You can lend out books (only certain ones) for two weeks but only one time. Which is ridiculous because she bought the book. You also can get library books too.
OVERALL:
I enjoy the iPad, but if it's a series that I already physically own I will continue that. I also would like to see a library application. I'm sure that will be in the future, but until then I will enjoy a bit of both options.
Book Review: Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo
Just in time for October, another thriller to add to your reading list. Pray for Silence is the sequel to Sworn to Silence. If you read my review on the first you know that I loved the book. Expect to love this book too! I sure do. You are brought into the action right away and you can't escape. Still set in the heart of Painters Mill, Ohio. Holmes County Amish country. That's what I love about these books. They are amazingly written and they take place close to home. I'm still not sure if Painters Mill is real, but Holmes County and the other places that are mentioned are. I've lived in many of the places or been to the places mentioned. I recommend this book to someone, anyone who is interested in thrillers/murder mysteries. This is the perfect combination. This one might be a bit more graphic than the first, but if you can stomach watching Bones/NCIS/CSI then you could handle this. Although if you aren't the type who can handle "bad language" then it might not be for you. But aren't we old enough to handle a bit of cussing? It's more real that way. Not everyone is censored.
Book Review: Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
I know this is the first book in the Travis series and I read it last, but it didn't bother me that much. Since I recently acquired a free iPad through Kiwibox, my mom decided to buy a nook from Barnes and Noble. Through my nook application on my iPad my mom bought this book and leant it out for me. I will write a blog on what I think of the iPad for the use of reading vs a physical book and what I know of the nook so far.
But for the review of this book, it is just as good as the others, and since I've read all three in that series, I recommend them all. You can't read one without reading them all, not because you need to read in a certain order (you really don't have to) but because you want more with each book you read. It's the story behind Liberty, Hardy and Gage. You learn a lot, which is why it's the first book in the series. It really opens you up to the many characters.
It isn't like many of the other romance novels I have read. Although the sexy parts are steamy like every romance out there, it isn't too much and the storyline is great. Definitely give this series a try!
But for the review of this book, it is just as good as the others, and since I've read all three in that series, I recommend them all. You can't read one without reading them all, not because you need to read in a certain order (you really don't have to) but because you want more with each book you read. It's the story behind Liberty, Hardy and Gage. You learn a lot, which is why it's the first book in the series. It really opens you up to the many characters.
It isn't like many of the other romance novels I have read. Although the sexy parts are steamy like every romance out there, it isn't too much and the storyline is great. Definitely give this series a try!
Selective fall.
This fall is what I call a selective fall. While it wasn't an entirely beautiful fall here, there were a few 'select' trees that were pretty. I have a few images in my mind that I'd like to paint sometime within the next few weeks. I know I should be able to next month sometime.
I wish fall were better this year. The temperature was weird as well as the weather. It looked mostly dead and wet. I am not looking forward to winter. It will be awful.
I wish fall were better this year. The temperature was weird as well as the weather. It looked mostly dead and wet. I am not looking forward to winter. It will be awful.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Time to craft.
I'm not entirely crafty, I'm not good at crotcheting and I can't knit the legit way. Instead I learned to use a loom knitter. I have the long looms and I love using yarn because I have this lovely contraption. I have made a scarf with it so far. I am in the works of re-knitting a blanket for Andy. I love yarn, maybe as much as books. They are so pretty to look at. I like the marbled ones. I'm going to have to stick to this. It really shouldn't take long. I just kept putting it off. It should be cold enough this winter to do crafts like this.
I bought a new yarn. It's black with color flecks in it. I find it to be festive looking.
I am going to turn it into a scarf. Once I get my camera back I'll get pictures.
Off topic, but there is a comforter at Walmart like the one I have only it has fall colors and leaves on it for 20$ so I might get that if it is still there in a few weeks. Then drag my other comforter from the car.
I really need to clean and organize my place. I think when you get into a new space and you are making yourself comfortable and you don't put everything away, typical clutter can be comfy. I need to break that habit.
I bought a new yarn. It's black with color flecks in it. I find it to be festive looking.
I am going to turn it into a scarf. Once I get my camera back I'll get pictures.
Off topic, but there is a comforter at Walmart like the one I have only it has fall colors and leaves on it for 20$ so I might get that if it is still there in a few weeks. Then drag my other comforter from the car.
I really need to clean and organize my place. I think when you get into a new space and you are making yourself comfortable and you don't put everything away, typical clutter can be comfy. I need to break that habit.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
I'm slowly realizing that I'm not needed by many people anymore. It used to be that anyone could come to me openly about anything. That doesn't happen now. I'm hardly asked how I am, not many are quick to respond. And when I pose the question that their life would be better without me, they try to convince me that it wouldn't.
I could tell you the obvious: TRY! Clearly I've tried. But when a silence goes on for more than a few months, why should we bother? I should cut ties with them and wish them well. Have a great life, sorry I'm no longer apart of it. I would love to have the relationship that we used to have. I would love to have my close friends back, the ones that mattered, but I don't. I don't have many left. And I'm not ready for it to be just me.
What we all have to realize at one point that we sometimes have to settle for less. But I can't help but to wonder if these past few years, our deep conversations and promises of always being friends and being there for each other were just empty promises? Because they sure were false hopes.
I'm not held back. I'm just limited. If my friendship ever meant anything to you like it had to me, then you'll try along with me. I gave you your space and now that I'm no longer apart of it, I wish like hell that I was. But I need to let go now. We'll never be as close as I hoped we could be. I will live with that someday. It's just hard to be in a new place with not a lot of people you know. Not that I knew many, but more than I know here.
I'm not saying that just having Andy isn't enough. He's more than enough when he's available aka not working. With him that's rare catching him not working. But I cherish every moment we get together. I just need someone to talk to when he's busy at work.
I might of made a new friend today. Not sure. I didn't catch her name. But she must live near by. She helped me lug a few things to my place. Nice girl. It would be nice for a new friend.
I could tell you the obvious: TRY! Clearly I've tried. But when a silence goes on for more than a few months, why should we bother? I should cut ties with them and wish them well. Have a great life, sorry I'm no longer apart of it. I would love to have the relationship that we used to have. I would love to have my close friends back, the ones that mattered, but I don't. I don't have many left. And I'm not ready for it to be just me.
What we all have to realize at one point that we sometimes have to settle for less. But I can't help but to wonder if these past few years, our deep conversations and promises of always being friends and being there for each other were just empty promises? Because they sure were false hopes.
I'm not held back. I'm just limited. If my friendship ever meant anything to you like it had to me, then you'll try along with me. I gave you your space and now that I'm no longer apart of it, I wish like hell that I was. But I need to let go now. We'll never be as close as I hoped we could be. I will live with that someday. It's just hard to be in a new place with not a lot of people you know. Not that I knew many, but more than I know here.
I'm not saying that just having Andy isn't enough. He's more than enough when he's available aka not working. With him that's rare catching him not working. But I cherish every moment we get together. I just need someone to talk to when he's busy at work.
I might of made a new friend today. Not sure. I didn't catch her name. But she must live near by. She helped me lug a few things to my place. Nice girl. It would be nice for a new friend.
Friday, October 8, 2010
GMH (Gives Me Hope & Random Acts of Kindness)
I've known about FML (FMyLife.com) since my senior year of high school. I also stumbled across LGMH (Love Gives Me Hope), and now GMH (GivesMeHope.com). But today GMH is what has me writing today. It's depressing to admit that I'm surprised that people still act out in random acts of kindness. That some people still have it in them, after everything that goes on.
Do I think these people are crazy? Not in the least. THEY Give Me Hope.
But a fair warning, GivesMeHope.com will make you cry at LEAST once.
I've been sharing random posts on Facebook most of the day.
And so now I write this blog because of these posts.
Many of them are children saying and/or doing things that make everything better for someone.
A few of them, children go up to someone in uniform who is going to or returning home from the Military.
A few of the stories that choked me up:
"At work, I was ringing up a soldier that had just returned from Iraq. A man with his small son stepped into line behind him.
I While the soldier was getting out his wallet, the man stepped forward and paid for the soldier's items. Then told his son that's what heroes look like.
Great fathers GMH"
"I was at the airport and soldiers were boarding a plane to Iraq.
A little boy, about five, went up to one of the men and said, "When you're over seas, can you tell my mom I love her?
She's in the army like you, but daddy said she's not coming home, so can you tell her for me?"
His love GMH"
---
Now I've never had the courage to go up to someone in Military uniform and shake their hand and say 'ThankYou". But these men and women have the courage to go out and fight for their country, when I can't overcome a simple case of stage fright?
Do I think these people are crazy? Not in the least. THEY Give Me Hope.
But a fair warning, GivesMeHope.com will make you cry at LEAST once.
I've been sharing random posts on Facebook most of the day.
And so now I write this blog because of these posts.
Many of them are children saying and/or doing things that make everything better for someone.
A few of them, children go up to someone in uniform who is going to or returning home from the Military.
A few of the stories that choked me up:
"At work, I was ringing up a soldier that had just returned from Iraq. A man with his small son stepped into line behind him.
I While the soldier was getting out his wallet, the man stepped forward and paid for the soldier's items. Then told his son that's what heroes look like.
Great fathers GMH"
"I was at the airport and soldiers were boarding a plane to Iraq.
A little boy, about five, went up to one of the men and said, "When you're over seas, can you tell my mom I love her?
She's in the army like you, but daddy said she's not coming home, so can you tell her for me?"
His love GMH"
---
Now I've never had the courage to go up to someone in Military uniform and shake their hand and say 'ThankYou". But these men and women have the courage to go out and fight for their country, when I can't overcome a simple case of stage fright?
A Shining Light Upon the Tears
I've been living here in New Philly for almost 4 months now. And I know I don't talk about it much, or I feel as though I've talked about it enough, but my grandpa will have been gone for 3 months at the end of this month. My step-grandma has been gone for a little over 4 years now, but she's not why I'm writing.
I've been noticing the "grandfatherly" types whenever I go out. And you know what I think? "Some lucky kid has a grandpa." Or I'll notice elderly couples, and think back to the good times, when everyone was alive and well. Maybe it's something that's overlooked, or maybe it's just how I'm coming to terms with the whole thing.
I know I've cursed my grandpa up one way and down the other, talked shit about how he lived his last year of his life, but when I see people older than he was enjoying life; I don't know what to think. Sometimes I want to cry, because I don't have that anymore. Sometimes I just remind myself that I wasn't in his phone book on his cell phone after I left.
I'd always ignore his calls. I'd avoid conversation, even when he was being nice and saying I was "his beautiful girl even if I didn't love him anymore."
It's not that I stopped loving, in a way I stopped caring - for the way he was living and for what he was turning back into. The entire time I lived with him I just wanted my old Papaw back. But he slowly faded away once my Mamaw passed.
I hated what he had become in the end. I hated how he was alone, but he chose to be that way.
I can take a negative approach and turn it positive, without being sympathetic.
Then I can dig a little deeper and I lose control.
I've always been a sucker for "country songs/stories that make you cry harder" and usually on purpose.
I find a reason to cry and stick with it until my nose is stuffed and I'm holding my pillow while rocking myself to sleep.
I don't do that very often. Just when things start to bring tears to my eyes. I figure, while I'm shedding a few tears now I might as well get it all out of me. After that I'm usually good for a while.
Today, it happened, and I just wanted to share.
I've been noticing the "grandfatherly" types whenever I go out. And you know what I think? "Some lucky kid has a grandpa." Or I'll notice elderly couples, and think back to the good times, when everyone was alive and well. Maybe it's something that's overlooked, or maybe it's just how I'm coming to terms with the whole thing.
I know I've cursed my grandpa up one way and down the other, talked shit about how he lived his last year of his life, but when I see people older than he was enjoying life; I don't know what to think. Sometimes I want to cry, because I don't have that anymore. Sometimes I just remind myself that I wasn't in his phone book on his cell phone after I left.
I'd always ignore his calls. I'd avoid conversation, even when he was being nice and saying I was "his beautiful girl even if I didn't love him anymore."
It's not that I stopped loving, in a way I stopped caring - for the way he was living and for what he was turning back into. The entire time I lived with him I just wanted my old Papaw back. But he slowly faded away once my Mamaw passed.
I hated what he had become in the end. I hated how he was alone, but he chose to be that way.
I can take a negative approach and turn it positive, without being sympathetic.
Then I can dig a little deeper and I lose control.
I've always been a sucker for "country songs/stories that make you cry harder" and usually on purpose.
I find a reason to cry and stick with it until my nose is stuffed and I'm holding my pillow while rocking myself to sleep.
I don't do that very often. Just when things start to bring tears to my eyes. I figure, while I'm shedding a few tears now I might as well get it all out of me. After that I'm usually good for a while.
Today, it happened, and I just wanted to share.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
iPad
I had the best wakeup call ever!!! The FedEx guy came with my iPad!!! I am at the library with it now and am writing this on the iPad. I freaking love this thing! I have only had it for a few hours. I need WiFi in my place ASAP!
I am going to take a drive to visit BritBrit. I missed her birthday party and I want to hang with her for a bit.
Gosh, what else can I say? I've been getting a few looks here in the library but other than that nothing else. I might end up deleting the songs I have on here only because my good running laptop died, that dang plug wouldn't charge it. Oh well, I can still use my iPod touch to listen to all my music. I would still prefer that to using this to listen to music in the car.
Well that is all for now. I am super happy and excited!
I am going to take a drive to visit BritBrit. I missed her birthday party and I want to hang with her for a bit.
Gosh, what else can I say? I've been getting a few looks here in the library but other than that nothing else. I might end up deleting the songs I have on here only because my good running laptop died, that dang plug wouldn't charge it. Oh well, I can still use my iPod touch to listen to all my music. I would still prefer that to using this to listen to music in the car.
Well that is all for now. I am super happy and excited!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Luck turned around.
My luck started to turn around when I noticed my phone was gone and my boyfriend got a phone call from the person who found it at the fair, and I got it back the same night.
I have been keeping active on Kbox for 2 months now, working to win an iPad, the 2nd contest and this last contest. I honestly wasn't sure if I would win. I felt like it was a really close call, both times.
During certain mornings I have been keeping up with Kbox through the iPhone application on my iPod touch.
That is how I found out that I won. I was having lunch at Long John Silver's, found a WiFi connection and refreshed the website on Safari.
I had to calm myself and remind myself that I was in a public place, I can't cause a scene here by screaming "I WON AN iPAD!"
So to calm myself, the first person I called was my mom. I told her where I was and explained that causing a scene for winning the iPad was out of the question. I've been congratulated many times and I want to thank you ALL for your support and thank Kiwibox for holding these contests. If it weren't for you, I would not have had this opportunity elsewhere.
I absolutely love the fact that my BEST FRIEND from high school won the 1st iPad contest!! She is also the one who introduced me to Kiwibox years ago.
I have been keeping active on Kbox for 2 months now, working to win an iPad, the 2nd contest and this last contest. I honestly wasn't sure if I would win. I felt like it was a really close call, both times.
During certain mornings I have been keeping up with Kbox through the iPhone application on my iPod touch.
That is how I found out that I won. I was having lunch at Long John Silver's, found a WiFi connection and refreshed the website on Safari.
I had to calm myself and remind myself that I was in a public place, I can't cause a scene here by screaming "I WON AN iPAD!"
So to calm myself, the first person I called was my mom. I told her where I was and explained that causing a scene for winning the iPad was out of the question. I've been congratulated many times and I want to thank you ALL for your support and thank Kiwibox for holding these contests. If it weren't for you, I would not have had this opportunity elsewhere.
I absolutely love the fact that my BEST FRIEND from high school won the 1st iPad contest!! She is also the one who introduced me to Kiwibox years ago.
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