Book 26 - Flesh Circus by Lilith Saintcrow (it's not what it sounds). This is the fourth in the the Jill Kissmet series. Good - not as good as the last two, but still pretty dark and enjoyable, and I do like Saintcrow's writing.

Movie 22 - Avatar. daddy_guido was kind enough to make sure that I didn't have to sit through this one alone. The story was straightforward and pretty predictable, but I'm good with that. The effects were AMAZING. I would say that if you can't see it in the theater, I don't know that it's worth renting - not because it's not worth seeing, but because seeing in the theater really makes this one. For all those theater owners and film studios are worried that people don't want to go out to the movies? This will make people want to go, for sure.

I was hoping to get through movie 23 tonight, but I had to stop half way through District 9 for a couple of reasons. And for one of those same reasons I won't be able to see Sherlock Holmes tomorrow morning like I'd planned, either. I'm sure I'll find a way to get the rest of the movies in this week, though.

Book 25 - The Doomsday Brunette by John Zakour and Lawrence Ganem. I though The Plutonium Blonde was more entertaining, but I still liked this one. Eh - I guess Blondes do have more fun...

Movie 21 - Terminator Salvation. Let's see, Christian Bale, shit blowing up, and Sam Worthington repeatedly slipping into the Aussie accent when the scenes got intense? On the "Friday Night Relaxing" scale, it goes to 11.

One more book before the end of the year, and 9 more movies. And 3 busy weeks.

First the movie - Cloverfield (which has been sitting near my TV from Netflix for forever and a day). Actually, not the worst movie I've ever seen (but then again, that's quite a hill to climb). Pretty entertaining, especially if you're doing something else while it's on.

Now, sewing - I finished Tatum's Christmas dress (I know, almost a month in advance - go me!) I tried it on her before I had the finishing touches on it - I finished the trim tonight.

( Cut for pictures of the awesome dress, if I do say so myself )

Hoping to get a lot more done this weekend, too.

I was very tired tonight after cleaning the yard with the kids (still some work to do there, but at least a good chunk of it is done) - so I thought I'd find something braindead to watch after the kids went to bed while I finished the laundry. So, when we ran up to get yard waste stickers, I stopped by Redbox and got GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

It was a 117 minutes special effects orgy, with a thin predictable plot.

It was awesome.

Late last week I completed Mr Darcy, Vampyre, which was book 24 of the 26 I was going to read this year.

My review: Eh. Probably not worth spending your time on. It took itself way more seriously than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and it felt very much like the author (who has written other books extending the stories of Darcy and Elizabeth) really wanted to write another retelling and also wanted to jump on the classic-novel-as-horror-genre-retelling bandwagon. It didn't even have the pathetic tension of a bad romance novel.

A new skirt for me. Pictures coming soon but I wanted to get this up before I forgot to post about it.

It's the skirt that I'd cut out for me, and then used the leftovers to make a skirt for Tate. No, we will not wear them at the same time. Stop asking.

So much for taking a break... and for keeping current with this...

Book 21: Redemption Alley by Lilith Saintcrow. Another book in the Jill Kissmet series, and another is due in, I think, December. These are getting better - this one was dark and gritty.

Book 22: Dirty Jokes and Beer by Drew Carey. I read parts of this years ago, and wanted to reread it. Pulled some insights from this on comedy that I'll have to share soon(ish).

Book 23: Dark Watcher by Lilith Saintcrow. This was one of her first books, and it shows. Not nearly as developed or deep as some of her more recent work. I managed to pick this up off of Swaptree from someone, and finished it in like two days (it's almost unfair to call it a book - it's more like a novella - about 200 pages).

And I'm about half way through book 24.

Move first - movie 18 of 30 - Pineapple Express. Dude - funny, funny movie. I love Seth Rogan.

Sewing - 5 of 10 - a princess play dress for Tate. I'll have to get pics of this tomorrow. She's already in bed and I forgot to get them today. It's a little big at the moment, but I wanted her to grow into it.

Sewing - 6 of 10 - I have a skirt all cut out for me, and I used the left overs to make a skirt for Tatum. Tate's of course is done - mine, not yet. Soon.

( Tate's new skirt )

I know... I said I was taking a break for a while - well, I slowed down. Ok, not really. But it was a library book!

Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore.

So, I totally rip through this one. Really fun. Looking forward to reading Fool before the year is out.

Orcs: Warriors of the Tempest by Stan Nicholls.

This was the last book in this trilogy. Why is it when I get to the end of a book, even if I haven't been thrilled by it, I want to read more? It's like a friend leaving - sometimes it's a really good friend and you REALLY don't want them to go. Other times it's someone you kinda like, but it's a good enough time you don't want see them go.

*shrug*

Since I'm doing WAY better this year on the reading, and I've fallen a little behind on a few other things (sewing and quilting and movies all high on that list) I'm going to take a short, couple of week break from reading to accomplish a few other things. I'll probably still start another book (I have Moore's Practical Demonkeeping staring at me from the nightstand right now) but just not haul it with me everywhere. Once I get a few more things out of the way I'll jump back into the books. But I have little fear that I'll get through 7 more books this year.

Yay!

Orcs: Legion of Thunder by Stan Nicholls

I'm liking this series, but I'm not in love with it. Nicholls seems to be a fan of the $.10 word, and there is a battle every 3-5 pages or so, and that makes for a very esoteric combination, frankly.

I'm actually most of the way through the last book in the trilogy - there are some more from Nicholls but I think I'll take a break after the last one of the three.

I just finished the first Orcs Book - Bodyguard of Lightening, by Stan Nichols. It's... ok. Interesting enough that I'll read the other two. Not so interesting that I'm not tempted to read the new book that came in today from Swaptree. But I've got the Orcs books as a single compendium, so I'm just going to keep plowing through.

Sorry this one is actually from LAST weekend, not this past weekend.

I watched Taken with Liam Neeson. I really enjoyed it - no spoilers here, although if you know NOTHING about the movie, you should skip over the rest of this.

The Pros - I thought Neeson's character's action were 100% on. There were times - like when he shoots a guy in the back - that I thought "Yeah, a guy in his situation, with his training would TOTALLY do that".

The Cons - it's REALLY HARD to feel sympathy for the daughter, beyond the "wow, that would suck". They don't make her an overly sympathetic character, really.

Not great pics, but hopefully good enough to make at least sheryl67 happy. :) Please excuse the mess - my room is the only one with a mirror, and a good place to lay it out for pictures.

( pics are back here... )

One thing I didn't do on this one, but that I will with fitted waist skirts that I make the pattern for in the future (as opposed to drawstring or elastic waist skirts) is that I MUST have darts - at least in the back. Should have done it on this one but it looks ok for now, and I know better for next time.

Book 16 of 26 was Scent of Shadows by... um, I don't remember. I'd look it up but it was a pretty average book, and long, so I'm not going to bother. I did get the sequel off of Swaptree, mostly because the Harry Dresden books started slow, so I'm going to give it one more shot, but I'm not holding my breath.

I'm taking a break from this series, though. On to a different genre...

About a month ago I got the book Sew What! Skirts. Great book for beginner and experienced seamstress. She walks through actually making a pattern for a few different styles (straight, A-line, wrap, circle, etc).

In the end her instructions leave a little to be desired, but not much - just keep that in mind if you pick this up. When making your patterns you'll probably want to try a muslin first. I'll get to why I say that in a second. For instance, she says things like "draw a curve from A to B". Anyone who has drawn a curve between two points know that that curve can be nearly anything - there is a logical set it SHOULD be for a shirt pattern, but there is still some room in there for interpretation. Also, for the A line skirt she indicates to draw a line from the hip point "for the width that you want". Well, if you're just sewing for the first time, you have no idea what that should be. But I digress (what else is new?)

In addition to walking through the creation of a pattern based on your own measurements, the book is filled with images of skirts the author has designed and made based off of her instructions. I found these pictures to be incredibly inspiring and couldn't wait to make something - her ideas spurred more ideas from me.

I finally got a chance this weekend to make a skirt based off of the book's instructions. I designed a skirt in my head, grabbed the pattern I'd made, and got to work. The skirt was WAY too big - I need to alter the pattern, but other than that, it came along nicely. I mostly finished it last night - I say mostly because even though I altered it once, it's still falling-off too big, so I'm going to have to take it in at the side one more time. I'll do that tonight, and I'm hoping to wear it tomorrow. I'll post pics when it's done - I'm really, really happy with it. Not that I actually got to make something for myself, or even that I made the pattern, but that I got to design the whole thing and make it a little different than just a straight up A line skirt. You'll see what I mean when I post pics.

What I guess I'm getting at is that sewing has always been a creative outlet for me, but this took it to a new level. I'm so excited - I can't wait to wear it!

For those keeping track on the resolutions- this is sewing project 4 of 10.

I took the day off today, and after running errands and so forth, I went over to watch one of Aidan's karate lessons, which is a rare treat for me. Afterward I picked up The Tatum and took them to dinner (ok, Culvers, but we sat IN the restaurant, so for them it was going out) and then we ran off to go see Ice Age 3. Cute, funny, entertaining. Just like the other two. And both kids were great - mostly quiet, except for the part that was very reminiscent of a chest waxing. Immediately after, The Tatum said, in a very loud voice "OH! That was ouchie!"

Book 15 for this year:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austin and Seth Grahmae-Smith

Totally made of awesomeness. Especially if you were ever an English Lit minor. Finished it Friday night, but hadn't had a chance to post.

This was the week of embarrassment.

Movie 15 of 30 was Twilight. I'll wait here while you mock.... done? no?.... how about now? Ok, come on, I know some of YOU saw it too (I'm looking at YOU jer_...)

It was - well, a teeny bopper movie about vampires. And as angsty as the vampire, Edward, was... CRIPES the main character was worse. I started to wonder why any of her new friends at school were even trying to be her friends, since all she did was mope and be bitter. Maybe that's why Edward liked her so much. She was both a food source AND fit right in with the family!

And the book... yeah, I finished book 14 of 26. And that's all I'm going to say. I finished it.

I took the kids to see Up today. It is probably the best Pixar movie to date. The kids LOVED it.

In the interests of full disclosure, however I will say while I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was a really difficult movie for me to watch at times. Some of the themes touched on were a little close to home. Even so, I'm really glad we went to see this, and I really, really loved it.