Category: Just Because

Did You Know…Panda Edition?

When I was a kid I LOVED pandas. I even had a dream (that I swore was real) that a panda had crawled up through the grass from China and was living in a tall growth of bamboo.

Pandas are cute creatures, especially red pandas. When asked by a friend of mine who loves pandas as much as I love to read, I decided to write a short post about pandas. I mean, who doesn’t love pandas?

 

Here are three fun facts you may or may not know about pandas:

  1. While pandas mainly eat bamboo, they are actually omnivores and will occasionally eat fish and small animals.
  2. When winter approaches, pandas do not hibernate. Instead, they find a place that is warmer and they still eat the bamboo that they love so much.
  3. Every two years, a female panda conceives one to two cubs. They stay with her for about 18 months.

Calling all Book Nerds!

As you all know, I’m a huge book nerd. I read every chance I get. Being in school does make this difficult though. So every time a school break rolls around, guess who who brings home the library’s limit worth of books?

I’ve compiled a list of ten must read books (for this week at least).

1. The Bible

  • Like I said in my “L is for What?” post, there is always something written in the bible that can gives us strength and clarity in whatever we are going through in life.

2. Rook by Sharon Cameron

  • I’ve lost track of how many time I’ve read this book. It’s so good!

3. Cut Me Free by J. R. Johansson

4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

5. White Fang by Jack London

6. Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

7. 1984 by George Orwell

8. The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

9. Girl, Stolen by April Henry (and yes, that comma does belong there)

  • Really any book by April Henry is good but this is probably my favorite of hers. I’m excited to read her newest book!

10. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

 

Some of these don’t rank in my top ten favorite books, but they are some that I think you should really read if you are going to pick up a book.

Leave a comment down below with a list of your ten must read books!

Lost in the Beat

Besides being an avid photographer and book reader, I am also an avid music listener. Music is my life line so to speak. From the slow calming melody of classical music, the headbanging involved in rock music, to the (sometimes) weird ways I dance to pop and country music-I crave each when I listen to music. I pretty much listen to music 24/7. When I go to sleep, music is playing in the background. When I study, music is my partner. When I dance, it’s the lead.

So with all of that information, here is a list of some of my favorite songs.

  1. Bohemian Rhapsody~Queen
  2. Bury a Friend~Billie Ellish
  3. Must be Doing Something Right~Billy Currington
  4. The Four Seasons- Spring in E Major~Antonio Vivaldi
  5. Hey You~Pink Floyd
  6. Dreams-NF
  7. Second Chance~Shinedown
  8. Sweet Child O’ Mine~Guns N’ Roses
  9. You and Tequila~Kenny Chesney
  10. Chicken Fried~Zac Brown Band

Song Out of Context

Song. What do you think of when you hear the word? Do you think of what the song inspires? Or maybe a hard time that a song got you through? Or maybe song motivates you to get things done. No matter the case, song has kept us comforted for centuries, and will continue to do so.

For me song means a lot. Song plays in the background almost anytime I’m with friends, when I’m doing schoolwork, or nothing in particular. I enjoy so many different bands and artists that I couldn’t even name most of them.

I’m not sure why, but these lyrics appeal to me.

“I’m a traveler of both time and space…” ~Kashmir – Led Zeppelin

“Hey don’t write yourself off yet
It’s only in your head you feel left out or looked down on
Just try your best
Try everything you can
And don’t you worry what they tell themselves when you’re away…” ~The Middle – Jimmy Eat World

“And all the roads we have to walk are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I
Would like to say to you but I don’t know how

Because maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me
And after all, you’re my wonderwall…” ~Wonderwall – Oasis

 

“My eyes are open wide
By the way
I made it through the day…”

“I just saw Halley’s comet She waved
Said, “Why you always running in place?”
Even the man in the moon disappeared
Somewhere in the stratosphere

Tell my mother
Tell my father
I’ve done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I’m not angry, I’m just saying
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance…” ~Second Chance – Shinedown

 

“I don’t mind you comin’ here
And wastin’ all my time, time…” ~Just What I Needed – Cars

 

***In no way am I depressed, doing drugs, or anything else that some people may associate with some of these lyrics. I just like them. Don’t read too much into this post. This is simply about some lyrics I like, taken out of the song’s context.

Monopoly on Fun

Do you remember those long, sometimes grueling family game nights?  Those nights full of laughing, complaining (that was all you dad), and us all getting bested by that one member of the family (I’m looking at you mom). A lot of my childhood memories are of sitting at the kitchen table spending hours and hours playing board games.

I played tons of board and card games as a kid, so I want to share with you my all time top ten favorites.

  1. Monopoly – If you didn’t play this game when you were little, you didn’t have a proper childhood.
  2. Mastermind – It took years before my mom taught me the strategy to win. (One of the only games I can beat my mom at.)
  3. Chess – I learned this good ole’ classic game of strategy when I was five and have been playing ever since. (I’ve still only beat two adults in all the time I’ve been playing; which is a long time.)
  4. Battleship – Nothing better than a game of sinking people’s ships. (And their hopes of winning.)
  5. Trivial Pursuit – I can’t tell you of all the moans and groans I’ve gotten over the years when I suggested playing this. (One of the few games that my dad can actually beat my mom at.)
  6. Chinese Checkers – The only checkers game I can stand to play. Some of my best memories are playing this game with my grandmother.
  7. Uno – Probably the coolest card game ever invented. (Nothing like the priceless facial expressions made when your opponent is down to one card and you whip out the draw 4 card.)
  8. Poker – Though I only learned this a couple of years ago, it holds many memories and is a great game to play, especially if you are short on time.
  9. Bingo – A game entirely of luck. I’ve lost too many games to count.
  10. Parcheesi – Talk about a classic.  A game for pretty much any age.

I just want to mention a few more that didn’t make it on my 10 ten list, but that I still enjoy: Guess Who, Pick-up Sticks, and Jacks.

 

 

 

Spoiler Alert-The Best Book Series

Whether you read a book a day or a book a year, you probably have a favorite book or book series. Today, I want to share my all time favorite book series. Are you ready? Drum roll please!

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer.

The Lunar Chronicles is composed of eight books, with four of those being extra stories to highlight the backgrounds of certain characters, taking place before and after Cinder’s revolution. The books are: Cinder; Scarlet; Cress; Winter; Fairest; Stars Above; Wires and Nerve; and Wires and Nerve Gone Rogue. Fairest is a prequel to the series, giving background on the tyrant Lunar Queen Levana. Stars Above is a collection of short stories that describe times before and after Cinder’s “revolution”. Both Wires and Nerve books are graphic novels, telling the tale of Iko tracking down rogue Lunar soldiers. The last four books I listed are not part of the main series, but supplement them.

You will find that each protagonist is based on a fairy tale character: Cinder-Cinderella, Scarlet-Red Riding Hood, Cress-Rapunzel, and lastly Winter-Snow White. Even the villains are based on fairy tale characters.

The series takes place in a futuristic society with androids, spaceships, and cyborgs. The moon (Luna) is now a habitable planet. The Lunar people who have taken the moon as their home have special capabilities. Lunars are able to change their appearance and use something similar to mind control. Earth and Luna are not very friendly with each other. Sometimes they try a hand at alliances but it usually doesn’t end well.

In the first installment, Cinder– a mechanic cyborg who lives in New Beijing- tries to cope with her stepmother who treats her horribly, is blamed for her sister’s illness, and her mysterious past that no one really knows about. When she finds herself face-to-face with the handsome Prince Kai, she becomes a part of something bigger.

Scarlet is the second book in the series. Cinder, or as she once was known Princess Selene, is true heir to the Lunar Throne. She escapes from prison with fellow inmate Captain Carswell Throne to France in search of Michelle Benoit. Scarlet, who is Michelle’s granddaughter, meets Wolf, a street fighter and a Lunar solider. While Scarlet does not want to trust Wolf, they are drawn to each other. She decides to take the risk. While on the road Wolf and Scarlet meet Cinder who is forced to kill and use her “glamour” on several soldiers. Now they are all on the run and must stay ahead of Queen Levana.

Cress is the third book in this thrilling series. All four are still on the run; the plot is to overthrow Queen Levana. Their only real hope is Cress, who currently lives in a satellite. Because Cress is an excellent hacker, she receives orders from Levana to track down Cinder’s rag tag bunch. Attempting a rescue, the group gets separated and leaves everyone worn down, upset, yet even more determined. During all that, the only thing handsome Emperor Kai has to worry about is his inevitable marriage to Queen Levana.

The fourth and final installment in the Lunar Chronicles is Winter. It picks up about a month after Cinder kidnaps Kai and he now knows her true identity. Securing a plan for Cinder to overthrow Levana, Kai returns to New Beijing where new plans are made for the wedding of Kai and Levana. Once the plan commences, everyone is reunited with each other- Scarlet with Wolf and Winter with her cousin Selene. Princess Winter (step daughter of Levana) is loved by the people of Luna and is said to be more beautiful than even the glamour of Levana. There are huge plot twists in this book. I don’t want to give any more spoilers so I leave you with this: Who succeeds? The evil tyrant Levana or the true heir to the throne, selfless mechanic cyborg Cinder/Selene?

If you’ve read the series, let me know in the comment section down below what you think.

 

Feature image: https://ipirateluffy.tumblr.com/post/119557481469/charmspeakers-ya-lit-meme-15-protagonists

 

Run from the Elf!

So last night I was hanging out with a bunch of friends/acquaintances and we watched the movie Elf. A lot of people said they loved the movie. Me on the other hand, not so much. So why did I not like the movie? Scroll on down and I’ll tell you why.

 

Pros:

  • It was kinda funny
  • It was a holiday movie
  • It starred Will Farrell and he’s sometimes awesome

 

Cons:

  • It was stupid. I really saw no point in the movie except for the fact that it was a Christmas movie.
  • The majority of the acting was bad and I prefer, when watching something, watching something that has good acting.
  • It was boring. I had problems trying not to fall asleep. Had it not been for my great friend sitting next to me, well… you know.
  • While obviously this is not a huge contributor and has nothing to do with the plot – I have got to say, this is just wrong! Buddy (Will Farrell) puts candy  (m&ms, marsh mellows, hot fudge, etc) and maple syrup on his spaghetti. That is an absolute abomination in general, to food especially.