Looking Back

2013 was jammed packed with interesting happenings.  Here is what I thought was interesting and relevant:

China Broke Records with Their Air Pollution

President Obama was Re-Elected

A Meteor was Seen Over Russia

Pope Benedict XVI Resigns

Hugo Chavez Died 

Pope Francis is Elected

North Korean Crises 

Margaret Thatcher Died

Boston Marathon Bombing

British Soldier Hacked to Death in London

Prince George is Born

US Government Shut Down

South Dakota Blizzard

Nelson Mandela Died

Chinese Rover Lands on Moon

That is what happened in 2013 around the World that was news worthy.  So here is to 2013, may we remember those who passed and may we celebrate those that came.

Happy New Year!

Comfort Food

I am not really into comfort food.  I have a few staple meal that I absolutely love, but I wouldn't say I am a big comfort food eater.... unless it is Pea and Cheese Pasta Salad.  That bad boy is my one true love!  It is simple to make, tastes great when you eat leftovers the next day, and that about sums it up.  It is wonderful, wonderful.

So I will give you the recipe (you know, so you can make it for yourself and get all happy when you eat it)


Pea and Cheese Pasta Salad

• 8 oz Pasta (I usually use shells or rings)
• 1 Package of Frozen Peas
• 6 oz Cheddar Cheese

• 3/4 cup Mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 Tb Ranch Dressing Powder

1. Cook Pasta according to Package
2. Place Peas in a bowl of lukewarm water to thaw 
3. Cube Cheese
4. In small bowl, whisk together Mayonnaise and Ranch Powder
• If needed, add a splash of milk to thin slightly
5. In large bowl, mix all ingredients together
6. Refrigerate, Serve, & Enjoy

This is such as simple recipe that I just adore.  I hope you love it as much as I do!

Alexandra

Cooking is like love.  It should be enter into with abandon or not at all.

-Harriet Van Horne 

Nebula

Credits: NASA, ESA, J. Hester, and A. Loll (Arizona State University)

I was creeping on the internet, trying to see if Google had any cool things on their home page, but it was just the normal Google stuff... so I clicked on the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button... I never do that.... and this is what came up!

The Crab Nebula:
The Crab Nebula is the remains of a star that died in a supernova so brilliant it was recorded by observers in the year 1054. A neutron star pulses in its center.

About this Image:
This is a mosaic image, one of the largest ever taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope of the Crab Nebula, a six-light-year-wide expanding remnant of a star's supernova explosion. Japanese and Chinese astronomers recorded this violent event nearly 1,000 years ago in 1054, as did, almost certainly, Native Americans.

The orange filaments are the tattered remains of the star and consist mostly of hydrogen. The rapidly spinning neutron star embedded in the center of the nebula is the dynamo powering the nebula's eerie interior bluish glow. The blue light comes from electrons whirling at nearly the speed of light around magnetic field lines from the neutron star. The neutron star, like a lighthouse, ejects twin beams of radiation that appear to pulse 30 times a second due to the neutron star's rotation. A neutron star is the crushed ultra-dense core of the exploded star.

The Crab Nebula derived its name from its appearance in a drawing made by Irish astronomer Lord Rosse in 1844, using a 36-inch telescope. When viewed by Hubble, as well as by large ground-based telescopes such as the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, the Crab Nebula takes on a more detailed appearance that yields clues into the spectacular demise of a star, 6,500 light-years away.


Oh the cool things you find on the internet!  Plus I love spacey stuff!

Space On!
Alexandra

The Lone Ranger

Now I have gotten mixed reviews about this movie.  When I was preparing myself to watch this movie, I knew I shouldn't get my hopes up high, but you know how a girl is when it comes to gun-slinging.... I just love it!!  So I was quite surprised, thrilled, and ecstatic that the reviews were not in line with my own thoughts.  Yay me!

So what is The Lone Ranger about?  Well.... you can click here to see what IMDb says, or you can read on!  This movie is about a man (John Reid) who undergoes a tragedy and fights the evils in his life to right the wrongs in the world around him.  Simplistic plot line to follow (which is wonderful.... bad guy does bad stuff, good guy and side-kick comes along, good guy gets hurt and yells at side-kick, a woman enters into everyone's life, the good guy beats the bad guy, and everyone is happy).  Ok... I guess the movie is a little bit more detailed than that, but you got the drift.

There is one thing though I did not understand.  Why is Helena Bonham Carter in the movie?  That is about all.  She is just so ecentric (and not in a bad way) but it did throw me for a loop.... 

But now to my favorite part... the most powerful par.  The most powerful part of this movie was not even in the movie.  That fact right there is when you know you have made a great movie.  When someone stops and says, "Wow.  That movie.... it was intense and interesting and powerful and all, but the best part, the part that made my heart ache when I watched it was Tonto at the end.... Tonto in the credits."  That is when you know you made a great movie.

With that thought, I wish you a wonderful day.
Alexandra

Eight men rode into canyon... I dug seven graves. Horse says, you are spirit walker: a man who has been to the other side and returned, a man who cannot be killed at all...

-The Lone Ranger, 2013

:)

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!  

Lots of Love

Alexandra

A Christmas Story

The Christmas Story

as told by Matthew

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

--Matthew 1:18 - 2:23 New International Version

Merry Christmas and remember, Jesus is the Reason for the Season.
God Bless.

Alexandra

Christmas Eve

Tomorrow is Christmas.  Yay!  This means I will be spending time with family and enjoying life!  It is true, there will be presents, and Santa will pop down out chimney, but there will also be cheer, laughter, and Jesus.

That is what is important, right?  Spending time with loved ones and knowing that so many years ago, a baby was born to save the world.  Wow.  That knocks my socks off (and in a wonderful, wonderful way).

Well I will be going to midnight service (if I get my way), where we will sing Silent Night, in the dark, holding candles.  I will cry a little bit (like I do every year) and praise God for his wonderful gift.

Tomorrow I will trek up to Minnesota with the family to visit more family, and we will eat Salmon (so stoked).  It will be merry and bright, and I wish you all a happy holiday season!

Alexandra

Silent night, Holy night

All is calm, all is bright

'Round yon virgin , mother and child

Holy infant so, tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, Holy night

Shepherds quake, at the sight

Glories stream from heaven afar

Heavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah.

Christ the Savior is born,

Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, Holy night

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord at thy birth,

Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Shopping

This is one thing I dislike to the nth degree.  There is nothing pleasant about walking around a store wondering what to buy... and nothing worse about having to pay a steep price for something (unless it is a book... then I will drop everything and run to the stores!)

Well, as you know, Christmas shopping is well under way.  The men are finally going out (deciding they should start shopping) and the crazy shopping ladies are out in force.  And do I have a story for you!

I was at our local mall... shopping... and being smart, I knew not to pull onto Lakeport at the stop sign.  It just makes more sense to back track a bit and turn at the light.  So I did that.  I was just passing the stop sign (and laughing a bit at the people who were still waiting to turn) and I had to stop my car in front of the crossing (because even though I was in a happy mood, I was not letting a stream of cars in front of me... I was hungry and food was twenty minutes away).

So, sitting in my car, jamming to Christmas Music, I look over to a pissed off woman blaring her horn at me because I was in her way.  The light in front of me was about to turn and allow the cars I was behind, as well as me, to go forward, but still she was pissed.  I, being my cheery self, looked over at her, lifted my hands and shrugged my shoulders in a "oh too bad, sucks to suck" sort of way (a bit bitchy, but I just got done shopping and I wasn't going to let her ruin my mood) and waited for the light.

As soon as my car moved forward enough to allow her out, she zipped past me (I was expecting a finger and a glare, but she let me down), sped across two lanes, and whipped into traffic ahead of me....  All in all, way too much drama for a twenty second wait and a left hand turn.

Thinking back, I have decided on a few things:

1. People should be kinder when driving.  If you have to wait, you have to wait... big deal.  And heck... it is better than walking.
2. Christmas Shopping should be filled with kindness, not crabbiness... If you are buying gifts to give to someone else, I hope you are doing it to make them feel good about themselves and because you truly care.  Maybe I want to look at the world and the holidays through rose colored glasses, but so what.
3. I should definitely finish my shopping way before the week leading up to Christmas.  Less Stress.

With that, I wish you a stress free holiday season (haha) and happy shopping!

Alexandra

Spoon Rings

We've all seen them.  Your friends have them (and you might even have one or two yourself).  They are Spoon Rings.  Some look really cool, others look okay, but they are all unique and that is what counts.... Well, last night I was getting ready to be a 'coat girl' at a party, and I was looking for earrings.  I was scrounging around in my mom's jewelry when she pulled out her 'costume' jewelry.  And there it was sitting.  It was tarnished and a little unloved, but it grabbed my heart.

My mom was all like "Oh that ugly thing" (and meant it), but I was all like "OMG!  Can I have it?"  So she gave it to me and I cleaned it up (and now it is all sparkly!)

The design is cute.  It is a flower on the end of the handle and it wraps around my pinkie finger wonderfully.  There are little groves it in along the edges, and the longer I look at it, the more I am certain that it is from our silverware at home... interesting.

It kind of looks like this, but not.... There is a bit more of swirly stuff above the flower.

And that is my story!  It was wonderfully horrid (in length and composition) but I hope you enjoyed it.
Now I order you (not really) to go out and find a funky spoon ring to show off!

Live, Laugh, Love
Alexandra

I adore wearing gems, but not because they are mine. You can't possess radiance, you can only admire it.

-Elizabeth Taylor 

Wimbledon

For some strange and unknown reason, I really like sports movies....but the ones that are all cute and aggressive at the same time.  This is interesting because I am horrid at sports.  I have no hand-eye coordination and I don't much like watching sporting events (minus hockey and soccer), but I do love watching movies about them.

The latest sports movie I watched was 2004's Wimbledon, starring Paul Bettany and Kristen Dunst.  These two play the wonderful roles of professional tennis players who are competing at Wimbledon.  It is a really cute story with a wonderful love story tied into it as well.  Okay... so maybe it is all a love story with a little tennis thrown in, but that is beyond the point!

So other than the part that this movie is based around a sport that I will never be able to play, thus allowing me to enjoy watching it, I also love the characters in the movie.  They are:

• Lizzie Bradbury (Kristen Dunst)
• American Tennis Player
• Peter Colt (Paul Bettany)
• British Tennis Player
• Dieter Prohl (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.... who plays Jaime Lannister in the Game of Thrones which is also a wonderful show to watch and book to read)
• Peter's close friend and a bit of a playboy
• Carl Colt (James McAvoy)
• Peter's brother who is just a hoot (I sounded like an old lady there, but I refuse to apologize)

Peter's parents are also quite interesting, giving Wimbledon another layer of hilariousness!  Add in some other rival tennis players and you have a very unique cast of odd ball, off the wall characters that I have fallen in love with.

So I urge you to go and watch Wimbledon and to check it out at IMDb!

Lots of Love

Alexandra

We all start off in life with a dream, don't we? For a tennis player, it's being in the final of a Grand Slam, Centre Court, a high lob... a smash. Game, set and match. You're a champion. You're number one. But for most tennis players, that's all it ever is: a dream. The reality is another story. 

-Wimbledon, 2004

More Nora

I promise that I read other books... but I have been on a Nora Roberts binge.  Sorry.

With that, I will make this short and sweet (and wonderful, because it is NR)

I have (within the last week) finished the MacKade Brother's Saga.  They were quite wonderful and I loved them.  The 4 books were full of the wonderful MacKade brothers and the loves of their lives!  Yay!  So here is a quick run down of the books:

The Return of Rafe MacKade (1995)
Some said there would be trouble. Bound to be. Trouble hung around Rafe MacKade like a bell around a bull's neck. Oh, he was as handsome as ever, with those devil's good looks the MacKades were gifted -- or cursed -- with. If a female had breath in her body, she couldn't help but look twice at that loose-legged stride that seemed to dare anyone to get in the way.
And what about that newcomer, Regan Bishop? Pretty as a picture, but a little prim. Would she be impervious to the legendary MacKade charm?
Sure didn't look that way....

The Pride of Jared MacKade (1995)
Jared MacKade believes in taking a stand, and he never turns his back on a fight. So when his work as an attorney brings him up against Savannah Morningstar, her rude behavior and strong defenses aren't nearly enough to scare him off — quite the opposite. Thoughts of the outrageously direct and sinfully sexy woman keep Jared coming back for more. And the more he gets to know her, the more determined he is to stand by her always.

The Heart of Devin MacKade (1996)
Sheriff Devin MacKade had always had his eye on Cassie Connor Dolin. Twelve years of trying to watch over her and her children. Twelve years of being the dependable friend, of seeing his beauty married to a beast. Twelve years of hell.
Now he was going to change, although he knew he'd have to be careful, move slow. But if Cassie came any closer, he might just toss her over his shoulder and carry her off! And he wasn't sure either of them was quite ready for that yet.

But soon....

The Fall of Shane MacKade (1996)
Shane MacKade loved women. But he hadn't met one yet who had him whistling the wedding march. Until Dr. Rebecca Knight. Problem was, the pretty lady was too busy hunting legends on the MacKade land to succumb to the MacKade charm. Maybe it was time to pop the old question. 'Cause this was one woman Shane couldn't live without...

To Dr. Rebecca Knight, everything was explainable. Until she started having some very irrational thoughts about sexy Shane MacKade. She didn't know much about men, but she knew one thing for sure: Loving Shane was dangerous--and Rebecca didn't like to take chances.



There is the run-down of the books (which can all be found on GoodReads). Now my favorite of the stories was Devin's story! I have a soft spot for softies and he did not fail. But they were all good (and I can attest to that because I read them in about 3 days.... oops).

I promise the next post on books will not be a Nora Roberts book... maybe, but I can also promise that there will be other NR books up here!

Read on!
Alexandra

Freedom!

I am officially on Winter Break!  I practiced for my concert.  I performed at my concert.  I studied for my tests.  I took my Economics, British Literature, and German tests.  I slaved over papers.  I handed in my British Literature and Economics papers.  I succeeded at life!

Now what am I going to do with my life?  Well first I will sleep.... sweet, wonderful sleep (and not turn on my alarm clock!).  Next I will clean my room.  It is a bit messy, and I really should dust.  Then I will purge my fridge, clean the two bathrooms, mop the floors, and cry a bit over how messy my roommates are.  Finally I will pack up my car and drive home to Iowa.

Once in Iowa I will attack my dog (who will love the attention) and relax with my family!

That is what I will do with my freedom.
What will you do with yours?

Alexandra

“Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.” 

-Jane Austen

Frankenstein's Monster

I have officially created a monster.... and that is a scary thought.  How and Why did I create this monster?  Well first let me say that sometimes I scare myself, and that is all fine and dandy until shit hits the fan.  That is what happened this past weekend.  I was all busy singing and stressing out over things when I should have been editing my paper (which I did get around to, but the process was a bit unorthodox for me).

First there was the color-coding of the paragraphs for my paper.  Each paragraph was given a color and a number.  Next there was the printing and cutting of the paragraphs.  Snip, snip.  Then I began to tape all the parts and pieces onto notebook paper, but not before there was more cutting and some writing thrown in for good measure.  With all of that cutting and taping and writing, I decided to tape all of the sheets of notebook paper together, creating Frankenstein's Monster.

Then I had to tell my roommate that Frankenstein was not the monster but was instead the doctor that created the monster... but that is another story.

So the long and short of it all, is I have gone insane, created a literary monster, color-coded a paper, and cried a little bit.

And now I leave you with this lovely photograph of me and my final project (as depicted by the 1931 movie of Frankenstein)

"Look! It's moving. It's alive. It's alive... It's alive, it's moving, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, IT'S ALIVE!"

-Alexandra

The Reasons Why ...

... I Failed Out of College
Well not really, but this is a very valid reasons to why I am like uber stressed out.

And why am I stressed out?  Well I shall tell you.
NORA ROBERTS.

Her books are just so addicting.  I love them, and have no self control (well that I already knew), but it got really bad this week.

So here is the story:

I went into Wal Mart, and HAD to go by the book section.  So naturally I find a Nora Roberts book for like $6.  I have to buy it at this point.  So I pick it up, and I begin to read it.... mind you, this is on possibly Tuesday or Wednesday.  So I have this book and I read it all (in like less than 24 hours, all).... and naturally there are more books with this book, so I must tipity-type my way over to the Library's Website and find the next book (which I do).  But then I must go and get it (and this is all when I am supposed to be studying for finals).

So I get the second book, and promise myself that I will only pet the book, not read it.... but I read it....and I freaked out about school.... and now I am in denial.

Therefore, Nora Roberts is the reason (added with my lack of self-control) why I failed out of college!

Well on that happy note!
Read on!!

Alexandra

At This Moment

At this moment:
I am at my Yuletide Concert.  I am most likely wanting to kill someone.  I have shed a few tears and pulled out a lot of hair along the way, but I guess that is what a person does when they love doing something.

What is my love?  My love is singing.  I don't have a great soloist voice, but I know I can make an ensemble shine.  It might be presumptuous for me to think that, but I am fine with that.  I enjoy singing out.  I love singing loud and proud.

I began taking private voice lessons in fifth grade.  Those lessons taught me a lot about life.  First, life is full of hard work.  You have to give sweat, blood, and tears before life even begins to think about giving you something back.  That is the beauty of it.  Secondly, singing taught me that the world is full of beauty.  Give me a good melancholy, Irish/Scottish/Celtic sounding song, and that for me is true beauty.  The minor keys that lead to hope... perfection.  Thirdly, music in general taught me to go for what you believe in.  I know that I will never be a singer on Broadway, and I am fine with that.  I don't want to sing on Broadway.  I just want to have fun and sing me some Latin and Italian.  If that makes me weird, then I am perfectly fine with being that way.

So, at this moment, I am singing at my college's Christmas Concert.  I am ready to kill someone, but that is fine.... I'll get over it..... I will wow the crowd (with the help of my fellow singers).... I will change the world, one song at a time, and that makes me smile.  So what are you doing at this moment?  Are you making a difference, adding in your two cents by doing something you love?  I am, and you should too.

Alexandra

It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.

-Tony Robbins 

Finals

Just here to say a quick hi!

Finals week(s) is upon me.... It started Wednesday and goes until Wednesday... so there might not be much heard from me in the next few days?
Or there might be... who knows.

Well, that is all I have as I try to stay sane!

Alexandra

Movie Nights With Friends

Who doesn't love a great movie night with friends?  I know I love them.  They are full of fun, laughter, talking about boys, and just are an all around comfort for the female sex.  In a nutshell (there is that word again), they are perfect.

Well I had a movie night with my great friend Kayte.  I suffered the infernal cold, drove to campus, scurried across the little bit of campus between the parking lot and her dorm, and headed towards a girl's night!!  So what did we do at this great movie night?  Well we started out by checking out her new Monster's Inc. pajama pants (which were totally epic if I may say so myself), then we traversed up the stairs and into her suite.  I procured the hot cocoa, she let me pick out the first movie, then we shared my sweet tarts and chocolate cover cherries.  After the first movie (and us discovering her practical's test score was up) we popped in the second movie and I alphabetized her movie collection!

Now the movies we watched were: Wimbledon and The Silver Linings Playbook.  Both movies are wonderful, and in the coming weeks, they will be featured on my Saturday at the Cinema.

So what did I learn at this movie night with my bestie?  Well I learned that a girl's night is wonderful.  They make you smile and laugh.  They lighten your heart and mind.  They are needed after a tough day or week or month.  That is the best thing about friends and getting together.  They make you smile and feel great about yourself.

With that, Here is to friends and wonderful movie nights.
Alexandra

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” 

-Elbert Hubbard

Studying

This has to be my least favorite thing to do in the world.  I would, quite honestly, pull out my own teeth rather than study for exams, but alas, I am in college.  I wonder if the creators of higher education hated taking tests, or if they were weirdos and loved to take them.  That is a question to ponder.

So what shall I be studying?  Well, that is a wonderful question.  On Thursday (my first day of finals week(s)), I have a Public Speaking final and an Economics final.  That means that I will be studying for my econ final.  On Friday, I have my British Literature I final.  That won't be too bad as long as I remember my terms and completely understand the readings (oh crap).  On Monday, I have some meetings, so nothing too bad there, and finally on Tuesday, I will be taking my German final (but sadly not my final German final).

Until I am finished with all of my studying and crying (because we know there will be both), I will be avoiding homework, reading my Nora Roberts book (you'll get to read about that one soon enough), and watching Bones.

So wish me luck on my finals!
Alexandra

Ron and I are two peas in a pod!

The Anatomist's Wife

Sometimes I love the fact that I am a fast reader.  Why?  Because if I was a slow reader, I would not have finished my latest novel so quickly!  The book I have just finished is The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber.  This book is the first in the Lady Darby Mystery series.

The book is set in Scotland, 1830. Following the death of her husband, Lady Darby has taken refuge at her sister's estate, finding solace in her passion for painting. But when her hosts throw a house party for the cream of London society, Kiera is unable to hide from the ire of those who believe her to be as unnatural as her husband, an anatomist who used her artistic talents to suit his own macabre purposes.

Kiera wants to put her past aside, but when one of the house guests is murdered, her brother-in-law asks her to utilize her knowledge of human anatomy to aid the insufferable Sebastian Gage--a fellow guest with some experience as an inquiry agent. While Gage is clearly more competent than she first assumed, Kiera isn't about to let her guard down as accusations and rumors swirl.

When Kiera and Gage's search leads them to even more gruesome discoveries, a series of disturbing notes urges Lady Darby to give up the inquiry. But Kiera is determined to both protect her family and prove her innocence, even as she risks becoming the next victim...

Click here to check it out at Goodreads!

It is an interesting read, in my mind.  Written in first person, it gives you a completely different feel for the character and their thoughts.  A lot of reviews that I have read have been negative, but I think that is just because some people do not like the following:

1. Something written in 1st person
2. A Gothic styled novel
3. Murder
4. A woman who is scared and doesn't always know what to think

If you do enjoy these things, then I think you would love this book!  I know I did.  So you should go out and buy up a copy and I will clickety-click on over to Amazon and buy me up the next book in this series!  

Read on my fellow readers.  Read on!

Alexandra 

Christmas Triva

So as I was typing up my last post, I was thinking, "Trivia is a lot of fun, and who doesn't like Christmas/Holiday trivia?"  With that mind boggling revelation, I have decided to dedicate an entire post about Trivia.

Here goes:

1. We all know that Rudolph has a red nose, but does he have antlers?
2. In the song Jingle Bells, who was seated by my side?
3. Yogi Bear spends his first Christmas in what park?
4. This cartoonist of Believe it or Not was born Christmas Day, 1893.
5. Round or Oval candies filled with fruit preserves or cream and covered with chocolate are called?
6. This famous hotel magnate was born December 25, 1887.
7. The Movie Miracle on 34th Street is in what city?
8. In which Christmas song are the lyrics "to see if reindeer really know how to fly"?
9. Peter, Paul, and Mary had this No. 1 song during Christmas 1969.
10. In the Dick Van Dyke Show Christmas episode, what woodwind instrument did Laura play?
• Flute or Piccolo
11. Which country created eggnog?
12. In 1962, the US Postal System first did what?
13. Who said, "God Bless Us, Every One!"?
14. This state has the "World's Largest Living Christmas Tree.
• Maine or California
15. Who is rumored to have stolen Christmas?
16. In Santa Clause: The Movie, Joe Drank what and burped?
• Coke or Sprite
17. For the first time in 38 years, what two religious holidays coincided on December 25, 1978?
18. How many reindeer hooves are there? (include Rudolph)
19. What were Frosty's last words?
20. The most popular item to put on top of a Christmas tree is what?
21. If you spent $86,609 in 2008, what would you be buying?
22. Who yelled "Stop!" to Frosty?
23. The average number of lights on  Christmas Tree is what?
• 200 or 350
24. How many Wise Men were there according to the bible?
25. If you were born on Christmas Day, what's your sign?
26. Robert Scott set out which pole on Christmas day in 1911?
• North Pole or South Pole
27. What two words are normally pre-printed on gift tags?
28. There are 365 days in a year.  What number is Christmas Day?
29. Christmas Ridge is located in what underwater mountain range?
30. After Joseph, Mary, and Jesus left Bethlehem, which country did they travel to?
31. 'Advent' means what?
32. Lucy charges how much for her psychiatric services in A Charlie Brown Christmas?
33. What gender is Frosty?
34. How much did it cost to send a Christmas card within the same city early int he Victorian era?
35. Traditionally speaking, Frosty the Snowman has a hat, but does he have a scarf?
36. McDonald's puts what holiday image on bags during the Christmas season?
37. The Littlest Angel has a problem wearing what correctly?
38. December 24, 1814 ended what war?
39. The largest government mailing takes place on this date every year.
40. In Jingle Bell Rock everyone is dancing and prancing.  Where do they do it?
41. Which reindeer's name is also a name of a kitchen cleaner?
42. Santa Clause gets back up the chimney by doing what?
43. Alvin the Chipmunk wants what for Christmas?
44. In A Christmas Carol all three spirits visited in how many nights?
45. Does UPS deliver on Christmas Eve?
46. What is the biggest selling Christmas Single of all time?
47. Scrooge's first name is what?
48. Greensleeves is another name for what Christmas song?
49. Who first recorded Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?
50. The movie It's a Wonderful Life takes place where?
51. In the song Silver Bells, what is dressed in holiday style?
52. Where did there arise such a clatter?
53. The American Lung Association sells what during Christmas?
54. What what the little boy's name who stayed home in the movie, Home Alone?
55. Which reindeer is never mentioned in The Night Before Christmas?
56. What does Santa catch in the movie The Year Without a Santa Clause?
• The Flu or A Cold
57. In A Charlie Brown Christmas, what does Lucy want for Christmas?
58. The custom of finding a button in the plum pudding means what to an unmarried man?
59. "Catch me if you can" is said by whom?
60. The most popular toy of 1984 was what doll named after a vegetable?
61. What is the most heard carol at Christmas?
62. Frosty the Snowman first debuted on which TV station?
63. Santa's favorite Christmas Carol is what?
64. When did flashing Christmas lights get introduced?
• 1930s or 1950s
65. The Brady Bunch puts their Christmas tree where?
66. Babe, the pig, sings what Christmas song in the movie Babe?
67. Ralph E. Morris, a telephone company employee, invented what for Christmas trees?
68. Why did Joseph and Mary go from Nazareth to Bethlehem?
69. The 12 Days of Christmas has how many verses?
70. Whitney Houston had this No. 1 song during Christmas in 1992.
71. Frosty was brought alive by what?
72. The Reverend Jesse Jackson founded what organization on December 24, 1971?
73. What was Rudolph's punishment for his red nose?
74. What automobile manufacturer was born on Christmas Day 1878?
75. Which actor said, "Now I know there is a Santa Clause" after receiving his Oscar?
76. The average number of gifts an adult male gets for Christmas is what?
• 6 or 10
77. In the Christmas Song what are folks dressed up like?
78. Who wrote A Christmas Carol?
79. What is the main ingredient in gingerbread cookies?
• Flour, Ginger, or Molasses
80. Is there snow on the ground for Christmas in the movie Babe?
81. Name the 3 reindeer whose names begin with D.
82. Who starred in the movie Christmas in Connecticut?
83. This state was the last to declare Christmas a legal holiday.
84. Scrooge feared this Ghost most.
85. In It's A Wonderful Life, what did Clarence receive for accomplishing his mission?
• Wings or Halo
86. In a boxing match on December 25, 1950, who knocked out Hans Stretz?
87. On what street did Santa Clause's miracle occur?
88. What famous lithographers are reprinted on many Christmas cards?
89. Traditionally, who opens the first present?
• Oldest Member of the Family or Youngest Member of the Family
90. What carol demands figgy pudding?
91. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was written by who?
92. What river did General Washington cross on December 25, 1776?
93. We all know that Santa has a long, white beard, but does he have a moustache?
94. Elvis Presley recorded a sad Christmas song in the fifties of what color?
95. What song contains the line, "Let's be jolly, deck the halls with boughs of holly"?
96. In White Christmas, what did Danny Kay and Vera-Ellen do in order to reunite Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney?
97. In A Christmas Memory, Buddy made tin foil angels from what candy bar?
98. What city name do the states Kentucky, Indiana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, and Georgia have in common?
99. What carol contain the line, "Star with royal beauty bright?
100. In the poem, The Night Before Christmas,  the words 'Santa Clause' is used how many times?
101. St. Nick's nose is often compared to what fruit?
102. This Florida town maintains a fully decorated tree year round.
103. What are the traditional colors of the candles on an advent wreath?
104. What came first? The Book or the Movie Miracle on 34th Street?
105. What early seventies NFL Dolphin was born on Christmas Day 1946?
106. After red and green, what are the two most popular Christmas colors?
107. What country group recorded Christmas in Dixie in the early 1980s?
108. In Home Alone 2, what color limo did Kevin rent?

Answers:

1. Yes
2. Miss Fanny Bright
3. Jelly Stone Park
4. Robert J. Ripley
5. Sugarplums
6. Conrad Hilton
7. New York City
8. The Christmas Song
9. Leaving on a Jet Plane
10. The Piccolo
11.  England
12. Issued the first Christmas Stamp
13. Tiny Tim
14. California
15. The Grinch
16. Coke
17. Christmas and Hanukkah 
18. 36
19. I'll Be Back Someday
20. Angel
21. The Gifts from the 12 Days of Christmas - according to CNN
22. The Traffic Cop
23. 200
24. It does not say
25. Capricorn
26. South Pole
27. TO: and FROM:
28. 359
29. Pacific Ocean
30. Egypt
31. Coming 
32. 5 cents
33. Male
34. Nothing 
35. Yes
36. Trees
37. His Halo
38. War of 1812
39. December 26
40. Jingle Bell Square
41. Comet
42. And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod up the chimney he rose!
43. Hula-Hoop
44. One Night
45. Yes
46. White Christmas
47. Ebeneezer 
48. What Child is This 
49. Gene Autry
50. Bedford Falls
51. Sidewalks
52. On the Lawn
53. Christmas Seals
54. Keven 
55. Rudolph
56. A Cold
57. Real Estate
58. Bachelorhood
59. Frosty the Snowman 
60. Cabbage Patch Dolls
61. White Christmas
62. CBS
63. He loves them all!
64. 1930s
65. By the Staircase
66. Jingle Bells
67. Electric Tree Lights
68. To Be Taxed
69. 12
70. I Will Always Love You
71. A Magic Hat
72. People United to Save Humanity (PUSH)
73. Could Not Play Reindeer Games
74. Louis Joseph Chevrolet
75. Edmund Gwenn
76. 6
77. Eskimos
78. Charles Dickens
79. Flour
80. No
81. Dasher, Donor, Dancer
82. Barbra Stanwyck
83. Oklahoma
84. The Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come
85. His Wings
86. Sugar Ray Robinson 
87. 34th Street
88. Currier and Ivy
89. The Youngest Child
90. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
91. Johnny Marks
92. The Delaware River
93. Yes
94. Blue Christmas
95. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
96. Announced their Engagement 
97. Hershey Bars
98. Bethlehem
99. We Three Kings
100. None
101. A Cherry
102. Christmas, Florida
103. Purple and Pink
104. The Movie
105. Larry Csonka
106. Silver and Gold
107. Alabama
108. White

Happy Holidays!!

Quiz From: http://www.brownielocks.com/Quiz.html

Finals Week

Ah finals week.  It is the most dreaded week in all of college (though it might be beat out by the week before with all the papers and projects due and all).  Well at State, our finals week starts on Thursday, but a lot of my other collegey friends start today.  So for a bit of a smile, I thought you would all enjoy this wonderful breakdown of finals week!
(Click Here)

Now that you have enjoyed that adorable distraction... get back to studying so we all don't have to go to school for a million and two years!

Love Ya!
Alexandra

Third Law of Applied Terror - 80% of the final exam will be based on the one lecture you missed and the one book you didn't read. 

-Unknown

Gangster Squad

I love movies.  And I watch them regular like.  So I have decided to create a habit... that habit is "Saturday at the Cinema".

I recently watched the movie Gangster Squad, and oh was it interesting.  I wasn't sure if I would like it or not, but it turned out to be quite interesting.  The story line follows a secret crew of Los Angeles police officers who are given the orders to take down the notorious gangster Mickey Cohen.  There is a lot of gun play and that makes for a wonderfully fast paced movie!

I really loved Ryan Gosling's character (and no not because it was played by Gosling - actually, I might get scalped by this comment, but I think is is just okay looking ...  not the best, and I have seen better).

And moving on.... so why I love the character of Jerry Wooters.  Well first he is almost snooty.  He doesn't really care that much about others, but as the movie progresses, you find that he has this really deep love and cares for people much more than anyone originally thought.  He is also really good with the young shoe shining boy who hangs out next to Cohen's club.  He is always looking out for the kid and I love that!

What else did I love about the film?  I loved Emma Stone, but then again who doesn't.  She is a wonderful actress and always brings a smile to my face.  Perhaps I will have a Emma Stone marathon instead of studying....  Who know?  I might just do that!


Check out Gangster Squad at IMDb for more fabulousness!

Alexandra

Every man carries a badge. Some symbol of his allegiance. His were the scars of a boxer who'd used his fists to climb the social ladder of the mob. A Jew who'd gained the respect of wops through a homicidal lust. He'd sworn an oath of violence. And his master? His own insatiable will to power. He wanted to own this town. His name was Mickey Cohen.

-Gangster Squad, 2013

Ah Christmas

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year.  You get to bake cookies, drink cocoa, and spend time with family and friends (plus the Midnight Christmas Eve Service lets you handle flames! - I really like singing Silent Night in the dark with candles... so pretty).

Anywho... with the Christmas Season upon us, parties start popping up.  And like all great parties, the Honors College had our party on Wednesday!  We started off with pizza (there were 12 large pizzas and we ran out), we moved on to the Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest (and oh were they ugly.  We had men strutting their stuff as they walked on tables and struck a few poses to the delight of the ladies in the room), then there was wrapping contests, word searches, holiday puzzles, Christmas Trivia, and a whole lot of fun.

I think that is why I love the Holiday Season so much.  It is just a lot of fun!  People are laughing and having a great time, and that makes me smile.

So in the spirit of Christmas, here are a few holiday trivia questions for you to ponder (the answers are below).  Enjoy!

1. The name of Scrooge's deceased business partner in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was?
2. What is the name of Tiny Tim's father in the story A Christmas Carol?
3. What did Frosty the Snowman have for a nose?
4. How many gifts would you receive if you received all of the gifts in the song The 12 Days of Christmas?
5. In the song Winter Wonderland, who do we pretend the snowman is?
6. In the movie Miracle on 34th Street, a man is on trial for claiming to be Santa Claus. What convinces the judge to rule in the man's favor?
7. In the traditional song, Go Tell It on the Mountain, what are you suppose to go tell on a mountain?
8. According to the song, Frosty The Snowman what kind of soul does Frosty have?
9. True or False: Joseph was the one that told Mary she was going to have a baby.
10. In the Christmas Song, who did I (the narrator) see kissing Santa Claus under the mistletoe last night?

Well I hope you have a happy holiday party season and stay warm! (It's -1 degrees F without wind chill here in South Dakota!)
Love Alexandra

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” 

-Bob Hope

Answers: 

1. Jacob Marley
2. Bob Cratchit
3. A Button
4. 364 Gifts
5. Parson Brown (though I always said Carson Brown... oops)
6. The US Postal Service delivers mail to him
7. Our Jesus Christ is Born
8. A Jolly Happy Soul
9. False: And Angel told Mary
10. Mommy

Nora Robert's Dream Trilogy

Oh how I love Nora Roberts.  She spins a great tale with just the right amount of steam, which makes for a deliciously wonderful book (or three!)

So I have just finished the Dream Trilogy, which contains: Daring to Dream, Holding the Dream, and Finding the Dream.  It is true that I could give you a blow by blow of the books, but that is no fun - I insist instead that you read them!  But because you asked so nicely, here is the Goodreads' little blurb about them:

"Daring to Dream (1996)
Margo Sullivan returns home to Templeton house and her friends after her posh life as a model falls apart. As she tries to pick up the pieces, the long-simmering chemistry between her and Joshua Templeton finally comes to a boil.
Holding the Dream (1997)
Kate Powell has always felt indebted to the Templetons for taking her in after her parents deaths. All she's ever wanted is to make them proud. But accusations of embezzlement have her hanging her head in shame. It takes the gentle persistence of Byron DeWitt to prod her into fighting back.
Finding the Dream (1997)
Laura Templeton wanted one thing in life, to marry her Prince Charming and raise a family. Unfortunately, her Prince turned into a toad and she's forced to begin her life again. Adding to the turmoil is the brooding, handsome Michael Fury, a man she's always had a hidden desire for."

Also you should totally check out the Goodreads site (aka click here to be magically sent there!)

So what did I love about these books (this book?  I read it in one big yummy book).  Well first of all, it was written by Nora Roberts, and she is my guilty pleasure.  I know, I know.  I should be reading dry pieces of literature all written by old dead white dudes, but sometimes a girl just has to read!... and so I turn to NR.  Next I love that the three women are so different from one another.  It shows that sister/friends can be and so often are completely different from one another, and that is just fine.  I also love how the guys (though some reviews say they are all the same) have pleasant differences... and they fall head over heals for the women they love.  That is something that every girl needs - unconditional and irrational love from a wonderful man!

Of all three guys though, my favorite had to be Michael Fury.  Why?  Well here are my reasons:

1. His Name
• Fury is a wonderful last name and so completely describes him.
2. His Hair
• A little long, but totally bad ass
3. His Passion
• Though the romance was ... interesting, it was his passion for his work and for Laura.  The ending (which I won't tell you about - got to peek your interest in some way) mad me want to weep.   Oh it was tragic and wonderful and totally worth staying up way too late to finish it.

And that finishes my ramblings on NR's Dream Trilogy.  I recommend reading them and I will keep you posted on all of the other wonderful books I have been reading!!

Lots of Love

Alexandra

“It might be fun."

"Love's supposed to be." Laura smiled. "When it's not hell.” 

― Nora Roberts, Daring to Dream

“Circumstances change. Bend or break...” 

― Nora Roberts, Holding the Dream

“She stepped closer to the edge to watch the waves beat against rock. She felt that way, she mused. Battered by forces that were beyond her control, lapped in a violent, endless war with no choice but to stand.” 

― Nora Roberts, Finding the Dream

Snow

I will start off by saying snow is not my favorite thing in the world.  In fact, nine times out of ten, I loathe it (I also really love the word loathe.  I throw it into my daily conversations often!)  So why and I complaining about snow?  Well we have snow on the ground.  I knew it was coming, but oh how I did not want to believe it.

I woke up (around 10:00 - meaning I got to sleep in for the first time in what seems like forever!) and ignored looking out of my window for as long as possible.  But like all good college students, I had to see how much snow I would have to remove before I could leave for campus, and I saw the snow.  All of it.  Floating down to land on my car which is buried in snow.

So I shuffled back to my room (I was looking out of my kitchen window), kept the blinds to my room shut, and got ready for class.  Now I am ready for class: my makeup is on, I put on my sweater (which is black with red and white and black argyle on it!!), my fuzzy snow boots are ready to be put on, and I am typing up this post... and dreading the snow.

But there are good things about snow... right?  It looks pretty (when I don't have to scoop it), it is fluffy and white (which reminds me of my dog Phoebe), and I am at college and not at home (so I don't have to scoop bunks to feed the little calvies).  So I guess it could be worse.

I will leave you with the lovely satellite photo I snagged from the internet, bundle up, and brave the fluffy white crap on the ground in search for higher education.

Stay warm!
Alexandra

Me In A Nutshell

This title always makes me smile.  How can someone put their life down in just a few sentences?  I can barley tell what I had for lunch in a few sentences (though I might try.... I am having Hamburger Helper - the lasagna kind - with homegrown beef and a glass of milk).  I guess I can type my lunch out in one sentence, though if I wanted to tell you how I made it and how wonderful it tastes, that could go on forever.  So I won't.

My life, broken into sections, goes a bit like this:

Born - High School Graduation

• Raised on Farm in Iowa
• Feedlot Cattle
• Corn
• Soybeans
• Hay
• ... you know, the usual
• Attended a Small School
• 58 in my graduating class and we were large
• Participated in 4H
• Showed
• Cattle
• Horse
• Presented
• Cooking
• Sewing
• Home Improvement
• Etc.
• Sang
• Took Private Voice Lessons
• Was in Show Choir - and not it is not anything like Glee
• Favorite Languages are Italian and Latin
• Cheerleading
• Wrestling, so it was barely considered a sport, but we did cheer
• Misc:
• There was a stint in track (well the field part).  I threw discus

College Years

• Attend a State School in South Dakota - and it is wonderful
• Major: English
• Emphasis: Writing?
• Minor: Animal Science
• Distinctions: Honors College
• Traveled to Russia
• With my Women's Choir
• Moved into an Apartment
• My roommates and I have a love-hate relationship when it comes to dishes 
• They hate doing them, I hate them for not doing them and then do them myself instead

Okay.  So now as I look at my college years, I haven't done much.  Woops, but that is fine.  I work for the University in Admissions and Orientation.  I am a teaching assistant for a freshman seminar, and I haven't dropped out yet, so all is well.

So that is me, in a nutshell (well a bullet).  

I have finished my lunch, so I will bid you adieu.

Alexandra

“How often do we tell our own life story? How often do we adjust, embellish, make sly cuts? And the longer life goes on, the fewer are those around to challenge our account, to remind us that our life is not our life, merely the story we have told about our life. Told to others, but - mainly - to ourselves.” 

-Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending