Books!

I moved to San Diego in the middle of August and to say I've gone through a few books would be a misrepresentation of the facts.

I've gone through a lot of books. Bolded.

It's what happens when you don't have cable! Because I seem to be reading quite a bit, I would love any suggestions on your favorites and what I should add to my list. Here's what I've read since I moved:

1. The Imperfectionists
Tom Rachman
304 pages

This was one of those Costco specials that my mom picked up for me while browsing. It was good for a quick read, but the ending...it just...ended. All of that great character development was completely thrown away. What happened to everyone??? I finished the last page and thought to myself "Wait, that's it? That's the end?" I still enjoyed it though.

I think some people may agree with me:

2. Heads in Beds
Jacob Tomsky
320 pages

This one was one of my random pick-ups at a Barnes and Noble. I don't usually laugh to myself (out loud) when I'm reading funny books, but this one had me cracking up a few times. After working with the public for years I can appreciate the feel and narration of the book. All of the offensive things he thinks to himself while helping difficult people -> we all think that. He just wrote it in a book. I also learned a ton of stuff about the hotel business.

Overall, I would recommend this one (especially for the Plier family if they are reading this!). I read a few of those negative reviews and they sound like they may have come from some of those...difficult customers :)

3. Words of Radiance

Brandon Sanderson

1088 pages

READ THIS. I'm serious. But first read The Way of Kings because that's the first book in the series - The Stormlight Archives - and Words of Radiance is the second. I'm not usually the type of person to re-read books once I'm done, but I read The Way of Kings five times (actually) because I kept picking up on new details and nuances, which made the story more interesting and complex. Brandon Sanderson is a genius. This is one of the best series of books I've ever read and it's supposed to go for ten books. Awesome.

Read it:

4. Merry Christmas Alex Cross

James Patterson

353 pages

Meh. It probably didn't help that I hadn't read any Alex Cross books before, but I felt underwhelmed. People who follow this series will most likely have a bigger appreciation for it. It's a quick read - I finished it in a day.

I actually think this rating is too high: 

5. Skin Game

Jim Butcher

464 pages

This is the latest book in the Dresden Files. I've gone through the other 14 books in the series at least twice so I obviously think it's worth reading. This one was good too! If you're looking for another set of books to start on, I would recommend the Dresden Files as well. Funny, entertaining, clever, unexpected plot twists, plays on lots of different mythical lore, stories, and creatures from all areas of the world.  

Agree:

6. The Black Prism

Brent Weeks

688 pages

This book started out with a really different type of magic, so I was intrigued. Overall, I really enjoyed the book, but I found the middle portion boooooooring (the formation of the giant wall). I felt like it drug on way too long in some scenes and not enough in others. There is one plot twist where I actually hung my mouth open, so that was fun. 

I will most likely read the rest of the books in The Lightbringer series:

7. First Lord's Fury

Jim Butcher

784 pages

To be fair, I only finished this book while I was here, I started it in Washington. BUT, it's a very good series (Codex Alera series). This is the final book of the bunch and it's another one that kept me entertained. I think I liked some of the earlier books better, but this was still an entertaining read.

Too bad it's over!

7. The Name of the Wind

Patrick Rothfuss

722 pages

This is another one of those YOU HAVE TO READ THIS books. It's that good and easily becoming one of my favorites. I'm almost done with this one (the first in the Kingkiller Chronicle series) and then I have the second one to read: The Wise Man's Fear. I can sit with this one for hours and I don't get restless - I've looked at the clock before in the middle of reading and been surprised at how much time has passed.

Terry and I like this series so much we included the first two books as part of Kaleo and Zac's wedding gift. We also wanted to give them the first two books of the Stormlight Archives (Brandon Sanderson) but we couldn't find the first one at the bookstore in Honolulu!

Still on the reading list:

1. The Riverman

Robert D. Keppel

475 pages

2. Degree of Guilt

Richard North Patterson

534 pages

Those two were sent from my mom, who picked them up in a free pile. Thanks mom!

3. The Magician's Land

Lev Grossman

416 pages

This is the last part of a series called the Magician's Trilogy and they are also very good. But to read this one I have to reread the first two because I forgot a lot of what happened.

I'M SO EXCITED

I found out Terry bought me a new ipod as a surprise (mine broke two weeks ago) and it's in the mail AND he's loaded it with audio books that I can listen to at work. YESSSSSS. He's the best.

Oahu: Day 5 + Travel

Day 5:

Beach! It was our last day to play in the water and we saw jumping fish this time!

On my running route each morning I would jog by a tree that caught my eye, but I never had a camera with me and I kept forgetting to go back and take pictures. Well, I remembered to go back on the last day! This tree was memorable because it was weird.

1. It was enormous.
2. There were dangling vines from every branch down to the ground.
3. What the hell was that fruit hanging from it?

I kid you not, this tree is called a sausage tree. I guess the fresh fruit is poisonous so it gets dried, roasted, etc before being eaten. The fruit is so large that you have to be careful about where to plant one because tree nurseries warn that falling fruit can cause serious harm to humans and damage cars. Falling sausage fruit?

Awkward.

On a recommendation from some of Kaleo's friends at the wedding, Terry and I went to Kalapawai Cafe for dinner in Kailua. When we return to Oahu, this will be a repeat restaurant. Soooo good. We sat outside on the deck and watched one of those random storms roll in.

Travel:

I found one of the better mullets of my life in the Honolulu airport.

Oahu: Day 4 KALEO'S WEDDING!!!

Finally! I get to write an entry about Kaleo's wedding day.

No beach time for us on the morning of day 4 because we had a lot of work to do. First, Terry and I went to Macy's to pick out some bitchin Hawaiian shirts. I think Terry's ultimate dream would be a closet full of these. While there were some hilarious choices there, we kept it classy and picked out shirts with very cool prints. Again, Kaleo was super helpful with her recommendations.

Kaleo had asked me a few weeks before if I would be able to help setting up the ceremony and reception area because she would be off-site for most of the day. It's nice that she trusts me not to draw penis figures on her wedding favors.

Terry dropped me off at the venue several hours before the ceremony. On our way in, we couldn't stop taking pictures. The venue was called Ko'olau Ballrooms and I keep telling everyone that it ruined all future wedding venues. For mainlanders like us, scenery like this takes your breath away. I even wrote in an email to Kaleo that her venue was so beautiful Terry could just marry me next to a dumpster because we wouldn't be able to find a place as cool as that.

Our drive in:

I met Kaleo's aunt Keri, her sister Kaliko, and her friend Chelsie and we started on the flowers!

For those of you that know Kaleo, she is organized enough that doing all this work was fun and easy. All of the supply bins had labels and directions, she provided us with printed out photos of examples, and when we were confused about the light pink and dark pink carnations she actually answered her phone and sounded happy. Not that she wouldn't normally answer her phone, but...wedding day...

See those directions on the table?? Awesome.

The finished tables:

We also hung jars of white mums from the chairs at the ceremony site.

Kaleo and Zac's ceremony site was just outside the ballrooms. I took these before anyone got there.

One of the last tasks (other than stuffing as many of the remaining flowers as possible into the table centerpieces) were the bridesmaid's bouquets. Kaleo chose her two sisters Kaliko and Kawehi as her bridesmaids and by the random chaotic chance that is wedding preparation, I worked on centerpieces while their boyfriends were the ones to completely build the bouquets. They did a really good job!!

When I finally finished and made it to the bathroom to change into my wedding clothes, I found the bride and the flower girl there!

Terry returned to the venue and met me outside and we waited for Kaleo and Zac's wedding to start!

This is one of my favorite pictures from that day because it includes Kaleo, her mom, and her dad as she is about to walk down the aisle.

They were so happy!

Inside, the reception started while Kaleo and Zac took photos outside. They had special drinks at the bar. Guava = delicious.

First dance:

During the reception, we found out that her sisters were also going to do a special dance. They will probably read this and I want them to know that it was one of my favorite parts of the night. I had never seen such effortless dancing and you could tell they really loved their sister.

This family is full of talent. Kaleo's dad also sang her a special song and it was so much fun to watch.

Instead of a large cake, Kaleo and Zac chose to have cupcakes (yes!!).

This is another one of my favorite photos of the night. Mother/son, father/daughter dance.

Near the end of the night we were in for another surprise! Kaleo had written a song for Zac and sang it to him in front of everyone. It was so good she completely silenced the room while we listened.

At the end of the reception:

I'm so happy that Kaleo invited us to her wedding. I can't wait to visit again!

When Terry and I got back to our cottage that night we were putting things away when I spotted...one of those lizards...Here's Terry catching it with a bowl.