Insane In The Membrane?

David Blaine is all set to perform his next act of freaky magic on Oprah today. I'm not sure what he's been doing lately is really magic so much as it's a feat of endurance. Frozen in ice, submerged in water, standing on a pole...these aren't magic acts. Instead, they push the limits of human endurance, challenging the mind and the body. And high levels of freakiness. (He looks rather odd to me, too.)

Of course, the question for me has always been why? It's a tough way to garner fame. I don't know what his stunt today will be, but I'll probably watch it. Mostly to see if something goes wrong. Morbid curiosity - I freely admit to having it in spades.

What do you think of David Blaine and his bizarre acts? Will you watch today?

She did WHAT?

What's the best revenge for being dateless at prom? Find out HERE. Check it out, I'm blogging at The Fictionistas today!

Looooong Weekend

We're home. A little beat, but home. The cats are very happy. I wonder what they'll think when I leave again on Thursday? See, I'll be headed to Boston to help my fab friend, Marley Gibson(writing as Kate Harmon), celebrate the release of her book, Zeta or Omega!

This book is getting some hot reviews, so grab your copy here before they're sold out!

Have An Awesome Weekend!

I'm traveling - again. Off to Pittsburgh (I know, I know, I could have been there for RT) for our nephew's birthday. One of the best things about traveling is the opportunity to read. I'm working on a new author from my TBR pile - not sure what I think yet.

Now, before you go, stop by The Fictionistas and chime in on your love of all things chocolate. You do eat chocolate, don't you?

See ya! Y'all have a fabulous weekend!

Even More Hawaii Pics!

Blogger was being a real poophead this morning about uploading pics, but I finally got these on here. I wish I had more examples of edibles growing wild, but I forgot to take a picture of the coffee trees and there were a few others that I just didn't have my camera for. Plus, I figured everyone knows what coconuts look like. lol Enjoy! This is where papayas come from. No, they aren't laid by giant papaya birds. I know that's what you were thinking. We ate three of these while in Hawaii. Not off this particular tree, but they did come from the local farmer's market. Most papaya trees are not this big - this one was ginormous, which is why I had to take a picture of it.

This is a banana tree (well, it's the flower actually.) You can see the baby bananas have just begun to form - they're the little green fingerlike things. It's actually very pretty.Here you can see how that flower develops and the now teenage bananas look much more like adults, ready to be picked. This particular tree was right by the side of the road. Bananas are all over the place! At first we didn't understand why they were so expensive in the grocery store (like $1.59 a pound) but then someone explained they cost that much because no one but tourists buy them. If you're local, apparently you've got all the bananas you can handle. Pretty much all the fruit and veg, actually.

More Hawaii Pics

Some of the random critters I saw while in Hawaii: The mongoose: brought in to help with the rat problem, unfortunately, the rats are noctural. The mongoose are not. I saw a mother playing with her two babies - verra cute. This one is eating some french onion Sun chips thrown from our balcony. When he finished these, he looked up at me as if to ask for more.
The goat: These guys were all over one of the mountain side golf courses. This one had three friends with him, but they were a bit more camera shy.

The chickens: This happy couple was hanging out at one of the farmer's markets. She was digging in that pot like a cat in a litter box. Very determined, too.
The sealife: I have pics of the whales we saw, but they're on the underwater camera and I haven't downloaded them yet. This is a school of fish seen from a lava cliff.
The bugs: This baby praying mantis was on the seat of the golf cart. I helped him into the grass. He could have easily fit on a dime.
The turkey: Was it wrong that my mouth watered a little? Saw him on another mountain golf course, along with...
The peacock: There were tons of these! Male and female and very aggressive. They actually chased us! Unfortunately, we had no snacks for them, which is what they were after. And boy, are they loud when they want to be. Very pretty, huh?

The gecko: For the record, he did nothing to lower my car insurance.

Do you have BOF?

Do you suffer from BOF? Come talk to me about it at the Fictionistas!

Home!

Well, we're back from Hawaii. Thanks to some mechanical issues with the plane, we arrived home nearly eight hours later than we were supposed to. I am still dealing with jetlag.

I thought I'd start easy on the posts with some pics of the henna tattoo I got at the Ali'i Marketplace. So fun! I've always wanted one and now I want more. They last up to 4 weeks. So far, mine is going strong.

This is a few hours after it was done. The henna has dried and begun to flake off. By the end of the day, all the henna had chipped off, leaving a pale orange mark behind, as you can see in the next picture.
It got progressively darker in the next day or two, and I think it's now even a little darker still than in this shot.

Anyway, more pics and stories of Hawaii to come. Stay tuned!

Spa Day Emergency

If you woke up looking like this, you'd need a spa day too. Not that I look quite like this in the AM, but I'm headed to the spa today anyway. The spa is about 50 yards from the ocean. Hotrod is getting a little something done, too, but I'm in for 3 treatments in total, including a massage. Just thinking about it makes me purr.

For those of you playing along with the home game, this isn't one of my kittens. This sweet face belongs to Natasha, who owns another writer friend of mine (Carrie) - and if that pic doesn't make you giggle, you might want to check your pulse.

Hula Like It's 1999

Still in Hawaii. Still lovin' it. Getting slightly more tan, but have yet to do enough shopping. I am really enjoying the time to read. I just finished Jolie Mathis's The Sea King. Wow. A-Ma-Zing.

Meanwhile, go check out this fab young author contest (especially if you have kids who write).

If you had a crush on one of your teachers, chime in here.

And no, I haven't officially learned to hula, but I like to fake it.

Lava-licious

Yep. Still in Hawaii. And despite the vog (volcanic fog) I will have lots of stories and lots of pics when I get back!

In the meantime, check out The Fictionistas and chime in on your high school boyfriend. That is, if you were lucky enough to have one. Unlike me.

And The Winner Is...

Darla!

Congrats, Darla, you've won a copy of Gena Showalter's newest release, The Darkest Night! Email me your full name and address ASAP (so I can get the book out before I leave on vacay) to kbrunori AT gmail DOT com. Thanks and congrats!

Thanks to everyone who played - there were some really awesome answers! Now I'm off to do those last million things on my To Do list. Have a great day!

And The List Gets Longer

I thought I did pretty good knocking items off my To Do list of things that need doing before we leave for Hawaii, however as I look at the revised list this morning, it's longer by about four items. Wait. Five. I just added one I forgot.

How is it that I have so much left to do in two days? I didn't even manage to get my mani/pedi yesterday because there was a 45 minute wait and there was no way I was sitting in one spot for that long while I had other things to do. So that had to go back on the list.

Is it wrong that one of the things on my list is to make another list (items to pack so nothing is forgotten)? Are you a list maker?

Win Another Free Book!

Today I'm blogging over at Fictionistas and I've got a FAB interview posted with the one and only PC Cast about her House of Night series (co-writtten with her lovely daughter, Kristin). One lucky commenter is going to win an autographed copy of the first book in the series, MARKED so stop by and say hi!

http://fictionistas.blogspot.com/2008/04/interview-time-plus-win-book.html

Win An ARC Contest!

An immortal warrior cursed to die every night, only to awaken the next morning knowing he has to die again. A mortal woman with a power beyond imagining...

Today begins a contest to win an ARC of Gena Showalter's The Darkest Night! All you have to do is leave a comment finishing this statement: "The darkest night is..."

Now, see, I'd probably say, The darkest night is a night without my kittens, but I'm slightly cat obsessed, so that's just me.

I'll announce a winner (chosen at random) Thursday morning and if you can get your address to me fast enough, I'll mail the book that day since I leave for Hawaii at the crack of butt on Friday.

Get posting! Tell your friends! Then stop by Books, Boys and Buzz to win another book!

Oops

I forgot to blog. See, I had to get up at 5 AM in order to drive my folks to the airport so they could catch their flight home. When I got back, I crawled onto the bed, pulled an afgan over myself and went back to sleep. I passed out. Hard. Now, obviously, I'm up, but I forgot to blog until just now.

I'm going to say have a great weekend, and come back Monday because next week I'm running an AWESOME contest on my blog which features the ARC of Gena Showalter's THE DARKEST NIGHT as the prize!

See ya Monday!

Blame Eva

Eva Made Me Do It

You’re feeling: aw'ight, but slightly sunburned.

To your left: Which way is left? Oh. Um, something to be mailed, some books I want to read, some research notes for an article I need to write, random paper I haven't dealt with yet.

On your mind: What shopping bargains I will find today.

Last meal included: Steak, salad, sundried tomatoes, homemade croutons

You sometimes find it hard to: avoid delicious but evil foods.

The weather: warm and sunny with a light breeze.

Something you have a collection of: books, pens, jewelry, shoes, handbags, random sparkly things

A smell that cheers you up: watermelon, fresh cut grass, the top of a cat's head, newly purchased clothing

A smell that can ruin your mood: bad chicken

How long since you last shaved: Shaved what? I prefer to wax. Don't ask how long that's been, I'm due.

The current state of your hair: Long and joyously over-bleached.

The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): Lucky bamboo plant. Or cat, depending.

Your skill with chopsticks: Would you like me to pick up a needle?

Which section you head for first in a bookstore: YA/Romance

Something you’re craving: A kitten. Always.

Your general thoughts on the presidential race: No comment. It's too commented already.

How many times have you been hospitalized this year: I don't even know where the hospital is.

Favorite place to go for a quiet moment: Out by the pool.

You’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good: Jazz/blues singer

Something that freaks you out a little: pieces of lint that I mistake for spiders

Something you’ve eaten too much of lately: Salad. It's been a theme.

You have never: Bungee jumped, and won't.

You never want to: Be buried alive or swim in shark infested waters.

People I'm tagging: Kwana, Louisa, Mel, Jill Monroe

Thanks and Yum!

Thank you for all the feel better wishes! I'm much better today - I'm sure having my mom here has helped too. Although, I think watching the premiere of Hell's Kitchen last night may have contributed to my general feeling of well being. Gordon Ramsay rocks.

As usual, he starts the show off with having the chefs cook their signature dish. That got me thinking (especially since I believe I could outcook most of the contestants on this season's show) - what would my signature dish be? I cook a lot of things well, but my signature dish? Hmm. That's a tough one. Maybe a Thai-spiced filet mignon thinly sliced over a chopped salad of marinated vegetables and a side of cold rice noodles with peanut dressing. I'm kind of in a summer mood where cool or room temp dishes sound good right now.

What would your signature dish be?

I Need Your Opinion!

I'm still feeling icky, but blog I must because today is my day over at my new YA writers group blog, The Fictionistas. Stop by and tell me what you think about men in eyeliner: http://fictionistas.blogspot.com/2008/04/guyliner-hot-or-not.html

I'd love it if you would add the Fictionista's blog to your links list too! I know, I ask so much...but I'm sick and it would really make me feel better. *insert appropriate guilt trip here*

THANK YOU!