Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Of Mother's Day, Star Trek, Spring Programs and Library Loot

What a weekend!! I worked a bunch of it, but did take a little time for Mother's Day. The kiddie's were excited about it. They love to make presents. We grilled burgers and had a little picnic. Bella made me a beaded bracelet (in her favorite colors, so I would always remember who gave it to me!! Yellow and orange!). Ana made me a colorful windsock to hang out on the porch. And Chad went to the store and bought me chocolates and cookies. Just what I needed!! But, hey, it's the thought that counts!! And they all made me some beautiful cards/pictures. Can't beat that for a nice day.

Mike gave me a wonderful card and took us all out to the movies. I've been begging to see Star Trek!! Now, I'm not a huge Trekkie to be honest. I mean, I loved the original. I used to watch the reruns with my dad....and all the time in college. But that's about it. I tried 2 of the movies, and to be perfectly honest, they bored me stiff. And I don't think I ever watched one episode of any of the Next Generation Star Treks either. In hindsight, I probably would have enjoyed them. At the time, I wasn't interested.

Then Mike told me I had to watch the trailer for the new Star Trek movie. He said it look awesome. I said I wasn't interested. Till I found out Zachary Quinto was playing Spock. If I haven't said it before, I HEART Heroes!! Since day 1, I have been in love with that show. And Sylar....well, he's dark and dangerous. The BAD boy....and I have always had a thing for bad boys!!! So, I watched the trailer and knew I had to see this movie. I wanted to go even more than Mike by this weekend.

Was I pleased? Hell, ya! The movie was Freakin' FANTASTIC!! Simon Pegg played Montgomery "Scottie" Scott! Another one of my favorite actors. Damn, I just look at him and start laughing. No review today, but even if you aren't a Trekkie, I think you will like this movie. It was great!!

Then yesterday, I went to Bella's Spring Program. It was a western/gold rush theme. It was cute. It's about time though. If I had to listen to Wagons Ho just one more time, I probably would have gone postal!! I mean, now *I* even know all the words!! The kids looked great and sang loud (if not on-key!) I mean, the ARE 3rd graders. I even stuck around and had lunch with the girlie. It made her day....and made me happy too!! Then it was off to the library to pick up my books that had come in on ILL. I really need to stay away from that place. It's not like I don't have enough of my own books to read. But all you Bad Bloggers out there keep tempting me!! So here is a quick edition of my Library Loot!!





Well....there's not really much to say about this one. Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. NO, I have never read it. So I thought it would be an excellent choice for the Classics Reading Challenge!!








Next up is John Connolly's Nocturnes. It is a book of Short Stories. I'm reading it for the Once Upon a Time Challenge. I've been trying to get this book since the challenge started. The last 2 years I have used Neil Gaiman as my Short Story guy, and sadly, I've run out of Gaiman stories!! So, I thought I would try something new. I loved the Book of Lost Things. Thought this would go well with the theme.






The Dreaming Place by Charles de Lint is a little novel, dealing with Native American and Celtic mythology. Just sounded like a perfect fit for the Once Upon a Time Challenge. Besides...what's the OUaT without de Lint??







I haven't been able to get Vol. 2 of The Sandman yet, but Vol. 2 of Fables: Animal Farm arrived yesterday!! I'm pretty stoked about reading it too!! Lordy, you guys created a monster!











Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan is a book I've seen pop up on tons of different blogs. With all the same message....read it!!
Also thought it would be another great selection for the Once Upon a Time!











Runaway by Alice Munro is another collection of short stories. I'm super-far behind in my reading for the Canadian Challenge. And I've wanted to read Munro for a really long time. This looked like a good place to start!








Monster by Walter Dean Myers was actually the first book to win the Printz Award in 2000. This one is part of my quest to read all the Printz award winners and honors books!








Finally, my first selection for the Non-Fiction Five Challenge is Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs by Elissa Wall (and you thought this post had a long title!) Ever since I started watching Big Love on HBO, I've been super-interested in the FLDS groups. Thought this would be a good place to start reading!!


Well....that's it for me today. I worked last night and I am fading fast. Just wanted to pop in and post. Say Hi to everyone. Give you a little update...and all that jazz. Next up: a couple of reviews: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. Till then.....LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!!

22 comments:

J.S. Peyton said...

I'm not a trekkie and I loved the Star Trek movie so much that I saw it twice this weekend! Once on Friday and then again on Sunday. I loved it both times too! I thought all of the actors did a pretty good job of inhabiting the roles they were supposed to play. I liked them all.

You're in for a treat with Nocturnes. And I really want to read Tender Morsels too!

Glad you had a great Mother's Day!

Staci said...

Monster and Pride and Prejudice are fantastic!! the rest look pretty good too!!

Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours said...

I've never seen Heroes but I'm totally in love with Spock after seeing the movie this weekend. I loved everything about it!

Ana S. said...

Sounds like you had a lovely Mother's Day :D

I really hope you enjoy Tender Morsels. It's definitely my favourite read of the year so far.

S. Krishna said...

I loved the Star Trek movie as well - Zachary Quinto was perfect casting for Spock.

samantha.1020 said...

Sounds like you had a great Mother's Day. You're library loot sounds awesome and I can't wait to hear your thoughts on some of these. I'm waiting for the 2nd fable graphic novel to come in from the library as well :)

Michelle said...

Stephanie, you definitely made me want to watch the movie even more now! I'm glad you had such a great Mother's Day. You definitely deserve some pampering!

Amy said...

I know I was weirded out about finding Spock sexy! I loved the movie too.

I really want to read Tender Morsels, since Nymeth's review.

chrisa511 said...

Happy belated mothers day to you Steph! If anyone deserves a special day, it's you :) Sounds like it was great too! Especially the cookies, candy and Star Trek ;) Great way to spend a day!

Michelle Fluttering Butterflies said...

Looks like a fun selection of books! I really want to read Nocturnes..

Glad to hear you had a great Mother's Day. Star Trek just isn't my thing.

Debi said...

So glad to hear you had such a nice Mother's Day, Stephanie! You certainly deserved it!

Wowza...that is one hefty pile of books you hauled home from the library! I've been having that problem, too...not getting my own books read because the library has too many enticing selections that I can't resist. Of course, I check-up out cartloads of them and then can't get them read in time anyway. I think I just need to muster some willpower. Yeah, like that's gonna happen. Anyway, I hope you're better at getting them all read than I am, 'cause I'd love to hear what you think of them all!

Joanne ♦ The Book Zombie said...

So glad to hear you had a great mother's day! Mine was pretty good too -a whole quiet day by myself- having 2 teen boys, it was something I really, really needed :P

Simon Pegg as Scotty is just too perfect! I'm not a trekkie but this movie looks fab! I really only watched the original tv series. Sometimes I like watching the reruns that have the Seven of Nine character, but I don't even know the name of that series lol :)

Serena said...

sounds like you had a great time! look at all those great books...

I haven't seen Star Trek yet, but it is on my list! Trust me I will see it in the theater...

Iliana said...

Glad you had a wonderful Mother's Day! And, hey, I haven't read P&P either :)

Enjoy your library loot!

Kailana said...

Like I told you on Twitter, I loved the new Star Trek. And, I am a bit Trekkie. I am having a 'duh' moment. I knew the guy playing Spock looked familiar, but the c.c. told me all these roles so I stopped thinking about it. The fact that he is from Heroes is so obvious to me now! lol I really liked the portrayals of both Scottie and Bones. I had no idea who most of the actors were, but that is not surprising at all!

Oh, and did you want to review Stolen Innocence together? I mentioned it, but now that you have it are you interested?

bermudaonion said...

My husband loved the Star Trek movie. He went to see it Friday and he's ready to go see it again.

Hazra said...

Nice to see that you had a great Mother's Day:)
I said this on Susan's blog also, I fainted when I saw Quinto as Spock. He acted really well in the little glimpse I had, but I can't let go of the Sylar image. And now when I'll see Heroes, I'll see Spock in Sylar. What a mess!!

Suey said...

I didn't know you were a Sylar/Heroes fan. Me too! I love Sylar which creeps me out. And I also love Star Trek, so I'm dying to see this movie! But I'm having a time issue these days. I hope to solve that soon.

Kim L said...

The new movie is clearly awesome. I am not a Heroes fan, but I do admire Zachary Quinto's performance in the new movie. He does a pitch perfect job as Spock. The emotional control with a hint of something deeper below the surface... so hot.

anyhow, glad you had such a great mother's day!

Carl V. Anderson said...

Needless to say I am thrilled that you were able to be convinced to go see Star Trek, especially because you loved it so much. For me it has been the surprise hit of the year thus far and even with other things out right now I am more tempted to spend my money on another viewing of Star Trek.

Tif Sweeney said...

I too love Heroes!!! And, I can't wait to hear what you think of Connolly's short stories!

John Mutford said...

Egad, not Munro!!!