I'm the Birthday Girl!

Yet another fabulous birthday. First I spoiled myself by taking the day off. Can't work on my special day! I came out of the shower and there was a present for me on the table, wrapped in Star Wars wrapping paper and the cutest card in the world stuck to the front. :)

I resisted opening the package because AD said that what was inside I would want to play with right away, so we ran over to the mall so I could get my claddaugh ring (I dropped it off for repairs) and then I ran into Victoria's Secret because they sent me a $10 coupon for my birthday. Good times. We spun by Giant on the way home too so AD could get cupcake and ice cream makings. I also opted for a homemade Italian Sub as my birthday lunch, so we got the meats and bread. Mmmm nothing like homemade subs.

Then I opened my present, which you all saw in my previous post - LEGO INDY! That took up most of my afternoon. Then my parents came over and took us out for sushi at our favorite little sushi place Tokyo Sushi. The woman who owns the place was there, she cracks me up. She's like "21 again, right?" Ate yummy sushi and a fire dragon roll. Came home and had my chocolate peanut butter cream cupcakes w/ homemade vanilla ice cream with Oreo bits.

My parents got me the Muppet Show season 3, Watchmen, I Can Haz Cheezburger book, and a Brookstone "Mini Charging Valet"(so I don't have to throw my iPod on the floor when it's charging/plugged into the stereo.

We immediately watched the Harry Belafonte and Danny Kaye Muppet Show episodes - too many memories in those two. I still remember sitting in front of the TV and transferring the songs to a cassette tape so I could carry them around with me. (Now, how do I get them from the DVD to my iPod??)

Ah, and now it is late and time for me to get to bed and get back to work. :)

THANK YOU to all of my friends for their birthday wishes. You guys rock. All day my inbox kept beeping with new messages of "Happy Birthday" and it made me feel very special.

Have a goodnight!

TWEET TWEET: twitters from orangerful

• @TheSenator same reason businesses need to form committees - it looks like they are doing something but it actually takes more time #

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and the birthday just keeps coming!

Huzzah! I just got an email from Entertainment Earth saying that my Electric Tiki Buffy statue has FINALLY shipped (I pre-ordered this item in SEPTEMBER - it was supposed to be out in December...)

YAY! Soon she will join Tooned-Up Willow in my cabinet and it will be the awesome! Then I just have to wait patiently for Faith....

In other news, Patrick Stewart on Sesame Street - do kids even get this?

Also, I might need to get a second Master's Degree...in BEATLES-OLOGY! (Nah, I think I'll hold out for the all-Whedon Master's...clearly I just need to hold out for another 40 years...)

book thoughts: Just After Sunset (audiobook)

Just After Sunset: Stories [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED]

King Stephen

It's hard to deny that Stephen King is a writer to be reckoned with.  I may not enjoy every single one of his books, but when he's good he's good.  My pet peeves with him aside, the man can write a story that grabs hold and doesn't let go.  Just After Sunset is a short story collection, some new tales, some old ones he had published in magazines, but all very Stephen King.  While uneven at times, on the whole this is a solid collection.  I listened to the audiobook because it had a variety of different readers, a new voice for each story, and it kept me interested as I drove back and forth to work. 

I'm going to give each story a mini-review because it's just easier that way:

The book has a brief introduction by King (read by him on the audiobook) explaining how this collection came about.  Nice bit of insight into the writing process.  The book also concludes with a collection of tidbits about his inspirations for the stories.  I find that stuff interesting so I enjoyed them.

Willa - the first story in the book, and the story that King says got him back into writing short fiction.  While it is a bit predictable, I think it is a great example of why King is so read-able: even when you know what's coming you still feel compelled to read (or listen) on. 

Gingerbread Girl - Scary story that will make you hair stand on end, especially during the intense ending.  

Harvey's Dream - Another classic of King reinventing stories you have already heard.  This one feels like a story you would tell at a sleepover.

Rest Stop - This story was okay, a little bit too long.  Interesting idea but it didn't keep me interested the way the first three did.

Stationary Bike - This one is just creepy...but in a good way.  It also made me want to ride my workout bike again lol!  Very cute little moral at the end.

The Things They Left Behind - 9/11 story.  I guess they are obligatory at this point.  Didn't do a whole lot for me in the end.  Kept waiting for more...but I guess you have to tread carefully when using 9/11 as your backdrop.

Graduation Afternoon - short, simple, and felt like something you would write as a warm-up project/writing exercise to get your brain in the right mode.

N. - BEST STORY IN THE COLLECTION.  I wanted to get back in my car to hear the rest, disturbing.  Destined to be Classic King.  You'll never look at OCD the same way again.

The Cat From Hell - Icky but fun.  Felt like a B-movie. 

New York Times at Special Bargain Price - I...I don't remember this story at all....hm...

Mute - another good creepy story that feels like an urban legend waiting to happen. 

Ayana - Interesting idea but I think we've seen it done better *coughdeadlikemecough*

A Very Tight Place - Yeah, gross.  And too long.  I think if it hadn't been so long, I would have been able to enjoy the ridiculousness of it all.  But it got a little too mean, a little too sick and it stopped being fun to listen to. 

So, in short - it's worth picking this book or audiobook up at your local library and reading a few, if not all of the stories.  Some of them are really good. 

I'd say 3.5 outta 5 stars.  Solid, but not his best.  But if it is a sign of things to come, I'm looking forward to more.

Originally posted on orangerful.vox.com