Word Verification Balderdash

Word Verification Balderdash is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World Of Books.

Here is what you do. You write down all the word verifications you come across as you are posting comments on other peoples blogs. You then play Balderdash with them. Now for those of you who don't know how to play, you take a made up word and come up with a authentic sounding definition for it. Do this for a week and then post your best ones every Thursday.

Here are mine for this week.

Bilies: Blue lilies that only grown during the first two weeks of winter. They are rare and found only in 7 spots in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Their exact locations are a highly guarded secret by the American Botanical Council of elders.

Ansfor: Slang term for "and so forth". Has become rather popular in the toddler populations of the U.S. and Canada as full sentence structure is still years away.

Noboisho: Form of Burlesque theater that was performed in Japan during the 1930's and 1940's. The women often time wore elaborate costumes and slowly stripped down to a full body suit that covered everything except the lower five inches of ankle.

Lostory: This term often refers to a tale that teaches a moral that only thieves and cutthroats could love. These stories are told from the point of view of the "lowest" in society and are structured in such a way to excuse and justify their base behavior.

Conis: This term refers to action taken by a conman to swindle a little, old lady out of her life insurance policy.

Favorite Fictional Character --- Robin Hood (2 of Them)

Well as you can tell from the title of this post I picked Robin Hood as this weeks Favorite Fictional Character. The dilemma for me is that I have two very different and very distinct versions of this character firmly planted in my brain, and I couldn't pick a favorite between them. So here I am blogging about both of them.

As you can tell from the striking pictures, the first version of this character I love is the one played by Errol Flynn; the swashbuckling nobleman who believes in England and will fight for King Richard with his last breath.

I must admit to falling in love with this movie at a very young age. After one viewing of the exploits and adventures portrayed in this movie, I was hooked for life. This version of Robin Hood was everything a little boy could dream of being. Handsome, debonair, noble, leader of men, and knows what is right and what is wrong. A man who will fight for what is good and just. A man who fights on behalf of those who don't have the strength to fight for themselves. A skilled combatant who could use a sword, bow, staff, or his fists to defeat the evil men of King John and the Sheriff of Nottingham. Plus he got the girl on top of that. What was there in this character that wasn't worth idolizing?

The second version of this character that still to this day never fails to enchant me is the wily fox in Disney's adaptation of the Robin Hood legend.

How could a kid not love such a witty, daring character that fights lions, snakes, wolves, and vultures. This was the story I loved told to me in a way that was pure, fun entertainment.

I have passed my love of these movies, I hope, down to my son. Since he is only 6, the wily fox is his favorite but I'm convinced he will grow to love the action and adventure found throughout both movies. I also hope he takes away from both these movies the importance of looking out for those who can't look out for themselves.

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Here is how it works.

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 "teaser" sentences from anywhere on the page.

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away) Just enough to pique our interest.

List the book and author so other participants can get their

hand on it if they choose to read it as well.

For This Week:

Darkness has no effect upon my fancy; and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which from being the seat of beauty and strength, and had become food for the worm. Now I was led to examine the cause and progress of this decay, and forced to spend the days and nights in vaults and charnel-houses.

From Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Mailbox Monday for September 7th, 2009

Mailbox Monday is a weekly meme hosted by The Printed Page. This is my first week participating so we will see how it goes.

I received Dark Time by Dakota Banks from the publicist. This is one of few urban fantasy books that I've wanted to read that I hadn't gotten around to yet so I was very thankful for it.

I received Pike Point by Greg Suhonen from the author. I'm excited about this one since it takes place in the region of MN that I'm from.

Then I went to the Friends of the Library bookstore and picked up 7 donated books (not old library books) for $5.50. I got the trade paperbacks for 50 cents a piece and the hardbacks for a dollar a piece. All of them were in great condition and look brand new.

Trade paperback of Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Trade paperback of The Eight by Katherine Neville

Trade paperback of The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Hardcover of Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice

Hardcover of Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson

Hardcover of Crossing Over by John Edward

Hardcover of The Elf Queen of Shannara by Terry Brooks

Under This Unbroken Sky Giveaway

Now that I've read the ARC and done my review and since I am buying the book, I want to pass this ARC to one lucky winner.

From the Publisher:

Spring 1938. After nearly two years in prison for the crime of stealing his own grain. Ukrainian immigrant Teodor Mykolayenko is a free man. While he was gone, his wife, Maria, their five children, and his sister, Anna, struggled to survive on the harsh northern Canadian prairie, but now Teodor-a man who has overcome drought, starvation, and Stalin's purges-is determined to make a better life for them. As he tirelessly clears the untamed land, Teodor begins to heal himself and his children. But the family's hopes and new found happiness are short-lived. Anna's rogue husband, the arrogant and scheming Stefan, unexpectedly returns, stirring up rancor and discord that will end in violence and tragedy.

Here is my review of the book.

Contest Rules:

1. Contest will run until Sept. 27th at 11:59 PM. Contest is open to U.S. and Canada only.

2. Earn one entry by leaving a comment including what time period you would want to live in given a choice. Please make sure you leave your email address.

3. Earn one extra point by following with Google Friend Connect or some other way. Leave a separate comment with the information.

4. Blog or Tweet about this contest. Leave a separate comment with a link so I can check it out.

The Superior Scribbler Award

I am absolutely enchanted with the image this award gives off. I don't know how many times as a kid I looked like this but I'm grateful for every moment I spent hunched over a table either writing or drawing. I received this award from two great bloggers who inspire me every time I visit their blogs. Michelle at The Book Addict and Alexia at Alexia's Books and Such... passed this wonderful award on to me and I'm truly grateful for it.

Here are the rules for this award:

1. Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

3. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.

4. Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

5. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

So the 5 fantastic blogs I want to pass this along too are:

Celia at Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia

Carolyn at Book Chick City

Beth at Beth's Book Review Blog

Peter at KyusiReader

Becke at The Mysterious Garden Muse

Please visit the wonderful "scribblings" of these talented bloggers!

My ABC's!

Krista at Life or Something Like It tagged me with this meme a few days ago and has since reminded me that she tagged with me it, so I decided I better get it done before she decides to send zombie penguins or rabid hyenas after me.

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Share your ABCs
3. Tag three people at the end by linking to their blogs
4. Let the three tagged people know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website
5. Do not tag the same person repeatedly but try to tag different people, so there is a big network of bloggers doing this tag

Available or single? Single, single, single, single, and doomed to be single for the rest of my natural life or until I actually accept a date. Whichever comes first.

Best Friend? My roommate Frankie

Cake or Pie? Can't stand the texture of cake, it creeps me out. The only pies I like are rhubarb, sweet potato, butterscotch cream, gooseberry, or blackberry. I do love cheesecake though.

Drink of choice? Water would be number 1. Then I would have to break it down from there. Non Alcoholic would be: hot tea, hot apple cider, and cranberry juice. Alcohol would be wine (red and dry), vodka (Grey Goose, Belvedere, or Absolut), and silver tequila (Patron Silver only). Now assuming I ever had the time to go out with friends (which I don't) those would be the items I would partake in. I just love long answers, don't you?

Essential item for every day use? Soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, books, and my computer

Favorite color? Blues and greens in every shade, hue.

Google? Too much for stuff I really don't need to know.

Hometown? Two Harbors, MN but currently live in Wichita, KS.

Indulgences? Books, books, books, books, the occasional DVD, followed by more books. Oh yeah I forgot about, and don't laugh, my addiction to calamari.

January or February? January hands down. I'm a winter boy, the colder the better.

Kids and their names? Aidan who is 6 and occasionally acts like he's 60.

Life is incomplete without…? My son, friends, books, Eeyore, tea, Scrabble, and politics.

Marriage? Not even close

Number of siblings? 1 brother

Oranges or apples? Oranges are OK and I only like green or crab apples.

Phobias and fears? Clowns, clowns on motorcycles, clowns stuffed in a car, clowns walking down the street, clowns carrying butcher knifes. I think you get the point!

Quote for the day? "Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death." Said by Mame Dennis in the great, great movie Auntie Mame.

Reason to smile? My son, my friends, winning a game of Scrabble, a good, hot cup of tea, and everyone single person reading these answers. You guys are the best and I'm thankful to you every day.

Season? Fall and Winter. I hate heat but love cool breezes, the leaves turning, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, snow, icicles and about a million other things about those two seasons.

Tag 3 people? I think everyone has been tagged by now, but if you are reading this and have not done this, consider yourself tagged! Follow the rules and everything will be OK.

Unknown fact about me? I still cry every time I watch Old Yeller or Bambi and Marley & Me had me bawling like a little baby.

Vegetable you hate? Unlike Krista I love squash, especially butternut squash. So I think the only "vegetables" I don't like are actually classified as fruits. I can't stand eggplant, avocado, and don't like tomatoes on hamburgers.

Worst habit? I like to argue a little bit too much.

X-rays you’ve had? Back, neck, head, chest, knee, and foot

Your fave food? Not sure if this is answerable without taking up a entire post. Calamari, clams, shrimp, cucumbers, radishes, lasagna, potato dumplings, ham, stuffing, au gratin potatoes, and I'll stop the list here because I'm getting hungry.

Zodiac sign? Leo and I was born in the Year of the Dragon.