Just Haze

Review: Insatiable (by Meg Cabot)

Insatiable (by Meg Cabot)
Publish Date: June 8, 2010 

Synopsis

Sick of hearing about vampires?  So is Meena Harper.

But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe inthem.

Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural.  See, Meena Harpers knows how you're going to die.  (Not that you're going to believe her.  No one ever does).

But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when  she meets -- then makes the mistake of falling in love with -- Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark site.  It's dark side a lot of people, like ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, Lucien's already dead.  Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom she could see herself having a future with.  See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able to look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future...

If she even has one.

My Review

Rating:  5 out of 5

This book is a modern day sequel to Bram Stoker's "Dracula."

The book starts out really well and coincides with a lot of the plot lines of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” as well as historical events of Vlad Tepes, also famously known as Vlad the Impaler.  I felt like I was in Meena’s shoes and can’t help but fall in love with Lucien as much as she did.  However, I was really annoyed at one particular Palatine Guard, Alaric.  He was so very arrogant when the novel first began that I felt like skipping his parts and going straight to Meena’s or Lucien’s point of view.  Although in the end, I couldn’t help but wanting Meena to fall in love or end up with Alaric since she does have a better chance at having a real life with him, given that his not dead.  

After finishing the book, I was wishing that Ms. Cabot would make this into a series since a lot of her books are series.  Thankfully, as I searched her website, I found that she is making  sequel and it is due out in the summer of 2011.  

 

New Barbecue Sauce

For the last few years after tasting Michael’s co-worker’s chipotle barbecue sauce, I’ve been trying to experiment on a barbecue sauce.  I love chipotle peppers, but, I’m not quite thrilled with the chipotle in my sauce.  I wanted my sauce to be sweet and spicy at the same time.  

After searching for sweet and spicy barbecue recipes on the internet, I’ve began conducting experiments with the ingredients in my kitchen.  I was amazed at how it turned out.  It starts out sweet and the heat slowly creeps up on you.  To pass the test, I served the sauce at a golf tournament Michael and I catered and it was a hit!  Maybe I should start bottling this up and selling it…. 

 

She Who Loves Sushi

This week has been another stressful and emotional week as I began another round of Nursing school applications whilst trying not to get my hopes up as well as figuring out whether or not I will be attending Northern Arizona University to finish out my BA along with my teaching credentials.  The only way to relieve this stress was to have sushi.

So, my friend Rae and I went to Ichi Maki's for lunch in Rancho Cordova, just a few miles away from our office.

I've always liked Ichi Maki since I was first introduced to the restaurant two years ago.  The sushi is great.  Today, I had a Crazy Maki roll.  I don't exactly remember what is in the roll, but I do remember ordering it because it said it was spicy.  I wasn't sure how spicy it would be, so I had them add more Sriracha (vietnamese hot sauce) to it.  It definitely hit the spot.

And since my stress levels were to the roof, eating just one roll of sushi did not relieve all of the stress.  It is better relieved with lots of baking and cooking.  So, I headed on home with the thought of baking a batch of Nutella sandwich cookies (my own recipe) and some lemon mousse (which I am craving).   I don't have photos of the food since my memory card to the camera failed to initialize (another stress), but with sweets, that can be easily rectified.

 

She Who Loves Art

Whilst we were in Vegas last month during the really hot week, I did not visit the outdoors at all only with the exception of getting a frozen hot chocolate (to go) from Serendipity 3 and tickets to the Phantom of the Opera show at the Venetian.  The Frozen Hot Chocolate was the best and what made my day was that they have the powdered version so I can make it at home!

So, with the extremely hot weather, I stayed indoors with my Macbook Pro at the Napoleon Lounge at the Paris Hotel whilst Michael attended his convention.  I drank my frozen hot chocolate, sipped tea, and ate scones whilst drawing these.  These are some of the art I've drawn months passed and some are new.

 

 

Aloha Vox!

I was deeply heartbroken to find out that Vox will be closing their doors this month.  It was such a joy to have my blog hosted there from 2006 through 2010.  Within those years, I've met people that share the same interests as I do and I hope to keep in touch with them.

This morning, I've started the moving process, which Vox has graciously extended to all their users.  I am unfortunately not happy that Tumblr wasn't in the list of sites to which I can import to.  I did start to import my photographs to Flickr (but exceeded the limited number of photos) and may have to purchase the Pro version to be able to hold all of my photos.  Maybe?

Now that Vox is closing, I guess this means another chapter in my life is closing with a new one on its way.  I've shared so much about my travels and experiences through Vox that I am saddened to see it go.  However, I will start sharing again through Tumblr and Typepad.  Now I just have to figure out which one.  I'm most likely will share it through Typepad.  I will keep you all informed.

Farewell Vox.  It's been a great run!

Review: Fallen (by Lauren Kate)

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Publish Date: December 2009 

Series:  Book #1 of the Fallen Series

Synopsis:  Seventeen-Year-Old Luce is a new student at Sword  Cross, an unwelcoming boarding/reform school in Savannah, Georgia.  Luce's boyfriend died under suspicious circumstances, and how she carries the guilt over his death with her as she navigates the unfriendly halls at Sword & Cross, WHERE every student seems to have an unpleasant even evil history.

It's only when she sees Daniel, a gorgeous fellow student, that Luce feels there's a reason to be here though she doesn't know what it is.  And Daniel's frosty cold demeanor toward her?  It's really a protective device that he's used again...and again.   For Daniel is a fallen angel, doomed to fall in love with the same girl  every 17 years... and watch her die.  And Luce is a fellow immortal, curse to be reincarnated again and again as a mortal girl who has no idea who she really is.

My Review

4 out of 5

I first found this book whilst browsing through my Barnes and Noble Nook (the best gadget I ever purchased).  The story line is so so intriguing and since there are so many vampire books out there, I've decided to purchase it.

When I first started reading the book, I didn't know what to think.  It wasn't slow at all nor was it a fast read.  But as the chapters go by, the book started to pick up.  I love how quickly she made friends with Arianne and Penny.  The whole psychiatric boarding school with plenty of cameras, one fifteen phone call a week really irked me.  I remember an after school special in the early nineties about half-way homes where parents put their kids in because of problems like alcoholism, pregnancy, etc.  I was most annoyed with Luce's parents.  They barely talked to her after the accident with Luce's boyfriend and then put her in the boarding school where she can't escape.

I do love the story of Daniel and Luce.  They're immortals that are doomed to fall in love over and over again every seventeen years.  Daniel remembers every time they fall in love whilst Luce doesn't.  The plot is similar to that of Twilight because of the star-crossed lovers kind of thing, but it is different since it's about fallen angels that are good and evil.    I definitely recommend the book.  

 

Nugget Rib Cook-Off 2010

For those of you who are meat lovers, this is the best place to be.  There are over thirty (30) barbecue vendors out there and if you wish, you can sample all of the ribs they serve... for a price.  They also have other items on the menu if you do not like ribs.  They have chicken, turkey, etc.  Just one quick warning... they do not serve veggies unless they are deep fried.

At this event, I've tried a few places and the best one was Aussom Aussie and coming in close second was Butch's.  The ribs at Aussom Aussie's were amazing.  The meat wasn't tough or chewy.  When I bit into Aussom Aussie's ribs, it was very tender and not falling off the bone and the spicy barbeque sauce was flavourful and had enough kick.

There is no cover fee for this event, but you will need cash (no checks or credit cards) to purchase ribs.  I also suggest that you don't wear plain clothes.  You will get rib sauce on them at one point or another.  So wear a print shirt or dress.  It hides the stains better.  Also, wear a hat, lots of sunscreen, and bring your own beverage.  The beverage prices can get really expensive.  A large glass of lemonade was $5.

Otherwise, I highly suggest it!