Fruits Basket: Volume 3

From Goodreads:    It's Valentines Day and you know what that means -- lots of chocolates for the cutest boys at school! In this case, it's a pretty close tie between hot-headed Kyo Sohma and Yuki 'prince charming' Sohma. Of course the kind-hearted Tohru, guest of the Sohma family, has chocolates for everyone! But when White Day comes around, what will the Sohma family give back? How about a trip to the family hot springs?! Also, a new member of the Zodiac shows up at school to lay the 'MOO'ves on Kyo.








My Thoughts:

-    Hatori and Shigure are hard to tell apart at times.

-    Is Okami a zombie!?!?

-    Tohru has such a positive outlook on life.  I want to be like that.

-    What is up with Shigure's editor? She is a spaz!

-    Yuki is still a fem.

-    I like Haru. He is cool!

-    There are a lot of people in this manga, but it's handled very well.  I don't get confused or anything. It's just that some of them look the same.


Series Info:

This was the 3rd Volume in the Fruits Basket series. To see my thoughts on the previous volumes, click on the covers below.

 

Thirstday

Thirstday is the new Thursday!  A beverage and a book!

I found this Meme on Maestra Amanda's Bookshelf, and it is hosted by Eat the Book.

This week I drank a whole lot of Fresca, and I read 4 Volumes of Fruits Basket.

This morning I'm drinking my daily cup of hot chocolate while reading Dragon Flight by Jessica Day George.

Fruits Basket: Volume 2

Goodreads Bit:    The enigmatic Sohma family shares a great secret -- they are possessed by spirits of the Chinese Zodiac, and when they are hugged by members of the opposite sex, they transform into their Zodiac animal! Tohru Honda, an orphaned high school freshman, is given lodging in the Sohma household in exchange for taking care of household chores. The humble Tohru is quite grateful for the Sohma family's generosity, but the longer she stays with them, the more they realize what a blessing she is in their lives as well.







My Thoughts:

-    I want to meet this author.  She seems awesome! I love her little notes randomly placed throughout the book.

-    Not my favorite style of anime I've seen, but it's good.

-    I want to learn how to make onigiri!

-    I would make a better rabbit that Momiji. I can't believe my zodiac is the weird German kid.

-    Yuki is such a girl!

-    What is with the sea horse!?!?! There is no sea horse zodiac!

-    This love triangle is really buggin' me.

-    Tohru has some amazing friends!


Series Info:

This is Volume 2 in the Fruits Basket series. Click on the cover below to see my thoughts on the first volume.

Fruits Basket: Vol 1

Goodreads Bit:    Tohru Honda was an orphan, living with her grandfather, when one day fate kicked her out of the house and she was forced to take up residence in a tent in the forest. Little did she know that the land she was staying on belonged to the Sohma family, a mysterious clan. After stumbling upon the teenage squatter, the Sohmas invite Tohru to stay in their house in exchange for housework. Everything's going well until she discovers the Sohma family's greatest secret: when hugged by members of the opposite sex, they each turn into their Chinese Zodiac animal!






My Thoughts:

-    I'm so confused, but I'm still interested.

-    Yuki looks like a girl! Some of the characters even think it's a girl.

-    Hugs? That is what turns them into their Zodiac? Kinda weird!

-    There is always a crazy girl in every Anima/Manga isn't there? Kagura is going to be annoying!

-    Tohru has a good deal! She gets to live with those guys in exchange for keeping house. It's kinda like a Snow White situation but better. 

-    I feel like every girl in Anima/Manga is an amazing cook! I'm so jealous!

Oklahoma!

My Thoughts:

-    I admit it!  I enjoy this show, and I like the songs.

-    I really like Curly's voice.  I don't find him handsome, but I could listen to him sing for a long time.

-    Who names their boy Curly anyway? That is a terrible name for a guy.

-    Jud is a CREEP!! He is probably the creepiest dude I've ever seen in a musical.

-    Laurey has a nice voice too.

-    I'm SO glad we don't have to wear corsets anymore! I like the way they make you look, but it is not worth the pain.

-    I love how Curly tries to get Jud to commit suicide! I giggle throughout the song. It's funny.

-    WORST DREAM SEQUENCE EVER!! It is SO long, and we don't really need it. If they cut that out, no one would miss it.

-    During the dream sequence the cowboys do gangam style dance. LOL!

-    I like Will and Curly. They know how to make a girl feel special!

-    Ado Annie is such a floozy! 

-    Curly must have bought his horse and saddle back at the end.  He sold them during the auction, but then we see him riding Blue right before the wedding.

-    Aunt Eller really steals the show. She has all the best lines!

Tyson's Thoughts:

-    I wish Jud was a black guy. He'd be so much more awesome if he was black.

-    (referring to Mr. Skidmore) What is Willy Wonka doing at the party?

-    The dresses were okay. I liked the bottom colors more than the tops.

-    Bambi Linn is a kinky name. 

Hubby's Thought:

-    I hate that dream sequence!

Water Keep

From Goodreads:    Other people may see thirteen-year-old Marcus Kanenas as an outcast and a nobody, but he sees himself as a survivor and a dreamer. In fact, his favorite dream is of a world far away, a world where magic is as common as air, where animals tell jokes, and where trees beg people to pick their fruit. He even has a name for this place-Farworld.

When Marcus magically travels to Farworld, he meets Kyja, a girl without magic in a world where spells, charms, and potions are everywhere, and Master Therapass, a master wizard who has kept a secret hidden for thirteen years, a secret that could change the fate of two worlds.

But the Dark Circle has learned of Master Therapass's secret and their evil influence and power are growing. Farworld's only hope is for Marcus and Kyja to find the mythical Elements-water, land, air, and fire-and convince them to open a drift between the worlds.

As Kyja and Marcus travel to Water Keep, they must face the worst the evil Dark Circle can throw at them-Summoners, who can command the living and the dead; Unmakers, invisible creatures that can destroy both body and soul; and dark mages known as Thrathkin S'Bae.
Along the way, Marcus and Kyja will discover the truth about their own heritage, strength of their friendship, and the depths of their unique powers.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a fun adventure!

-    I want to live in a world of talking animals, especially ones that tell jokes.

-    I really enjoyed this.  The characters were fun and very believable.  I think Marcus was such a realistic teenage boy.  His doubts and uncertainties were something every kid could relate to.

-    Kyja was a lot of fun.  I loved her confidence and determination. She was such a great asset to the story.  She also brought Riph Raph into the picture, and he was a lot of fun.  I loved the parts where she was so fascinated by every day things.  

-    There definitely needs to be more books to the story, so I'm glad there is more.  I'm excited to read the others.  The ending isn't killer, but the story isn't over.

-    I wish there had been more with the water people.  The cover is a little deceiving. We only get to meet the water elementals towards the very end.  Water is my favorite element, so I really wanted more!

-    I love that this is set in a fantasy world, but it is also set in the modern day world.  They way that this is handled is so creative and fun!

-    I loved the whole misfit theme in the book.  The 2 main characters don't really belong in their worlds, but they are trying their best.  I really think everyone can relate to that on some level. I really love how the characters grow and discover their strengths.

-    The covers on these books are awesome!


My Re-Read Thoughts:

-    I listened to the audiobook this time, and I definitely prefer reading the book myself.

-    The narrator wasn't very good. His voice for all the females is horrible. There was no expression, no emotion, or anything. The guys were fine, but he needs to work on his girl voices.

-    I forgot how fun this book is. Despite the narrator, I really enjoyed the characters and the story. 

Presidential Concert

I have a concert coming up!

Mark your calendars for:

Monday, February 18 @ 7:30 PM

American Fork High School

It should be a fun concert!  Bring the whole family and celebrate President's Day and Family Home Evening with us!

Our program will include:

Our National Anthem

Washington's Post

Gettysburg

Lincoln Portrait

The President's March

and more!

Tickets:

Students:    $3

Adults:    $5

Families:    $15

Kids K-12 in the Alpine District are FREE!

Please come support your local arts!  We want to pack the house!  Tell your friends!

Yours truly will be in the clarinet section ;)

Thirstday

Thirstday is the new Thursday!  A beverage and a book!

I found this Meme on Maestra Amanda's Bookshelf, and it is hosted by Eat the Book.

This week, I read The Mirror of Merlin and had a Frozen Hot Chocolate from Dairy Queen.  Yummmmmm!

This morning, I'm drinking normal Hot Chocolate and reading Water Keep by J. Scott Savage.




p.s 

The Mirror of Merlin

From Goodreads:    What is the nature of fate? Is young Merlin destined to be a powerful wizard, or does he have a choice? These are the questions Merlin must answer as he travels with the deer woman Hallia to the Haunted Marsh where the marsh ghouls have begun a campaign of destruction. Or are the ghouls being manipulated by an even greater source of evil? An evil that seeks to destroy not the marsh, but Merlin himself? Here, in the fourth installment of the Lost Years of Merlin, epic master storyteller T. A. Barron weaves a tale of humor, adventure, and surprise as Merlin unravels the mystery of the Haunted Marsh, meets a boy named Arthur, and travels through a mirror of mist that brings him face to face with his destiny.



My Thoughts:

-    The story wasn't very good in this one.  Merlin kinda just traveled around.  It got better about half way through.

-    The Ballymag's dialogue is annoying.  I had to slow down to read what he said.

-    Merlin hasn't said chants to do magic before.  Why does he need to now?

-    Merlin is still very arrogant and ornery.  Will he ever learn?

-    I loved that they added Ector into the story!

-    I think I'm getting burnt out on these books.  I will probably take a break and read something else before tackling the last book.


Series Info:

This is the 4th book in the Lost Years of Merlin series.  To see my thoughts on the previous books, click on the covers below.

  

The Pigeon Cake

My daughter turned 3 on Saturday, and we had a party.  She loves Mo Willems' Pigeon books, so we had a pigeon party.

The cake gave me some grief.

This is the first cake.  I made it from scratch, and it fell.  It hadn't baked very well.  It tasted good though.  I trashed it and started again. 

I used 8 egg yolks in the last cake, and I didn't want to do that again, so I just used a boxed cake the second time around.  It came out ok.  It didn't fill in fully, but it came out of the pan.  I chopped off the head (cause it was a duck cake pan) and filled in the neck with cereal treats.  I also stuck a dowel in there to help support it. 

I reattached the head and started frosting.  It was going alright, but then the pigeon started to crack, and it fell over.  I was so upset!  I almost trashed this one as well. 

I let the pigeon lie down, and finished frosting him.  I think he turned out alright, even though he wasn't sitting up.