mainly books and whatnot

My life according to the books I've read this year.

2009-09-07T20:59:48Z

I know, I know, yet another book meme. I saw this one on Grasping for the Wind and Dark Wolf's Fantasy Reviews. It was quite an interesting challenge. I also cheated and used other books I've read this year, but printed prior to 2009.

Using only books you have read this year (2009), cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a book title.

Describe yourself: Tie between The Warded Man and Warbreaker.

How do you feel: Kitty Raises Hell.

Describe where you currently live: The City and the City.

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Alexandria or Avempartha.

Your favorite form of transport: Mean Streets.

Your best friend is: The Patriot Witch.

You and your friends are: Wyrd Sisters.

What’s the weather like: In the Courts of the Sun.

Favorite time of day: The Sun Over Breda.

If your life was a: Palimpsest.

What is life to you: Tides from the New Worlds.

Your fear: The Last Unicorn.

What is the best advice you have to give: The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death.

Thought for the Day: The Rhinoceros Who Quoted Nietzsche.

How I would like to die: The Hero of Ages.

My soul’s present condition: Santa Olivia or A Kiss Before the Apocalypse.

Book Meme

2009-06-10T00:55:47Z

1) What author do you own the most books by?

Probably CJ Cherryh or Anne McCaffrey.

2) What book do you own the most copies of?

I only have multiple copies for two: the ASOIAF series and The Shadow of the Wind.

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

Nope. It's an old rule that's pretty much obsolete.

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

Even if I had one, I probably wouldn't share it. :P

5) What book have you read the most times in your life?

Too difficult to say. Especially as I sometimes only reread parts of books instead of the whole thing.

6) What was your favourite book when you were ten years old?

Gosh, that was so long ago and I've read so many books since then I couldn't say.

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?

So far it's tie between In the Courts of the Sun by D'Amato and Twelve by Kent.

8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?

Probably a three-way tie between Best Served Cold, The Hero of Ages, and The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox.

9) If you could force everyone to read one book, what would it be?

Maybe A Game of Thrones or The Shadow of the Wind.

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

I don't really care.

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

None in particular. I don't really care as long as the movie is done well.

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

See answer for number 11.

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

A few nights ago I seemed to have a weird one about a boarder involved in a plot similar to Best Served Cold.

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?

I don't care for the terms high- and lowbrow because I hate judging books this way. The closest to what the question refers to would probably be the two most recent Kitty books by Carrie Vaughn.

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?

Reflections on the Revolution in France by Edmund Burke for an university history class. I didn't even get 30 pages. We had to write a paper on it and somehow I managed to bullshit my way to a B-.

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?

I only seen the more well known plays so my answer doesn't really.

18) Roth or Updike?

Not really into literary fiction.

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?

I've only read one Sedaris so far.

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

Shakespeare doesn't turn me off like it used to but if I'll read anything next it'll probably be Chaucer.

21) Austen or Eliot?

Austen.

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

I was never a big reader of the classics.

23) What is your favourite novel?

I hate comparing books to each other so I have several favorites.

25) Poem?

Ugh. Verse goes right over my head.

26) Essay?

I don't read a lot of essays since I've graduated from college.

27) Short story?

I haven't read a lot of short stories but "The Hedge Knight" by GRRM is my favorite.

29) Who is your favorite writer?

Definitely Martin though there are quite a few that are close.

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

There are a ton. And one or two that would probably get me hanged on Ran's.

31) What is your desert island book?

No need to choose, I'll just lug them all along with me.

32) And... what are you reading right now?

I'm about 40 pages from the end of A Canticle for Leibowitz.

Declawing Pets

2009-04-13T18:13:40Z

A while back I got into a small disagreement with a few friends in TTTNE over declawing cats. A couple people made some offhand remarks about declawing being cruel. Then I mentioned that my family had always gotten the front paws of our cats declawed. It kind of went downhill from there. It wasn't a major fight like in General Chatter, it was just a argument between friends, but I did feel like I was being treated like a war criminal.

The truth is that I've never gotten cats declawed myself. Every cat we ever got were when I was young so my parents made the decision or the cats had already been declawed when we got them. I did some research recently hoping to prove my friends wrong, but now it turns out that I was wrong. I had always thought the operation simply removed the claws, I didn't know it also cut off the first part of the toe.

Wonderful, now I feel like a war criminal and an idiot. Fan-fucking-tastic. At least now I know the truth and can make a more informed decision.

Hurray!

2009-04-03T23:57:14Z

Iowa Supreme Court rules gay ban unconstitutional.

I gotta say that there are days that I'm proud to be an Iowan. One was when Obama won the caucus, another was today. Great news!

On writing...

2009-03-24T13:13:36Z

I know I don't update very often so I think it's past time to mention my latest project. Last year I wrote a short story as part of a friendly competition. It was fun and the story turned out interesting so I made a New Year's resolution that I would start writing this year. Hardly surprising since so many of us have writing aspirations. Well, last night I finished my second story.

The story was my first real serious attempt at writing, featuring zombies and immortals if you can believe it. It's hopelessly derivative; savvy readers ought to be able to recognize elements of two movies and at least two to three authors. It was based on a dream I had so I just blame my subconscious (the zombie part I actually blame on Emma :P). I've decided to set aside some time to do a little bit of writing every week. I have ideas for at least another six or seven short stories. For now, I'm going to follow GRRM's advice and stick to short forms before trying something longer. Besides, as a man of few words, I need to learn to be more verbose. ;)

Music Monday

2009-03-10T00:52:15Z

Okay, something a little different today. This is the theme song from the show Enterprise. I've always thought it was odd that a lot people said they did not like. I really enjoy it and I think it fits the show perfectly.

beniowa79 @ 2009-02-26T16:56:00

2009-02-26T22:57:57Z

Filched from Etrangere

Your result for Which Were Animal Would You Be? Test...

You are a Were-Wolf!

50% wolf, 10% rat, 40% horse, 40% tiger, 50% leopard, 40% fox and 30% bear!

Wolves are predators, but unlike many predators they are also pack animals. Legend has them as being the original were animal.

Wolves are very expressive. They have distinct faces they make that are easily read to show what they are thinking or feeling. They use facial and body language as well as yips and yowls to communicate exactly what they want.

Wolves are dedicated to their mates. They will groom each other, travel together, and sleep side by side. They also join their scents so that other wolves know that they are taken. Wolves in a pack protect one another.

As a were-wolf you will be on the hunt for as many as 20 miles, but you won't have to hunt alone.

Take Which Were Animal Would You Be? Test at HelloQuizzy

Music Monday

2009-02-24T03:08:31Z

I haven't seen Slumdog Millionaire yet but I saw the musical performance last night at the Oscars and I bought the soundtrack today. This is "Jai Ho".

Music Monday

2009-01-26T23:07:32Z

Okay, something a little different this time. "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M.

Music Monday

2009-01-12T22:47:20Z

Phil Collins is one of my favorite. This is "Another Day in Paradise."

Music Monday

2009-01-06T01:21:39Z

Okay time for some Eagles. "How Long" is from their newest album that was releases last year.

updates for the New Year

2009-01-03T22:46:18Z

I know I don't post here very often but a couple of updates for the new year.

1. I got the waterbed fixed a couple weeks ago. My dad came over and we managed to get the new heater put under the mattress without having to drain it. The couch wasn't too bad (I picked it because it was comfortable) but I'm glad to be sleeping in my own bed again.

2. I rebooted my book blog, The Deckled Edge. I plan to do it for at least another year and hopefully longer.

3. Not really momentous news but I'm planning to do a little writing. I wrote a short story last year as part of a small contest between friends. I thought the story came out pretty well with it and I rather liked writing it. I've had some ideas for more stories floating around so I'm going to put aside some time for some writing this year. We'll see how it goes

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T16:58:52Z

Happy New Year everyone! Best wishes for a new year in whatever you do and try not to land in jail. Cheers!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-26T01:44:20Z

I went over to the parents place last night after work to shovel the driveway and watch Christmas movies. We have a tradition of watching Charlie Brown Christmas, White Christmas, and whatever other movies we can fit in. I went back over this morning to exchange gifts and eat Christmas dinner (okay it was really a lunch). Mom went a little overboard buying me gifts as usual and of course the best stuff were the books I got.

Merry Christmas everyone and happy holidays! *cheers*

Music Monday

2008-12-16T00:50:41Z

I've always liked this catchy song by Sheryl Crow, "Gonna Soak Up the Sun"

Edit: For some reason the embedding isn't working.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D7M1gF1brXs

100 things/bucket list meme.

2008-12-03T14:53:48Z

Taken from eefa.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (definitely want to to do this)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (don't want to :P)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (I may have done this once)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (planning to do some day)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (close enough I'm going to count it)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (planning to do this)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke (no way in hell)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (on the to do list)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (another definite on the to do list)
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (I think popcorn in Boy Scouts counts)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (might have happened once, can't be sure)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar (why on earth would I want to?)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (planning to take up writing)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (GRRM baby!)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Music Monday

2008-12-02T00:34:22Z

"The One and Only" by Chesney Hawkes. Yeah, he's a bit of a pretty boy. Just listen to the song okay? :P

Music Monday

2008-11-17T22:34:26Z

I like Don Henley either solo or with the Eagles.

Name Meme

2008-11-17T00:59:48Z

Taken from Bazzlebane and Ebenstone.

WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (father's & mother's middle names)
D. Carol

NASCAR NAME: (first name of your father's dad, mother's dad )
Howard Raymond

STAR WARS NAME: (the first 2 letters of your last name, first 4 letters of your first name)
Sp-Benj

DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color, fav animal)
Yellow Cat

SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you live)
D. Coralville

SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav alcoholic drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Black Smirnoff

FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Beow

GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie):
Mint Fudge Chocolate Chip

ROCK STAR NAME: (current pet's name, current street name)
Tiger Twentysecond

PORN NAME: (1st pet, street you grew up on)
Thomas Valley View

Special note for the curious, I have no middle name and I'm the fourth generation to have the same middle initial.

Waterbed Woes

2008-11-15T22:33:41Z

I figured out last night that the heater for my waterbed is stuck around 77F degrees and it won't go any higher. No wonder I've been so cold at night since I usually turn it up to 90 for the winter. And winter is only beginning. Fuck! Hopefully I can find a heater for it but waterbeds have gone out of style so there are hardly any shops that carry supplies for them anymore. Not to mention that my bed is pretty old. I may have to end up buying a new bed eventually. For now, I guess I'm sleeping on the sofa.

Music Monday

2008-11-10T22:19:52Z

Somehow I never got around to buying a U2 cd until "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" came out. Glad I did.

cats, credit cards, and the election

2008-11-04T15:10:53Z

I know I don't post here very often and I'm going to try and change that. If it gets too nonsensical for you, you can skip right over it. :P

A couple friends posted pictures of their cats in TTTNE yesterday and it reminded me of how I miss having a cat. When I got this apartment last December, one of the major bonuses was that it was only a five-minute walk to work. In a suburban area on the edge of town, this something of a bonus. One of the downsides however was that they don't allow pets otherwise I'd have a cat now. I've grown up with cats and I miss not having one. On the other hand, I sad to admit that I don't miss not having to care for one. I had to take care of all my pets growing up and helped out with the cats too so it's nice to have a break from cleaning out the litter. Perhaps next year I'll move so I can be a slave again.

My credit card is always due near the beginning of the month and for the second time this year I have not received a bill. I always pay off my bill in full and part of my concern is that I don't want to miss another payment because of a lost bill. I also have to wonder if my bill isn't here then where the hell is it ending up? Did it get swallowed up in the belly of the Postal beast? Did it get zapped by the x-ray emissions from FTL drive of a passing Orion spaceship? Fortunately I think I found a way to pay my bill online from my credit union's website. I just hope I don't lose another bill.

And finally, today is the last day of the election. FINALLY! Bloody hell, I was ready for this thing to be over in January. If I see one more political ad I'm going to puke. I voted early two weeks ago and it was a great feeling. The local news last night said that over 22% of Iowans have voted already. That's also more than the entire vote count for 2004. I have to admit I'm a little nervous about how this election will turnout. I know that Obama is leading in the polls yet history has shown that the race is never over until the final ballot is counted (the less said about 2000 the better). I'm worried that not enough people will have the courage or integrity to vote for him. I have an oddball evening shift tonight but I'll try to follow the results as closely as I can.

Music Monday

2008-11-03T23:17:31Z

Yeah, it's cheesy love song so sue me. :P

Music Monday

2008-10-27T15:26:49Z

I love this catchy song from the Bourne movies.

Have you voted yet?

2008-10-24T01:17:29Z

I got home early from out of town this afternoon so I went down to City Hall and voted early. It felt so good I was almost giddy.