ode to the kindle...

Kindle, how I love thee, let me count the ways...

I realized that I have had this wonder for a few months now and, despite having been asked a few times, had yet to write a pseudo-review and my experience so far so...

My husband and in-law's bought me the Kindle for my birthday in December and my parents gave me the green, lighted case - thank you all again.  When I opened the gifts, we were out to lunch and I kept the boxes shut.  That didn't last long.  By the time we were in the car on our return trip home, I had opened both the reader and cover boxes and was already plowing my way through the quick start guide. 

I had been collecting e-books in my Amazon account for awhile through the Kindle iPhone app, though I ended up never really reading with it because, well, hello tiny itty bitty screen that fits about 25 words at a time! But, the app ended up serving me well in the end because, as soon as my new toy was charged up, I synced it to my account and BAM! nearly 100 books were on my device, ready to read within minutes.

Score one for instant gratification.

Having had a long term love affair with reading, with the scent of ink on a page and the sound of spine of a book the first time it is cracked open, I had a moment's hesitation when I opened up my first book.  Would I really learn to love reading without the sensory experience?  Without physically turning a page?  Within the first chapter, I had my answer... 

Love at first read.

The reviews all said that the device would just disappear in your hand.  It truly does.  When I am lost in the text, I don't notice the difference between the e-reader and an actual book.  Pressing a button instead of turning a page?  Not a problem.  The biggest difference?  If I need to stop reading quickly or fall asleep with book in hand, I no longer have to worry about losing my place.  Ah, bliss!  Now, on my frequent train commutes to the city, I have multiple books at the ready, where I used to need to duck into a bookstore and search for a new title to read on the way home if I finished one during my morning trip. See, saving money.  That's always good, right?

My favorite downloaded reads so far have been: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanna Collins (highly recommended) and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Laarson.

On the fence about an e-reader?  Find someone you know that has one or use a store demo and give it a try. You might just be surprised by the experience. 

And the plethora of shelf space to be reclaimed.

This review was written without Amazon.com's knowedge and thus, regretably, without any compensation or freebies.  I just really, really love the darn thing.

friday faves: work, destinations and words...

Dream job: What would I truly love to be when I grow up?  A photographer.  Specifically, maternity and newborn photography.  I love capturing the bloom of pregnancy and then a brand new life.  I

have a very long way to go toward this goal with so, so much to learn but I love to dream on this. Here are a few of my favorites shots from shoots I have done for friends and family:

Favorite vacation: I love to travel. No, I LOVE to travel.  Put me on a plane to anywhere, get me in a new destination and give me time to explore and immerse myself in someplace else and I am a happy girl.  From the moment I stepped off the Britih Airways jet at Heathrow airport to begin my study abroad experience years ago, I was hit with wanderlust.  Choosing a favorite vacation spot is likie asking me to choose a favorite book (oh wait, I need to do that next, hmm...). Nearly impossible.  The California mountains, several gorgeous spots in Mexico and the untouched perfection that is Alaska.  But, in the end, I am one of the luckiest that I have the privilege to go back to one of the most amazing places on earth time and time again.  Greece.  

Favorite book: I have likely read thousand of books in my lifetime. My parents instilled me with a love of reading at a very young age and I was never denied a new book.  I lose myself in books, tuning out the world around me and not recognizing when the sun has fallen and a room has gone dark.  Many evenings my mother or father would walk in my room to find me engrossed in a book and rouse me from the pages saying, "Don't you want a light?  You're going to strain your eyes in the dark."  So caught up in the plot, I hadn't noticed squinting in the twilight. 

That happened as I joined Anne Shirley on her many adventures and more times than I could possibly recount here.  So, I'll share a couple of my more recent favorites:

I could not get enough of either of these novels and was so disappointed when they ended.  Turning to the last page was like saying goodbye to a close friend after a particularly wonderful visit. Do yourself a favor, read them soon.

all things evil...

1. Sonic (and Cablevision for running their ads):
Seriously, why must I be taunted and tempted with images of things that are nowhere within my reach? A Sonic commercial plays on our television at least once an hour yet, the closest to our home is about 2 hours away or over state lines. Don't these people know it's unfair to play on the cravings of a pregnant woman? But, HA! I have found a way around their trickery. It happens that a Sonic opened not far off the path to our mini-vacation this weekend...score! Cherry Limeade Chiller, you will soon be mine, all mine!!! Bwahahahaha ;-)Bonus! I went online in search of a coupon (hey, if I'm required to drive two hours for it, I should at least get a deal, right?) and found this one for a 99 cent regular Chiller. Click and enter your e-mail address to get yours and join in my sweet revenge!

2. Vampires: I can't help it. Ever since reading my way through the Twilight series, I've been wanting more blood-sucking action. It's bad, I know. Add to that, the torture of hearing all of the rave reviews of the show True Blood and little ol' me without access to HBO. So, what's a girl to do? Read, of course! I found the Sookie Stackhouse books online for 40% off retail but, didn't really want to wait the 10 business days for delivery. Google being my friend today, I found a coupon for 40% off any book at Borders, called to have them set aside the box set of books 1-7 and made them mine at lunchtime. Gotta love vamps for a steal! I plan to make my acquaintance with Ms. Stackhouse tonight...

Have you read these? Any thoughts or reviews you'd like to share (without spoilers, of course!)?

summer (book) lovin'

After things settled down from the wedding, I did something I'd said I wanted to for years: joined a local book club. It's been a great experience so far. An eclectic group of women, book talk and good food (everyone brings a dish, snack or drink to share).

July's book sounds fun and quirky, set in one of my favorite places - England. Looking forward to this supposed literary "slice" of heaven during my long weekend. What's on your summer reading list?
-- posted from my iPhone

a blog fast, too?

Busy being a happy newlywed, working like crazy this month and getting used to some shifting sands in life = no blogging. Unintentional but, true. I've hardly been near the computer at home in the past couple of weeks. Since that's where my photos live and where I mainly have time to reflect and type, it's made for a boring month on this site! So, an update:

1. I am in my third full week of Lent practicing Greek Orthodoxy. While neither DH nor myself are staunchly religious, we made the commitment to ourselves and the church to really learn more and to make efforts in our faith. With guidance from our priest, we've been fasting from meat on Wednesday and Fridays and will do so for the full seven weeks of Lent. While I would never strive for a meat-free life, I have been enjoying the challenge of coming up with good recipes that are vegetarian. The biggest hit in our house so far? Pan Seared Pierogies with Caramelized Onions and Sour Cream, served with mixed veggies and a Caesar Salad.
2. Wedding planning had me curb many of my favorite activities including reading (other than the bit of chick-lit here and there). I've been an avid and voracious reader my whole life and missed the time to do more of it in the past year. About a week after the wedding, I accepted an invitation to join a local book club and dove into this month's selection. I have just a few pages to go and would highly recommend reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen:


3. The great phone debate. DH and I consolidated our two semi-pricey cell phone plans into one, stream-lined and economical family plan about a week ago. While in the store, the iPhone called to me. I. do. not. need. it. No one needs that type of gadget, I suppose but, the want is there. Luckily AT&T gave me some more time to ponder because, my next chance for a phone upgrade is at the end of June. iPhone or not, I have been texting more and more and definitely need a phone with a keyboard...I'm hopeless with the number pad method. Until then, my pink Razor will do just fine.
4. Tomorrow, DH and I will celebrate one month of marriage...already! Married life is more than I ever could have hoped for. While on the outside there weren't so many changes - we live in the same house in the same town and have pretty much the same routines - the internal is vastly different. There is a sense of security in this new oneness that I never anticipated. Every decision and plan we make together is joint and as a team. I recall so many conversations between us that started, "Someday after we are married..." and now, here it is and the time for all of those wonderings and fulfillments has come. There is a new level of intimacy, of happiness and contentment. Yes, we have minor disagreements, still have to do the dirty laundry and clean up after our aging cat who is losing his faculties. But, the drudgery even feels different. Intangible and very, very good.

ah, irony...

I'm always looking for a good read. On the recommendation of anther knottie, I searched for and purchased A More Perfect Union by Hana Schank on half.com for a song. I loved this book. Really delved into the insanity of the wedding industry and how even the most sensible of us can get caught up in it all. I particularly enjoyed the knot.com references throughout. Though the book was written a few years ago, nothing has changed there.
Ironically, as I was reading the memoir and nodding along in agreement with the ridiculous amounts of energy directed at a single day, I have been in the throws of all of my own details: menu design, favor packaging, place cards, table numbers. My free time now spent in front of the computer, PhotoShopping for hours on end to get just the right greens and blues and to find the right mix of fonts to add style but, maintain read-ability. Oh-so-sensible me has fallen victim to the wedding industry. It snuck in little by little but, there it is!