Borders Rant

I went to Borders Saturday, walked to the back of the book store to my favorite section 'Romance' and realized I was in the Sci-fi/Fantasy section! At first I thought I lost my mind (like for real) and then I went back to the front of the store and realized they bumped the Romance section to the front. I have this crazy ritual when I go to Borders (every Saturday) I walk to the back and purchase a Large Mocha Latte, take that first sip and sigh in bliss and I then make my way 10 feet and I'm in my favorite section.

Needless to say I was thrown. My entire book purchasing high was ruined. I'm not a closet romance reader nor am I a romance closet buyer. I just felt so exposed in the front of the store. I'm usually in the middle closer to the back surrounded by my favorite Authors. Here is where I have a problem. As I was purchasing Jaci Burton's Taken by Sin, there was some guy with his little kids cutting through the aisle. When he realized what section he was in he muttered under his breath and it made me want to bitch slap him to the literature section or put my foot up his ass and send him over to the horror section.

Usually I always have a pleasant book buying Saturday. I left Borders feeling unfulfilled and nasty. Okay so I'm cresting the crimson wave and felt slightly more nasty with homicidal impulses but seriously they need to change the section back! I can see myself fighting with people who decide to sigh, roll their eyes, make strange faces and you get the picture. I think instead of my book funds I'm going to have to add bail fund to that as well!

I hate change, I usually go kicking and screaming. How about you?

Magical Adventures

I spent the day with two very 'cute' little girl monsters, ages 8 and 6. After they took an hour deciding what they were wearing we finally made it out. They hopped on their bikes and after a few rounds down the driveway, decided flip flops and dresses were not the way to go. Back inside for a 'quick' change into shorts and sneakers and they were ready to take on the universe (otherwise known as "Aunt Lola's backyard").

Two very cute faces, one toothless the other dirty wanted me to surround them with 'magic' and whisk them away to far away lands. *Just for the record I think I had more fun then they did* I decided to turn their bicycles into magical portals. Once they put their little butts on the seat and their feet hit the pedals, they were whisked away on a puffy cloud of my choice. * I was deemed the Illusion Queen of the Mystical Backyard*

The 6 year old Fairy had the power of extra sight. She had a magical third eye to look beyond the fluffy cloud and really 'see' all the sights that they were to visit. The 8 year old Fairy had the gift of a third ear, which enabled her to hear beyond the Fairy 'sight'. With their combined powers they were able to find the hidden treasure that mere humans could never see.

Now, I know you're thinking, "shit Lola you have nothing else better to do with your time?" That would be correct but the truly wonderful thing about this game was the fact that their imaginations were buzzing with all sorts of great scenarios. Their first foray on the magic portal bikes took them to Chichen Itza, Mexico where the Mayan Pyramids loom. They explored the hidden passage ways, climbed the 91 steps on each side and then I explained that it equaled to the amount of the days of the year. *See they were getting educated too!* P.S. If you count the top step it equals 365. Just sayin. They stayed at the pyramid to wait for the setting sun, so they could see the Serpent on the side of the pyramid steps, light up. Which made for a million more questions which I answered to the best of my ability.

Next they were off to find the magical golden horseshoe. This item 'could' be found in Texas. The two little girls jumped on their portals and took off to the Circle "C" and the Circle "A" ranches to use their special powers to find it. Before they went off, Aunt Lola asked the little girls while they were searching for the "Magical GOLDEN horseshoe" to find me a 6'5" Cowboy with lots of muscles, black hair, blue eyes and said "Ma'am" a lot!! Shit, I wanted in on the action too! So, off they went like good explorers with a touch of Nancy Drew. This mission was difficult because they each had to use their power with 5 people to find the GOLDEN horseshoe. They came back with 10 names pertaining to the letter of the ranch they went to, with clues of where this horseshoe could possibly be.

They forgot my Cowboy but they did bring back two little boys named Alex and Christian. They told me they were bad and that they didn't think they could go the next part of their journey without their help. Cause they are GIRLS and they couldn't possibly finish their mission without BOY help! Needless to say the girls were all for showing them a thing or two. After their interviews at the Circle "C" and the Circle "A" Ranches, they deduced they would have to board a boat and sail into Skeleton Pirate waters. If they could figure out how to destroy the mean evil pirates, they would be able to sail all the way to Magic Island where the Golden Horseshoe was rumored to be hidden.

The two Fae and the two very bad stinky boys boarded the boat destined for rough seas. They donned their outfits and made sure to bring along their magic infused swords and huge cannons to blast the Skeleton Pirates out of the water. The 6 year old fairy was inclined to inform me that the boys got a bit sea sick and they looked green, then the 8 year old informed me that when the Skeleton Pirates attacked the boys fainted. The two Fae defeated the Skeleton Pirates by infusing their swords with rich soil at the tips of their blades. I was told that the Skeleton Pirates were allergic to the soil due to the fact that they were bones that belonged in the ground under huge piles of dirt. With the help of the cannons filled with really BIG rocks they blasted their way through and landed on Magical Island with only a few scrapes.

After the Queen of Illusions used special healing magic (paper towel, neosporin and 3 Hello Kitty band aids) the Fae set off to find the Golden Horseshoe. To much girly laughter and a multitude of giggles they found the treasure box with the Golden Horseshoe. Loud cheers, high fives and a job well done the Fairy's sat down to a feast of JUNK FOOD to refuel for their next adventure. They are already discussing where they may go next. The 6 year old Fairy has her third eye set on England!

Happy 4th of July!

Hope everyone has a safe and FUN 4th.

Books that linger

I can't speak on behalf of other people but every now and again I will read a book that haunts me. Sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a 'can't get it out of my head' way. Has this ever happened to you? Something that totally moved you for one reason or another? Here are some of mine:


Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell & Patrick Robinson



Blurb:
"Four US Navy SEALS departed one clear night in early July 2005 for the mountainous Afghanistan-Pakistan border for a reconnaissance mission. Their task was to document the activity of an al Qaeda leader rumored to be very close to Bin Laden with a small army in a Taliban stronghold. Five days later, only one of those Navy SEALS made it out alive.

This is the story of the only survivor of Operation Redwing, SEAL fire team leader Marcus Luttrell, and the extraordinary firefight that led to the largest loss of life in American Navy SEAL history. His squadmates fought valiantly beside him until he was the only one left alive, blasted by an RPG into a place where his pursuers could not find him. Over the next four days, terribly injured and presumed dead, Luttrell crawled for miles through the mountains and was taken in by sympathetic villagers who risked their lives to keep him safe from surrounding Taliban warriors.

A born and raised Texan, Marcus Luttrell takes us from the rigors of SEAL training, where he and his fellow SEALs discovered what it took to join the most elite of the American special forces, to a fight in the desolate hills of Afghanistan for which they never could have been prepared. His account of his squadmates' heroism and mutual support renders an experience that is both heartrending and life-affirming. In this rich chronicle of courage and sacrifice, honor and patriotism, Marcus Luttrell delivers a powerful narrative of modern war."

Holy Crap but this book took me on an emotional roller coaster ride and to this day my mind wanders back to those men and their families. I haven't re-read this book, I don't know if emotionally I can handle the onslaught. If you haven't read this I suggest you go and grab yourself a copy, it's been released as a Mass Market.

Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

Blurb:
"Blue-Eyed Devil" is the story of the charming, volatile and ambitious Hardy Cates, who is determined to carry out his private revenge against the Travis family. Haven is the rebellious Travis daughter who struggles against her overpowering attraction to the most dangerous man in town. But when Hardy crashes a Travis family wedding, the heiress and the bad boy uncover an explosive chemistry that neither of them can deny. Hardy Cates is an unscrupulous rascal, but now he's trying to clean up his act. He is looking for the perfect society wife, the kind of woman Haven Travis could never be. Having once been burned by a love affair gone wrong, Haven vows to stay far away from the sexy heartbreaker. However, Haven discovers that the temptation of a blue-eyed devil is hard to resist. And then when a menace from Haven's past appears, Hardy may be the only one to save her..."

Honestly this blurb does not do this book justice. What the blurb fails to tell the reader, Haven the heroine of this book is a victim of domestic violence. Ms. Kleypas handled this book with care and respect and made this journey emotional yet heart warming. Powerful in it's message and powerful that love and healing can conquer all.


Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks


Blurb:
"For five years, Serena has run Fantasy Incorporated and has devoted her time to fulfilling her clients’ fantasies. Never her own. Until now…

Her most secret desire is to give ownership of her body to a man. Someone who will command her, pleasure her, and have complete authority over her. So she seeks out Damon Roche, owner of an exclusive sex club and a man strong enough to make her do anything he wants. Anything.

Together they’ll journey into a world she’s only dreamed of. She’s given the opportunity to immerse herself in a different life while her normal one waits for her to return whenever she wishes. Damon has no desire to let her go, however. Serena is the woman he’s long searched for, and it’s up to him to convince her to stay when the game is all over with. He wants their fantasy to become their reality and for Serena to remain his pampered, cherished submissive."

Wow, this book made me very uncomfortable, talk about reading outside your comfort zone. 'Submissive' does not describe what Serena has in mind. Slave is a better descriptor. This book had all my feminine hackles raised and screaming. While I always say each to their own and truly mean it, it was the hardest read in a long time and yet the hardest book to put down. Ms. Banks always does a wonderful job handling off the beaten path subjects. Serena still lingers in my mind and I could probably talk this book to death!


These are just a few in my favorite pile. What books are in yours?

Let the craziness begin

I've been blogging on Myspace for awhile. I found it to be very theraputic, empowering, enabling and most of all fun. What will I be blogging about you ask? Everything and anything. From life's ups and downs, to sex, maybe a book I'm reading, men, friends and the occasional rant.

I can't promise pretty prose but I can promise you some laughs, insight to how my crazy mind works and always 'my kind of honesty'. It may not be pretty but it certainly is my opinion. Don't be shy, feel free to join in. Agree, disagree it's all food for the mind.

This is an adult blog with adult subjects if you offend easily I suggest you skip on over to something a little less intense. I have a strong fondness for the word 'Fuck' and I do and will use it frequently. The next post I make will surely set the standards for any future post. So, sit back enjoy, grab your drink of choice and always be careful to read before you take a sip. Don't say I didn't warn you.