Now for Something Completely Different

Last year, for the holiday season, Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings hosted a very laid back challenge called G.I.F.T. I can't remember what that stands for, I am going to have to look it up. Anyways, I am not sure if he is doing it this year (but he should), but believe it or not one of my Christmas Tradition starts all the way back now, in August, so since I am thinking of it, I am going to share.

Many bloggers seem to a big fan of this time of year, and while I think that the fall where I live is stunning, my favourite time of year is actually winter. I have been complaining a lot about a lack of summer, though, so I do get tired of winter eventually. Especially if it starts early (and we loose power for 4 days) or it goes really late (and we have a sucky spring). So, winter is not perfect. And then there was hurrican Juan, that was really bad... Anyways... I do like winter up until January or February.

One of my Christmas Traditions is the arrival of the Sears Christmas Wish Book. Does it come too early? Yes. Did we care when we were kids? No. My sister turned into a bit of a Christmas hater as she got older, but me and my brother still get a big kick out of the holiday. Actually, that was the thing I missed the most about Christmas the last two years, not celebrating it with my brother. I had no one to get up ridiculously early with, so I actually slept in for the first time, well, ever! So, when we were small, the three of us used to love to get the Christmas Wish Book. We would fight over it the day it came in the mail, spend hours pouring over the toy section (which I still look at in my 20's), and making our lists for Santa. These lists would be revised countless times, my parents would get tired of us arguing and go get two more copies, it was the life.

Today I got home to the Wish Book sitting on the counter and I found myself thinking back to all those Christmas holidays spent pouring through the pages. Me and my siblings don't live together anymore, and we probably never will again. We might not get along the best at times, and my sister might think that Christmas is the worst time of year, but I at least will still remember winter mornings fighting over the Wish Book.

Okay, we now return to the previous scheduled season and back to the R.I.P challenge! (G.I.F.T. stands for: Giving Inspiration, Fostering Tradition. Totally not what I had in my head at all, not even close!)

Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb (Left over review from 2006)

This book was supposed to be my last G.I.F.T. post and my TBR challenge post, but I am a little late for both. Another joint review with Marg. I am in blue and Marg is in black.

No one likes to be alone during the holidays. For New York's most posh dating service, Personally Yours, it is the season to bring lonely hearts together. But Lt. Eve Dallas, on the trail of a ritualistic serial killer, has made a disturbing discovery: all of the victims have been traced to Personally Yours. Eve soon enters an elite world of people searching for their one true love - and one killer searching for his next victim. A world where the power of love leads men and women into the ultimate act of betrayal...

The next installment in the In Death series after Vengeance in Death finds Eve just returning to work after recovering from injuries sustained in the line of duty just in time for the holidays. The thing preying on her mind most though is what to get all of her friends for Christmas, especially Roarke in their first Christmas together. It is rather funny, everytime she runs into people she knows, she has to ask them if she should buy them a Christmas present. Christmas is a new thing for her, she has never had people to buy for before, so it is an experience reading her thoughts on the holiday gift giving.

Before she can even think about that, she has to deal with a serial killer who has decided to visit his victim dressed up as Santa Claus and who is planning to make each of his victims have some connection to the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. This means that before he is done, there will be twelve victims, one for each day of the song. The killer leaves behind his trademark on each victim, a holiday ornament pertaining to the days of Christmas.

Soon the connection between the victims becomes clear - they have all been clients of an exclusive dating agency. Now it is a case of trying to infiltrate the agency and work out who the perpetrator might be as well as who his next victim will be - even if that means putting one of their own on the line. This book has Peabody's first undercover mission, which is interesting to watch. She does not appear to do blind dates very often, because she leaves one guy out of the runnings for quite some time. Have to read the book to see exactly what happened, though, of course.

I really enjoyed the way that the author managed to infuse some humour into this book. The scenes where Eve had banned Peabody from going shopping and yet kept on finding things to buy for herself were laugh out loud funny. It certainly helped balance out what could have been a very dark book indeed. This book did have more humour than the others, and I also enjoyed reading it. Robb seems to be adding more comical characters at this point in the series, anyways, which is making for interesting reading.

For me, this was the best book in the series so far. Same here! I really enjoyed this installment. I think that Robb has gotten more confident in the series at this point. I also read the other holiday story, Midnight in Death, which carries on the interest. I think I will enjoy the series even more if all the future ones are like this one.

Marg's Rating 4.5/5
Kailana's Rating 4/5

Blog Tour Day 3 and G.I.F.T.

Tune in to Jennie's blog to see what she has for today's contribution to the blog tour! I was just there, but for some reason it will not currently let me comment.

I have been rather slack in the book reviews lately, but I read a new Christmas book and decided to use it as one of the challenges for the G.I.F.T. Challenge. The book is THe Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere. My friend lent it to me, and I just took it. I have to admit I was not really paying attention to what the book was about. So, I was very excited to see it was a book based on the song that I already included as part of the G.I.F.T. Challenge. A very interesting idea, she took a song and made it a novel! (A very short one I might add, but still a worthwhile read.)

Book Description:

Robert is a successful attorney who has everything in life-and nothing at all.Focussed on professional achievement and material rewards, Robert is on the brink of losing his marriage.He has lost sight of his wife, Kate, their two daughters, and ultimately himself.Eight year old Nathan has a beloved mother, Maggie, whom he is losing to cancer.But Nathan and his family are building a simple yet full life, and struggling to hold onto every moment they have together.A chance meeting on Christmas Even brings Robert and Nathan together-he is shopping for a family he hardly knows and Nathan is shopping for a mother he is soon to lose.In this one encounter, their lives are forever altered as Robert learns an important lesson:sometimes the smallest things can make all the difference.The Christmas Shoes is a universal story of the deeper meaning of serendipity, a tale of our shared humanity, and of how a power greater than ourselves can shape, and even save, our lives.

I think that this book was a very charming Christmas story. It really captures the true meaning of Christmas. Knowing the song, I know what was going to happen, but it was nice to see a story with it.

I give this a 4/5. I think I will have to get my own copy.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Well, the weather outside today is frightful. I ended up with the night off work, there have been accidents everywhere! You would think that people had never seen snow before the way this week has been playing out. I mean, the newspapers were saying that people were surprised by the snow that fell on Tuesday, and as a result, there were a record amount of car accidents. I ask you, it's December, we live in Canada, who is surprised by snow? I think people thought we had moved to Florida or something. Today was not much better. My boss had to pick up her son from day care and she said that their were four accidents just on the main road. So, I will be sticking close to my nice warm house where I have all ready spent the afternoon reading, so why not the night.

I am so excited to share this cute mini movie for the holiday season! I never think to check YouTube for things like this, but someone posted it on a message board I visit and I just HAD to share. It is one of my most fondest Christmas memories. We used to watch it every year. Click here to have a view of your own, it might bring back your own Christmas memories. Just a warning, though, someone flagged it, so you have to have an account to view it. When you do, though, it is rated general, so even your kids can watch it.

And, another challenge:

Mass-Market Paperbacks:
1. The Wind from Hastings by Morgan Llwelyn
2. Ireland by Frank Delaney
3. A Woman of Cairo by Noel Barber
4. First Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick
5. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
6. Monsoon by Wilbur Smith
7. Druids by Morgan Llwelyn
8. Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell
9.The Song of Troy by Colleen McCullough
10. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
11.I Was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn


Trade/Hardcover
1. The Secret River by Kate Grenville
2. The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease
3. The Silver Rose by Susan Carroll
4. The Invasion of Canada by Pierre Berton
5. The Sultan's Harem by Colin Falconer
6. The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
7. The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald
8. Shields of Pride by Elizabeth Chadwick
9. The Josephine B. Trilogy by Sandra Gulland
10.Wideacre by Philippa Gregory

Two more things, don't forget to sign up for the Advent Calendar Tour! There are still spots available! And, booklogged pointed out to me that I did not link my post yesterday for Twisted Kingdom. Just click here. I meant to put a button my side bar but just forgot about it. I will fix that once I figure out what other changes I want to make.

Making up for lost time!

I hardly posted all of November, and now here it is December, and I have a lot to say! So, I was going to wait and post this tomorrow... but, then I found this!
I know that the G.I.F.T. challenge does not have an art category, but I am still absolutely in love with that picture! And, since we are getting our first decent snowfall of the year, I figured that I would tie the two together. I love snow. I am like a little kid. Friends that I haven't seen for years and years will ask me about it, they remember that snow is one of my most favourite things in the world. So, I am pretty excited about the snow that is falling outside right now. And, it gives me a chance to talk about some Christmas (or close to Christmas) memories.

One was relatively recent. I was the talk of my (ex) boyfriends neighbourhood two years ago because I made a snowman on his front lawn. It just confused people because their own children were locked up inside wishing for the snow to go away, and I was outside building a snowman! The woman that lives above from him thought it was her daughter, which baffled her because it is not something she would sporadically do. It was me, anyways, but it was a very fun thing to do.

Another memory involving snow was actually New Year's, but close enough. I was really little, so New Year's did not mean a lot to me, but at like 9 at night my whole family went outside in the snow and walk for a moonlight walk. It was the only New Year's of my childhood that I remember not ending in disaster, so I enjoy that memory entirely.

My other favourite memories of snow is me and my friends. One afternoon at lunch, before the Christmas holidays, me and my friends had just been downtown for lunch and on the way back I somehow talked some kids into a snowball fight. It was actually bad, I got them in trouble (oops) and some of my friends were rather mad at me, but man it was fun. I cannot help it if I like snow more than them. In the town I lived in up until the 11th grade, my friends used to look at me like it was my fault that it was snowing. Meanwhile, I was walking down the street singing Christmas carols. I really am a little kid sometimes, but it's fun!

Anyways, there are just a few memories of snow. Here's another picture:

The pictures come from here. I found them while browsing one of booklogged's blogs.

Lastly, I have to post my books for the TBR Challenge that is being hosted next year. I posted twenty-four. I know, it is only supposed to be 12, but I find that if I have some choice, I am more likely to finish! To learn more about the contest, click here.

1. Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes
2. Surrender the Pink by Carrie Fisher
3. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
4. Ice Station by Matt Reilly
5. The Other Side of the Sun by Madeleine L'Engle
6. Nadia's Song by Soheir Khashoggi
7. The Fool's Errand by Robin Hobb
8. Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher
9. It Sleeps in Me by Kathleen O'Neal Gear
10.Hawke's Harbour by S.E. Hinton
11.Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg
12.Bitter Harvest by Susan Bowden
13.White Teeth by Zadie Smith
14.Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
15.Empire Falls by Richard Russo
16.The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
17.The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
18.The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank
19.The Family Orchard by Naomi Eve
20.Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
21.Map of Bones by James Rollins
22.We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates
23.Snow by Orhan Pamuk
24.Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

Challenges Galore

Yesterday I organized my books. I am continuing with it this morning, and I have a lot of posts saved in draft to entertain people with over the next few days... In actuality, I made up challenges for myself with all the themes that run through my books. This morning, though, I am posting a list for the Classics Challenge that booklogged is hosting. I am an unofficial participant, because you are supposed to read five classics during the months of January and February, but I am making mine a year long thing.

Anyways, just a reminder about the Advent Calendar Tour. Be sure and comment either on my blog or Marg's, and we will get everyone organized. I think it is fun, and that you might even be able to count your advent post as a G.I.F.T. post, depending on what you post about! Aim to comment before Sunday, but if we do not have enough participants and you decide to join in later, by all means.

Speaking of G.I.F.T., I thought that I would post a brief post about a story that I have heard since I was little. It is about the song, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas". I do not know if my story is necessarily the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, but I have been told since I was little, so even if it is false it is a bit like a Christmas tradition, that this song was originally written in the town that I was born in. People would like say "so?" right around now. Well, if you saw where I came from, you would understand how cool it is that a Christmas carol that is popularly known was written in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. The reasoning that I tend to slightly believe that this is in fact true? The lines: "There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,/The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow". There really is a Grand Hotel, they really do put up a very impressive tree, and there is a park right across the street called Frost Park. Is that the proof that I need? No. I believe in it because the story of the song is something that I have been hearing for years. Even if it is not true, it is a Christmas tradition. The lyrics to the song:

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Toys in ev'ry store,
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door.

A pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben;
Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen;
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.

1. The Three Muskateers by Alexandre Dumas
2. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
4. Tess of the D'Uberviles by Thomas Hardy
5. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
6. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
7. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
8. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
9. Little Men by Louisa May Alcott
10.Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
11.The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
12.Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Bonus "Chunkster" Classics:

1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
2. Middlemarch by George Eliot
3. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

I would also like to read some of my Lucy Maud Montgomery books:
1. Chronicles of Avonlea
2. A Tangled Wed
3. Emily's Quest
4. The Story Girl
5. Emily Climbs
6. Akin to Anne
7. Against the Odds
8. Among the Shadows
9. Jane of Lantern Hill

If I did that, then I can order the ones I do not own...

Then, I have all of Jane Austen's novels and have only read Pride and Prejudice. I would like to fix that... And I want to read C.S. Forester.

I am going to aim to read 5 in January and February, but if I do not, I hopefully will read some of the books off this list next year. I get classics at flea markets and yard sales, or at the UBS if there is one I really want to read. It is time to actually read some!

First G.I.F.T. Post - Christmas Music

Did I mention that I was very excited about this challenge? So much so that I am going to try and post about it whatever chance I have! Since I am already entertaining my friends with Christmas music, it seems only fair to talk about this first.

So, first I am going to tie Christmas Tradition with Christmas Music. My mother claims that since I was very little I have had a strong liking for one particular Christmas song. I went through periods where I would not go to sleep without hearing the song. To this day, the song STILL drives my mother nuts, but I am in my 20's and Christmas is not Christmas without my Christmas song. So, what's the song? Don't laugh. The Twelve Days of Christmas sung by John Denver and the Muppets. I have listened to it every year since I was little. I wonder sometimes if I even like it anymore, or if it is just tradition. I would love to have a Christmas tree one year and have the Twelve Days of Christmas ornaments. It always reminds me of the second Home Alone. I am not a major fan, but remember when Kevin gets the two Turtle Doves for saving the toy store?

I am big on Christmas carols. Growing up I knew way more words to way more carols than my friends. We would walk down the street and sing them at the top of our lungs, and I would be the one filling in the blank spots. Each year there is always one Christmas Carol that strikes me and I have to listen to over and over again. Two years ago, my Christmas song was Christmas Shoes sung by Bob Carlisle. To me, it just captures the true meaning of Christmas. It is the song that I have been listening to over and over again already for this holiday season, but that does not mean that something else won't strike my fancy. I like this song so much that I had it on in the background and my friend called... I totally was pretty much singing along, and I CAN'T sing. Here are the lyrics. Everyone needs to listen to this song:

It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes

So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

Bridge:
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about

Repeat Chorus

Last year I stepped back in time a bit. My favourite Christmas song of last year was Holly Jolly Christmas. I do not know why, but I just loved it last year. I do not have a certain version, I just like it. It is hard to explain. I have to laugh, the version I do have claims to be Alan Jackson.... no way is it Alan Jackson. I don't even listen to him and I know that! It's a fun song. Lyrics:

Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow,
but have a cup of cheer.
Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
And when you walk down the street
Say Hello to friends you know
and everyone you meet.

Oh, ho, the mistletoe
hung where you can see;
Somebody waits for you;
Kiss her once for me.
Have a holly jolly Christmas,
and in case you didn't hear,
Oh by golly, have a holly,
jolly Christmas this year.

There are so many other songs I could talk about! I really like The Magic of Christmas Day by Celine Dion.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
It's the season to be jolly
And be thankful for all that we have
All the lights and decorations
Put up in the anticipation
Of the joyful celebration
That's on its way
We're counting the days
'Til it's time for Christmas day

Oh and God bless us everyone
The good and the bad
The happy; the sad
Oh and God bless us everyone
Here's to family and friends
It's good to be here again

On the streets there's children laughing
People smile as they are passing
Christmas time is here, our waiting is done
Wishing it could last forever
Not just twelve days in December
Through the year let's try to remember
That special way
That everyone feels
It's the magic of Christmas day

Oh and God bless us everyone
The good and the bad
The happy; the sad
Oh and God bless us everyone
Here's to family and friends
It's good to be here again

So fill your heart with love and joy
And through the eyes of girls and boys
Share their wonder, live through their joy
It's easy to do, just open your heart
The spirit will come to you

Oh and God bless us everyone
The good and the bad
The happy; the sad
Oh and God bless us everyone
Here's to family and friends
It's good to be here again

That's four... I could say SO much more, but I will leave it to that today.

Summing up November

Okay, so I crashed and burned at my reading challenge! I am reading two of the books, but I did not really finish anything all month. I am hoping to do better on that in December. I will finish those three books, just in a different month. I hope to try again next year, and maybe I will be a bit more organized! A lot happened in November, though. I had six essays due in two weeks. I had assignments. And today, I had my first final. I broke up with my boyfriend of over three years for good, so that was sad, but I am better now. And, there just seems like there are not enough hours in the day to read! So, while I have not really finished any books, this is what I have started and will hopefully finish in December, as of November 30, 12PM:

108 pages/357 pages in Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb
40 pages/538 pages in Flags of our Fathers by James Bradley
50 pages/359 pages in Black Powder War by Naomi Novik (I made the wall of shame.)
120 pages/447 pages in Deep Fathom by James Rollins
121 pages/235 pages in Never Have Your Dog Stuffed by Alan Alda
30 pages/258 pages in A Sunday at the pool in Kigali by Gil Courtemanche
241 pages/539 pages in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I also am reading Magic Study by Maria Snyder, but I do not have it near me. And another book that I will talk all about when I get further into it. Oh, and The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop which I could be done, but it is never around when I am reading. I seem to be in a variety mood lately.

I also got one of my "Christmas" presents today. The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly. I am very excited about that!

Lastly, as IF I need another challenge, but, I am joining in anyways:


Carl is having another challenge over at Stainless Steel Droppings, and I have decided to join in. I actually normally complete the challenges I join, the only one I crashed at was my own!

He begins by presenting this quote, which I am so nicely borrowing:

Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.
~Francis C. Farley

And, now, the point for those of you that read my blog and not his:

I have decided to call this one the 2006 G.I.F.T. Challenge. Giving Inspiration, Fostering Tradition. I know, it is pretty lame but I had to call it something. What you agree to do, if you choose to participate, is to partake of and/or post on any 4 of the following:

Christmas movies
Christmas novels/short stories
Christmas songs
Christmas poems
Christmas traditions
Christmas memories

The challenge comes in here: two of your 4 choices must either involve something completely new to you or something you haven’t read or watched in an inordinately long amount of time.

I know that many of you do not know this, but Christmas is my favourite time of year. So! Here is my challenge. I am going to post on each of those things at least once, minus the Christmas poem category (not a big poetry person). As well, I have already posted a list of Christmas books I would like to read in December, so two of them will count as the other half of the challenge.

My exam schedule should allow for this, but if I fail, well, exams are more important!

I just think that the categories are fun and I have lots that I can talk about!