I like Kate Gosselin, there I said it

I must be one of the few people in the world who actually likes Kate Gosselin. That's right. I like her. Do I think she can dance? Not so much. Do I think she's a bad mom and a rotten person. Nope.

I think Kate gets a lot of bad press because she's easy to pick on. She's not a sweet person who wants the world to love her. She is what she is and if you don't like it, too bad for you. She married a HUGE loser and had eight children with him. He then cheated on her and left. ASS. She gets grief from the media for stuff that I know I do in my every day life and I know I'm not the only one.

I realize that she signed up for a reality show, which was probably her first mistake, and invited the whole freakin' world to watch her life. We critique the way she lives it, the way she raises her children, deals with her (ex)husband (the ass) and the people that she chooses to be friends with. As a society we have decided that women can't possibly be "just friends" with a man, even one who's married. They must be sleeping together otherwise what's the point? We all know that men can't possibly be faithful to their wives and all women are shameless floozies who will sleep with anyone. Right? Isn't that what we're saying?

Anyway, back to the point. I like Kate Gosselin so I really hope that the article I read on MSN is wrong. I'm assuming it is. At least partially. The media likes to rake this woman over the coals. So I'm asking you, the public. Does anyone have any proof that this article is true?

LSM Monday

It's going to be a better week this week. You know how I know? Cuz these smexy guys told me so!

Why Do People Suck?

Some idiots broke into my Suburban last night and stole the DVD monitors right out of the back of the seats. Why do people suck? Why? Thank God tomorrow is Friday!

Audio Books and their Readers

There should be rules.

1. If you have a lisp, you can't read an audio book
2. If your S's whistle, you can't read an audio book
3. If you can't read the words correctly, you can't read an audio book
4. If you can't read it any better aloud than I can, you can't read an audio book
5. If you think this is a speed reading competition, you can't read an audio book

For those of you interested in checking out audio books, there are good readers and bad readers. A short list of some of the best readers, IMHO are:

1. Anna Fields
2. Dick Hill
3. George Guidall
4. Frank Muller
5. Joyce Bean
6. Susan Ericksen
7. Sandra Burr

There are lots of good readers out there, but some people, even actors who I won't mention here, shouldn't be allowed to read audio books. There should be rules.

Is there anything that you think there should be rules for?

High School - ACK!

I hated high school. There is not enough money in the entire universe to make me go through high school again. EVER. I mean it.

The other day my daughter was going through a box of photos and such and found this hardback dark blue book, that in white out reads "Rik's Poems & Stuff". *headdesk* I thought I had burned that book! Thankfully she just wanted to giggle at me, because apparently that's what teenage daughters do. So I picked up "Rik's Poems & Stuff" and started reading. Holy cow was I an emotional teenager. UGH! I'm glad that's over. :)

In order to entertain all of you, my dear internet friends, I have decided to post a poem that I wrote on August 1, 1991 to an "ex". Now that I'm older I get to call him a BIG HUGE MISTAKE, but at the time, I was devastated. *sigh* Teenage angst, don't it suck?

I guess this is it
Our final good-bye
Our last loving look
For our last final try

Neither one of us leaves
With a sorrow filled glance
Neither one of us prays
To renew our romance

I guess it was dumb
To think we would work
But yet we gave it our all
Casting aside all our doubts

But time was a factor
We forgot to add in
And we proved ourselves wrong
In all that we did

The constant fights
The looks of distrust
Putting all of our passion
Into what was only a lust

We say that we love
And I believe that we do
But not you for me
And not me for you

There's another out there
Who is holding our hearts
Safely and proudly
And not in two parts

Anyone else want to share a humiliating high school drama? Please?

LSM Monday

Here are some hotties to start your week off proper...

Emotional Reading

One of the greatest things an author can do for me is make me feel. I want to feel the Heroine's pain, sadness, happiness and anger. I want to feel like I'm inside her head when she goes through these things. Not every author can do it, even some of the greats can't make it happen with every book. Sometimes, you pick up a book, and while it's very good, very well written, the chemistry, the spark isn't there. You put down the book and wonder if the HEA will last. If they were in "forever love". Sometimes, the hero/heroine gets angry about something, but you wonder if they really mean it. You can't feel their anger so it doesn't seem as "real" as it should... you get the idea.

The book I'm listening to now is Breath of Scandal by Sandra Brown. I'm not very far into this book. I may be only three or four chapters in, but I was so angry with the situation that I had to stop listening. I knew what was going to happen. I knew that the bad guys were going to get away with something horrific and the heroine was going to be devastated. Done wrong by those who are suppose to always get it right and forever scarred because of the pride and ignorance of those around her. It appears as if even her own mother isn't on her side. Which I just can't stomach. Your mom's job is to be on your side. It's part of the job, it isn't an option.

I know that today, I will put my headphones back in and get through this awful part of the book, because I know that the heroine is a strong woman and she'll work through it and figure it out, (plus I want to see what she does to make them all pay) but I'll finish this book. My question to all of you is this, have you ever stopped reading a book because an emotion was too strong for you to continue? If so, what was the emotion and did you ever go back and try the book again?

Inquiring minds and all that. Happy reading.

Imagination

Merriam Webster defines imagination as : 1 : the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality
2 a : creative ability b : ability to confront and deal with a problem : resourcefulness c : the thinking or active mind : interest
3 a : a creation of the mind; especially : an idealized or poetic creation b : fanciful or empty assumption

Mark Twain said, "Now, isn't imagination a precious thing? It peoples the earth with all manner of wonders, strange beasts and birds, angels, cherubim and seraphim. And it has to be exercised. No child should be permitted to grow up without exercise for imagination. It enriches life for him. It makes things wonderful and beautiful." - speech in Elmira, April 1907 (reprinted in Mark Twain in Elmira by Jerome & Wisbey)

Can anyone imagine growing up without an imagination? My imagination was (is) so strong that when I read The Ghosts of Departure Point by Eve Bunting, I slept with the lights on for two weeks. It wasn't even a scary book, but it was about ghosts and it gave me the heebity geebities. I was in elementary school, what can I say?

My strong imagination is the reason I don't read horror. When I read a book I can see it so clearly in my mind that it becomes real to me. It's like a movie playing in my head. I buy into vampires, werewolves, witches and wizards, magic, ghosts and supernatural abilities. I read the entire Harry Potter series, *sniff* and in the third book, *sniff* when he created his very first Patronus, *sob* I cried because I was so proud of him. When I watch the Twilight movies, I get upset with Bella for being such an idiot. Jacob is so obviously in love with her and overall just seems like a better choice, so why on Earth is she chasing after that pale faced glittery vampire??? None of these people are real, but they bring out real emotions in me.

********************SPOILER ALERT*******************

J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood books were the first "paranormal" romance books that I read. The first book was good. I was interested, I bought the second one. The second book, Lover Eternal had me hooked. I fell head over heels in love with Rhage and could completely understand why Mary would want to be with him, faults and all. I was able to forgive him for cheating (sort of) on her because for him it wasn't sex, it wasn't about emotion. It was the release that kept his monster at bay. Kept Mary safe. I bought into the whole idea of the Scribe Virgin saving her life, curing her of the cancer that had been ravaging her body for years. The cancer that was going to take her life. I believed that the Scribe Virgin returned Mary to Rhage when she found out that Mary couldn't have babies because she couldn't rob her of her warrior as well.

In Lover Awakened, I totally believed that Bella's love could heal Z's broken mind. I believed in his struggle with his own worth and his belief that Bella would be better off with his brother. I cried for him throughout his struggle and his own self destructive behavior and I completely believed in their HEA.

In Lover Revealed I hurt for Butch and what he was going through, or thought he was going through, with Marissa. I hated her brother for putting both of them through it and felt his pain for being unable to fight with the men he considered his family, his brothers. I struggled with the turning of Butch. I struggled with his "vampire roots" being strong enough to turn him into a vampire. I struggled with the fact that some long lost deep rooted relation to Wrath was enough for him to survive turning, but I wanted Butch to be a vampire, so I sucked it up and moved on. I am happy that Butch is a vampire and I don't think too much about it.

So please, why is it, that when I got to Lover Unbound my imagination gave up? Why did I struggle to believe that V could fall in love with a doctor he had been conscious with for only a few moments? Why did I struggle to believe that Rhage and Butch would risk their brothers secrets and safety for a doctor that no one knew? And when she died, why do I still struggle with the fact that she's a ghost and only V can touch her?

How am I capable of believing in vampires, lessers, dragons, curses, witches, warlocks, magic and Dark Hunters but I can't buy into the whole ghost Doc Jane thing? Tell me friends, have you ever run across a story line you just couldn't believe in? If so, what was it and why do you think you struggled? Inquiring minds and all that.

Happy reading!

LSM Monday

Sunday afternoon my daughter and I went to see Dear John. In spite of that, I'm posting Channing Tatum as the LSM of the day. Is there anything this guy can't do? He dances, he surfs, he saves the world, I'm just sayin'. Even with a shirt, this guy is smokin'. Enjoy ladies.

Movies Movies Movies

My family and I are movie addicts. When in doubt, anyone who knows us, knows you can get us a gift card to Harkin's Theaters for any occasion. We prefer Harkins over AMC because Harkin's has souvenir cups which you buy at the beginning of the year and can refill for the entire year for $1.00. That's it. $1.00 to refill a 32oz cup. Pretty awesome right? And if you're a super big dork, like we are, you can buy a Harkin's t-shirt for $20, at the beginning of the year, and if you wear it to the theater you get a free popcorn pass. The pass is excellent for one person, or for $1.00 (that's right just $1.00) you can upgrade to a large popcorn, which can be split between you and your teenage daughter. Unfortunately for most of you, Harkins is only the southwest. Arizona, Colorado, California, Oklahoma and Texas. If you have one near you and you haven't checked it out, you should.

Okay, so on to bigger and better things. I DVR'd the Oscars and have yet to watch them but I understand Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin were awesome. Did you watch? What did you think of the two of them hosting?

So, without having watched the Academy Awards, my favorite movies of last year were The Blind Side (loved Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw); Boondock Saints II All Saints Day (did you see the first one? Must see movies!); Fast and Furious (I thought Vin Diesel did an excellent job with this sequel, it was the best one made) and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (I cannot wait for the final two movies, SO EXCITED!!!). Of course I saw a lot of movies last year, but these are the favorites that stand out in my mind.









































So spill. What were your favorite movies of 2009 and why?

Inquiring minds and all that....

TGIF!!!!!

Since I was pouting on Monday, here are some hunks to make up for it. TGIF!

Dancing With the Stars

Has anyone seen this season's line up? Anyone? I don't watch The Bachelor, but a friend of mine does and she texted me the line up as she watched it. Here's what I've got...

These are the names and/or faces that I recognized right away. Buzz Aldrin, astronaut, one of the first men to ever step foot on the moon. Did I mention he's 80 years old? Chad Ochocinco, football player, changed his last name legally to his football jersey number, except he didn't change it to Eighty-five, he changed it to Eight Five. ????? Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls. I didn't recognize her name, but I definitely recognize her face. Pamela Anderson, former Playboy centerfold, Baywatch star and ex-wife to Tommy Lee, drummer of Motley Crue. She used to be a star, kind of. Now she's just famous for being Pamela Anderson. Kate Gosselin. Jon & Kate Plus 8. Reality television star and tabloid money maker. I like this woman. If people followed me and my kids around 24/7 with cameras I'd look like an abusive bitch too. I give her kudos for getting up there and giving it a try. I hope this will be positive media for her. Shannon Doherty. 90210 star, Charmed star and famous for being difficult enough to be kicked off two hit shows. I like her, figures right?

















Now for the rest of the stars...

Aiden Turner, he's a soap guy. I don't know what soap but it's not CBS. Erin Andrews, an ESPN reporter lady. My husband knew EXACTLY who she was. Evan Lysacek, an Olympic Figure Skater. Jake Pavelka, star and latest piece of meat on The Bachelor. Niecy Nash. I don't have any idea who this woman is. When I Googled her I got hits on her "booty" before anything else.

















And there you have it. Your line up of "stars" for season 10. What do you think? Do you think DWTS is running out of stars? Inquiring minds and all that....

OUCH!

My feelings are hurt. I've been told that I'm good, just good enough. It's not that I'm not spectacular, because I am, I'm just not spectacular enough. I am great at what I do, just not good enough in all the right ways.

My feelings are hurt. I was unable to accomplish a goal set before me and now I'm a failure. I have failed. I don't fail. Okay, I hardly ever fail. But I failed at this. UGH! SUCKS! I don't know what to do about it or with the knowledge that I wasn't good enough.

My feelings are hurt. I'm going to go hide somewhere and lick my wounds...