"A Confederacy of Dunces" J.K. Toole
"A Thousand Splendid Suns" Khaled Hosseini
"AWidow for One Year" John Irving
"Atonement" Ian McEwan
"Before Women Had Wings" Connie Maw Fowler
"Blindness" Jose Saramago
"Bridge to Terebithia" Katherine Paterson
"Cannery Row" John Steinbeck
"Couldn't Keep it to Myself: Testimonies from Our Imprisoned Sisters" Wally Lamb
"Empire Falls" Richard Russo
"Eyes of a Blue Dog" Gabriel Garcia Marquez
"Fast Food Nation" Eric Schlosser
"Fateless" Imre Kertesz
"Handmaid's Tale" Margaret Atwood
"House of Spirits" Isabelle Allende
"In Cold Blood" Truman Capote
"Keeping Faith" Jodi Picoult
"Lolita" Vladimir V. Nabokov
"Love In Time Of Cholera" Gabriel Garcia Marquez
"Me & Emma" Elizabeth Flock
"Middlesex" Jeffrey Eugenides
"Midnight's Children" Salman Rushdie
"My Sister's Keeper" Jodi Picoult
"Outlander" Diana Gabaldon
"Plain Truth" Jodi Picoult
"Possesion: A Romance" A.S. Byatt
"Prodigal Summer : A Novel" Barbara Kingsolver
"Running With Scissors" Augusten Burroughs
"The 158-Pound Marriage" John Irving
"The Alchemist" Paolo Coelho
"The Autobiography of Santa Claus" Jeff Guinn
"The Blind Assassin" Margaret Atwood
"The Time Traveler's Wife" Audrey Niffenegger
"The True Story of Hansel and Gretel" Louise Murphy
"The Way the Crow Flies" Ann-Marie MacDonald
"The World According to Garp" John Irving
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Movies that I Need to Watch...
Finally watched Casablanca last night. It was an amazing movie that does not have the typical "fairy tale" happy ending, but I enjoy that. So I thought that I need to expand my cinematical horizons by watching more "must see" movies. I am using AFI: Top 100 Movies as a guide.
- Citizen Kane
- The Godfather
- Singin' in the Rain
- Lawrence of Arabia
- Schindler's List
- Vertigo
- Raging Bull
- Some Like it Hot
- Taxi Driver
- The Grapes of Wrath
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- A Streetcare Named Desire
- Rear Window
- West Side Story
- The African Queen
- Who's Afraid of Viginia Woolf?
- Saving Private Ryan
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
- Spartacus
- Sophie's Choice
- Goodfellas
- Pulp Fiction
- Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
- Ben-Hur
- Breakfast at Tiffany's
- My Fair Lady
- An Affair to Remember
- Out of Africa
- Ghost
- Pretty Woman
- An Officer and a Gentleman
- Funny Girl
- The Postman Always Rings Twice
- The English Patient
- The Princess Bride
- Body Heat
- Braveheart
- The Untouchables
- Dances With Wolves
- Amadeus
- Rudy
- Bridge on the River Kwai
- Chinatown
- Top Gun
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- Dial M for Murder
- To Catch a Theif
- Roman Holiday
- Chocolat
Friday, May 23, 2008
Ewww. . .
Okay, I am really not a germaphobe, but why in the world would you let your child come BAREFOOT into a Veterinarians office? Can we say GROSS? Do people realize that dogs and cats pee and poop on the floor in here? We do clean up and disinfect but I would really hate to see the bacteria that is living on this floor. I am so grossed out right now.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
My List of 100 Things to Do Before I Die
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." Helen Keller"
1) Go scuba-diving off Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
2) Become a parent.
3) Visit Paris and go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
4) Go to a real theatre. 5/15/08 Chicago Theater to see "Wicked"
5) Take a hotair balloon ride.
6) Climb a mountain.
7) Christmas in New York.
8) Go to a major sporting event.
9) Visit the pyramids.
10) Go whale watching.
11) Visit Machu Picchu.
12) See the northern lights.
13) Visit a museum in London.
14) Attend the Olympic games.
15) Donate blood.
16) Try wine-tasting.
17) Float in the dead sea.
18) Go on a safari.
19) Walk on the Great Wall of China.
20) Take the Trans-Siberian Express across Asia.
21) Visit the Tower of London.
22) Eat jellied eels from a stall in London.
23) Run a marathon.
24) Send a message in a bottle.
25) Be present at a birth (of a child other than mine).
26) Hike the Appalachian Trail.
27) See the Niagara Falls.
28) Go to midnight premiere of a movie.
29) Cruise down the Nile.
30) Ride a camel in the desert.
31) Kiss the Blarney Stone.
32) Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
33) Drink beer at Oktoberfest in Munich.
34) See a musical on Broadway.
35) Throw a huge party and invite every one of your friends.
36) Swim with dolphins.
37) Skydive.
38) Learn to speak a foreign language and make sure you use it.
39) Go skinny-dipping at midnight in the South of France.
40) Watch the launch of the space shuttle.
41)Be an extra in a film.
42) Buy a round-the-world air ticket and a rucksack, and run away.
43) Give your mother a dozen red roses and tell her you love her.
44) Be a member of the audience in a TV show. --I did this, I went to see a taping of Jeopardy.
45) Put your name down to be a passenger on the first tourist shuttle to the moon.
46) See Ani Difranco in concert.
47) Plant a tree.
48) Learn to ballroom dance properly.
49) Sit on a jury.
50) Go to Walden Pond and read Thoreau while drifting in a canoe.
51) Be someone's mentor.
52) Shower in a waterfall.-3/23/08--Didn't take a full shower, didn't get naked, but I definately immersed myself in a waterfall at the end of a caving expedition.
53) Be one of the first to take a flight on the new Airbus A380.
54) Spend New Year's in an exotic location.
55) Drive across America from coast to coast.
56) Make a complete and utter fool of yourself. --I do this too often!
57) Take a ride on the highest roller coaster in the country. --currently the Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ
58) Go wild in Rio during Carnival.
59) Drive the Autobahn.
60) Spend Christmas on the beach drinking pina coladas.
61) Raft through the Grand Canyon.
62) Spend three months getting your body into optimum shape. -Started 5/19/08
63) Attend one really huge rock concert.
64) Give to a charity -- anonymously.
65) Lose more money than you can afford at roulette in Vegas.
66) Visit the Holy Land.
67) Go to Auschwitz
68) Catch a ball in the stands of a major league baseball stadium.
69) Stay overnight in a Buddist Monastery
70) Visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial
71) Milk a cow
72) Visit Ground Zero in New York City
73) Protest
74) Take an archery lesson
75) Learn to water ski
76) Have coffee on a sidewalk in Paris
77) See Cirque Du Soleil live
78) Camp outside for a week
79) Go to a real Ballet
80) Enroll in a belly dancing class
81) Ride a mechanical bull
82) Visit all 50 of the United States- visited 20/50 so far
83) Graduate college
84) Be an Oprah audience member
85) Help with a Habitat for Humanity Home
86) Go to a fashion show
87) Try fire walking
88) See the Acropolis in Greece
89) Watch Casablanca Completed 5/26/08
90) Learn to fly, get my pilot's license
91) Receive my black belt in Tae Kwon Do
92) Eat Chinese food in China
93) Get to my ideal weight again
94) Volunteer with an organization such as "Doctors Without Borders" and make a difference
95) Run with the bulls in Spain
96) Become debt free
97) See the Highland Games in Scotland
98) Stay overnight in an ice hotel
99) Drink tequila in a bar in Mexico
100) Ride horseback on a beach
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
"Wicked"
Last Thursday night my cousin took me to see "Wicked" at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts in Chicago. I was really excited because 1) I had never been to see a "real" play at a "real" theater (I went to see The Nutcracker at the Fox Theater when I was 6 or so, but I think that I fell asleep) and 2) I read the book about 2 years ago and LOVED. The performance was amazing! I am not usually a huge musical theater fan, but the songs were fantastic and really fit the storyline and the actors were amazing. It really reinforced my love of the theater.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Things to Do Before I Die
Here is my list (so far) of things to do before I die:
1) Go scuba-diving off Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
2) Become a parent.
3) Visit Paris and go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
4) Go to a real theatre. 5/15/08 Chicago Theater to see "Wicked"
5) Take a hotair balloon ride.
6) Climb a mountain.
7) Christmas in New York.
8) Go to a major sporting event.
9) Visit the pyramids.
10) Go whale watching.
11) Visit Machu Picchu.
12) See the northern lights.
13) Visit a museum in London.
14) Attend the Olympic games.
15) Donate blood.
16) Try wine-tasting.
17) Float in the dead sea.
18) Go on a safari.
19) Walk on the Great Wall of China.
20) Take the Trans-Siberian Express across Asia.
21) Visit the Tower of London.
22) Eat jellied eels from a stall in London.
23) Run a marathon.
24) Send a message in a bottle.
25) Be present at a birth (of a child other than mine).
26) Hike the Appalachian Trail.
27) See the Niagara Falls.
28) Go to midnight premiere of a movie.
29) Cruise down the Nile.
30) Ride a camel in the desert.
31) Kiss the Blarney Stone.
32) Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
33) Drink beer at Oktoberfest in Munich.
34) See a musical on Broadway.
35) Throw a huge party and invite every one of your friends.
36) Swim with a dolphin.
37) Skydive.
38) Learn to speak a foreign language and make sure you use it.
39) Go skinny-dipping at midnight in the South of France.
40) Watch the launch of the space shuttle. Kennedy Space Center
41)Be an extra in a film.
42) Buy a round-the-world air ticket and a rucksack, and run away.
43) Give your mother a dozen red roses and tell her you love her.
44) Be a member of the audience in a TV show. --I did this, I went to see a taping of Jeopardy.
45) Put your name down to be a passenger on the first tourist shuttle to the moon.
46) Send a message in a bottle.
47) Plant a tree.
48) Learn to ballroom dance properly.
49) Sit on a jury.
50) Go to Walden Pond and read Thoreau while drifting in a canoe.
51) Be someone's mentor.
52) Shower in a waterfall.-3/23/08--Didn't take a full shower, didn't get naked, but I definately immersed myself in a waterfall at the end of a caving expedition. 53) Be one of the first to take a flight on the new Airbus A380.
54) Spend New Year's in an exotic location.
55) Drive across America from coast to coast.
56) Make a complete and utter fool of yourself. --I do this too often!
57) Take a ride on the highest roller coaster in the country. --currently the Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ
58) Go wild in Rio during Carnival.
59) Drive the Autobahn.
60) Spend Christmas on the beach drinking pina coladas.
61) Raft through the Grand Canyon.
62) Spend three months getting your body into optimum shape.
63) Attend one really huge rock concert.
64) Give to a charity -- anonymously.
65) Lose more money than you can afford at roulette in Vegas.
66) Visit the Holy Land.
67) Go to Auschwitz
68) Catch a ball in the stands of a major league baseball stadium.
69) Stay overnight in a Buddist Monastery
1) Go scuba-diving off Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
2) Become a parent.
3) Visit Paris and go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
4) Go to a real theatre. 5/15/08 Chicago Theater to see "Wicked"
5) Take a hotair balloon ride.
6) Climb a mountain.
7) Christmas in New York.
8) Go to a major sporting event.
9) Visit the pyramids.
10) Go whale watching.
11) Visit Machu Picchu.
12) See the northern lights.
13) Visit a museum in London.
14) Attend the Olympic games.
15) Donate blood.
16) Try wine-tasting.
17) Float in the dead sea.
18) Go on a safari.
19) Walk on the Great Wall of China.
20) Take the Trans-Siberian Express across Asia.
21) Visit the Tower of London.
22) Eat jellied eels from a stall in London.
23) Run a marathon.
24) Send a message in a bottle.
25) Be present at a birth (of a child other than mine).
26) Hike the Appalachian Trail.
27) See the Niagara Falls.
28) Go to midnight premiere of a movie.
29) Cruise down the Nile.
30) Ride a camel in the desert.
31) Kiss the Blarney Stone.
32) Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
33) Drink beer at Oktoberfest in Munich.
34) See a musical on Broadway.
35) Throw a huge party and invite every one of your friends.
36) Swim with a dolphin.
37) Skydive.
38) Learn to speak a foreign language and make sure you use it.
39) Go skinny-dipping at midnight in the South of France.
40) Watch the launch of the space shuttle. Kennedy Space Center
41)Be an extra in a film.
42) Buy a round-the-world air ticket and a rucksack, and run away.
43) Give your mother a dozen red roses and tell her you love her.
44) Be a member of the audience in a TV show. --I did this, I went to see a taping of Jeopardy.
45) Put your name down to be a passenger on the first tourist shuttle to the moon.
46) Send a message in a bottle.
47) Plant a tree.
48) Learn to ballroom dance properly.
49) Sit on a jury.
50) Go to Walden Pond and read Thoreau while drifting in a canoe.
51) Be someone's mentor.
52) Shower in a waterfall.-3/23/08--Didn't take a full shower, didn't get naked, but I definately immersed myself in a waterfall at the end of a caving expedition. 53) Be one of the first to take a flight on the new Airbus A380.
54) Spend New Year's in an exotic location.
55) Drive across America from coast to coast.
56) Make a complete and utter fool of yourself. --I do this too often!
57) Take a ride on the highest roller coaster in the country. --currently the Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ
58) Go wild in Rio during Carnival.
59) Drive the Autobahn.
60) Spend Christmas on the beach drinking pina coladas.
61) Raft through the Grand Canyon.
62) Spend three months getting your body into optimum shape.
63) Attend one really huge rock concert.
64) Give to a charity -- anonymously.
65) Lose more money than you can afford at roulette in Vegas.
66) Visit the Holy Land.
67) Go to Auschwitz
68) Catch a ball in the stands of a major league baseball stadium.
69) Stay overnight in a Buddist Monastery
A New Format
I am thinking about taking a page out of my friend Carmen's book and switching this blog up a little bit. I am going to start posting all things about my life instead of just my reading information. My life has gotten a little more interesting since my divorce. Okay, ALOT more interesting so I don't have to live vicariously through books anymore. Currently I am in Chicago to visit my cousins and I am having so much fun.
Today we went to brunch, to get manicures and pedicures (which I never treat myself to at home) and then shopping up and down Michgan Ave. And then topped off the day with afternoon tea at the Drake hotel. I feel very British now.
Tommorrow night my cousin and I are going to see "Wicked" at the Chicago theatre which I am SO excited about.
More later,
S
Today we went to brunch, to get manicures and pedicures (which I never treat myself to at home) and then shopping up and down Michgan Ave. And then topped off the day with afternoon tea at the Drake hotel. I feel very British now.
Tommorrow night my cousin and I are going to see "Wicked" at the Chicago theatre which I am SO excited about.
More later,
S
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Update on Decades Reading Challenge 2008
Completed titles are in blue italics:
1990's-"The Deep End of the Ocean" by Jacquelyn Mitchard
1980's- "The Cider House Rules" by John Irving
1970's- "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
1960's- "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
1950's- "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury
1940's- "1984" by George Orwel
l1930's- "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie
1920's- "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
1910's- "Dubliners" by James Joyce
1900's- "Hound of the Baskervilles" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
1890's- "Tess of the Dubervilles" by Thomas Hardy
1880's- "King Solomon's Mines" by H. Rider Haggard
1870's- "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy
1860's- "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
1850's- "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville
1840's- "Vanity Fair" by William Thackery
1830's- "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens
1990's-"The Deep End of the Ocean" by Jacquelyn Mitchard
1980's- "The Cider House Rules" by John Irving
1970's- "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
1960's- "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
1950's- "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury
1940's- "1984" by George Orwel
l1930's- "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie
1920's- "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
1910's- "Dubliners" by James Joyce
1900's- "Hound of the Baskervilles" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
1890's- "Tess of the Dubervilles" by Thomas Hardy
1880's- "King Solomon's Mines" by H. Rider Haggard
1870's- "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy
1860's- "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
1850's- "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville
1840's- "Vanity Fair" by William Thackery
1830's- "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens
Friday, May 2, 2008
Movies of April 2008
American Gangster-4/5
Horton Hears a Who!-5/5
Juno-5/5
LOTR: The Return of the King-4/5
LOTR: The Two Towers-5/5
LOTR:Fellowship of the Rings-4.5/5
Music From Another Room-3.5/5
Run Lola Run-4/5
Sweeney Todd-3.5/5
Urban Legend-2/5
We Own the Night-2.5/5
Horton Hears a Who!-5/5
Juno-5/5
LOTR: The Return of the King-4/5
LOTR: The Two Towers-5/5
LOTR:Fellowship of the Rings-4.5/5
Music From Another Room-3.5/5
Run Lola Run-4/5
Sweeney Todd-3.5/5
Urban Legend-2/5
We Own the Night-2.5/5
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