InkHeart

I love to read. I don't get to read as much as I would like these days, but I always manage to sneak in a fiction or two during a semester, and this one is no different.

However, I have pretty narrow standards when it comes to choosing a good read. I don't like to take many chances as my time reading is in short supply, and there are a lot of so-so authors and so-so stories out there.

One of the measuring sticks I use in gauging the worthiness of a story is #1 Peoples reactions to the book and #2 what catagory it falls under. If people are litterally ga-ga over a story (you know, star trekie types) that is a red mark, and if it belongs to a catagory like space travel, or fantasy, etc. (do you see a common thread forming?) that is another red mark.

Well, as with every rule, there are exceptions (i.e. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Lion, witch...etc.). Amber recently read Inkheart by Cornelia Funke and I took one look at its cover and immediately dismissed it with two red marks.

Good thing there are do-overs! The other day Amber informed me that I was going to read this book next, period.

Talk about dilema's! Because I didn't want word getting out that I was reading such a sissy la la book, I began reading in my bed room, with the door closed after everyone else had gone to bed.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised! Although I am only half way through I must say this is a winner! And so, for any of you who truely love to get lost in a book, I would recommend this original, quirky tale. Just make sure you don't read it aloud!

I have a few other recommendations for good reads this Summer, The Appeal by John Grisham, The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman, and anything written by Louis Lamour. As for Nonfiction, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage by Dr. Laura, The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, and anything witten by Neal A. Maxwell.

Enjoy!

Born Again!

After reviewing my current thread of blogs the thought occured to me that I have slipped into the habit of blogging about the mundane, boring things of life. You have my appology! This must stop for at least two reasons: First, when I see people I have nothing to talk about because it is all on the blog! I like to bore people with my non-fun life.

Second, who wants to read a blog by one of the most boring people on earth? Not me.

So, today is the turning of a new leaf! Expect to see new things from this boy!

P.S. Curt, I have that video from last week on DVD. Give me your address and perhaps I can send it to you! Email it too me.

(Shaking Head) Stess, who'd of thought?

By a raise of hands, how many of you are currently or have ever been stressed to the point that it effects your mood, your thoughts, and your actions? Does this occur rarely, almost never? Or does it occur more times than not? If you belong to the later group: congrats! You are killing yourself, literally.

I just got my hands on a recording of a lecture given at the U by Robert Sapolsky, a Neuro-Endocronologist from Stanford. In short, he knows exactly what stress does to the body and how the body reacts to stress. If any of you want a big dose of "Chill Out" feel free to borrow my copy and prepare to get motivated to relax! (Warning: this is a lecture given to pre-med students and is anatomically and physiologically correct. To put it lightly, it is exhaustive in its effort to uncover just how stress effects every function of the body). It is clinical, funny, very educational, and he does a great job. I would give it a pg-13 rating and I do recommend it to everyone, with the understanding that it is for adults, you have been warned.

As a teaser I would ask you to think back just fifty years and list the top five causes of death, now flash forward to the present day and answer the same question. Fifty years and more ago death was caused by things like Scarlet Fever, the plague, pneumonia, etc. Now, with the one exception of cancer, the leading causes of death are heart attacks, strokes, diabetis, etc. It really is a telling thing.

Well anyways, on to happy subjects. I am back in the saddle again, with four-wheel drive once again as an option in my arsenal! Greatest invention ever!

To the spider...

I have made some new friends these last three weeks. Fortunately none of you will ever meet them, at least we hope you don't.

I just wanted to thank a certain little spider for making my time with these friends a most educational and enjoyable one.

One of my friends, whom we will call Raul, talks with God. I mean 24/7 verbal prayers, no scratch that, they are verbal arguments with the man upstairs.

Apparently their story goes back quite a ways. From what I could discern it would appear that Raul was the desperate loser in some cosmic chess match with God and he has not gotten over that ill fated game.

Out of spite the winner forced the loser to participate in the creation of the world. As such, Raul is responsible for all of the evil, sadness, and misery leveled upon humanity. He is so sorry and so angry at God for tricking and using him. I witnessed his endless cursing and blessing of God for two long days, and while I found it facinating, I also found in disturbing.

Therefore you can imagine my joy when yesterday I was met at the door by Raul who was holding an imaginary leash. I and "Luke" his pet spider, were immedietly taken on a tour of the joint. We learned all of Raul's favorite haunts such as, the opening to the "dungeon" where the creation took place, where he prefers to sit and eat lunch, his suite, and of course the medication counter where he works dispensing medications to the patients there (Raul isn't a patient at the USH, he is a doctor who lives with his patients, he finds it is more therapeutic for them if he is always on site).

By the time I left for the day, I must say I was amazed at Luke's stamina. He went many places that no one or no thing should ever be forced to go. And he did so quite cheerfully as he was always willing to go on to the next stop of his own little tour of hell. I petered out after the third or fourth stop and just contented myself with observing the goings on.

But here is the amazing thing: By the end of the day I caught Raul smiling as he would talk to, hold, and pet Luke!

So, , here is to Luke, the spider who could do what even God couldn't: make Raul smile!

P.S. some of this tale is true, some of it isn't. But since when is reality or truth really that important?