BEWARE: I am R rated.(haha!!)

this is why I receive that rating:

• suicide (13x)
• death (5x)
• pain (3x)
• meth (1x)

I can see suicide and meth, but even my four and two year olds know that things die, and that there is pain in the world. Every night they pray for "the children in the world that don't have food to eat, that they would be full"...still I guess I earned my R rating on the 13 times I used suicide. Lets hope you are all old enough to be reading my blog!!!

Thanks to J. Kaye's Book Blog, even if she is rated PG. She found this test :)

Inside the readers studio (meme)

Here is a meme from The Book Lady's Blog...what a blog make sure to check it out!
yay! Taggy-tag-tag. I was tagged by Trish at Hey Lady, Whatcha readin'?
What is your favorite word? I don't have just one, snigglenorf, bigglepeep, naggietip, and lasimant. Yeah, those are real words....I want to stop you before you head to your dictionaries!! :) I am sorry but I don't really have a favourite.

What is your least favorite word? This however is easy (I have many): packet, being my least...but any words with hard sounds really close together. (Concocted, pumpkin, Clinton, trapped)

What turns you on (creatively, spiritually or emotionally)? people who are only one person no matter how many different people surround them. I hope you know what I mean....I have acquaintances who will put on a show for me, and then do it for the next person too. I like vulnerability, honesty, truth... real people make me weak in the knees.

What turns you off (creatively, spiritually or emotionally)?
presumption, lack of vulnerability, "playing nice", lies, fronts, people who think they are more important than anyone else, anti-immigration issues.

What sound or noise do you love? For sure rain, the ocean, kids laughing.

What sound or noise do you hate? feedback, kids fighting (especially my own), whining.

What is your favorite curse word? yeah, nope. I have never cursed. Well, maybe a total of 3 times when I was younger...the words just sound yuk to me.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Oh, there are so many things I would love to do: author, photographer, professional rock climber, cowgirl in the old days....but even now would do.

What profession would you not like to do? editor, business person, secretary, fast food.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Well, the typical here, "Well done, my good and faithful servant"

If you want to do this meme, then TAG- you're it!!! Go right on and do it! :)

read-a-thon mini challenge!!! (hour one...but we haven't started yet :)

Where are you reading from today? The Pacific Northwest, oh so beautiful here!!! :) I am specifically in Corvallis Oregon, Home of the Oregon State Beavers! It is still early here, I just woke up.

3 facts about me …
1.) I am bilingual because my parents are missionaries in Span and I grew up there, half of me belongs to Spain
2.) I am becoming a locavore, not fully I do have little kids, and not a ton of time to spend...but as much as I can I buy food that is grown locally and I have my own chickens IN TOWN!!(no worries it's legal!) So the only thing that I am bummed about missing today is the wonderful Farmers Market! I will survive.
3.) I am married and have two little boys(2+4). My hubby is SO AMAZING to take them for the whole day...I get to go to the lib, to coffee shops and all ( no reading would be getting done at home!!)

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?
To be honest, I haven' gotten this all that figured out yet!! I need to get to it, but I figured I would complete the meme and feed my chickens, and get dressed first :)
Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?
Well, I don't not yet...I am just going to read-away and see what I can do!

I do have a goal of updating every two hours or so, and commenting/cheering other readers on as well...this is going to be great fun!!

Any advice for people doing this for the first time?
Ha, this is my first time!! I guess I have no idea what I am in for!:) I am doing the version I designed for mothers of small children (hahah!)....I will read, but I will also sleep, and eat and breathe....I am going to let this be fun:) My advice, have a good time!!!!!

Thanks Darcy for this delightful challenge meme....it is fun to get to know everyone!!

the OT challenge meme, I DID IT!

I guess I should do this meme, since I asked you to!!! haha!! Thank you to all of you who have completed it and given me the link, I love reading your answers.

The Orbis Terrarum Challenge meme:


1.) What country do you always go back to in your travels (not just while reading for OT)?
I tend to read about India, mostly. I head back there often. It used to be Mexico that I was obsessed with, I wonder what will come next. Iraq, Iran, Pakistan are all really interesting to me, as far as novels go right now.


2.) If you could visit 4 of the countries you have read about in your life (that you haven't been to yet), which would they be and why? (you can include the book that makes you want to visit if you remember)

Oh, easy:
India ( Karma and Other Stories, Interpreter of Maladies, The Namesake)
China ( The Woman Warrior)
Iraq ( I'Jaam)
South Africa (The Writing Circle)


3.) Have you ever dreamed about a country you have read about, that you have never actually traveled to- except in your dreams?

I have dreamed about being in Mexico, and India...both were good dreams.

4.) In what ways has reading about different countries opened up your perspective about global issues?

I love reading about different nations, the difficulties of the peoples living there, the dark, the happy, the sweet times. I enjoy doing this because I believe that through it I understand more about our global civilization, I feel for people whom others consider enemies. I even if for a mere 200 pages am zapped into a time and place that is not within my comfort zone, it is a place that may be foreign to me...but every single time so far I fall in love for the ways in which we are different, but also because of the ways in which being so different, we are so humanly similar. I will stop now, but learning this way is a passion of mine....I will spare you.

5.) What countries have you felt your judgment was off about-after reading about that nation?

To be completely honest, I have learned that no matter who I am, how open-minded, or where I am from I will (as any one of you) hold prejudices towards different types of people. I think often it is a fear of the unknown, or the feeling that in the past "they" may have wronged "us". We all cast judgments, we do it daily...most of the time they are not mean, or even negative at all, but they are still judgments, ways we remember a certain person, by what they wear, what they like to do, or where they are from.
I guess I feel judgments falling off every time I read a book by an author about his/her land. It happens because, me, not being from there in order to have a space in my mind for that nation I take in glimpses, but many times these may be generalizations, or I may be misinformed...I believe that each time any individual picks up a book to learn about a people that are to him/her unknown, or foreign that judgments will be shattered... but only a couple at a time, that is why I keep reading.

6.) Which is your favourite book that you would recommend for this challenge (you don't have to have read it during the challenge)?

AHH, I hate it when I am asked to name just one!! I never can do it. Oh, wait..I asked!!!hahaha! Well, I am going to cheat. I have never been a rule follower!
- Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
- I'jaam by Sinan Antoon
-Aura by Carlos Fuentes

I could go on....but I won't.

7.) I am thinking about hosting again, for a full year next time starting in January, do you have any constructive criticism, is one book a month about right...more? less? Give me some thoughts.

...I will be back...and yes I agree with what most of you have said, that you like shorter challenges rather than year long ones. I agree.

8.) Anything else that you have been wanting to tell us all about? let us have it!

I am so happy to have you all reading, and doing such a great job keeping up with this challenge!! I love to read about different cultures...and it is so fun to do it together, and find out
about great books I would have never picked up, but now I will!

PS: If you feel any of my answers are not explained properly, or they don't make sense, please ask!

JUST for ORBIS TERRARUM challengers meme and givaway!!!

hey all you super-OT-challengers!!! (ONLY)
I have some fun stuff planned. I will be putting up a challenge meme and giveaway. Here is how to play:
1.) Each of your OT reviews that you have given the links to on the "your Orbis Terrarum travel thoughts!" Mr. linky will count. So put all your reviews up, each is worth one. Only functioning links will count...and I will go through and delete the duplicates.
2. Complete the OT meme and let me know, by commenting on this post, that will add one entry to your total.

So, what is the giveaway?? I am going to get books today at our local used bookstore (no worries, only gently used). So there will be multiple winners!!! I will let you know what the books are later by tomorrow or so.

I will give you a week to get as many links up as you can and to post your meme and get a comment on this post up, and remember this is really ONLY for Orbis Terrarum regular challengers!!!! Please play fair.

The Orbis Terrarum Challenge meme:


1.) What country do you always go back to in your travels (not just while reading for OT)?

2.) If you could visit 4 of the countries you have read about in your life (that you haven't been to yet), which would they be and why? (you can include the book that makes you want to visit if you remember)

3.) Have you ever dreamed about a country you have read about, that you have never actually traveled to- except in your dreams?

4.) In what ways has reading about different countries opened up your perspective about global issues?

5.) What countries have you felt your judgment was off about-after reading about that nation?

6.) Which is your favourite book that you would recommend for this challenge (you don't have to have read it during the challenge)?

7.) I am thinking about hosting again, for a full year next time starting in January, do you have any constructive criticism, is one book a month about right...more? less? Give me some thoughts.

8.) Anything else that you have been wanting to tell us all about? let us have it!

TAG-author meme!!!

TAG-you're it!

I am IT again, and this time it was heather at Errant Thoughts, here are her answers.

1. Who’s your all-time favorite author, and why?

All time? I literally cannot think that way, there are so many, here are some that I would consider my all time favourites:
Aleksandr Isaevich Solzhenitsyn
Sinan Antoon
Miljenko Jergovic
Richard Adams
Carlos Fuentes
Maxine Hong Kingston
Jack London
C. S. Lewis
J.D. Salinger
J.R.R. Tolkien
Banana Yoshimoto
Harriet Beecher Stowe

2. Who was your first favorite author, and why? Do you still consider him or her among your favorites?

I am sure that when I was little I enjoyed different picture books, and chapter books. I do remember loving The Boxcar Children. But nothing stunned me as much as reading Harriet Beecher Stowe

for the first time. I read Uncle Tom's Cabin and could not get over the severity of the situation. AHHH! I cried and cried. I was probably 12 years old and had never had much idea of slavery, as I attended Spanish public schools and history is not one of their strong points. I knew it had existed and that was about it. I could not get enough of Uncle Tom, little Eva and Co.

And yes, it still rings true for me. I got to re-read it in college for a literature class! I again, loved it. I know that there is discussion about this book, and that maybe Harriet could have done things differently. What I know though, is that we cannot judege the people from the past, through our present knowledge. She tried, and did her best...personaly her writing attacked me like a ravenous dog takes a hamburger. I still love it.

3. Who’s the most recent addition to your list of favorite authors, and why?

From the list I can see that Sinan Antoon and Miljenko Jergovic are my newest additions.
I was just blown away by them, that is why. That is why anyone is on my list. Their story captures, engulfs and hardly lets me breathe...their choice of words makes me want to eat the book. (ha!)

4. If someone asked you who your favorite authors were right now, which authors would first pop out of your mouth? Are there any you’d add on a moment of further reflection?

Well, right now I love Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis I and II), Nichole Krauss (The History of Love), Rozena Maart (The Writing Circle) .

5. Tagged:

*monix
* medb
*rachel
* julie
*kathleen

And whoever else would enjoy this one....it was a great meme!!

two memes: info galore

I've been tagged over at bookworm by julie. You can read her version here.

6 things about me:

1.) I am insanely sporadic. For a while I will read everyday, all the time...'till I hit burn-out. Soon after that craze I will want to knit like craziness, then on to rockclimbing, guitar playing, chicken owning, gardening, blogging and then the cycle will repeat. and repeat.

2.) I grew up in Spain, I loved it...I'd do it all over again. Sometime.

3.) I have dreads, but besides that I try to fit in as much as possible by being as friendly as I can so that people are not scared of me. Especially little old ladies, I go out of my way to help them in any way possible...therefore trying to shatter their stagnant opinions of diversity and differences.

4.) I love animals. I have owned so many different things that I cannot even name them, but I will try: tons of different kinds of fish (but all freshwater), a canary, four lovebirds (oh, I want some again!!), 5 cats, one dog, teems of hamsters (they had babies!), turtle, and my newest acquisition CHICKENS!! I have pics and stuff here.

5.) I try to purchase as much organic as possible, as in I will choose it even if it is much more. I love Saturday markets, and fresh fruit stands. Eventually I would love to live in the country, free and off the grid...but probably we won't go that far...but I really love this house(low impact woodland home) to do that in. Or a yurt!

6.) At our house, we are vegetarians. I don't cook meat, but I never refuse it at someone else's house, that is my role as a greatful guest....and the reason I did not become a veggie much sooner. I hate people feeling the need to cater to us. My sons don't even know we are vegetarians, and yes they can order meat at restaurants.

If you have questions about these answers...let me know. I'd love to tell you about it.

123 meme:

(sorry, I am cheating...hope it is okay. I had done this before, so I am re-using my answer)

• Pick up the nearest book. (I’m sure you must have one nearby.)
• Turn to page 123.
• What is the first sentence on the page?
• The last sentence on the page?
• Now . . . connect them together….
  (And no, you may not transcribe the entire page of the book–that’s cheating!)

A: The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
first: I went to the kitchen and washed my glass.
last: "He's got nothing to do with me. He can become a diet member or an astronaut, for all I care."

So for all of you BTT readers out there....I am going to connect the sentences together by writing my own story, yes , this is not part of the book (only the bold is on the actual p 123 of the book) Check it out!



I went to the Kitchen and washed my glass. While doing this chore I could hear her in the background. I am amazed by her unceasing. I raised my eyebrows to myself, and smiled a sad, sad smile. It isn't that she only did it at times, it was a continuous flow of jabber that I soon would not be able to bear even with my newly installed flesh-tone earplugs. Life has changed, it was not this way when we were married, we used to lust after one another with our eyes fixed, we used to take turns, we used to care. I remember thinking, "how did I know to choose so well? How did she?" Now she is unceasing and I am constantly waiting, just only for one thing: that she would cease. That she would give up and let me say only one word. I know, that may not last me forever, but it would buy me some good time.

I don't think she even believes that I am still here, I am uncertain as to where I would go, but I am sure she has come up with many exciting ideas, ideas much better than our current reality. Maybe she doesn't even think of me anymore. Life should be better. I will just say what I want to, so that she cannot forget that I am here, I will be here, I have chosen to belong to her and her to me until death do us part, right? Well the death has not yet taken place, so I must exist here with her. This is what I am thinking when I burst into my wives unceasing conversation with herself only to say: "He's got nothing to do with me. He can become a diet member or an astronaut, for all I care." And then I wonder why that is what I waited so long to say.


OH, so now I need to tag people!!!
I tag, Madeleine, Mrs. B, Corinne, Ramya!!!! And if you want to YOU are tagged too!

classics meme!!!

I am really excited about the Classics Challenge that Trish is hosting, here is a meme she gave us to wet out appetites!!!

1. My favorite classic is: (here is what I think they are..some you may not consider classics though...) Uncle Tom's Cabin Beecher-Stowe(had a huge impact on my when I was little, woke me up to slavery) Washington Square, Henry James(fun to read, it is short and interesting), Tale of Two Cities by Dickens (I loved the way it was written).

2. The classic I had the toughest time finishing is ANNA KARENINA!!!!! no question. long, borring, amoral....horrid.

3. I would recommend Franny and Zooey, or Nine Stories by JD Salinger to someone who doesn't read a lot of classics or who doesn't generally like classics because it is different, the style is fun and the themes are deep and captivating.

4. To me, a classic book is a book which has been around or will be around...both!

5. The type of relationship I have with classics is shaky...they scare me, but when I read them I realize they are not so bad (most of the time).

What do you think?