Thirsty......

Have you ever read a book that was sooo good that you just could NOT put it down? You couldn't wait to see what happened in the end. You spent every second reading, until you were done?

Sure you have.

But what about a book that you enjoyed so much, a story so riveting that you NEVER wanted it to end? Literally?

I have. 4 of them actually. Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and finally Breaking Dawn.

"Aren't those young adult books?" you ask.... Yeah, probably. But the story (at least from a woman's point of view) is so powerful, that is sucks you in and holds you captive.

It's very hard to put into words, but I've never had a book move me the way these have.

Never has a story been so strong that it made me nervous (to the point of shaking) for the characters. Never have I shed the tears they should, feel utterly crushed, heartbroken and betrayed, or so absolutely elated for them as this series has.

And to think I almost didn't read them......... *gasp*

So here I am, with two chapters left in the last book to read. Totally and utterly depressed that it's almost over. And I do NOT want to let go of the characters. So I read a page here and there. Drawing it out as long as I can.

Oh how I wish I could go back and sip the series like fine wine beside a fire, instead of gulping it down like a cold soda on a hot day.

Because now I'm so... Thirsty..............









(I'd just like to add, that I read the first 3 books before seeing the movie, which was pretty much awful. I understand script changes, things out of sequence and the like. But there was sooo much over acting and too many cheesey moments that the movie was ruined. I hope, hope, hope, that the director for New Moon will do a better job. That book is incredibly powerful, and I pray that they don't ruin it the same way they did with Twilight.)

Half Life 2 (From The Orange Box)

Well, before I began playing Bioshock (BS), I had started on my Half Life 2 (HL2) journey, compliments of The Orange Box (TOB).

As creepy as BS starts out, you get used to it as you go along and never made me jump more than a couple of times. HL2, on the other hand, makes me jump... fairly often. >.< Where BS had the creepy sound, HL2 has the BOO!! factor.

So, at any rate, I'm back to playing HL2 and trying to drop my BS habits. lol Not hitting "B" in BS when I first started playing was my biggest hurdle to overcome since it used your first aid kits, etc. And now I need to relearn it because if I remember correctly, in HL2 it reloads your weapon. Pretty important button. :p

Anyway, I'm having fun. And if you haven't had the opportunity to pick up TOB, at least rent it. It's jam packed with coolness.

Bioshock is AWESOME

A quick note on the Xbox 360 version of Bioshock.

I finished the game this afternoon, and I just want to say it's FANTASTIC.

The controls were natural, the graphics fantastic and the voice acting is seriously some of the best I've ever heard in a game. The story immersion is just beyond excellent. And the sound... creepy and mood setting. Beware if you have surround sound, as you'll completely be freaked out.

I totally give it a 10.

If you haven't played Bioshock. Do it. Just.. do it.

The Big Haircut - One month later

I figured I should probably follow up to my previous blog about the new haircut. ;)

One month into this new 'do', I'm pretty much in love with it. While I think it was probably a bit short in places, the stylist did a good job, and it's growing out nicely. It's time to have the neck touched up and right over the ears, but other than that, I'm very happy.

It's also grown on the kids, and they don't hate it anymore. :p

Now the next step is to get some highlights. =)

As far as picture requests, I don't do pictures well. :$ If any decent ones get taken over the holiday, I'll post them at XBLF. =)

The BIG Haircut...

You know what that is, right? It's THE haircut. It's the one that you'll always remember as the biggest change you EVER made in hairstyle.

I have had the BIG haircut. Day before yesterday, as a matter of fact. Wednesday, Setptember 19, 2007 at 5:25pm, the first cuts were made in my BIG haircut.

I've had short haircuts before. All one length just below the ears.. a Dorthy Hamill has a kid.. Assorted layered cuts.. But NEVER, have I ever had a cut THIS short.

How short you ask? Short. Like.. REALLY short.

What's the story? Well, it goes like this:

I had shoulder length, frumpy hair. Years ago it was straight as an arrow. Thick as all billy hell, and I was pretty picky about how it looked, etc. But these last several years, it started to get frizzy, hard to manage, and frankly, I became really lazy about doing ANYthing to it. I'd shower, pull it back in a barrette while wet, let it dry (because blow drying didn't change the appearance any) and do whatever I needed to do. I looked.. awful.

So one day Terry and I are in Wal-Mart. We're cruising the automotive isle as he looks at car goodies and we bump into a lady that works where he does. Attractive lady, with this really short spikey kind of haircut. Highlights..etc. Looked really nice. I looked at Terry after she'd walked off and said, "I wonder if my hair would do that?" I doubted it, since I have incredibly thick hair, but I can always dream, right? Anyhoo, he absolutely floors me with "Well, you'll never know if you don't try it." This is the man who years ago hated these kinds of haircuts and never wanted me to have anything but long hair. And they say women are fickle. lol

So after months of hem-hawin' around about it.. looking at pictures, and searching for a decent stylist.. I finally make an appointment with the stylist that does that woman we saw in Wal-Mart's hair.

How did it turn out? Wellll... when she finally got finished with me, and I was turned into the mirror, a lump lodged in my throat the size of Texas, and I amazingly held it together long enough to pay and thank her, and assure her that it was something I would have to get used to when she asked what I thought.

My mom had come along as moral support, and as we got to her car, I could feel my face getting warm. Still no tears.. holding strong, I discussed with her what I thought.

"I look like a DYKE, MOM!" (No offense to those who are, or have lesbian friends.. but I'm not one, and don't wanna look like one.) "Now Cindy, it's cute! Give it time, it'll grow a bit. You just need to get used to it."

So I tell her bye and call Terry to prepare him and the kids for my arrival.

"Terry, it didn't turn out quite the way I wanted it to."

"What do you mean?"

"I look like a dyke! She got it a bit too short for my hair type, I'm afraid. And I don't like it."

"It'll be fine." And when I got home, he said the same thing. I still don't know if he's lying to save my feelings or if he really doesn't mind the way it looks, but he's a dear sweet man either way. =)

My kids, on the other hand aren't happy with it. My younger two adjusted pretty quick tho. My oldest said, "Mom, I told you not to do it." LOL

But now, 2 days later, even tho I think it needs to be a bit longer in a few places, it's starting to grow on me. It's really nice to be able to fix my hair in 5 mins... It's an awesome feeling to know I look presentable with so little work.

Also, because I felt the cut looked so 'butch', it has prompted me to wear make-up again. Something I haven't done in YEARS. Seriously. I've had full make-up on (base, powder, blush, eye-shadow, mascara.. etc.) less than 10 times in the last 5 years. It was just too much hassle to mess with. Especially when my hair always looked so crappy.

I had lunch with my mom yesterday. I was telling her how old my makeup was, and this morning she brought me probably $30 worth of new make-up! She shouldn't have done it, but let me tell ya, I used every bit of it after she left, and it was GREAT!

Woot! I'm female again. Butch haircut and all. =P

(ps. I want to say I don't hold it against the stylist. I just don't think she anticipated my hair to act the way it did. I neglected to tell her it shrinks pretty bad when it dries. That little bit of information could have made the difference, and I forgot to mention it. lol)

Home Depot can get BENT.

Well.. today I found out just how low companies can sink to in the attempt to protect their asses.

Link to story

So, it seems Home Depot isn't a very safe place to be. I guess if it'd been a rape he'd witnessed, he was suppose to run back inside and phone the police while the rapist finished up and headed off on his merry way to more victims?

Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to know the company is really looking out for my saftey. They'll never get another cent from me.

Woo HOO! School is back in session!!!

Wait, was I a little too excited about that? Well, you would be too after spending the entire summer cooped up in a house with a 16 year old, 9 year old (actually 10 in a month) and a 3 year old (4 in a week.)

We didn't make Tyler get a job this summer, because he didn't turn 16 until after the summer had started, because he didn't have his license yet.. and, well.. I think I felt a bit sorry for him at the time. Summer of his teenage youth, and all that. BUT... Having spent the summer with an INCREDIBLY bored teenager, I shall never make that mistake again. ;)

So now there will be less of "LEAVE YOUR SISTER ALONE!!" and more of "DO YOUR HOMEWORK!" lol But I can handle it, because there will be more PEACE and QUIET during the day. My sanity is SAVED!!!

Oh, btw

Some of you might remember a post of mine from a couple of years ago?

Link to post
Well, the drawer thing... happened again a few weeks ago.

Stretch... breathe...

Ahhh.. it feels good.

I'm not missing WoW. Really. Hardly a second thought has gone back to it, and when I do think about it, I just breathe this big sigh of ... relief.

I loved that game, I really did. But it was also eating up my life in the time spent to accomplish anything 'worthwhile' in-game. It was also the source of endless frustration and headaches since I was (most of my time in game) a guild master.

To fill the gaming void, I've gone back to playing a little bit of Oblivion. I have it on both the PC and the XB 360. It's wonderful to be able to play a game, and stop ANYtime. It's awesome. =)

I'm also having fun enjoying my new car. Zoom Zoom !!