Thursday, June 28, 2012

"I, Houdini" by Lynne Reid Banks (Book Thoughts)



Now you see him, now you don't--You may think Houdini is a strange name for a hamster, but if you've ever heard of the late Great Houdini, the most amazing escape-artist of all time, you'll understand how I got my name. I'm proud to say that there hasn't been a cage built that can hold me. I can climb, dive, wriggle, squeeze, or gnaw my way out of any prison they come up with. I have to admit that sometimes freedom leads to a bit of trouble--like getting cornered by the cat, ending up in the dog's mouth, or being trapped in the freezing cold of a dark refrigerator. But I won't be stopped! With a whole big world out there to explore, who wants to be held prisoner in a hamster cage?

I, Houdini: {The Autobiography of a Self-Educated Hamster}
 I, Houdinibook cover of 

I, Houdini 

The Amazing Story of an Escape-Artist Hamster 

by

Lynne Reid Banks

I vaguely remember reading my daughter's copy of The Indian in the Cupboard. I don't remember too much about it, except that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I know, that's bad, but it WAS a long time ago.

I, Houdini was first published in 1978. Yikes! I was 16 years old back then! I'd never read it back then, since by that time, I was reading Shakespeare in English class. I wouldn't have been caught dead reading a middle grade book at that age.

Silly me! I, Houdini has been re-printed a few times in the last 34 years because the story is timeless. Mrs. Banks descriptions of a typical family was entertaining, and this autobiography of a pompous but lovable pet hamster is hilarious.

Houdini, who has a better vocabulary than some of the humans I know, refuses to be caged for very long. He gets into some scary situations in his pursuit of freedom, but soon, humans and hamster come to an agreement.

It's a short read, only 127 pages, but the book is filled with adventure, and makes you think about what could be going on inside the mind of your family pet.

I highly recommend it! 




Tuesday, June 26, 2012

You Can't Always Get What You Want...


...but if you bug people enough, you just might get lucky.

I do it all the time--I see something on television or in a magazine and say, "I want one of those!" It's not a demand. It's just a statement really. Just wishing on a star. Just slinging a dream out into the Universe, hoping some miracle will happen, or that someone will make a note of it. Usually, they forget what I want. Most of the time, I forget I wanted it also.

But this last time was different! I was at my dear mother's house one day. We were watching TV when a Kindle Fire commercial came on. Of course, I blurted out that Universe-slinging statement, "I want one of those!" And you know what? It worked!

For my birthday, my mother and sister surprised me with a brand-spanking-new Kindle Fire AND accessories! I think I cried. No. I KNOW I cried.

So now, in between surfing Facebook and Twitter for those free e-book statuses and tweets, reading novels, working on my WIP, planning blog posts, and being an all-around human being with a business to run, I'm also a Kindle-Fire-player-arounder. Well, that's probably not a word. But you know what I mean.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share my little tidbit of excitement with you. Thank you to everyone and anyone kind enough to offer free e-books. 

So, I thought you should all know that sometimes, every so often, wishing on a star, and slinging it out into the Universe DOES work!

Have you ever wished on a star? Slung a dream out into the Universe? Has it ever come true?

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Birthday Giveaway Results!

Ciphering Numbers

Whew! It's been a hectic month so far, but maybe it just feels that way because I'm so much older. :D

I know you're all waiting anxiously, so let's move on to the Birthday Giveaway results!

After careful number crunching of entries, writing down names (numerous times)on little slips of paper, folding said papers, placing those papers into a bowl, careful mixing, and plucking of one tiny paper from the pile of 36, I've decided I need to find some kind of gadget to do all that for me for my next giveaway!

First, I want to thank you ALL for your birthday wishes, and for sharing with us.  

Here was the tally of entrants and their entries (hopefully I didn't miss any!):

Claudette--8
Courtney--5
Veronica--4
Claudine--4
Kim--6
Mariah--5
Shannon--4

AND the winner is---------do you hear a drum roll?------------






CLAUDETTE!!!

Congratulations! I will need your shipping address to send your box of goodies.

Now, if you didn't win, don't worry. I'll be sure to have another giveaway soon. 
Thank you all for playing along. :D

*****
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Monday, June 11, 2012

I've Got Sunshine On A Cloudy Day!


 

Awhile ago, I was awarded The Sunshine Award by Courtney Rene. Thanks so much! 

Please be sure to stop by her blog and say hello. 


So, below are the 10 questions I have been asked to answer. 

1.            Favorite Color

Even though black is so slimming, I love to wear the color RED. As far as the walls in my house, I've been attracted to the different shades of GREEN. I have a green truck, but I hate it, I was always told it's bad luck to drive a green car. I prefer to drive BLUE or BLACK vehicles. (They're slimming, remember?) So, my favorite color is CRAYOLA.

2.              Favorite Animal

I love CATS. I prefer soft fluffy kittens, but I love the big cats too. Lions, tigers, jaguars, panthers, bobcats, lynx...They are so sleek. Love the way they move.

3.            Favorite Number

Although my birth number is THREE...


  • Write out your full birth date (MM-DD-YYYY).Example: December 04, 1972 would be 12-04-197Add each of the digits together.Example: 1+2+0+4+1+9+7+2=26Take this total and add the digits within this. Continue this process until you have a single digit (1-9).Example: 2+6=8
  • I prefer the number SIX



    4.              Favorite Drink

    COFFEE! I drink it morning, noon, and night. 

    5.         My Passion

    Hmmm. Everything I do, is done with passion. So, depending on the activity du jour, my passion varies.

    6.         Getting or Giving

    I like to give. I think I get more excited than the recipient, especially if the gift is chosen for that particular person.  I also like to GET. Ok, I LOVE to get.  

    7.            Favorite Pattern

    I'm going to stick with the slimming concept, and say VERTICAL STRIPES.

    8.            Favorite Day of the Week

    SATURDAY. Even if I have to work Saturday morning, I know I have the whole day off the next day.

    9.            Favorite Flower

    TULIPS. Unfortunately, the deer and rabbits also love them and dig them up whenever I plant them. I also like POPPIES and PEONIES.

    10.            Facebook or Twitter

    I do both, but I check Facebook first and use it more often than Twitter. I always wonder if anyone is listening on Twitter, but people on Facebook usually comment back. So, FACEBOOK. 

    That was fun, Courtney! Thanks again. So, let's see, who should I pass this on to? I know...

    1.     Lynne  - Congrats!



    ~*~
    Don't forget to enter my Birthday Giveaway! 
    Contest ends June 17th at midnight. 
    ~*~

    *****
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    Monday, June 4, 2012

    Fun Facts about June


    June

    Wedding Ceremony


    June, named after Juno, the goddess of marriage, is the sixth month of the year, and is one of the four months with a length of 30 days. Just like the month of May, no other month begins on the same day as June. This is also the month with the longest daylight hours of the year. 

    June's birthstones are the Alexandrite, the Moonstone, and the Pearl. Its birth flowers are the honeysuckle and the rose.

    Those born before June 20th are considered Gemini and those born after June 21st are under the sign of Cancer.

    Famous Birthdays:

    June 1--Marilyn Monroe (1926)

    June 9--Johnny Depp (1963) 

    June 11--Hugh Laurie (1959)

    June 16--Diana DeGarmo (1987) Singer
                   Denise Stanley (1962) Writer
                   Erich Segal (1937) Author and screenwriter of "Love Story."
                   Joyce Carol Oates (1938) Author of books, plays, poetry, and essays.
                   Stan Laurel (1890) Actor

    June 18--Paul McCartney (1942)

    June 22--Meryl Streep (1949)

    June 25--George Orwell (1903)

    June 26--Derek Jeter (1974)

    June 27--Bob (Captain Kangaroo) Keeshan (1927)


    Events in June:

    Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee. Celebration of the Queen of England's 60 year reign.
    Adur Festival. The annual arts event in West Essex, England runs the first two weeks of June.
    National Rocky Road Day. My favorite flavor of ice cream!
    Applesauce Cake Day. June 6th.
    Father's Day. First Sunday in June.
    Kamehameha Day. June 11th is a Hawaiian state holiday honoring the first ruler of the one-time kingdom.
    Flag Day. June 14th commemorates the adoption of the American Flag.
    My Birthday. June 16th is an international celebration commemorating the birth of the loveable writer and blogger.
    Eat Your Vegetables Day. June 17th.
    Go Skateboarding Day. Celebrated on June 21. Yeah, I might do that.
    Kitchen Klutzes of America Day. June 23rd. (Haha!)
    Icelandic folklore says that bathing naked in the morning dew on June 24th will keep aging at bay.
    National Chocolate Pudding Day. June 26th.

    June is:

    LGBT Pride Month
    Audiobook Month
    Flag Month
    National Dairy Month
    National Candy Month
    National Hunger Awareness Month
    National Seafood Month
    National Iced Tea Month


    ~*~
    Don't forget to enter my Birthday Giveaway! 
    Contest ends June 17th at midnight. 
    ~*~

    *****
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    Plus, sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

    *****

    Friday, June 1, 2012

    Celebrating With A Giveaway!

    Paper Bag

    The Bible tells us it is better to give than to receive. Personally, I think receiving is fun also. So to celebrate my 50th birthday this month with all of you, I am offering a giveaway! That's right, the birthday girl is turning things around. Aren't presents fun?

    So, you know I collect fairies, right?


    And you know I collect crayons, right?


    Well, I decided to put together a few of my favorite things to share with you:

    (Sorry about the photo quality)

    That's right, a gift for you! Yay!

    There are fairy stickers and note cards, bath crayons, colored pencils, flower seeds, and of course, an autographed copy of Courtney Rene's Shadow Warrior!

    Doesn't that sound like fun? Share with us, and I'll share with you! This contest will run from today until midnight on June 18th. A winner will be announced on Tuesday, June 19th. 

    So, if you would like a chance to win this fun prize, here's how to get entries:

    ~Leave a comment, telling everyone what YOU collect. 
    ~Follow my blog.
    ~Follow me on Twitter.
    ~Add me to your circle on Google+
    ~Share this giveaway on your blog.
    ~Share this giveaway on your Facebook page.
    ~Tweet about this giveaway.

    That's a total of EIGHT possible entries! 

    Be sure to tell me the number of entries you are eligible for in your comment. 

    Good Luck!