Tagged!

Moshe and frum single female tagged me for a meme of 7 things you love.

Ok, most of this everyone who reads my blog probably already knows, but whatever. Here goes, in no specific order:

1. Animals! Or at least the cute furry ones. (This includes my pets)

2. Dragons! Actually most mythical creatures, but my love of dragons is probably the most obvious.

3. My family - despite the fact that they tend to drive me up the wall at times.

4. Reading - fantasy mainly, though I've read almost every other genre. Except for horror, that I refuse to read.

5. Feeling the changing of seasons (one thing that I miss by living in Florida)

6. Sitting and talking with good friends - who know me inside and out the same as I do them.

7. Meeting new people and learning new things!

Who to tag?

Jacob Da Jew, Mike in Midwood, SuperRaizy, Material Maidel, Child Ish, Frum College Girl

Colds, Bookfairs, and Other Things

I know, haven't posted for a while. acually, right after my brother and I drove up to look at the puppies, I got a cold two days later, and I don't deal with colds well. I'm generally miserable and don't feel like doing anything. Thank goodness, it's almost gone now, except for a slightly stuffy nose and a cough, I'm doing pretty good. I actually caught the cold from my brother, who was sick, and we shared the driving....and sitting in a small enclosed space (namely the car) with someone who is sick for nine hours total is a pretty good gauruntee you'll get sick too.....
Yesterday I went to the Bookfair with my friend SS, and a friend of hers. It was lots of fun, I had a blast. Got 5 books, two of which I got signed by the authors there, which was cool. Also, the weather was awesome, it didn't go above 70 and it's supposed to be cool like that for the rest of this week. I LOVE this weather. Last winter was pretty warm, but this winter we've gotten at least two cold fronts. I just wish it would stay like this for the next couple of months, but we're lucky when it lasts a week.
A friend of mine will be coming down from Baltimore in December and I can't wait! Actually, this is the same friend I always stay by when I'm in Baltimore, so it'll be nice to be able to return the favor, and we'll be able to do lots of stuff. I'm hoping that we'll go to Disney...anyways, I gotta go now, have to run to class. Just wanted to post an update since I've been pretty neglectful lately. THough as I mentioned, unless you wanted to hear how miserable my cold made me, not much to tell....

Discworld

I have mentioned that Discworld is one of my favorite series. Anyone who can guess three of the reasons I like it get a cookie. (Hint: they're all in my bio) I've read almost all the books (except for ones not readily available at bookstores or our library) and I brought about half my Discworld collection to sem with me. I introduced several people at sem to the series, and shared my books. Now, I'm just waiting, like every other Pratchett fan for the next books, or the next movie, to come out. I know that there are other Discworld fans that read my blog, so a couple of quick questions: Favorite book? Favorite Sub-series (Watch, Witches, Death, Rincewind) ?Favorite characters (even though, yes, it is so very hard to pick)? Oh, and finally, which book would you like to see be made into a movie next?

The Stupidity of Evil Villains

On shabbos CJ came over for lunch, and after lunch we were talking about random things, when for some reason, the talk turned to Harry Potter and evil villains. We came to several conclusions. First of all, I can only recall one time that American witches or wizards are mentioned in any of the books. Voldemort is supposed to be a threat to the wizarding world, correct? So why is it that all the wizards in britain are not worried say, about death eaters in the rest of the world after voldemort has died? Then there is the whole "takeing over the world" concept. In my opinion, anyone who wants to take over the world is *dumb* I mean really, really dumb. First of all, taking over the world requires that you are super smart, super rich...and you have a continents worth of lackeys who are willing to carry out your every wish. Even if you have the first two, the third is not going to happen. Ok, let's say you overcome this with a mind-control something-or-other, right? Ok, you've managed to conquer the world, zip-de-dee-doo-dah...now what? Mind controlled people are not very fun to torture and if you let them out from mind control, it can take just one well thought out plan by one person, and BOOM - you're history. Ok....maybe I'm thinking a little too deep into this, but still, I think any super villain is dumb, I mean how many of them think past their ultimate goal?
....I'm gonna stop babbling now, and I think I used the word 'OK' way too many times in this post.

Are You British?

I've gotten asked that question a few times recently. The answer is no, I'm not. Never even been to England. But I have a tendency to speak a bit fast, and my vocabulary is sprinkled with british terms. Like "bum" instead of "a$$" or "bloody hell" or "bugger" and probably some others I'm not even aware of. I blame that on the fact that alot of the books I read are by british authors. Like Terry Pratchett, JK Rowling, Diana Wynne Jones....but I'd have to say it's Pratchett that had the biggest effect. It's really amazing how reading can expandyour vocabulary.

Today is a holiday!

No, not talking about Memorial day weekend, it's National Towel Day! On this holiday, started by fans of Douglas Adam's The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, fans of Douglas Adams carry around towels to commerate this author, (died May 11, 2001). It is also a holiday for Pratchett fans as well, though not by commemorating anything with towels. I believe the tradition for fans of Pratchett's Discworld series get stinking drunk, and wear lilacs....though for the reason, one would have to read Night Watch all the way through. However, if someone can explain it short and simple for non-pratchett fans, I would be most grateful. Anyways, I wish everyone a happy Towel Day, May 25, and anything else that I don't know of.

Favorite Authors

Since I really have absolutley NOTHING to blog about at the moment, I decided that instead, I'll make a list of some of my favorite author's and their books (or series)

1. Terry Pratchett - Discworld Series - it is, in my opinion at least, one of the BEST series out there. Incredibly funny, yet thought provoking as well. Satire on almost anything that you can imagine. Some of my favorite books in the series: Thud!, Going Postal, Moving Pictures, Jingo, Weird Sisters, and Reaper Man. Another book I like that is a collaboration between him and Neil Gaiman is Good Omens.

2. Tamora Pierce - She has several series: Song of the Lioness (4 books), The Immortals (4 books), Protector of the Small (4 books), Trickster's Choice & Trickster's Queen, Beka Cooper (3 books). These series are all set in Tortall. And the other set of series is The Circle of Magic, The Circle Opens, and The Circle Reforged. I love all her books, both series.

3. Jim Butcher - The Dresden Files- wizardry in the real world, solving mysteries and using magic. Now that's my kind of thing!

4. Robert Asprin - Myth Adventures and Phule's Company. Myth adventures is pure fantasty, while Phule's Company is Pure Science Fiction. He is incredibly funny, with lovable characters. He also collaborates for some of his Myth Adventures books with Jody Lynne Nye.

5. Anne McCaffrey - The Dragon Riders of Pern - while this is completely Science Fiction, it includes dragons, so as you can guess, I absolutely love it. Faves: All the Weyrs of Pern, Dragon Flight, Dragon Quest, the White Dragon.

6. Eoin Colfer - Artemis Fowl - a mix of fantasy and science fiction, it's a nice balance, while it's written for kids and is in the children's section, it's still immensly enjoyable. A criminal mastermind (who is only 12 years old) gets one over the fairies so he can get their gold.

7. Mercedes Lackey - Valdemar and Dragon Qaurtet (Joust, Alta, Sanctuary, Aerie) - Fantasy that includes talking horses and magic, the dragon books, I think are self explanatory. I am so there. Faves: All four dragon books, Arrows of the Queen, Take a Thief, Exile's Valor, Exile's Honor.

8. Diana Wynne Jones - a lot of books - complete fantasy writer, her books are very often confusing, until the end when everything becomes clear, and if everything isn't clear, you should read the book again. Even if you DID understand it, read it again, and you'll see things you missed the first time.

9. Eric Flint - 1632 and the books after that - I've only read the first book, but I have the others and really like it so far. Basically: send a town of West Virginia from the 21st Century to Germany in the middle of the 30 Year War. Like it says on the back "Freedom and Justice - American Style"

10. JRR Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings - I love those books, though wasn't thrilled with the movies.

11. Alexander Dumas - The Three Musketeers - One of the best books of all time. Definetly deserved to become a classic.

12. H.G. Wells - The Time Machine, War of the Worlds - both excellent books, though Time Machine was a bit depressing at the end.

13. Jules Verne - Around the World in Eighty Days, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Also two very good books

14. Isaac Asimov - I, Robot - incredible book, loved it the first time I read it.