The Boy Next Door - by Meg Cabot

After I completed the Shopaholics series, I accidentally came across this book and could not put it down as soon as I started reading. Meg Cabot has a style that is different from anyone else that I have seen. This entire book was composed with emails to and from the characters. She did a fantastic job describing the events and characters from the emails and it certainly was a joy reading this book. I am now in search of other Meg Cabot books (for older adults only - mind you, because I am not in the same target audience as her 'Princess Diaries Series' books).

What's next? I got an author recommendation to read J. Weiner books. I cannot wait to read more. Ahh - I love libraries, and moreover, I love authors who write 'chic books'.

Hot! Hot! Hot!!!

Okay - it has almost been a week where we are getting triple digist of temperature during the day. This past weekend we had the AC working for us and we let the dogs in to cool themselves off. Normally, though, they are outside dogs and don't come in at all when we work during the day. Now I am getting a bit worried... my dogs are 12 and 17 and not sure how their bodies adjust to the temperature... as you know, dogs don't have sweat glands so they release excessive heat from their tongues. I just want to race home and turn on the AC and let the dogs come in to cool off...

One of our neighbors who don't have AC at home, spent their weekend in their RV (parked in front of their house) because the heat was just so unbearable. Is this real? is this a dream? is this what 'hell' feels like? I often wonder why pictures of 'hell' always involve fire and heat. I guess this is it!!

Rediscovering Libraries

When I lived in Boston, I had forgotten my love for library and books (I think it was mainly due to the fact that I lived in a very happening city so no need to curl up with a book because I was never lonely). Anyhow, after moving back to California and settling down in the suburbs, I rediscovered the advantages of a library.

There is a library 5 min drive from my place. I go every few weeks or so and get ~15 books per visit. I get mainly Chinese sci-fi books and I love this particular author in particular. He has vivid imagination and I have not yet gotten tired of his style just yet. Additionally, I am starting to read some of my other favorites: chick books. A dear friend once gave me a book that she had finished 'Shopaholics ties the knot' and I got HOOKED!! I love Sophie Kinsella's novels and could not get enough of it. However, I think I have finished all but one of her published books and I am still trying to find an author to replace her. I have tried Meg Cabot and Candace Bushnell and have enoyed their books. But - I must say - I LOVE Sophie Kinsella!! She just needs to write a lot more books to satisfy my appetite.

So - now that I am no longer living the city life, I have picked up reading again - and oh - thank goodness for the invention of the libraries where I can borrow many books at a time without a fee.

It's all about self discipline

I got an eliptical machine few months ago, and now I even got a digital cable box for the TV in front of the eliptical machine... have I finally been able to exercise continuously? NAH!!!

Excuses were made so that I can be lazy in the mornings, in the afternoons, and in the evenings. What excuses? Anything you can think of - vacuuming, cleaning, laying around in front of the TV... etc. Though my brain says GO WORK OUT - my body is lazy.

But then again - why not do something good for my body? Well, let me start my 'to-do' list first and then I will get to my eliptical machine later today... :-D

Italy vs Germany

0 vs 0 at this point and we are almost at the 2nd overtime. Great job on both teams in terms of defense so far... but frankly, I would like this game to finish already. Who am I rooting for? Germany of course due to my ties to that country. Both teams have slowed down quite a bit because everyone is so exhausted from this long game!

GO GERMANY GO!!

I must say - I would like to see Germany vs. Portugal tomorrow - and I hope Germany wins!

While my husband and my father sitting here waiting for someone to score, I am surfing the web, reading my friend's blog... I think of her often so I am so glad that we have discovered the blogspots where we can keep everyone updated of what is going on in our lives!!

Ahhh - the beauty of technology!