Write on Wednesday - Going Green

Write On Wednesday is a event that takes place at Write on Wednesday

In honor of St. Paddy’s Day and in anticipation of spring, today’s theme is all about Green…perhaps you’ll write about saving the environment, or today’s holiday, or even the old green eyed monster, jealousy.

Write about

Going Green

The Wearin' of the Green - I am wearing green today so no one can pinch me. You know it is funny in all my 32 years I have never heard of the practicing of pinching if not wearing green until Yahoo posted on the home page about it. I don't think anyone has ever done it to me and I know there were St. Paddy's days that I forgot to wear green.
I think the younger me only dressed in green or decorated the house for the holiday but the older over 21 me has had her share of visiting an Irish pub or bar and share of alcoholic shots during that day. I think the most memorable night was at a bar with my mother-in-law and mother, who get along amazingly. There was much green beer and Kamikazes. Weird thing is I don't think I got drunk that night and I had a lot of hard liquor. Not even a buzz. Tonight my husband and I have planned to go to a local Pub depending on how crowded it is.


Keeping the Green Grow - As for the environmental stuff, since I was probably about 6 or 7(maybe 7 or 8). I seriously use to worry about the environment. I knew about recycling, where I learned it from I have no idea but I actually got two friends one the same age as me and her younger brother to help pick up aluminum cans at the elementary school we attended down the streets.

Then there was in fourth or fifth grade I got out of class to show the second graders how to recycle paper (newspaper) into another blank page of paper. Another student in my class somehow became my partner in the project and I am really not sure how it happened. I remember making the paper in front of the class and then we answered question from the kids and I believe my little brother was in the class. It was very intimidating, encouraging and rewarding. I thank the second grade teacher Mrs. P. (R.I.P.) who was my first grade teacher and my favorite.


As an adult I don't do much enivormental stuff except separate recyclables and I don't really remember how to make the recycled paper anymore. I worried so much about things as a kid including the environment as an adult I imploded and eventually had to pick my fights on what to worry about because I have learned that the brain can only hold so much. Probably not the best thing that the environment is lower on my lists now but you never know that could change.


It's Not Easy Being Green - This just in Confuzzled Books' background has disappeared. Any one remember that I had green squares going down the sides of my blog. If anyone has seen them please let me know because all I am seeing is gray background. Let me know if it just me.

Cirque de Freak : Manga #1

Title: Cirque du Freak: The Manga, #1
Series: Cirque du Freak
Author(s): Darren Shan
Genre: Teen, Manga
Publisher: Yen Press
Received:  Borrowed from library
Release Date: June 16, 2009
Finished: March 2010
Pages: 192
Challenges: None
Rating:

 

My Thoughts: Darren Shan and his friend Steve are kids with no fear. Well, at least Steve is, and Darren tries hard to emulate Steve's toughness. Through a twist of fate, they are introduced to a traveling freak show and see things they never thought they would see in their wildest dreams. Suddenly they are thrown into a world of myth and fantasy that breaks even the toughest friendships.

One thing I love about this series is that the author wrote under the name Darren Shan (real name Darren O’Shaughnessy). Using his name as the main character drew me into the story more.  I have not read the books, but I saw the movie based on the first couple books, The Vampire's Assistant, and that was good.  Plus, I've read other book series transformed into manga, and this was the best I have read. The art was well done and the story was not made confusing by the manga-fication. In fact, there was nothing confusing ... well, except for not being used to reading from right to left and back to front.

About the Author: Darren Shan (or, as I mentioned above, Darren O’Shaughnessy) is Irish, but was born in England. He always wanted to be a writer, and has written stories since his teen years. He's written series such as Cirque de Freak and The Demonata, as well as two adult books published in the UK and due in US this year. Check out his website, http://www.darrenshan.com/index.html.

Teaser Tuesday - Eat, Pray, Love

Teaser Tuesdays is a event that takes place at Should Be Reading.

"The dinner with the expatriates was great fun, and I felt myself revisiting all these long-dormant aspects of personality.  I even got a little bit drunk, which was notable after all the purity of last few months of praying at the Ashram and sipping tea in my Balinese flower garden."  Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

It's Tuesday, Where Are You? - Indonesia

It's Tuesday, Where Are You?  is a event that takes place at An Adventure In Reading.

I am in Bali, Indonesia.  Where  a birthday for author Elizabeth Gilbert was just celebrated in the tradition Indonesia way. with dressing in Indonesian clothes, dancers, food, and friends. "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Gauge by Chris D'Lacey

 

Title: Gauge

Series: The Dragons of Wayward Crescent

Author(s): Chris D'Lacey

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Orchard Books

Received: None - read in book store

Release Date: March 4, 2010

Finished: March 2010

Pages: 289

Challenges: None

Rating:

My Thoughts: Another delve into the Pennykettle's past, as we witness the creation of a little dragon named Gauge.

Lucy, her mother and Gauge are a little stumped at what Gauge's gift is. Mom is also distracted with protesting the demolition of the town clock. But Gauge does something Pennykettle dragons almost never do: he leaves the Pennykettle home unnoticed. The dragon then takes an interest in the town clock, and what he finds changes some things.

I find these back stories charming as they revisit the dragons we have come to know and love from The Last Dragon series (especially while awaiting the next book, Dark Fire). The Dragons of Wayward Crescent books are magical and readable, even if you haven't read The Last Dragon series.

About the Author: Chris D'Lacey is a U.K. author known for The Last Dragon series: The Fire Within, Icefire, Fire Star and The Fire Eternal. His newest series, The Dragons of Wayward Crescent, has two books so far: Gruffen and Gauge. To see more of his work, go to http://www.icefire.co.uk/.

Booking Through Thursday - The Nongrammar Monster In Me

In honor of National Grammar Day … it IS “March Fourth” after all … do you have any grammar books? Punctuation? Writing guidelines? Style books?

More importantly, have you read them?

How do you feel about grammar in general? Important? Vital? Unnecessary? Fussy?

 I am horrible with grammar.  I don't have any books and to be honest they would probably confuse me more.

Just lately I try to remember to read over my posts to edit them (except reviews which are edited by my husband Thorin). I tend to skip words in my postings, the Nongrammar Monster eats the words up after I write them down.  It likes short words like,: the, an, and, of,...  etc.

The Ark, The Reed And The Fire Cloud by Jenny L. Cote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: The Ark, The Reed, And The Fire Cloud
Series: The Amazing Tales of Max and Liz
Author(s): Jenny L. Cote
Genre: Young Adult, Religious Fiction
Publisher: AMG Publishers
Received from: Author, will be given away for free.
Release Date: September 19, 2008
Finished: February 2010
Pages: 432
Challenges: None
Rating: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Thoughts: We are introduced to Max, the Scottish terrier. He is a brave dog led on an adventure by the Maker (God). He follows a cloud that looks like it is on fire and feels that the Maker is speaking through the cloud to him. Max finds on his journey that he is not the only animal who believes it is getting messages from the Maker. He meets another dog, birds, a whale, cats, cows and more. They are all being drawn to Noah's ark.

I really love stories that give you the idea that animals have a deep thought process, like humans. We have Max, who is brave and believes the Maker is bringing them all together for a reason. Then there is Liz, a black cat who is a library of knowledge. This is a very creative story of how things came together for Noah's Ark, and I am interested to see where Max and Liz end up next.

About the Author: Jenny L. Cote has written three books. This is the first book in the Max and Liz series; the second is called The Dreamer, The Schemer And The Robe.  Check out her website, http://www.maxandliz.com/.

Write On Wednesday - Neighbors

“We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next door neighbor.”

~Gilbert Chesterton

My favorite old neighbor moved away yesterday, and each time I look across the street to his darkened house, I feel an unexpected pang of emptiness.  Good neighbors are rare and fleeting these days, and often mean more than you know.   

Write about

Good Neighbors

Event takes place at Write on Wednesday  every Wednesday.

My husband and I  haven't had a home of  our own yet. The neighbors I remember are the ones next to my parents house,  The Walters.  They are an older couple, older then my parents who are in there 60's.  They have children, grandchildren and possibly some great grandchildren.   What I remember most is how giving they have always been to us.  We have no problem asking for that cup of sugar we might need  and they have no problem asking for an egg or two.  Mr. Walters use to own a lunch truck and we use to get the stuff that wasn't sold but close to date like little containers of milk and chocolate milk ...and sandwiches.

Now Mr.Walters is retired and most of day takes care of Mrs. Walters who has alzheimers.  

When we do get that place of our own I can't picture having another neighbor that has been as nice to us then some have.  That is not saying that others in the neighborhood have not been good to us.   There is the nice overflow of  tomatoes from the neighbor behind us or the call from the neighbor across the street who wants to know if we are okay because smoke is coming out the door.(mom left a pot on the hot stove).

It will be sad to leave these neighbors because most of us tend to spend time inside and have trouble making friends with neighbors.

Teaser Tuesday - Dead Until Dark

 Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

 
 "I fought the urge to kiss him. But at least I knew it was my very own urge, not a manufactured one."

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Sanctuary (Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales, #1) by Melissa Marr

 

 Title: Sanctuary (Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales, #1)
Series: Wicked Lovely
Author(s): Melissa Marr
Genre: Manga, Young Adult
Publisher: The Bowen Press
Received from: Library Book
Release Date: May 1, 2009
Finished: February 2010
Pages: 192

Challenges: None
Rating:

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Thoughts: Rika, a faerie who used to be human, likes life in solitude away from the faerie world.  She finds herself attracted to a human named Jayce. But as Jayce gets pulled into Rika's life, the faerie world comes knocking.

This is the manga version of Wicked Lovely.  I wasn't thrilled with this version. I felt like I was dropped in the middle of the story, and sometimes the art work confused me. I wasn't clear who was who and what sex they were. I had to reread the first couple of pages a couple of times.  I don't know if I missed pieces of the story since I did not read original novel, but I don't think I will read the second in the manga series. I may try reading the book the original series comes from.

About the Author: Melissa Marr is an author I do not know that much about, but you can catch her on twitter, http://twitter.com/melissa_marr, or her official website, http://www.melissa-marr.com/.

Signed Book Giveaway - The Ark, The Reed And The Fire Cloud by Jenny L. Cote

For the month of March we have a book about more animals in fact a whole ark of them.  The Ark, The Reed And The Fire Cloud is the about Noah and the Ark but in the animals point of view.
See my review of the book  HERE!

The book is signed by author Jenny L. Cote.

(a little note I spilled a little water on the book it smear some of the sig and  warped some of the pages. sorry|)

This Giveaway is open to all.
To enter into the Giveaway all you have to do is post in the comments that you are interested in this book AND PLEASE LEAVE A EMAIL SO I MAY CONTACT YOU.

GIVEAWAY END SUNDAY MARCH 28TH 2010!

Winner of a signed copy of The Adventures of Snip in Oregon

I was a little surprised that this was the smallest amount of people I think I have ever had for a Signed Book Giveaway.  We only had 6 people try.    The winner was picked by the random number generator at Random.org.

The Winner is...............

Carol M

My granddaughter would really enjoy this book! She loves dogs! I would love to win this for her!

I will email you sometime today or if I haven't emailed you yet you can email me confuzzleddesigns@gmail.com.

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!