A list of books I have read.

I keep a list of what books I have read and when I finished them.  This list is everything that I have read for the last maybe five years, starting with what I am reading now. Here we go . . .

Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card
Shadows in Flight by Orson Scott Card
The Door into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein
Winter of the World by Ken Follett
The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card
Xenocide by Orson Scott Card
Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card
Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card
Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card
Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card
Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
Fall of the Giants by Ken Follett
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Ape House by Sara Gruen
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams
So Long and Thanks for all of the Fish by Douglas Adams
Life, the Universe, and Everything by Douglas Adams
The Restaurant at the end of the Universe by Douglas Adams
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
One Second After by William Forstchen
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
After Dachau by Daniel Quinn
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
The Sea Monsters by Rick Riordan
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
World Without End by Ken Follett
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff
The Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Star Garden by Nancy Turner
Sarah's Quilt by Nancy Turner
Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
These is my Words by Nancy Turner
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
The Year of Living Biblically By AJ Jacobs
I am the Messinger by Markus Zusak
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Hobbit by JR Tolkien
Second Chances by Cindy Troy
Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
The Message by Lance Richardson
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
I am America (And So Can You) by Steven Colbert
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
1984 by George Orwell
The Count of Monte Cristo by A. Dumas
Still Life For Woodpecker by Tom Robbins
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
The Story of B by Daniel Quinn
My Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn



This is not a list of everything I have read.  As you can see I have read a a wide variety of books. Hopefully this list will give you some ideas for books to read.

Cats cuddling

Here is a few pictures of Tibalt and Arthur cuddling. Enjoy!

Science is amazing!

Lets start today off with an amazing video that will blow your mind!

Buddy and his favorite toy

This is how Buddy usually "plays" with his favorite toy. 

a little creativity streak

I saw this on Pinterest and I really liked it.  I looked it up and it was $45! 

I got a little creative and decided to make my own.  I found a picture and just added the words in different fonts.  It is only on regular paper, but I did frame it and put it in the bathroom.  I actually like the one I made better than the original. 

Tip for books

Another huge passion of mine is books.  I love my books.  I would have to say if there is anything that I collect it is books.  I would never give away or sell any of my books. Books, books, books, <3. I always imagine my dream home when I am much older and can afford a custom home, there will be this huge library with thousands of books. Right now I only have about 200.  I do on occasion lend out them (if I lend you a book it is because I really trust you). One thing that I do though with my books, which I started several years ago is signing it when you are done reading it.  Everyone that reads my book puts their name and the month and year of when they finished reading the book right inside the front cover. It has become so handy when looking back in a book to know when you have read it, how many times you have read it, and who else has read it. It is fun to look back and maybe someday when I give my collect to one of my children they will have a record of when I have read a book.

Simon earns a treat.

This first video is of Simon today earning a treat and the second video is after he finds "the right spot"  to enjoy his treat.  He is so cute! I love my corgi!

My corgi loves balloons!

Simon, our corgi is on the verge of obsessive about balloons.  Here is a short video of him playing with one. It is all fun and games until hours later when he still wants to play with it.

Missing tv

I am the first one to admit that I am a tv junkie. I know I don't have much free time during the school year, but when I do I watch tv.  It is a way for me to relax and a lot of times I am doing homework at the same time.  What I hate is the fact that as soon as I have more free time, most of the shows are on break as well.  Let me clear something up first, I don't have cable.  I think it is a huge waste of money.  We haven't had cable for about 5 years.  At first we decided to cancel it so we could catch up on some bills and my husband promised we could get it back after all of the credit cards were paid off.  By the time we paid them off I didn't want it back.  Hulu and Netflix have almost everything I want and anytime I want it for so much less.
Usually during summer break I pick up on a show that I have somehow missed and have heard was really good.  I love picking up a show and watching it from the first episode and watch several in a row.  This is how a watched Downton Abbey, Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Deadwood, Firefly, and I just re-watched all of Doctor Who. So I am currently on the hunt for my next show. If you have any suggestions please let me know.  In the mean time I have found a new addiction, watching vlogs. My favorite right now is the  SacconeJolys. They do a daily vlog of their life in Ireland with their 9 month old daughter.  They are funny and a really cute family.

The Ab Challenge

My husband and I have recently started this 30 day Ab Challenge. We are currently on day 9.  I am in so much pain.  The first day it seems so easy and you wonder if this is even going to do anything. By day 7 you think there is no way in the world I am ever going to be able to do this. We have been pushing each through each day and I will finish this if it kills me (I will let you know in 21 days if I am still doing it :) )

One of my favorites!

I had to share this picture. It is one of my favorites. Arthur is on the left and Buddy is on the right. Arthur is so fearless. I love it.

Don't know where to live

Since I will be graduating next May, I have been thinking about my future a lot. Right now I live in Tucson Arizona.  It is way too hot for me and I have never really felt at home here. My husband and I are excited to move somewhere new and have a new adventure. The question is, where?  I just found this website http://www.findyourspot.com/ .  It is a questionnaire that covers everything from what climates you like to your views on taxes.  There are a lot of questions, but they give you the top 24 places in the US that would be right for you.  It was really eye opening for me.  Many of my top spots where in Connecticut, which had never accord to me before.  I also got some in Oregon, which is kind of the direct I had been thinking about. I highly recommend checking this site out. If nothing else it is fun and interesting!

This is Buddy's favorite toy.  He usually just sleeps on it, but here is him lazily playing with it.

Amazing Killer Whale Video!

Check this video out. Killer Whales are amazing.

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/excursions/post/killer-whale-steals-halibut-from-anglers-hook/

My animal family

My animals are such I huge part of my life.  I love them so much! Here are a few of my favorite pictures of them. 

This is our only dog, Simon. He is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

This is our eldest, Tibalt. Best cat ever!!!

This is Buddy, the second oldest.

Simon as a puppy.

Look at those adorable short legs!

Tibalt and Buddy cuddling.

This is the youngest, Arthur. 

Here is Arthur a little older.  He is so loving and wants to be held all of the time. He almost always is purring. 

Yes I realize that they are all orange and white.  It was not on purpose, but it is cute that they all match. Hope you enjoyed these!

I'm back!

It has been a very long time since I posted anything.  I have been quite busy. Life why do you get in the way all of the time! (Fist shaking in the air) I miss posting and reflecting on things that are happening in my life, so here I attempt to do it again.  It is easier right now since it is summer break. So here are some updates. I am still in school for biosystems engineering.  This next year is my last year!!! YAY!!! It has been a long road. I know most college student feel like this, but I think I have got most students beat. I have been going to college for over 10 years.  That is what I get for always evolving and changing my mind. I do have 3 associates degrees and soon I will have my bachelors.  I am extremely nervous about the next chapter in my life though.  I have no idea what job I am going to get (if any) and where it will be.  In the next year I could live anywhere and doing a job I didn't even know exists.
My husband . . ., I can't even come up with the words that will express how much he means to me and how much he has helped me while going to school and working. He is the hugest support system.  I could not do what I do with out him.  He pushes me and loves me even though I have such little extra time for him.  I love him so much.
Well I will end this here, but I will post more soon!

Divergent

I final finish the Ender's Game series, which I loved, but was a long read.  I wanted something that was quick and consuming for my next read and I found it.  Divergent only took me a few days to read and it only took me that long because I have a life that needs a lot of my attention. 
I really enjoyed this book. It is a lot like the Hunger Games, in the future, part of a three book series (the last one isn't out yet), and a strong girl as the main character. Plus there is a love interest. There are plans on it being a movie series after they finish the Hunger Games movies, so if you want to be a head of the craze go read it now. The second book is waiting for me as I speak, so I got to go. :)

me

I think it is as good of time as any to tell you all that I am an atheist.  I know that this fact alone may make some of you who are reading this to stop reading.  This is just me.
Most of my family knows and when I first told them it was like I was come out of the closet. My parents are not religious, but like a lot of people still thinks there is a god and there is a heaven.  They don't judge me, but they also do not understand.   My in-laws on the other hand may know, but the subject has never been discussed and they probably don't want to know. My grandmother, aunts, and uncles are all religious and are all very concerned about my eternity.
Let me say that I did not come to this realization quickly.  I grew up in a household of no religion.  I had almost no exposure to it except by friends.  This made me more interested about it then most I think, so in middle school I started my journey. This journey was not well accepted by my parents, but I had to go on it and they couldn't stop me.  I went to so many churches I lost count.  Some of them I went to for months and others I went to just a few times.  I was searching, for what I wasn't exactly sure. I told myself that I just had to find the right one, the church that made me feel, I don't know, like my questions were answered. I continued this all through middle school and high school.  By the time I got to college I had met my future husband.  He was a Mormon, which my parents were really freaked out by.  This is when my religion/god search really speed up. I started to take religion classes at the college and doing a lot of my own research.
The more that I looked the more it became very clear to me why religion is so popular, why it would get started in the first place.  Everyone has all of these questions that I have and everyone wants answers. It occurred to me that it would be really easy to just pick a religion and have them tell me what to do with my life, how to live, why things are the way they are.  The point is these questions are not easily answered. They are big questions that probably will never be answered.
People are scared of the unknown.  Instead of getting comfortable in the unknown they put up blinders and stop questioning.  I can't.  I question everything.  I am comfortable in the uncomfortable.  God is a too easy of an answer for a too complicated of a question. Zeus does not create thunder, Poseidon does not rule the sea, and God did not create this.
I usually don't tell people about me being an atheist for a while.  People have such a crazy idea of what an atheist is.  I also get a huge kick out of knowing someone for a while and finally telling them.  Their reactions are priceless. It usually goes like this, "You are! I had no idea. Wait so you don't believe in God at all?".
I want to do my little part in making it okay for someone to say that they are an atheist and to change the stereotype of what that means.

TV show recommendations

My last post mentioned my recommendation list of television shows, so I thought I should share some others on that list.  I am sure there will be a lot of common ones on here, but please feel free to let me know of other shows that I may be missing out on.

So here it goes. . .

Firefly
Doctor Who
Battlestar Galactica
Big Love
Breaking Bad
House
Deadwood
Dexter
Supernatural
True Blood
Kings
Survivors
Justified
Community


There are of course many others that I just can't remember right now and may add later.  Also there are tons that I watch, but would not recommend (guilty pleasures).

Deadwood

I will be the first to admit that I am a tv addict. Well I don't have cable, but I still get my tv show fix online easily.  I actually really enjoy watching shows online.  It gives me an opportunity to watch complete series all in a row. My latest favorite is Deadwood. I hate that it ended so soon.  Can anyone out there please tell me why all of the good shows get canceled so early.  The show ends abruptly and without ease, but the series up to the end was very good. This is on my recommendation list!