Why I’m Going Digital

Would you ever get an e-book reader?

Amazon Kindle eBook Reader

I already have TWO. I really love them, and would have stuck with one but found my husband really enjoys it too. So we got one of each variety (Kindle & Nook) and are able to enjoy the best of both worlds.

I think it’s completely changed my reading habits. It’s easier to read in bed, it’s easier to read in the bath, it’s easier to take with me, it’s quicker to get new books. I find I read more, a bigger selection, quicker, and more enjoyably.

The only downside for me: None of the libraries in my area rent eBooks so I’m unable to borrow a book and have to pay for them all. It’s not that I want everything for free, but right now I only buy an eBook if I KNOW I’m going to enjoy it so I don’t take many risks. Plus the cost of eBooks are only going up and that makes it harder on my pocketbook.

Halloween

Do you celebrate Halloween? Why or why not?

 

Ghost Busters Sexy Costume

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Halloween, so this is a bit of a loaded question.

As a child, I celebrated and I remember having fun. I don’t remember much, but I don’t remember being scared, disappointed, or left out.

As a tween, I celebrated Halloween by visiting my church for a Fall Festival which was more about having fun on a day when other kids were having fun than dressing up or getting candy. There were no carved pumpkins, no ghosts or goblins. I remember having a LOT of fun during this period.

As a teenager, I was too old for the fun of the Fall Festival and yet still pressured to celebrate Halloween for some odd reason. I often spent Halloween at home or with friends watching scary movies. Halloween can land on any day of the week though, so more than once I’ve spent Halloween doing nothing special because of class the next day.

As an adult, I gave Halloween one more try – with my soon to be husband and best friend. We dressed up and walked around a very decorated neighborhood but didn’t try and collect any candy. It was fun to dress up, but it quickly wore off. Without a party to go to, Halloween is pretty boring for adults.

Until… You have kids As a new mother, we’ve celebrated Halloween with a lot of anticipation and fun. Last year was my daughter’s first Halloween, but she was sick (well, teething, but not full of life all the same) so this year we’re hoping it goes better. It’s fun to dress them up and not feel any of the pressure I remember.

I hate the pressure that females are under when it comes dressing up for Halloween. It’s either, make your own costume which is hard for most, or buy a stripper inspired costume from a local shop. Every thing is labeled as, “sexy” or “naughty” or something to that effect. I’m hoping that by the time my daughter is older (and with a womanly figure) she understands that Halloween is not an excuse to dress like a “sexy” or “naughty” character.

What I'd Do With a Million Dollars

What would you do with a million dollars?

First, I would pay off our debt, which really isn’t that much – especially compared to a million dollars. Then, I’d see about investing it verses the immediate good it would do my family. I know there is some of my family who could use a bit of help now – but I also know that letting the money build will help everyone around us in the long run.

I would probably also buy a house, but not with the intention of keeping it – just with the thought in mind that not paying a mortgage/rent payment each month will KEEP more of that million dollars. So it would be something modest and fitting for our one child family – while we wait for money to build so we can build the perfect house in the perfect location

I don’t know if I would quit my job at first. I think that the cost of retirement and health/ dental/ vision insurance for the duration of my working years is more than a million dollars – no matter how well I invest it. I could be wrong though. I would probably wait until we were ready to build and move into our dream home, because I can guarantee you it would not be built in the Inland Empire of Southern California.

QotD: A Book Character I’d Like to Be

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be? Why would you like to be this character?

I loved Sabriel. She's one of the only characters I've ever read that seemed A) Sensible B) Level-headed C) Sensitive D) A good problem solver. Plus, she had some amazing abilities and I'd rather be super natural if I had the choice

I loved how she dealt with difficult situations. She thought about it, decided on an action, and then did it. When she ran into a bump in the road she simply picked herself back up and kept going. Sure, there were times when she was down and out, but she didn't dwell on it and that was what I loved the most (or, at least the author didn't dwell on it).

QotD: A Children’s Book Every Child Should Read

Name a children's book every child should read. Why do you recommend this book? What is the book about?

I recommend this book because its the first in a series and I firmly believe that children latching onto a series is what keeps them going.

While the basic premise of this book is witches and wizards, the themes are really what make me think every child should read it. Its about living with a bad situation. Its about confronting your fears. Its about love and loss. Its about action and consequences. Friendships and family. It's about good triumphing over evil!

Also, it's well written without being "dumbed down" – which I think is amazing. Plus, if you read it from beginning to end, you really see a progression in the writing style that grows and matures with the characters. Brilliant – I can't say enough great things about these novels.

QotD: Me, Renamed

If you could choose any other name for yourself, what would it be?

Why do you like this name? Would you ever seriously change your name? Are you changing your first or your last name? Or both?

I would change it to Claire. I'm a fan of the traditional names all together, but Claire reminds me of the character Claire Fraser out of the Outlander series – who is a wonderfully brave woman. I know she's fictional, but I still admire her greatly.

In fact, I decided quite awhile ago that my pen name, were I to ever become a successful author, would be Claire McVay. Not sure where the last name came from, but I've always felt like they went well together.

QotD: List the advice you give to a friend getting over a bad breakup.

There are many fish in the sea.
I’m not one to believe in “soul mates” – meaning there is only one person in the entire world that will understand me and love me.

Life goes on.
I’m also not one to believe in tongue a sore tooth. I understand that it takes time to grieve but it shouldn’t be a lifetime.

Remember your friends & family.
Your friends & family will always be there for you. ALWAYS. That’s why I think it’s so important to have strong friendships OUTSIDE of a relationship. There’s and Angels & Airwaves song that says it best, “your best friend is not your girl friend” – or at least it shouldn’t be your ONLY best friend.

Its better to face the truth, then to live in a lie.
Be glad you pulled off the band-aid and made the hard decision – even if you weren’t the one to do it. If either of you were unhappy enough to want to break up then be glad you did.

QotD: If you had to wear one color for the entire next year, which would you pick?

Landscape – Green View, Halla

I'm assuming that this is any "hue" of any color – and I'd choose GREEN. I think green looks best on me, even though most would assume blue given my blue eyes.

QotD: If you could have any vanity license plate you wanted, what would it say?

QotD: Share a strange restaurant experience.

I remember well, the time we went after church one Sunday. We had a larger group, six of us, no children. We had this waiter who seemed…off. We'd all worked customer service before though, so we didn't judge him too harshly. But after he brought us our food, we never saw him again. We kept waiting & waiting & waiting – really just wanting to pay and be out of there – but nothing. At last we found someone else and let the know we just want to pay so we could leave. Later we were told our waiter had QUIT, and walked out the door. The owner had to call the cops because apparently he left with people's credit cards – in his huff.

Very strange indeed.