Luxurious

Art by Jordi LaBanda

I Am...

If I was a literature classic, I would be

J.R.R. Tolkien: Lord of the Rings. You are entertaining and imaginative, creating whole new worlds around yourself. Well loved, you have a whole league of imitators, none of which is quite as profound as you are. Stories and songs give a spark of joy in the middle of your eternal battle with the forces of evil.


I got this quiz off of BookGirl's Nightstand. Take the quiz, too! You know you want to know! Sooo, which literature classic are you?

I wish I had....

I wish I had more time in the day to read everything that I want...

I had a paper due on Saturday which was supposed to be a persuasive essay of about 500-1000 words. I ended up turning in a 17 page paper. This truly baffles me! When I need to write a 15 page paper, I hem and haw and stress to get it done. I change the font and line spacing so that I can stretch it out to at least 14 1/2 pages. Then when I am assigned a rather small paper, it turns into a couple of chapters. Why??!! I know my professor is going to look at it and be like, "What the heck??!!" I really needed to get my point across, though. I could not stop until I answered every single issue she wanted addressed and incorporated relevant sources. I'm obsessed with getting an A. I'm obsessed with getting an A in all of my courses. I attribute this to my Virgo trait of being obsessive. Oh, if I have not mentioned it before, I am working on my Master's in Health Administration. I thought that it would be relatively easy. I was soooo wrong. This program is kicking my butt left and right. Up and down.

Between working full-time and studying for my Master's, I find myself looking for pockets of time to read. I cannot go to bed without reading. I sometimes fall asleep with my eyes open (seriously) and only when the book falls and smacks me in the face do I realize it's time to call it a night. Also, when I start trying to detangle warped sentences that I am trying to read (you know, all of the lines start morphing into one) do I realize that I need to pack it in. But I definitely need to read a couple of pages before going to sleep.

So...I wish I had more time to read. Really. This is making me sad.

Walk the Line

If you have not seen this movie, then please go do so now. Please try not to fall in love with Joaquin Phoenix as your heart will be broken. I have first dibs, and there will be no leftovers.


Ode to Joaquin
Oh Joaquin
though you may cover
your piercing blue eyes
your gaze still
penetrates
to my very soul

Why did I not
say hi
the day you were filming
"The Yards"
in my dormitory?
Why did I have
to be
so shy?
I trembled as you looked
my way
a moment
in time
forever
in my mind


* I still love you Alex!!

Joaquin Phoenix

My new obsession

Four things....

I got this meme off of BookGirl's Nightstand, which I love love love! Iliana was actually that first person to post on my blog and I was in awe. I mean, she's a celebrity in "book blog world", so I was very exicted! Thanks for stopping by my site and leaving me postings, Iliana!!

Here goes....


Four jobs I've had:
1.Retail Associate at Barnes & Noble, which was bad because my whole paycheck went straight to book purchases!
2.Medical receptionist
3.Medical transcriptionist
4.Office Manager (presently)

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1.Sleeping with the Enemy (I don't like Julia Roberts, but I cannot stop watching this movie. It can come on at two o'clock in the morning and I have to watch the whole thing!)
2.The Crow
3.Kama Sutra
4.Cruel Intentions


Four places I've lived:
1.Okinawa, Japan - I am a military brat
2.Oahu, HI - ...still a military brat. I also lived in San Diego & Jacksonville, NC
3.The NYC (for almost 20 years)
4.Scottsdale, AZ (presently)


Four television shows I watch:
1.Lost
2.The L Word (on DVD)
3.Law & Order: SVU - my husband and I kind of pretend that I'm Olivia and he's Elliot. I cannot get enough of that show! Too good!!
4.Real World/Road Rule The Gauntlet 2 (because it helps me get my aggression out. I mentally fight with them and it feels really good... It also helps to take my mind off of work and my studies)

I also love to watch shows on the Fine Living Channel and the Food Network, as well as any documentary that I can catch. The last one I watched was Country Boys on PBS. If you haven't watched it, it's a must!


Four places I've vacationed:
Riviera Maya - on my honeymoon...

Writing this, I feel seriously deprived.

Four of my favorite dishes:
1.Arroz con gandules (rice w/pigeon peas w/ lots of flavor!)
2.My Martha Stewart Chicken Salad (it does not have lettuce, tomatoes or mayonnaise. It's amazing!!)
3.Mediterannean Salad w/grilled chicken from Tutto Bene
4.My husband's shrimp. Too delicious!


Four sites I visit daily (aside from my links):
There are too many to list...one would be my school's website. That is a daily ritual.


Four places I would rather be:
1.In my bed, sleeping
2.In my bed, reading a good book
3.In NYC, browsing the shelves of Strand Bookstore, Shakespeare & Co., etc...
4. 2 years into the future, with my Master's under my belt, in a nursing program & one step (of the many steps) closer to becoming a physician), and my baby that I plan (God willing) to have next year, staring at me with a smile on her/his face :)

Okaaayy...if you've read through this, then consider yourself officially tagged!

Kenneth J. Harvey

Yesterday I received an e-mail from author Kenneth J. Harvey in regards to the article that he wrote for The Times - UK edition. First off, I was so excited!! I mean, was it really from him or was someone playing a joke on me?! I was honored - truly :)

I had read the article earlier in the day, thanks to a link provided by Danielle (who has an awesome book blog. It's so pretty, too!) Mr. Harvey gives us his take on the whole James Frey debacle, while also addressing Banville's The Sea and the claims that this work of fiction might actually be based on truth/facts. It's a satirical piece that I really enjoyed!

The article is really funny. Take a look at it here.

The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives by Sarah Strohmeyer

Yummy. Delicious. Juicy. Loved it!

After reading Kris's review on her bookblog, www.notenoughbooks.blogspot.com, I had to get it. By the way - you should check out her blog. She reads a lot of good books, so make sure you only open her site on payday because you will be spending some serious cash after reading her recommendations!

Sarah Strohmeyer also writes the Bubbles series (which are also great). She did a great job with this book as well. Not only do you get to look into the quirky lives of privileged wives (some of their antics will make you laugh out loud), but you also get to learn what goes on behind closed doors. Throw in some scandal and you have a fun getaway from everyday life. It was nice to read this - a great escape from work and my Master's studies. :)

Diary of a Married Call Girl by Tracy Quan

Well.

I have to say this book is not for those who squeam at sex scenes or blunt language.

I really enjoyed this book. I had read Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl a couple of years ago and loved it.

This books continues with the main character, Nancy Chan, now married but still continuing her profession. The profession - being a call girl. And boy does she make it ever so interesting. Her job is as serious as the next girl's. She has theories that will blow your mind and her ethics are out the window. I did not agree with Nancy's decisions and was baffled by how she made her choices in life.

I definitely reccommend this book. It's not your typical fare. Ms. Quan's writing is straight forward and sometimes that's how I like it. What you see is what you get, and what you see is oh so interesting.