My "Worst Nightmare" Is Reading This Book

We went to book expo the last week of May and I'm now working my way through some new books. Unfortunately, the first one I picked to read was "Worst Nightmares." What a disgusting waste of time.

I should explain that I generally like horror and "out-there" fiction. When I read, I'm generally looking to be entertained, not some great literary masterpiece. I like Stephen King, and I hate pretentious readers who turn their nose up at anything that isn't "literary" enough for them. So it's not like I had a high bar for this book - be moderately well-written and entertain me. Unfortunately, the only thing the book had going for itself was a mildly interesting premise - writer has writer-block, a mysterious stranger hands him a horror book (about a serial killer who kills people by fulfilling their worst nightmares) that has potential and then apparently "dies." Writer prints book as his own and then finds out it wasn't fiction. Not too complex, but interesting enough. Problem is, it's written in a style that is only slightly above torture porn. The deaths are gruesome, but not very probable. What the torturer is able to do is outlandish and illogical - and the big twist in the end (an Agatha Christie "Aha" like moment) doesn't hold together with the rest of the story. Add to that there isn't one likeable character and that the "hero" (the plagarizing author who doesn't want to go to the police) is dumb as a bag of rocks, and ...well, let's just say, unless you like torture for the sake of torture, leave this nighmare of a book on the shelf.

Things Only a Pirates Fan Would Say

Several thoughts came to mind as I was looking at the baseball standings last night ... things that a Red Sox fan would never think.
1. Wow, look, we're no longer in last place.
2. Whoo hooo! We're only 2 games under 500!
3. Can we play the Nats every night?
4. (and speaking of the Nats) Wow, I thought we sucked. Nice to know we're aren't the worst team in baseball
5. (followed quickly by) Gee, I hope this doesn't screw up our draft pick next year.

Sometimes it's fun to be a Pirates fan.

Glee - I think I'm in love ...

I think I finally found the long awaited replacement for Buffy for my TV love. Glee is the most superfantabulous show ever. I have to admit, at first I was skeptical. Mainly because 1. It's on Fox; 2. It was hyped like crazy; 3. They were using American Idol to pimp the show. And really, a one-hour comedy about a Glee club? Really? I am happy to report I could not have been more wrong. Of course, being a theatre geek, the fact they were pulling in a bunch of Broadway performers was a great choice. Lea Michele literally hits you in the face with her talent - she reminds me of a young Idina Menzel. But what was even better was the writing. The character is the best high school bitch since Tracy Flick from Election. I loved her background story about her two dads. The rest of the casting is just as pitch-perfect (if you'll pardon the pun). Janet Lynch as the cheerleading coach is awesome. And it was fun spotting the ex-Heroes starts (I think I counted three). Do yourself a favor - watch this show. It's funny with a wicked (or should I say Wicked) twist.

It's Getting Better All The Time ...

Getting out of my funk a bit - thanks, Jynx, for the kind words. Starting again to try to balance life a bit better. This weekend, we went to the local Greekfest, which was well worth the time (as for the calories ....). The primary motivation was the food. We had gyros (both girls love lamb sandwiches, believe it or not), the flaming cheese (and darned if I can remember how to spell the real word for it), and way too much syrupy, deep fried goodness. And to think we almost didn't go because I was feeling lazy. Let that be a lesson for you: never let laziness get in the way of good food.

Oh, by the way, did I mention I'm starting my diet (again, some more) today?

Wowsy, Wowsy Woo Woo

Ever have one of those days ...er..months...er...you know what I mean. Been feeling really down lately. It's kind of a bummer because things aren't going poorly, just feeling kind of useless, if you know what I mean. It'll pass, it always does, but I have to admit I'm getting sick of feeling like this. Part of it is the job. I mean, yay, I still have one, but talk about feeling worthless. I'd really like to know when making someone feel totally useless because the new black for management. I'm thinking it's not a good sign when your career ambition is retirement.

The family is good. Book Expo is this month. Just want time to move on so I can get out this funk.

GTKY

Figured I might as well answer Jynx's questions because otherwise? Not much to say ...

1. What is your occupation right now?
Product manager

2. What color are your socks right now?
Beige-ish, light ... everything must match the khaki

3. What are you listening to right now?
The hum of the yard equipment

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
If you don't count my morning soda, probably the brownie fudge ice cream I had last night.

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
Nope, it's a lost art.

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Hubby, I think. Either that or my mom.

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Absolutely

8. How old are You?
44

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Pro Football

10. What is your favorite drink?
Cherry Vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yes, but I'd rather not bother anymore.

12. Favorite food?
Depends on my mood. Right now? Snow peas or rice crispie treats

13. What is the last movie you watched?
Let the Right One In

14. Favorite day of the year?
End of May ... Book Expo

15. How do you vent anger?
I would prefer to ride bike, but I don't have the time anymore, so I'll go with either yell or cry.

16. What was your favorite toy as a child?
My Barbies, pretty much all of them, but there was a Malibu PJ (I think) with a tan and blonde pigtails that I seem to recall as a favorite.

17. What is your favorite season?
Summer, probably, because school is out and it's less chasing of the kids.

18.. Cherries or Blueberries?
Blueberries, unless strawberries are an option

19. Do you want your friends to do this quiz too?
Sure, they're fun.

20. Living arrangements?
House

21. When was the last time you cried?
Can't really remember, probably during a movie or something

22. What is on the floor of your closet?
Clothes that really need to go to Goodwill

23. What did you do last night?
Elliptical while watching Chuck, then an episode of Lost Season 4 on DVD with hubby and ice cream

24. What are you most afraid of?
Something bad happening to one of my kids

25. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
How about Turkey burgers?

26. Favorite dog breed?
German Shepherd

27. Favorite day of the week?
Saturday… or Sunday if I get all the cleaning done on Saturday

28. How many states have you lived in?
Just one

29. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds

30. What is your favorite flower?
Not really sure - don't really do flowers

Opening Day

How sad is it that I'm still excited for the start of the baseball season? I mean, if I rooted for the Yankees or the Red Sox or even the Rays, you could almost understand it. But I root for the Pirates. Still. 16 years of losing and counting. Yeah, I know they will stink this year. Yeah, I know they are going to set the record for futility. And yet ...

They are my team. They've been my team since the 1970's, and no matter how bad they get, I'll still root for them. The pitching staff may not be able to find the plate with a compass and a telescope, but still, they are my team. No one will be confusing their defense with the Rays, but ... you just can't give up a fandom just because they've hit on a few bad ...decades. I mean, really, this is still the team of Roberto Clemente and Willi Stargell. And, ok, yeah, the team of Dale Berra and Doc Ellis. And yeah, they'll be out of contention before we hit the warm weather, but at least they'll get a good draft pick. *sigh* Yes, that is the life of a Pirate fan. Where you only look at two teams in the standings to keep it interesting (your team and whichever one of the five other teams is right ahead of you), and draft day is more important than the Series.

Magic Sprinkling of Water

I've been in a grouchy mood lately. When I evaluate it, there's really no great reason, I'm just in a bad mood. One thing that's not helping is that my mother is visiting for the week (or at least for the majority of it). Makes me feel guilty for being grouchy about this as she did come to help me out. The kids are off school this week, and if she wasn't here, I'd have to take off (and I really don't have the vacation to spare). So I really should be grateful. I do realize this. But somehow, it just all drives me buggy. I mean, first of all, I can't do anything that I want to do (I know, selfish much?). When I get home from work, she's been there all day with the kids, so it's not like I can say, see ya, I'm going downstairs to exercise. So instead we sit in the living room and watch television. I hate watching television. Most of the shows on are inane. I mean, I watch DVDs like crazy, but 1. I'm usually exercising when I watch; 2. it's show I want to watch; and 3. there are no commercials. Sitting watching American Idol's result show is not my idea of fun. But I can't just go because she's doing me a favor, and I haven't been around all day. So we sit. And watch.

Add to that she has decided that her major concern in life is that my kids haven't been baptized. Apparently she has decided that if you aren't baptized, you can't go to heaven. And no, we're not Catholic. It's even against her current denomination's teaching, but she has it in her mind that it's the most important thing in the world. Problem is the church I go to doesn't believe in infant baptism. They believe you get baptized once you decide you want to be a Christian. No magic sprinkling of water to get a get-out-of-hell free card. Which, quite honestly, jibes with what I believe too. Can't imagine you go to heaven and it's like the EU passport line for those who got their magic sprinkling. What, you were a devil worshipping, drug dealing, mass murderer of hookers? But wait, you got baptized? Well, go right on it! Can't picture it. What's really funny is that when I chose Christ in college, my mom thought I joined a cult. Now she's Ms. Religious? Funny how times change.

Truth be told, I'm not sure what I believe anymore. I mean, I believe there is a higher power, and I believe that higher power is for good. I believe that higher power sends down examples of how we should like, be it Christ or Mohammed or Buddha. I can't quite cotton to the idea of the devil. I think we are evil enough without extra encouragement, and why would a good G-d, who created all things, create evil. I believe our own free will is the cause of evil, not some spiritual bogeyman. I'm also having trouble with Christ being the only way to heaven. If I believe in a good G-d, which I do, how could this good G-d cast someone in the outer reaches just because they believed something that was incorrect? Just because Ghandi wasn't a Christian, does that mean he's burning in the fires of hell? What kind of a good G-d would do that? I know what I'm saying is sacriligious, but I just can't buy all the basics. I think we're here to learn how to love. How does eternal damnation relate to that? Anyway, it was interesting to be treated like a heathen by my own mother because of the magic sprinkle.