L-J's Review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I began The Hunger Games a couple of months ago while on my elliptical.  I hate being on the elliptical for long periods of time as I get bored but for the first time, I didn't mind it while reading this intriguing book.  I thus imposed the rule that I could only read The Hunger Games while on the elliptical.  I stuck to that rule until tonight.  I finally got sick of waiting to know what happened and finished it!

When I first heard about this trilogy from my friend Rebecca, I wasn't sure it was something I could get into--which is exactly how I felt about Twilight when my friend Luisa first introduced me to it.  I was wrong about Twilight and again about Hunger Games.  The basic story is of adolescents (a new bunch selected in a raffle each year) from 12 districts who must compete in the Hunger Games..  They are thrown in a controlled, video-taped wilderness (in a futuristic time), expected to kill each other off until one is left the victor.  This year, the heroine's younger sister is picked for her district, so our heroine, Katniss, selflessly offers to go in her place.

I had to exert amazing self-control to not finish this book the day I started it, but I needed something to motivate me to use my elliptical.  To give an idea of how gripping this book is, I could be on the elliptical for 20 minutes and feel like I had only been on for 5.  I wanted to stay on to keep reading.  I am actually quite impressed with myself that I did not finish it in 24 hours!

I don't want to give anything away so I won't say anything else but that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I can't wait for the film, and I'm about to start the next book in the trilogy.

No worries over here...

While I still don't know (and probably won't ever know) who started the rumor about me being one of the ones laid off, I am happy to say that I still have a job for next year.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of those who do not.

Unless the state gives more funding, we will go through this all again next year.  Hopefully we won't have to!

So True, So False...

Rumors spread like wildfire... Some are true and some are false...  Here's today's dose of So True, So False:

"L-J was tearfully escorted from her classroom and told that she doesn't have a job next year during 5th period today."

SO FALSE!

I don't know who started this rumor but it's a complete fabrication.  I was first asked about this during passing period between 5th and 6th, then again during 7th, after school and once this evening.  I am thinking a student is the culprit but I'll probably never know for sure...

Praying for all the people who lost their job today, for those who lose it tomorrow, and that I don't lose mine tomorrow!

L-J's Review of Daniel's Gift by Barbara Freethy

I follow @NookBN on Twitter and the other day it mentioned that Daniel's Gift by Barbara Freethy was only $2.99.  Of course I jumped at the chance for cheap chick-lit.  Of course, cheap in a Nook Book often means typos which did get a bit annoying as I read.

This book is the story of a tragedy that reunites former lovers.  It is akin to a Nicholas Sparks novel though not as sophisticated or well-written.  I cried my way through the entire book and could not help but put myself in the heroine's shoes.  My favorite aspect of the book was that it definitely had a Christian perspective.  It showed how things happen for a reason and that God is often trying to teach us or show us something.

It's not my favorite book but I enjoyed it enough to zip through it.  I was intrigued from the beginning and had to know what was going to happen.  If you are looking for a good sappy novel with people learning life lessons, then you will enjoy Daniel's Gift.

Friday Night Fun!

Just your typical Friday night when you have kids:

More Park Fun!

Last night (after Kailee spent all day with Daddy), the whole fam headed to the park again.  Upon looking at a previous post, I discovered that Daddy dressed Kailee in the same top she wore when we went to the park last weekend.  Oops!

Here are some pics from last night's excursion:

Sicky-Poo

So Kailee has been Miss Fussy-Foo since this weekend.  She's been super-clingy to Daddy, which of course made me insanely jealous.  At first, it hurt but then I realized that I should take it as a compliment.  She knows that Mommy is not going anywhere.  Mommy always comes back.  She isn't as secure with Daddy because Brady has drill one weekend a month and sometimes gets sent away for a week or two.  This realization made me feel better for me but worse for Brady.  Hopefully he is at least feeling very special that Mommy's girl is now becoming Daddy's girl.

Back to the fussiness though... Every morning, Kailee has been super-clingy to me (since Brady goes to work before she gets up) and has not been her normal cheerful self.  Today, I got a call as I was driving to pick up the kids after school.  It turns out, Kailee had a gunky eye and nasty running nose in addition to a 100.5 fever.  This sealed her fate of not being able to attend school tomorrow.  Thanks to our doctor's extended hours, I was able to take her in this evening and discovered that not only does Kailee have two ear infections, but she also has pink eye.  Fortunately, the doctor prescribed enough Vigamox for the entire household in case we all catch it.

I felt HORRIBLE that it never occurred to me that she might have an ear infection.  She really has been Miss Fussy-Foo, and I had no idea.  The doctor said one ear looked worse than the poster they have in each exam room of an infection.  Basically the ear infection's severity caused the gunkiness and pink eye.  It is very common for pink eye to begin as an ear infection in small children, something of which I was not aware.  Hopefully Baby-Face will feel better soon!