Tuesday Tunes

God Bless the Broken Road!

Summer Book Giveaway! Week Three!

It's the third week of our giveaway! For a chance to win your choice of book or prize, do one or more of the below:

Answer the question:

What is the first novel you remember reading?

or

2+ Follow my blog Of Thoughts and Words
1+ Leave a comment on the blog
2+ Follow me on Twitter @worddiaries
1+ Tweet me @worddiaries the first novel you remember reading

2+ Like Family Reads fan page

1+ Leave a comment on the Family Reads page

Monday Muse

A very pretty flower that I saw on a stroll Sunday around noon.

I think it is so funny sometimes when people talk about Monday blues and what not. Well, today I was NOT laughing! neither were my little ones! For some reason, everyone was just off. I was extremely tired, despite have a fairly decent and relaxing weekend, the children were tired and cranky with one another, my poor co-teacher had fewer than four hours of sleep before having to open our classroom at 6:30 in the morning. But somehow, we pulled it all together and had the children giggling and marching to the tune of "Dinosaur March" and waving colorful rainbow ribbons. :D






My two siblings. Check out the amazing view! This was taken at my sister's university. I love Mount Rainier! It will be feeding my muse for the rest of the week! :D

Book Giveaway Winner #2

!!!!CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

And the winner of this week's Summer Book Giveaway is....

~drum roll please~

dum dum dum dum

!!!! Fida @Poet_Fida !!!!!!

(Fida, please contact me so I can send you your choice of book from the bookshelf)

With winners every week, please stay tuned for next week's winner.....

Thoughtful Thursday

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.Watch your words, for they become actions.Watch your actions, for they become habits.Watch your habits, for they become character.Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

Tuesday Tunes

To all my writer friends! Be free and wave your pens and papers like a waving flag:D LOL!

Freedom to imagine,

Freedom to create,

Freedom to inspire,

Freedom to achieve!

Character Clue: Nusa

Illustration and Writing Copyright © 2011 SN Taylor, All Rights Reserved

Naqabashi Warrior: Nusa

I’m no human, but even I know it is rude to sneak up behind someone and spy on her. Yes. I am talking to you there, peeking from around the door, hiding behind your wall of silence and cloak of secrecy. Come in. You have many thoughts on your mind and unless you spit them out of your human mouth, they will remain a loud turbulent storm crashing about in your head and mine. You have no idea how annoying that is for my kind and me. While you may not recognize the sensation of your roaming untrained thoughts, it is a cause of great mental disturbance for us. Yes, human, I am telepathic. I can read your thoughts, feelings and emotions even as you stand there behind the door. What am I? What rock do you live under? Have you not heard of my kind? Really, your inferior intellect is most taxing! There is not a warrior or space faring traveler who has not heard of the Naqabashi. Our battles are most historic and memorable, well; at least for us they are, we have lost nearly none. Stop trembling, and do come in. I’m not going to tear you apart, despite what may be rumored about us, Naqabashi are not THAT violent, unless of course you give us a reason. Be quick before I change my mind. I have never trusted humans, but you are different.

Check out Nusa's profile.

A Special Gift for Daddy

Adila was sitting on her porch. It was father's day and she did not have a special gift for her father. She sat with her face resting in her hands. A bee buzzed around in the garden. It was a big fat fuzzy bumble bee. She watched as it danced in the air.

"What do you think I should get daddy for father's day," she asked out loud.

As if the bee heard her, it danced in circles until it landed on a lavender flower.

"Daddy likes the color purple, but he is allergic to flowers," she shook her head.

The bee danced in circles away from the garden. Adila stood up and followed it. The bee landed on leaf near a bunny napping in a patch of grass.

"How cute," Adila whispered, "but daddy is also allergic to animal fur," she shook her head.

The bee passed a frog sitting on a lily pad and circled over the pond with little fish. Adila thought for a while.

"Daddy does like to fish and this is his favorite pond, but we did that yesterday," she shook her head.

Adila followed the bee as it danced in circles until it landed on her porch. Adila sat down on the porch with her face in her hands.

"I'll never find a special gift for daddy for Father's Day," she said shaking her head.

With a zip and a buzz, the big fat fuzzy bee quickly disappeared into the trees behind the garden. Adila heard a buzz, then two, three, and four, then more. She looked up and saw many big fat, fuzzy bumble bees dancing in circles in her garden. The bumble bees formed the shape of a heart and buzzed loudly for Adila to hear and see. Adila smiled a great big smile.

"I know what I can give daddy for Father's Day," she said nodding her head.

She ran into the house and jumped into daddy's arms and squeezed him tight.

"I LOVE YOU, DADDY," she said with all her heart.

Thought for the day: Just Write

As I browsed the web today, I visited Polaris Blog and a wonderful quote caught my eye!

"If you're going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write.

Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come.

You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow."

~ Louis L'Amour

I love this quote. It is true on so many levels, not just writing. IF you want to be or do anything, you have to take the first step. Nothing comes to the one who just waits for something to happen. Do and you will be! :D

A tribute to dad...Happy Father's day!

A Dad is a person who is loving and kind,

And often he knows what you have on your mind.

He's someone who listens, suggests, and defends.

A dad can be one of your very best friends!

He's proud of your triumphs,

but when things go wrong,

A dad can be patient and helpful and strong

In all that you do, a dad's love plays a part.

There's always a place for him deep in your heart.

And each year that passes, you're even more glad,

More grateful and proud just to call him your dad!

Thank you, Dad...

for listening and caring, for giving and sharing,

but, especially, for just being you!

Happy Father's Day.

- Author Unknown

Picture Prompt: Rear View Mirror

He said he'd never let me leave, holding my throat in the grip of his rage.

He said I'd never make it out the door.

He said I was stupid, worthless and could never make it on my own.

He said I needed him to live, to survive.

He said many things that night.

But he lied.

My throat has healed and all I see now is my shackled past in the rear view mirror.

SiS Read-a-thon Update

It is 12:45 am and I am ready for bed! but not before giving an update on my summer reading! SO I choose to start off with Shadow Zone by Iris and Roy Johansen. I had hoped to finish the whole novel but I did not get a chance to start until this evening after work. Here is my update:

1. First of all, give us an end-of-day status update. Books read, pages read, you know the drill! 197 pgs
2. What is the favorite thing you have read today? A few quotes from a few twitter friends! :)
3. Which mini-challenge was your favorite? ..I didn't get to do any of the mini-challenges :(
4. What has been your favorite thing about the read-a-thon? it made me sit down and read LOL!
5. What has been your LEAST favorite thing about the read-a-thon? Not having the time to do it. Week days are better for me.
6. Are you on track to meet your goals? not really.
7. Will you be participating tomorrow? Do you have any new goals? Yes and no

Picture Prompt: Still Standing

Pic from here

THEY came to our world without warning or invitation. In a single bright flash, they changed our very existence. We once ruled the forest, holding it together with our gripping roots; our strong, ever-reaching branches and thick leaves protected all who sought refuge from the burning rays of light. We were alive. We guarded and protected for as far and wide as the eye could see. Then THEY came, invaders, thieves, consuming every goodness we had to offer, even those we tried to hide. When THEY were done and could not take anything else from us, they left. In a single bright flash, they were gone leaving us to take our last breath. But even in death, we still stand, watching over the memories of our legacy and centuries past.

Yep! I got the summer reading fever! :D

This post is to announce to the world that I'm participating in the Spring into Summer read-a-thon hosted by Enna Isilee of Squeaky Books!

This read-a-thon is going to be so great! It's two days where you try do NOTHING but read. It's a great chance to get rid of some of those books that have been sitting on your TBR pile forever.

But that's not all! There will also be awesome mini-challenges and a TON of giveaways! In fact, just for signing up you are entered to win a $25 gift card to Amazon! SO GO SIGN UP! And if you say that Saba sent you, you'll get 5 extra entries to win that gift card! CLICK HERE to enter to win, and know all there is to know about the read-a-thon.

Here's my goal:

I plan to participate on: BOTH DAYS, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
I plan to read: # 2 maybe more if I have time :D
I hope to read: Shadowzone, The Maze Runner.......

Well, have you signed up yet? DO IT NOW!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Book Review: The Ark

The Ark: Book Review

I give this book 3.95 stars. This was really interesting book to read. I love books that are centered on archeology ever since I fell in love with Star Gate's character, Daniel Jackson, who was an archeologist that studied ancient Egypt's pyramids.

The Ark also explored the age-old story of Noah's ark in the bible, its location and its history and a secret treasure hidden within it. The theory posed in this story of what the ark really looked like was different but very interesting and entertaining. The chapters were packed with lots of action. Something was happening in each chapter, either someone or something was blowing up or a piece of information was being obtained to move the story along. I love a story that does not have sex scenes or romantic elements. This story almost satisfied me in that respect but of course the lead male and female characters were so closely involved in the mystery and the fact that they shared one thing in common, someone wanted them both dead, they spent quite a lot of time together. What happens when two people spend that much time together? Yeah, one or both start developing feelings for the other and the rest is history. Now, while there was that element, I loved that I only had to skip maybe a few paragraphs of one such encounter and a kissing scene. Two scenes are not bad for an adult novel. I appreciated that because I really liked the story and all the thrills, action and mystery.

Short Summary of The Ark (hopefully I don't give any spoilers!)

Dilara Kenner is a well-known archeologist on a Peruvian dig. She suddenly finds herself thrust into a whirlwind of chaos when Sam Watson, an old family friend, contacts her about some information about her father, Hasad Arvadi, who has been missing for three years. Just before he tells her what he knows, Sam is killed right in front of her eyes. She learns about her father's recent research and finds out he found the real Noah's ark and that he wasn't just missing, but it was most likely he was dead, killed for something that would change the face of humanity. Just before Sam takes his last breath, he is able to tell her to get help from Tyler Locke. She does, only Tyler has no clue who or what she is talking about or why a man named Sam Watson would send her to him. Tyler is an engineer. Dilara manages to make contact with Tyler on an oil rig in the Atlantic ocean. She barely escapes a helicopter crash as she reaches his rig. When something goes wrong on the rig that cause a huge explosion, Tyler is convinced that someone wants Dilara and Tyler dead for something they may or may not know. Being an ex-military type, he takes it personal when his life and the life of his military friend Grant are threatened. He takes her back to Seattle which starts a whole new ball of death traps, attempted assassinations, and more dead ends but they also find out that her father's research about the secret of Noah's ark and the mysterious death of Hayden, a famous star, are connected. They also find out they have less than a week to discover who is trying to kill them, why their killers want them dead, what killed Hayden and his entire flight crew, and where the real ark is before the world as they know come to an end.

Book Giveaway Winner #1

!!!!CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Our first winner of the Summer Book Giveaway is....

~drum roll please~

dum dum dum dum

!!!! Zara @Inspired_Author !!!!!!

(Zara, please contact me so I can send you your choice of book from the bookshelf)

With winners every week, please stay tuned for next week's winner.....

Book Review: Mr. Monk on the Road

I really enjoyed this story in the Monk series, "Mr. Monk on the Road." It started off as usual with Monk being involved and solving a murder then it moved on to the subject in the title, him getting his brother out of his house and hitting the road in an RV camper. At first, everything seemed random, the way he kept finding murders and trying to get involved with each case. Notice I said TRYING, with Teeger by his side, she kept him focused on their mission, to show his brother, Ambrose, the world with out stepping foot outside the comfort and safety of his 'home' aka, the RV camper. I kept wondering what the end would hold for me as I am use to Monk stories being about a particular quest to solve a particular murder mystery with lots of yummy mysteries in between. I was floored at the end of the book. It was everything I hoped it to be. Mysteries solved! This story is all about making sacrifices and facing fears, something Teeger and the Monk brothers have to overcome.

* * * * * stars all the way!!!!!! :D

Summer Book Giveaway!!!!

Summer is finally here and school is out! What better time to hit the libraries, bookstores and friends bookshelves for the ultimate reading experiences. How about free books? Yes, everyone loves free! :D Of Thoughts and Words blog will be giving away free books and other fun surprises all summer long. This is what you have to do to enter.....

2+ Follow my blog Of Thoughts and Words
1+ Leave a comment on the blog
2+ Follow me on Twitter @worddiaries
1+ Tweet me @worddiaries your favorite summer activity

2+ Like Family Reads fan page

1+ Leave a comment on the Family Reads page

Check out the Bookshelf for the first wave of prize books. I will add books and other prizes every Sunday.

*If you are under the age of 18, please be sure to get your parents permission. If you win, I will need a name and an address to send you your book prize. :)

Happy Reading (and writing!)

The Sound of the Universe

I am a stargazer at heart. Everything about the universe makes me swoon. It's beauty, diversity, mystique, grandeur, and vastness is breathtaking. But what is it like out there? Have you ever wondered what the universe sounds like as you gaze out at the night sky. What about a galaxy, a star or even a passing comet. What does a star nursery sound like. Is it loud, explosive, deafening, or quiet, peaceful, and faint. I would imagine it has to have some kind of sound. Nothing as violent as a supernova can be silent. Or even the birth of a star, combustion has to have a sound of some kind. Below is a beautiful video of pictures of the universe as seen through the lens of the Hubble. While it does not have the sound of the universe on it, the pictures can only make you wonder, dream and guess what it is really like out there, sounds and sights alike!

Enjoy!