Trying on Tuesday

I am trying very, very hard to be positive this morning.  It’s difficult though.  I have come down with a horrible cold/sinus infection/something, and it’s making me pretty miserable.  I’m going to make an effort to be positive today despite how badly I feel.

Here’s today’s list:

1. I got an early birthday present yesterday, and I’m grateful that the person who gave me the gift realized that the best things she could get for me are supplies for my classroom.  I can’t wait to have my students do a new art project!
2. A coworker paid me a compliment yesterday, and it was nice to feel appreciated.  I thankful that she took the time to do that.  Those little things do help!
3. My nephew has found his niche in middle school band.  I’ve always worried about him fitting in because of his speech delay, but I think he’s finally found a group of friends who can appreciate him for how awesome he really is.
4. The first song I heard on the radio this morning was one of my favorite feel good songs.  I know it’s dorky, but I still love it:

Journey- Don’t Stop Believing Music Video

From Twitter 11-30-2009

• 08:34:03: I’ve won my a First Reads giveaway! It’s All Relative by J.M. Snyder! I’m doing a happy dance right now. http://bit.ly/88f0fJ
• 11:12:52: @AnnaMorrson Thanks! I’m all about some free books!
• 18:38:43: 4 of 5 stars to Blue Ruin 4 by Katrina Strauss – http://bit.ly/65g3h3
• 19:14:20: I want to read: Mute Witness by Rick R. Reed – http://bit.ly/5eo0sn
• 19:15:33: I want to read: Broken by Dawn Kimberly Johnson – http://bit.ly/7CmeDQ
• 19:34:34: Leonardo Corredor for Biglidue: Hot male model Leonardo Corredor for the Venezuelan brand Biglidue by photograp.. http://tinyurl.com/ykaandf
• 19:34:36: Multiple Origami: Little girl: And then we had orgies.Mother, very calmly: No honey, we had origami.Florida Als.. http://tinyurl.com/y8ve5dk

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Blue Ruin 4: Need You Tonight by Katrina Strauss

Blue Ruin 4: Need You Tonight by Katrina Strauss

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Let me start off by saying that I love Derek and Blue, and I really enjoyed this fourth book in the series. Blue is still the sweet, outgoing sub that we all love, and Derek is just as hot as ever. I appreciated the way that Strauss allowed us to see some resolution with Cam. That was one of my complaints about book 3. I needed to know where he, Blue, and Derek were headed as a threesome. Dusty, the character that she introduces to Derek and Blue’s relationship, is unique and lovable. I really love the paradox that the author has created with him. Dusty’s lack of external sight contrasts with and helps to enhance his true insight–his psychic abilities. He’s like a modern Tiresias, except his visions lack the clarity that Tiresias’ possessed. Also, I enjoyed the way Strauss brought the overarching mystery to a close. I think she telegraphed the big surprise a bit before the end, but I found the resolution to the mystery to be quite satisfying.

I would have given this book five stars except for three things. The first is something that I’m picky about. Derek and Blue bring Dusty into their relationship, and they don’t appear to use condoms. They’re never mentioned, and safe sex isn’t discussed. Maybe I missed the mention of condoms somewhere, but I went back to look for it and couldn’t find it. This is one of those issues that is near and dear to me; I’ve seen too many people affected by STD’s. The consequences of unsafe sex are dire, and the lack of safe sex in a contemporary story distracts me.

The second thing is that I love Derek and Blue’s scenes so much that I wish there were more of them. This book had some great sex scenes, but it was really light on the BDSM. Maybe I’m too pervy, but Strauss gave us such good descriptions of the couple’s interaction in the other books that I wanted that same level in this one. Nothing tops that figging scene in an earlier book.

The third thing has to do with something that Derek must face. I won’t say what it is because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but it is an issue that he should have shared with Blue much earlier. It’s also something that I think would have affected him more than it did. Of course, Strauss may be planning on addressing this in another book. She does do a great job of allowing themes/conflict to carry from one book to the next.

In the end, I really did enjoy this book. If you’ve read the other three in the series, then you should get this one immediately. If you like a good series with the elements of BDSM and mystery, then I heartily suggest investing in the Blue Ruin books.

View all my reviews >>

Monday, Inspired by Jack

I’ve been inspired by my friend Jack. He wrote the sweetest post about being thankful.  It got me thinking.  It’s really hard to stay positive and keep things in perspective day in and day out.  I’m going to make a conscientious effort to focus more on the positives than the negatives.  It can’t hurt to try.  So, I’m going to attempt a daily list of positives in my life.  Some might seem trivial, but all those little things do add up.

Today’s good thoughts:

1. Lucy, my best friend, puts up with my nuttiness, and for her support I am eternally grateful.
2. I’m building a wonderful online family that never fails to make me smile.
3. My student who has missed several weeks of school because of surgery gets to return today.  She’s one of the most precious kids I’ve taught, and I’m so thrilled that she’s doing well.
4. My cat didn’t smother me in my sleep last night.  (I know she was thinking about it.  If she could operate a can opener on her own, I think I would’ve been a goner.)
5. I finally won a giveaway at Goodreads.  I never win anything, so I’m taking that as a sign that today is going to go well.

From Twitter 11-29-2009

• 00:18:46: @AnneDouglas Inventive is a nice way to describe that.
• 01:42:19: On page 52 of Family Unit. Funny! http://bit.ly/84frtq
• 11:08:37: Family Photos Get Even More Awkward – Asylum.com http://ow.ly/GOMq
• 11:41:49: I just generated my #TweetCloud out of a year of my tweets. Top three words: read, reading, love – http://w33.us/18hw

Sunday

My Thanksgiving break went well, and I’m glad that I got to spend it with my family.  I’m thankful for their love and support.  I’m also thankful that I have a job, a roof over my head, and a myriad of other blessings that I know I often take for granted.

After having such a great few days, it shouldn’t surprise me that the anxiety has hit me like a load of bricks today.  That’s what usually happens when the fun is over and I have to come back to the real world.  I’m tired, I have a headache, and I’m doing the worrying thing again.  It’s hypocritical, I know, to go from listing the things that I’m thankful for one minute to complaining the next.  I feel guilty for not being happy today. 

Family Unit by Z.A. Maxfield

Family Unit by Z.A. Maxfield

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
My first read of 2009 was a book by Z.A. Maxfield, and I loved it. Therefore, it’s only fitting that one of my last reads of the year is another by Maxfield. I have to say that I truly enjoyed this one. It has ZAM’s trademark humor and lovable characters. (You have to love an author who can work in the phrase “meat puppet.”)

View all my reviews >>

From Twitter 11-28-2009

• 20:38:40: “It’s like cool epilepsy.” #Glee
• 22:31:02: I am officially a dork–I just made “Don’t Stop Believin’” my ringtone.
• 22:45:46: Am I mean for ignoring friend requests here at GR when they are made by people who don’t bother to answer my challen… http://bit.ly/7cmsbB

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Saturday 9–Leaving on a Jet Plane

1. When was the last time you jetted away for the holidays? I travel to my parents’ every holiday, but that’s always a road trip.

2. What is your fondest birthday memory? This one is hard.  I guess it has to be the year my dad gave me my amethyst ring.  It could have been from a gumball machine, and I would still have loved it.  I’m a daddy’s girl.

3. What names do you go by? Online–Eyre; in real life–I’m not going to say.

4. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks? Christmas!

5. Where is your least favorite place to be, and why? This one is hard!  Right now, I’d have to say Walmart.  It’s crowded and scary.

6. Have you ever had a scary stalker type? That’s the only kind I attract! 

7. What is your favorite holiday tradition?  Cooking for Thanksgiving

8. What are two activities you do after eating Thanksgiving Dinner? Nap and read

9. What did your family do for Thanksgiving when you were a kid? Do you still do it? If not explain why. I always had Thanksgiving Dinner with my parents, my sister, and my aunt and uncle.  My sister usually works on Thanksgiving now, and my uncle has passed away.  My parents, aunt, and I still get together.

This meme came from here.

From Twitter 11-24-2009

• 05:30:37: I’m headed to the land of no internet, and I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving. http://bit.ly/5ocQq4
• 09:38:42: Paula Deen gets hit in face by a ham http://digs.by/rTS

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