How can it be that even with a large collection of books, I am wanting for a new tale to read? And then, how can it be that there are so few stories and characters that I have met and liked? Perhaps it’s because I’m looking in the wrong section.

The Hunger Games

I picked up The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) from my brother’s bookshelf on Saturday and 2 days later, I am already onto the second book, Catching Fire.

Riveting story and such wonderful strong characters! The only thing is, it’s teenage fiction… or more politely, young adult (YA).

I wonder if teaching has kids is the reason I’ve jump backward but NO(!) I shan’t have it – The Hunger Games trilogy is really soooo good!

“Unput-down-able” is the verdict on the back page of the book and it’s true, I haven’t been up reading until after 3 am since I did the 9 book Robin Hobb marathon last year (The Farseer, Liveship Traders, and Tawny Man trilogies).

Dreading the end

Now the thing that is niggling me is that I’m 1.5 books away from the end of the Hunger Games, which means the mental adventure will be over soon. It’s akin to being on holiday and counting down the days when you have to go back to work.

My solution? Line up a good book and keep the ball rolling.

Bit of a dilemma

So how does one find books that you will enjoy and not forget?

I’ve scoured book lists and asked friends though frankly, some books people have recommended me (eg Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, The Time Traveler’s Wife) just didn’t make an impression on me.

So what has been good lately? Not much, it seems most of the good stuff I read was a few years ago.

             

• David Gemmel’s Troy series was excellent and inspired me to look into the legend and then download Homer’s Odyssey audio book which unfortunately was utterly boring.
• NZ-born Juliet Marillier’s Heir to Sevenwaters (following a couple of generations from Daughter of the Forest) drew some tears.
• Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell was a delightful blend of Victorian England and magic
• I still rave about the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde - but that’s old hat, almost a decade ago now!

Dear god… a decade?! I really need something good to read!!

A birthday dinner celebration at Sofitel’s, Garden Court restaurant.
Good conversation, relaxing atmosphere, delicious French food and a charming red-haired waiter.

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Friday morning. Leaning against the train door watching Sydney go by.

Pulling out of Milsons Point towards North Sydney. I’ve been waiting since Redfern for the suits to get off so I can plant myself comfortably in a seat. Meanwhile sullen grey skies and unproductive self talk bores me.

My bag starts to get heavy, my mouth goes dry, I feel nauseous and dizzy. I lean back and close my eyes.

Dark.

I open my eyes, I think I’m on the floor. I can’t feel my feet. How come everyone around me is so tall? When did I sit down?

I close my eyes again.

A hand touches my arm, a woman’s voice “I think there’s something wrong with her… Are you okay?”

I open my eyes. Yes, I’m on the floor. How?

“I’m okay” I shrug to the woman on my right, she’s a middle aged woman perhaps someone’s mother. She seems unconvinced, “I think we should get you off”

A blurry man in a red tee shirt supports my left arm and helps me stand up. We walk onto the platform at North Sydney.

Eyes on me. I need to vomit.

Another week… another Blue Bear adventure.

The Doctor fixes Blue Bear’s eye with his sonic screw driver.

The Doctor tells Blue Bear they can take the TARDIS to find Mary.
“I can’t fit in there!” Blue Bear exclaims.
“Of course you can, it’s bigger on the inside” said The Doctor.

You better be lying in a ditch dying.

“If life doesn’t appear to be moving in your direction it is because of a few tests you are working through.

One is your own attitude around money and security. There are tests in this area, and you can really be focusing on issues connected to career, and establishment at the moment.

It’s true that you need to act with assertion, but beware the impulsive over-reaction that is simply born out of frustration.”

Holy crap yeah!! My current over reaction is the explosion of un-vented frustration, anger, insane amounts of work, poor diet, inadequate sleep, missing, MBT, pain in the jaw and now ulcers caused by stress!

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whilst browsing for Winamp skins I discovered a lack of discussion on Winamp skins. Perhaps fewer people are using Winamp? I’m sure there are still some Winamp devotees and iTune haters so here I am, sharing the Winamp skins I think are beautiful.

Yes, I’m still using Winamp. I stubbornly refuse to jump on the iPod train and with it – stupid iTunes. iTunes has an awful library manager and chews a lot of system resources compared to other music players, yes Windows Media Player included!

Here are 6 beautiful Winamp skins.

Tiger (Normal) Mimicking the Mac style comes this generic, unobtrusive and uniquely unmemorable skin. This skin goes well with almost everything, just like a good piece of well toasted bread. This skin also comes in brushed metal which is quite slick if that’s what your music needs.
n3ON Dark without being morbid; colourful without going overboard; well designed and easy to use. The dashes of colour makes navigating against a dark background easier, it’s got a bit of cool retro happening. One of my favourite Winamp skins.
A1 Light, white, very minimal with clean lines and a breath of pink. My favourite to use!
Darkside v1.1 Gorgeous dark skin with a large splash of blue. I adore the curvy volume bar and light effects on the Main Window. Beautiful design with great attention of detail to the buttons. It’s let down by the unskinned Media Library (even unskinned the Winamp Media Library is still much better than iTunes!)
Milk v1 An aptly named very white, exquisitely light and sublimely simple skin. Some days it’s too bland, other days when the desktop wallpaper has too much going on, Milk brings me much needed calm. A must have Winamp beautiful skin!
Lagrangiamp Dynamics Nerd appeal complete with a red pen cursor! The buttons blend as equations which makes it slightly hard to use – oh it’s still great! Similar influence with another classic Winamp skin that uses the pencil doodle, PencilAMP – it’s like high school Math homework all over again.

…the expense of living

…a cumulative expression of my time otherwise spent in idleness

…the jail from which we dig for years and years trying to escape from

…a daily begrudging of duty in service to the banal propriety of social ettiquette

…my life

The ducks are growing so fast…way too fast.

Just last month they were the cutest little yellow ducklings…

…and today, they’re fat little duckies eating all the time. What will we do with you all?!

Move over Martha, I’m The Doctor’s new assistant!

I built the TARDIS on Boxing Day. Phil (aka Mair’s LB) bought me a TARDIS model kit for Christmas which I enthusiastically assembled while watching a Lord of the Rings marathon, snacking on dumplings and Christmas day leftovers. HEAVEN! Read the rest of this entry »