Happy Birthday Michael!

It is Michael's 27th birthday today! Tonight we are having a party at our house, so there should be pictures of that posted later.  Michael have a great birthday, party, and year. I love you so much. <3<3<3

Bad Monkeys

For the last five days I have been working the over-nighter shift in the deli, 8:30pm to 5:00 am. It is rough on the body and even when I am awake and not working I am exhausted and worn out. So, basically I have just been reading. Bad Monkeys is such a strange book, in a good way. The whole book you aren't sure what is really happening and even in the end, you have to think back on the book for awhile. It was a strange book to read during this sleep deprived state and I had tons of really strange dreams because of it. I liked this book and am looking forward to reading more of Matt Ruff's stuff.

The Tale of the Body Thief

This book is the forth in the Interview with the Vampire Series. Boy do I love a good vampire book. Anne Rice does such a good job making the story visual. I have no doubt that if I ever make my way to New Orleans, I will always be in search for beautiful Lestat.

Is it December already?

Since Michael and I have been married we have only had one Christmas tree.  It was the first year we were married and we got a live tree, even though we only had a car to bring it home in.  It was an adventure with me hanging out the window holding onto the tree on top. Since then we didn't try it again. One reason is because we are never home for Christmas, because we always go up to Prescott.  This year we decided to break down and buy a fake tree.  Having a tree up instantly puts me in the Christmas mood. 

Michael and I are lucky that both of our parents gave us a Christmas tree ornament every year. Now our Christmas tree is full of ornaments that mean something to us. 

 

All Souls Procession

Every year in Tucson, the weekend after the Day of the Dead (Nov. 1st) there is a huge parade downtown. Anyone can walk in the parade or watch. People dress up, anything from skeleton costumes to their Halloween costumes. This was the first year we went. We didn't dress up, but we did bring Simon and walk in the parade. It was so much fun!

There was people on stilts.

There was said to be over 10,000 people there.

Simon loved all the attention he got.

When things got crazy or Simon got tired Michael and I switched off holding him. He got way more attention when we held him, but man he gets heavy after awhile.

We went under a bridge to get to downtown.

When it was all over we had walked more than 3 miles and saw a lot of interesting people. We were all tired and had to pee (there were 2 porta potties for all 10,000 people), but this will definitely be a family tradition that we will do as long as we live in Tucson.

Lord of Flies

I finished Lord of the Flies last night.  It was one of those classics that I had just never gotten around to reading. Now I can say I have read it and move on.  It was a weird book. I did enjoy it, but it will be put on my bookshelf and probably never be picked up again.  I think the worse part is you want to yell at the boys in the book and you can't.  

Bwuhahahaha, Happy Halloween!

These are a little fuzzy, but you get the idea. The pathway up to our house was lit with brown paper bags and tea lights. The next door neighbor says that there usually isn't many trick or treaters, but so far we have gotten a lot. I like to think it is because the lanterns pull them in.

Simon's costume!

Showing off his blonde locks.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Halloween Pumpkins

Today I carved pumpkins. It's the first time I have carved pumpkins in at least 7 years. I did cheat and used a pattern, but I think that they turned out pretty good. Hopefully we get tons of trick or treaters. There are lots of kids in the neighborhood. I might need to go get more candy.

Here is Simon howling at the moon, like he does every full moon!

And of course, here is Tibalt.

Panda Time

You have to watch this.  I am addicted!  There is a live feed of a 10 week old Panda and his mom at the San Diego zoo. Click here.

The Alchemist

I just finished The Alchemist. The book was all about following your true path, no matter what comes in your way. Although it had a good message and was written well, I just wasn't too impressed. I have read many stories with the same theme and this one didn't do it for me. I know, I know it is suppose to be a great book and I am not saying you shouldn't read it, but I am glad it wasn't a long book.

The Book Thief

This book was hard to start, hard to read, and hard to put down. There will forever be tear stains in my copy of this book and I think it would be hard to find a read copy that is not the same. I have never read a book written quite like this and have never felt that bond between people, that the people in this book had for each other. This book is set in Germany during WWII. It is a whole new sadness to see the hurt of the non-Jewish, non-Nazi, people in Germany who had no voice. They lived in fear of everyone around them. Somehow through it all there was a girl growing up a good person.

The death of an era.

Michael, Simon, and I like to go to the drive in theater here. Michael and I watch the movie while Simon people watches. I actually had my first drive in experience a few monthes ago, but since then we have been quite a bit. Tonight was the last night that Deanza Drive In Theater was open. We of course had to go one last time along with half of Tucson. There was even some reporters there. The movie ended up starting 30 minutes late to make sure everyone got in. It was a good time and we are going to miss our little drive in. :,(

Alison's parents visit.

Last week my parents visited for a few days. One of the days they were here we went to the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum. It was hot, but we had fun. Here is a few pictures . . .

There is a hummingbird in this picture.

On another day my parents and I spent hours putting up the fence in this picture. I now know I will never want to do that again. I bow down to those of you who do that for a living.

Michael's first post! Yay!

 This is my first post on "our" blog, even though it's all been Alison posts up till now. Check out this video, it is the funny juice.

Click here.

Research Paper

For my writing class I have to write a 20 page research paper. The paper is going to be written throughout the semester, so it shouldn't be too hard.  But by next week we have to turn in our topic for the paper.  It can be written on anything and I am drawing a huge blank.  I can't think of anything that I want to research enough to write a 20 page paper about. Does anybody have any ideas?  I will take any suggestions good or bad. :)

Burton Pic

A day off!

Michael and I rarely have the day off together, but today was a great exception. We went to the local park, Lincoln Park and played Bocce and threw around a baseball.

Simon helped out with Bocce.

Burton pic

A blast from the past, Simon as a puppy. Wasn't he so cute, what happened? ;)

Catching FIre

There are very few books that once I start them I can't put them down.  Both books in this series have been like this for me.  I received Catching Fire in the mail yesterday morning and I finished it before I went to bed last night. I waited for this book and I was not disappointed. I don't want to give too much away for those people that still need to read Hunger Games, but I don't think that you would regret reading this series. 

Away We Go

Michael and I just saw this movie and we both really liked it. Lately we have been trying to be better spenders so when we go to the movies we go to the cheap movie theaters. We went to the movies for $6.50.

Basketball and school

Here are a few pictures from last Thursday's game. This is the first time Michael has played in two weeks. Last week he was really sick and the week before that the captain of the team broke his leg, so there was no game.

The team that they played was really good. We lost in the end, but it is still really fun to watch.

On another note, I started school today. I am only taking Writing 102. By the sound of it there is going to be a ton of homework. It is a good thing that I don't have more classes, with this class and my full time job I will be pretty busy.

I am going to Pima Community College East Campus. It is a really pretty campus.

The Star Garden

I just finished The Star Garden by Nancy Turner. It's hard to decide what to write about this book.  This is the last of the trilogy, These is My Words.  The books go through a time I had little thought about before.  It is the day to day struggles of life in the early 1900's and it sucks you in.  I couldn't stop reading these books and I couldn't help but feel like they were people I knew, my family.

Method

Michael's older brother, Joseph and his wife, Rachelle own a coffee shop in Prescott.  It has amazing coffee; I especially love their cold brew.  I am pleased to see that their coffee shop, Method got some press in the local newspaper. Press HERE for the link.

Burton Pic

Burton Pic

Burton pic

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday! I hope that she had an excellent day and I wish that I could be with her. Happy Birthday Mommy!

Sarah's Quilt

I just finished Sarah's Quilt by Nancy Turner yesterday.  It is the second book in the These is My Words trilogy.  I have to admit that I sobbed a lot reading both of them and I am sure once the third book arrives (I ordered it on Amazon) I will sob with that one also.  I really enjoy these books.  The books take place mostly in Tucson and the Tucson area around 1906. It is really interesting to understand Tucson a little better. I would recommend this book, but be prepared to cry.