When you don't know what to talk about...

Talk About the Weather!

Well, my main reasoning for wanting a weather add-on was to show how much rain we receive here in the Houston area. It actually feels like it rains everyday. And you aren't ever quite sure if a day goes by without at least a little drizzle here or there. It make watering plants great, and I imagine it provides plenty of excuses about washing cars, but beyond that I don't know of the benefits. We have been lucky for the most part though, because the area has been avoiding flooding by the fast drain-off and the high temperatures that plague the city between downpours. It is quite strange to me to imagine that only a few hours away cities are facing droughts. Crazy weather, crazy planet. Since I have never really lived in one place all that long, it is hard for me to be that person who remembers when... when the weather was different or the summers weren't so long or whatever. I believe climate change exists, but not because I have watched it or have some memories to base it on. I guess because I like to watch specials on the discovery channel and the weather channel. And because it is very easy for me to believe that the number of people on the planet are destroying it. I mean I am one of them, right? One of billions....

Well, enough about the weather and our struggling, ever changing planet. For you Houstonians, I say look forward to another week of hot temperatures and pounding storms. And for those of you who carry umbrellas, make your umbrella your staple and carry everyday. It works to shield from rain AND sun. (I see it all the time at the bus stops. Just please watch where you are going. No one likes to be hit in the face with an umbrella.)

Signing out.

A Look At Mandy Moore... past and present

Only Hope from A Walk to Remember and Extraordinary from her new album, Wild Hope


Mandy is beautiful, has an amazing voice, and is going on tour. I, even, like the majority of her movies. She just strikes me as a humble, talented woman. I respect that. For more info on her album, tour, and movies, check out the Mandy Moore Site.

Updates

Well, the weather widget is still not working. No thanks to the Weather Channel that in fact has beautiful widgets that don't like blogger. Alas. What am I going to do? And then on top of it all, I thought a cool wish list feature on the side would make for an interesting "Buy Me This For (insert random holiday)" add-on. And it's not working either. Help! I am going to have to journey across the vast internet to find fixes or replacements for these essentials. How else is a random person not in Houston going to know Houston weather? How else is (insert a guy's name) going to know what I want for my birthday (which I will in fact need to remind him of when it's here)? Well, keep a look out for more restructured sidebar action, invisible, inaudible readers...

Harry Potter Year 7

Alright, fellow Muggles... I rushed out to buy HP7, had it by 12:15a, and just finished it. I am nerd. So what! I can't wait to chat up the book with everyone but I am not giving ANYTHING away to those who haven't completed the whole series. Wouldn't be right to right to end the fun for you guys.

That being said, I completely recommend this book along with the other 6 if you haven't tried them out yet.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
by J.K. Rowling
released 07/21/07
pg count: 759

Hilary Duff: Videos from the new album

As you must know, I like pop. And Hilary Duff is great; her music is light and fun. Here are the first two singles from Dignity.

Stranger & With Love


And just for the record, I do watch her movies and miss Lizzie McGuire.

I'm sorry. I like Zach Braff

Well, Brian told me watch Scrubs when I admitted to my following of Grey's. And he was right. I still like Grey's, but I love Scrubs. I love how Zach's character is always in his head overthinking everything. I can completely identify with that, though I am not so creative, I think. There isn't an episode that I don't laugh, and it is always on since early seasons are on WGN and Comedy Central. Viewers can easily become attached to this doctor, and I have. Looks, not pretty or tough but down to earth. And it's the voice. Let's face it. I even recognize the voice from the Wendy's and Cottonelle commercials. Just a great tone, I guess. As far as movies, I will be willing to give Garden State another go since it has been a long time. And as far as The Last Kiss. I didn't like his character or the story, but if anything was going to make that movie work, it was him. Last, but not least, I thought he made Chicken Little shine. Yeah, it's him. Go back and watch it again. So, here's to the caring doctor that all women (and men) wish they had checking in on them. Or at least the man playing him.

(Image: from myspace profile)

It is about time for some reflections on 'recent' reads...

3 Books and a new rating system straight from me with no concern how the other critics perceived it.

The Eight by Katherine Neville

This book was recommended to me at least 2 years ago when I worked at Brentano's in downtown San Antonio. I just never got around to buying or reading it until earlier this year. Okay, how to describe. The idea is there is this magical, all-important Chess service that survives throughout history and that the pieces and board must be hidden and protected to prevent a power from falling into evil hands. The story is told in two times with two sets of characters, each representing a piece. The story jumps back and forth through time and around the world with scenes in NY, Europe, and Africa. Now about the length, the book is long (or lengthly for a light read). Up, the detail and story were so great that I wanted even more development with both sets of characters and their relationships and travels in portions. Down, there were a few moments that I wanted to skip chapters to get back to developments in one time period vs the other. Ultimately, I waited and read straight through to see it all come together. And it was worth it. What a great book, and in the end, I think Neville got it just right. The mystery was there, mixed in with some fun historical fiction. No other book is going to find kick-butt nuns and computer experts working together for the same goal centuries apart. Look forward to strong female leads standing up for themselves and what's right in the face of just about everything. It was said that a sequel was in the works, but I have not seen any sign of it at this time. Rating: A

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

Well, first off, Dan Brown wrote DaVinci Code. He has written 4 books and writes with a style based on extremely short chapters, multiple characters with individual developments that build to one story line constantly jumping locations, and page breaks. People, this style creates the easiest read ever. You will be able to read more pages faster than ever before. And that makes these books great for everyday fiction. It builds, but doesn't overwhelm. You always have something fresh to process, and it keeps you wanting more. Now, this book introduces you to the world of a woman who works for an unknown organization responsible for spying on the country through illegal tracking/scanning of email. The idea that no email goes through the web without being searched for information might seem unlikely. Wait, it doesn't to me. Not now. Ah, well, back to the plot... As one programmer tries to stand up for rights of the people, we see a murder mystery unfold with a deadline that would put national security in jeopardy. I liked the book as a whole and the reading was smooth. I am beginning to not like ending of Brown's books because it leaves me wanting something else that I can't describe, more or better (?). You, however, might find the ending just and right-on. We each have a hope, I think, of how we would finish off a story. Great for travel or a long weekend. Rating: B-

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Just finished within this last week. How I found out about this book? Well, earlier this summer I read a review for Stardust (the movie) in Entertainment Weekly since it's to be released in August. I, then, proceeded to find a preview online which I did post here and thought, "that sounds good, wonder how the story goes". I got the book. I am not really a reader of fantasy (unless you count children's/ YA's books), but I really liked it. The review promised something in the lines of The Princess Bride. And I truly think that is pretty spot on. I loved the characters and the magic of it all. Every once in a while it's great to read a book that shows that fate somehow actually factors in to life. A boy makes a promise to bring back a falling star for his love and sets out on the voyage of a lifetime. There's magic, royalty, witches, you name it. But all of it seems somehow believable in a way that you feel something exists but you won't get to see it to prove it. Read the book. I am not giving any more away. Or, at least, see the movie and hope they get it right. Rating: A

Oh dear... I need to step it up.

I can be honest with you few readers I do have. I have a list of a dozen or more topics, short and long, to write about. But I haven't been feeling it. Something seems to always stop me when it comes to the "New Post" button. So, this first entry (trying to get myself back out there), I want to make a few comments on previous entries, page layout, and sidebar stuff (and some dilemmas I am having).

Previous entries: I added the countdown for Harry Potter movie and book. I am super excited about both. (Yeah, I am nerd.) I am rereading HP6 to prepare for the final book. And while I want to reread 5, I don't think it is going to happen this week. Maybe I can read it after I see the movie, so I won't be so disappointed like I was in 4. Oh, man. Feel free to go back and check out my entry on HP4. I also added the clip from The Daily Show. I just wanted to add that if I am going to Tivo/DVR record anything its The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Because 1.) they are awesome and 2.) you should be able to rewind and watch any segment over again (and again).

As for side column stuff: I added in the sudoku game which is a widget and a fun feature in my opinion. Hope you have tried it out. I am battling over getting a weather feature to work properly. And I can write an entire post on the weather here in Houston. Anyways, I am going to keep working on the feature so it appears correctly. I want to add so much to the sidebar, because there are a zillion nifty things out there, but I don't want it to look bad. So, please be the judge of when I go overboard.

Layout/template changes: I had to change templates to have something wider. The other was just wasting too much space. Adding some color is on my to-do list, but that is going to take some time as I have no idea which direction to go.

And this folks is my huge problem.... I cannot for the life of me decide on the right way to share/host my photos. I mean there is flickr, shutterfly, photobucket, etc not counting whatever service is provided from your own internet provider. One you make albums, another little picture trails, another you can use a widget with. Who knows what I should do? I have pictures from Easter, my NM trip, and the 4th that I want to share, but I want it to look good. So, these posts will be put on hold until uploading is complete with where ever I choose. Email me please!

Well, I think that is about everything with what's already on the page. I do hope that I have some readers out there. I do miss my two SA favorites who seem to be quite busy with wedding plans.

Holla at you guys later!