Candy's Raves (and Rants)

How well do you know your child? How many parents knew their child was suicidal before they killed themselves? As parents, we like to believe we know our children, that we are close to them and that they tell us everything. Those of that remember being teenagers ourselves, know that isn’t actually true

I was up until 3am finishing this book. I could not put it down. In typical Picoult style, there’s the “shocking twist”, but the deeper levels of the book – how much you really know about your kids – is what kept me interested. I have a 4 and 6 year old. The fact that they will one day be teenagers scares the heck out of me.

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From the Publisher

Until the phone calls came at three o’clock on a November morning, the Golds and their neighbors, the Hartes, had been inseparable. It was no surprise to anyone when their teenage children, Chris and Emily, began showing signs that their relationship was moving beyond that of lifelong friends. But now seventeen-year-old Emily is dead—shot with a gun her beloved and devoted Chris pilfered from his father’s cabinet as part of an apparent suicide pact—leaving two devastated families stranded in the dark and dense predawn, desperate for answers about an unthinkable act and the children they never really knew.

Not Ann Rule’s best effort. The main story was too long – could have easily been … errr… chopped in half.

I didn’t like that some of these didn’t show dates or had assumed names of the “players” in the stories – this is supposed to true crime. For instance, I wanted to know more about one of the cases and what happened afterwards, but I couldn’t because I couldn’t find any information – no date, no names. This kind of defeats the purpose of true crime, in my opinion.

Anyway, it was good, just not her best and it annoyed me.

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Publishers Weekly
Prolific and talented true crime author Rule proves her warranted reputation as one of the genre’s leading lights with the 11th entry in her Crime Files series. Two-thirds of the book is devoted to one case, the disappearance of an elderly sea captain from his quiet community of Lopez Island in Washington State. As with many of the stories recounted in previous volumes, Rule succeeds in pulling the reader into a mystery that was largely of local concern. With a novelist’s skill, she brings to life the missing Norwegian mariner, Rolf Neslund, and his difficult marriage to Ruth Myers, who became the prime suspect after he vanished without a trace. Handicapped by the absence of a corpse, the local authorities, inexperienced in homicide inquiries, doggedly persisted over years until justice was won. The richness of this case does have the unintended effect of rendering the shorter sketches that follow-including the tale of a woman beaten into a coma, a murder victim found months after the fact and a young bank robber-less compelling, but few genre fans will complain; the Neslund case speaks for itself, as does Rule’s skill as a storyteller. (Nov.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Here’s a tip… if your girlfriend is stronger than steel and faster than a speeding bullet —- don’t piss her off. This was a silly movie, but great for if you’re looking for something really slap-sticky to watch.

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Description

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a bitter superwoman scorned! Fed up with his manipulative girlfriend, Jenny Johnson (Uma Thurman), New Yorker Matt Saunders (Luke Wilson) gives her the heave-ho and moves on with his life, leaving the heartbroken Jenny — aka G-girl — to do everything within her superpowers to humiliate Matt. Director Ivan Reitman’s slapstick fantasy comedy also stars Anna Faris, Rainn Wilson and Eddie Izzard.

Yes, I’m like 15. I love the American Pie movies. They are stupidly funny and the most immature movies ever made. Love them! This one wasn’t as good as the others, but it was still really great…

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Description

An offshoot of the raunchy yet successful imprint, The Naked Mile stars Steve Talley as Adam Stifler, the virginal cousin and polar opposite of Matt and Steve. Adam and his girlfriend decide not to have sex until they’re ready. But when Adam and his friends participate in his cousin’s university’s annual naked run across campus, Adam comes out of his prude shell and learns more about himself than he expects.

Meh. I can honestly say that I didn’t like any of the characters, none of them made me feel anything for them. I didn’t even dislike them. They just were. The story was way to think for such a long book. Anyone with half of a brain could easily have figured out the “big mystery” – yuck. I didn’t like this book. No sir. Didn’t like it. Book club is on Sunday… I wonder if anyone else liked it? Perhaps I’ll update this with their thoughts later… someone had to have liked it, right?

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From the Publisher

Randall Stargill lies dying on his southern Appalachian farm, and his four sons have come home to build him a coffin from the cache of rosewood he long has hoarded for the special purpose. Meanwhile, like a vulture hovering over prey, a local real estate developer is readying an offer for the farm that will be extremely hard for the heirs to refuse as soon as the old man is gone. And at the same time, mountain wise-woman Nora Bonesteel, Randall’s sweetheart of long ago, must bring to light a small box to be buried with Randall – a box containing human bones.

Tom and I watched this last night. We were interested in it because we saw The Prestige at the theater late last year and we liked it. This was interesting because they go in two different directions, but you can’t help but compare them. I will say that I liked the ending to The Prestige MUCH better than this one (which I figured out – Tom didn’t though! Woohoo!)… BUT for overall movie, The Illusionist was much much better.

Of course, I adore Edward Norton, I think he can act in anything, he’s simply amazing. The guy who played the prince was overshadowed by the police officer, who stole the scenes – he did a fabulous job. Great acting, cop-out ending though.

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Decription:
Set in early 1900s Vienna, Neil Burger’s romantic thriller centers on illusionist extraordinaire Eisenheim (Edward Norton), who falls for an aristocrat (Jessica Biel) well above his social standing. When she becomes engaged to Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), the master magician employs his powers to win her love. His daring scheme creates tumult within the monarchy and ignites the suspicion of Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti).

Sometimes funny, sometimes racy, mostly on the mark – this film is a must see if you are a movie buff. I have said at least a million times that the fact that full frontal nudity is considered NC-17 a lot of the time yet a movie where people die horrible graphic deaths gets an R rating is bogus. It’s just a boob, people. It won’t bite you. Aside from that…

The filmmaker does a great job or exposing the MPAA and the secret society of raters. I found it interesting that so few of them actually HAVE small children, heck one is an aspiring screen writer, for crying out loud! It also spoke volumes when they pointed out that gay films are given NC-17 ratings a lot more often than straight films (the comparison on screen to this was simply amazing – the differences are so small).

I didn’t realize there are no real written guidelines for the MPAA ratings. It seems pretty random the way the ratings are given to movies (I do recall that the latest Die Hard movie was given a PG-13 and that shocked me, most of those are pretty violent).

A great documentary. Go watch it.

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Description

Kirby Dick’s provocative documentary investigates the secretive and inconsistent process by which the Motion Picture Association of America rates films. Dick questions whether certain studios get preferential treatment, exposes the discrepancies in how the MPAA views sex and violence, and reveals the association’s efforts to control culture. Interviewees include John Waters, Darren Aronofsky, Maria Bello, Atom Egoyan, Kevin Smith and more.

I somehow missed this movie when it came out. I love Ben Stiller. I absolutely adore Edward Norton (you know you saw Fight Club, admit it!). I can even stand Jenna Elfman. But you put the 3 together and well… it doesn’t work. The actors seemed to struggle or something. The chemistry wasn’t there. Bad direction maybe?

The storyline was really cute though, Ben and Edward did great jobs with the characters separately and I laughed several times throughout it.

Worth a watch on a lazy Sunday

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Description

Despite differing faiths, the Rev. Brian Finn (Edward Norton) and Rabbi Jacob Schram (Ben Stiller) — who were boyhood pals — enjoy working together to spread “the word.” But when Anna Riley (Jenna Elfman) enters the picture, it creates a love triangle that threatens to destroy the men’s friendship as they jockey to win Anna’s hand in this divine comedy.

I am almost embarrassed to say that I’m just getting around to reading this book. It’s one of the most popular books for/by Virtual Assistants on the market today. I found a few things that apply to me now, but the book is written mainly for those that are just looking at getting started as a Virtual Assistant. Extraordinarily valuable for those that are thinking about starting a practice or are just taking those first few steps. A must read for that group. Well done, Ms. Ennen and Poelker!

Just a little side note: It’s very large. It had large type (which is great for my old eyes), but hard on the hands. I hope they release the next version in a trade size or paperback size.

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Product Description
Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA sets the stage for starting, operating, and growing a successful and PROFITABLE virtual assistant business. This book has already helped thousands of administrative assistants, word processors, and other office professionals realize their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.

The book covers all the business nuts and bolts including business and financial planning, pricing your services, billing, and setting up your business. Plus, it offers information on creating your web site, daily operational procedures and most importantly, how and where to find clients. Discover how to put your existing skills to work for clients around the globe and apply them across many different industries.

Still working full time? You can still do it! We’ll show you how to ease into your practice while working full-time AND continuing to care for your family.

Along with their personal experiences, the authors also include recommendations from virtual assistants across the land. These are the real pros that are now running successful businesses. You will find their suggestions in the “In Their Own Words” section at the end of each chapter and featured throughout the book. This will enable you to see how others are making their businesses successful and provide you with a blueprint on how to do the same with yours.

Cited as a “must have tool” for the VA industry, Virtual Assistant – The Series is currently used as training material for VA courses including: Virtual Assistance U, an online training center for virtual professionals; Red Deer College’s VA Certification Program (in Canada); and other higher level learning organizations and colleges who are recognizing the potential for growth and continued education in the VA industry.

Very funny book – I read this while on vacation with the family so it was the perfect book at the perfect time. As strange as it seems, it makes me want to retire to some old folk’s community when I get old and live my life in the sun and play shuffleboard, darn it! I know we can bring it back! I know we can!

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From the Publisher

Everyone says they would like to retire early, but Rodney Rothman actually did it — forty years early. Burnt out, he decides at the age of twenty-eight to get an early start on his golden years. He travels to Boca Raton, Florida, where he moves in with an elderly piano teacher at Century Village, a retirement village that is home to thousands of senior citizens.

Early Bird is an irreverent, hilarious, and ultimately warmhearted account of Rodney’s journey deep into the heart of retirement. Rodney struggles for acceptance from the senior citizens he shares a swimming pool with, and battles with cranky octogenarians who want him off their turf. The day-to-day dealings begin to wear on him. Before long he observes, “I don’t think Tuesdays with Morrie would have been quite so uplifting if that guy had to spend more than one day a week with Morrie.”

Rodney throws himself into the spirit of retirement, fashioning a busy schedule of suntanning, shuffleboard, and gambling cruises. As the months pass, his neighbors seem to forget that he is fifty years younger than they are. He finds himself the potential romantic interest of an aging femme fatale. He joins a senior softball club and is disturbed to learn that he is the worst player on the team. For excitement he rides along with a volunteer police officer on his patrols, hunting for crime. But even the criminals in his community seem to have retired.

Early Bird is a funny, insightful, and moving look at what happens to us when we retire, viewed from a remarkably premature perspective. Any reader who plans on becoming an old person will enjoy joining Rodney on his strange journey, as he reconsiders hisnotions of romance, family, friendship, and ultimately, whether he’s ever going back to work.