July TBR Challenge completed

Title: Over the line

Author: Cindy Gerard

Year published: 2006

Why did you get this book? It's a part of a series that I've been reading.

Do you like the cover? It's okay.

Did you enjoy the book? well .... yes and no

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? No Cindy Gerard is an author I've read a lot from and will continue to read.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? passing it on

Anything else? Okay ... this has been a bit of a hot topic on a few of the groups I'm on as well as on some blogs I read a lot. Condoms in romance novels. At one point in the book I wanted to toss it at a wall (but didn't because I throw like a girl and probably would have hit something else and broke it). I had to put it down for a while and come back to it. The hero and heroine had known each other for all of a couple of weeks maybe??? and the first time they had sex the hero was horrified (after the fact of course) that he hadn't used a condom. Okay...it happens, fine but THEN the heroine just said well I've been celibate for a long time and on birth control so it's okay. OH FOR CRAP SAKE!!! If it had stopped there it would have been tolerable but then they keep boinking like horny rabbits without protection!!!

dumbasses.

It took me out of the story each time they did it so I did some skimming (so I wouldn't do the wall tossing thing) past those parts.

I won't be buying the rest of the series.... at least not without a preview of the next book (taken from the library) to see if the next set of characters are smarter then these two.

I am a proud auntie again : )

My younger sister had a baby girl on Wednesday July 26. She weighed 7lbs 5 oz and is gorgeous!

I am a contest floozy *g *

From Lauren’s Blog via Angie's Blog ...

Introducing….

THE REALITY CHICK BUZZ THE BOOK contest!

The PRIZES:

(1) Your choice of either an iPod Shuffle, OR a fifty dollar Amazon.com gift certificate
(2) An autographed copy of REALITY CHICK by Lauren Barnholdt
(3) A copy of the August issue of Teen People, which lists REALITY CHICK as a Can’t-Miss Pick for August
(4) Free tuition to a session of Lauren’s YA writing class

THE CONTEST:

STEP ONE: Simply copy and paste this whole message (including the info about the contest) into any blog, message board, email list, myspace bulletin, or anywhere a lot of people will see it!

REALITY CHICK by Lauren Barnholdt is NOW IN STORES!

Going away to college means total independence and freedom. Unless of
course your freshman year is taped and televised for all the world to
watch. On uncensored cable.

Sweet and normal Ally Cavanaugh is one of five freshpeople shacking up
on In the House, a reality show filmed on her college campus. (As if
school isn’t panic-inducing enough!) The cameras stalk her like
paparazzi, but they also capture the fun that is new friends, old
crushes, and learning to live on your own.

Sure, the camera adds ten pounds, but with the freshman fifteen a given anyway, who cares?
Ally’s got bigger issues — like how her long-distance bf can watch her
loopy late-night “episode” with a certain housemate…

Freshman year on film.
It’s outrageous.
It’s juicy.
And like all good reality TV, it’s impossible to turn off.

IN STORES NOW!

Check out Lauren on the web at www.laurenbarnholdt.com or on her myspace at www.myspace.com/laurenbarnholdt

STEP TWO — Email Lauren at lauren (at) laurenbarnholdt.com and let her know you’ve posted about the contest and the book, and you’ll be entered to win the prize pack! The winner will be picked at random on September 1st. The more places you post, the more entries you get. Have fun and good luck!!!

The Naked Cowboy

Well not totally naked *g* He was wearing his jockeys, boots, hat (wouldn't be a cowboy without the boots and hat) and guitar.

At Bubba Gump's for Dinner

This guy was the best waiter evah!

another favourite *s*

I know it looks bad but I am NOT being arrested right here! (My sister said it looked like my hands were handcuffed behind my back *g* I should be so lucky! ~innocent look~)

One of my favourite Pictures *g*

Cheesy Statue of Liberty Hat

This was taken at the Empire State Building

Me at Spamalot

Museums museums museums

I don't think you can go to New York without visiting at least a couple of museums (or at least you shouldn't *g*) There are tons to choose from so there should be something for everyone. We bought New York City Passes (which give you admission into 6 different attractions. Most of them were ones I was interested in going to so we got the pass :) This first one wasn't one of my choices but it was close to something else we were doing so we were there for a short visit.

The Intrepid Air/Space Museum ~ We didn't stay at this one for too long. It is probably very interesting for people who are into American military history. I'm really not so it was a little too much patriotism (This isn't coming out right but I don't know how to say it *shrugs*) for my taste. It was pretty cool though seeing how incredibly enormous an aircraft carrier is.

The American Museum of Natural History ~ I loved this museum. I was really only able to explore a small portion of it though. There just wasn't enough time! Ideally a person would have at least a couple of days to go through this museum. There is just so much to see. My favourite exhibits were the fossil halls. They were WAY too cool!

The Guggenheim Museum ~ I was a bit disapointed that they were doing renovations to the exterior of this building. That is half the fun of the Guggenheim .... seeing Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture. The interiour is amazing though. I don't think any of the photos I took will give it justice though (photography was only allowed at the entrance level). My favourite exhibition here was the Year With Children 2006 ~ Selected Works from Learning Through Art.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) ~ Vincent Van Gough ~ The Starry Night and Claude Monet ~ Reflections of Clouds on the Water Lily Pond (and so many more). I could have sat and looked at these amazing paintings for a long long time. It's definitely someplace I'd visit again (should I ever get back to NYC)

.... and finally The Museum of Sex ~ Well I can't say that going to the sex museum was something I'd do again with my sister and brother in law *g* It was definitely ... different??? LOL I can no longer claim that I've never seen a porno... or at least portions of a number of pornos *snort*

~me

I'm back!!!

and I had a fan-freaking-tastic time! I have to say I won't miss the smell (New York City in the summer time is rancid by the end of the day....all those bags of garbage just sitting there stinking up the place) but I know I'll miss everything else.

The sheer number of people there was almost overwhelming at times! The energy level is set at frenzy from the moment you step out of the hotel until the moment you get back. You have to not hate being in crowds to be able to cope in New York. I don't think I could live there ... I definitely want to go back again for another visit though. :)

We did so many things there! Plays, museums, a sight seeing harbour cruise, the Empire State Building, Times Square, Shopping...and the list goes on :)

For this blog I'm gonna tell you about the plays. In the week I was there I saw 5 plays and did the Today Show taping (was kinda dragged there but it was still cool).

On Saturday night we went to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee THIS is a fantastic show! It's a musical about .... you guessed it .... a spelling bee *g*. It's a hard one to describe (I know you're thinking how can a musical about a spelling bee be all that entertaining *g*) but it's a definite must see.

On Sunday night we went to Avenue Q. Two words..... Puppet Porn *g* You have to see it to believe it *snort*

Monday night was an early night for us as we had to get up at dark o'clock in the morning to get to the taping of the Today Show the next morning. I think there might have been a glimpse of the sign my sister made showing at the beginning of the show but nothing after that of us in the audience (tall people were in front of us .... *muttering about damn tall people*).

Tuesday brought us to the show Drumstruck. If you love interactive experiences and you love music you will love this show. It's a South African drumming and singing group that goes for 1 1/2 hours drawing the audience into their music. You enter the auditorium and there is a 2 foot tall drum on every single seat. The half hour or so that you're there pre-show is absolute madness with almost everyone pounding on the drums with no skill whatsoever *g*. As soon as the show starts though it's like magic. The audience plays the drums (and yes it sounds fantastic *g* that's the magic part LOL) through the whole hour and a half.

Wednesday night was The Lion King. This show is jaw dropping, breath taking magic. I'd see it again in a heartbeat.

On Thursday night I went to see Spamalot. If you're a fan of Monty Python this show is a must see for you.

I lucked out this last week and saw only shows that I LOVED. I'd go back to any of them again with no hesitation. I don't even think I can pick a favourite. They were all so different from each other. It was an amazing week :)

~me

Erin the Graceful (not)

I was a collosal clutz today and smashed my right index finger in a door today (the whole nail is black and blue now *ICK* I've been icing it *OUCH* in the hopes that I don't have to get it lanced *or whatever you do to release the pressure under the nail when you smash it*).

On a happier note .... I GET TO GO ON VACATION IN 3 MORE SLEEPS!!! (counting tonight)

I'll post pictures or something like that when I get back :)