Not Here

As it mentions on the right side of my blog, I am a college student. I am currently enrolled in summer class(es) in order to get my degree plan finished as fast as possible. Recently I bought a used textbook for my class, the first of two, and although it wasn't expensive, it certainly wasn't cheap for someone on my budget. I took it home and read the first chapter before the next day as it was required reading. I then promptly put the book down, and forgot about it until the next day, when I needed to read the 2nd chapter for the following class day. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out where that book has gone! I know that it MUST be in my house, or maybe in my car (hadn't thought of that, should probably check). How on Earth does a textbook just DISAPPEAR?

On the bright side, I've found a couple of flip-flops that have been missing! :P

One Novel in One Day

Today was my first true day off in what feels like forever. I had no real obligations that couldn't be put off until tomorrow, so instead I spoiled myself. I took a long morning nap, and spent almost the entire rest of the day playing casual downloaded game demos and reading one of my new novels, which I finished. It has been so long since I have been able to read a book for as long as I want to without having to put it down and go. It was so nice.
The novel was by one of my newer favorite authors who pens fantasy novels: Patricia Briggs. I've gotten into her Mercy Thompson series, but I've read all of those novels that are out and am eagerly awaiting the release of the newest next month. In the meantime, I decided to try one of her other novels, of which she has several. I chose one that was not part of a series, because - let's face it- when you start to get into fantasy novels, you end up reading "endless series'" and adding to it is probably not such a great idea. Besides, I plan on beginning the Twilight series, by Stephanie Meyer, very soon.
Anywho, the novel I chose was The Hob's Bargain. I enjoyed it, and would probably give it a three and a half out of five. Just the kind of novel one wouldn't mind reading to while away a day. It's got your basic supernatural/fantasy features, with a heroine that I find I can identify with, and the ending nearly had me in tears. Just great for a day of lazy reading.

Being Girly (While Buying Dad Birthday-Boy Stuff)

This weekend I made a trip up to my hometown to be there with my family for my father's birthday. This trip was a last minute decision, since I had no idea my dad's birthday was on Saturday, so my sister and I made quick plans to head to the nearest mall (30 minutes away) and shop til we ....er, found him something good.

Our first stop at the mall was Best Buy. My father only really likes two things: books and computers (and their games), but since my mom already took away the easy gifts: Best Buy gift card and Walden books gift card, I had to actually consider what he might like. I came up with Rambo, old-school style, preferably in a convenient three-disc package. But they were all sold out. Seriously, who BUYS Rambo?!

Our next stop was Walden books, just because I'd just gotten paid and I was in a book buying mood. We also went to several other stores and tried on lip gloss, and gasped over cute bags and cuter shoes. We bought him some awesome cards at Hallmark, and traipsed about going into whatever store caught our fancy, before we realized that the mall was actually closing.

We raced to Target, where I found the one and only Rambo DVD they had, and so made up for it by purchasing a super old school Three Stooges DVD. I even managed to color coordinate the card I got him with an adorable blue plaid birthday bag and dark blue and light blue tissue paper. I'm sure he totally appreciated the way it all matched so well.

Shopping, being loud and girly that day put me in a super good mood, which is hard to get in these days, since I've been feeling crummy lately. Missing an SO will do that to a girl. :/ I needed that girly day, for my sanity if nothing else.

Readings and Such

The title of the novel which I am currently reading and have nearly completed is Mirror, Mirror, by Gregory Maguire. You may recognize the name from his previous novels, one of which, Wicked, I have also read. It's his most known work, I believe, having been turned into a Broadway play that I hear is sensational. I enjoyed the book greatly, and so purchased Mirror, Mirror as my next foray into his wonderful, weird, gritty, and somehow realistic views of old fairy tales. As you may have guessed, Mirror, Mirror is a re-telling of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" and to read the way this author has interpreted and worked this tale is really quite amazing, if not a little mind-boggling. It can be really detailed in some of it's grittier scenes, which can be a little off-putting, but I still plan on purchasing his other novels: Son of a Witch, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, and Lost.