Amazon Kindle eBook Reader

I already have TWO. I really love them, and would have stuck with one but found my husband really enjoys it too. So we got one of each variety (Kindle & Nook) and are able to enjoy the best of both worlds.

I think it's completely changed my reading habits. It's easier to read in bed, it's easier to read in the bath, it's easier to take with me, it's quicker to get new books. I find I read more, a bigger selection, quicker, and more enjoyably.

The only downside for me: None of the libraries in my area rent eBooks so I'm unable to borrow a book and have to pay for them all. It's not that I want everything for free, but right now I only buy an eBook if I KNOW I'm going to enjoy it so I don't take many risks. Plus the cost of eBooks are only going up and that makes it harder on my pocketbook.

Smoking.
Smoking is a personal choice. You had to choose to start. You have to choose - every day, multiple times a day - to light up. You have to choose to throw your money away. Bad choice.

Cursing.
It's one thing to curse on the uncommon occasion when you're really upset, it's something else to do it within the norms of conversation. If we're having dinner at a decent restaurant, I don't see any reason to be cursing. Keep it for later in the relationship when you're more familiar with my cursing limits.

Phone use while we're talking.
If you're expecting a call/text that's really important, let me know at the beginning and I can give you some lenience. But if we're having dinner, enjoying a conversation about a book I just read, and you pull out your phone to answer a call/text - not cool. Especially first date.

Angry political views.
I'm not saying that you're not allowed to have opinions, what I'm saying is that it's important to be REALLY familiar with your dates opinions before you start spouting off about the last election and how the nation is going down the crapper. Whether your party is or isn't in office is not first date material - at least not for me.

Unconversational.
Trying to round out my list - this seems like a given for dating but I've been on a date or two where the guy was a complete dud in the conversation. Unable to start it. Unable to hold it. If you're conversational, that just leads me to believe you don't care - at all. If we're dating, that means you shouldn't know everything about me - ASK.

I've had a love/hate relationship with Halloween, so this is a bit of a loaded question.

As a child, I celebrated and I remember having fun. I don't remember much, but I don't remember being scared, disappointed, or left out.

As a tween, I celebrated Halloween by visiting my church for a Fall Festival which was more about having fun on a day when other kids were having fun than dressing up or getting candy. There were no carved pumpkins, no ghosts or goblins. I remember having a LOT of fun during this period.

As a teenager, I was too old for the fun of the Fall Festival and yet still pressured to celebrate Halloween for some odd reason. I often spent Halloween at home or with friends watching scary movies. Halloween can land on any day of the week though, so more than once I've spent Halloween doing nothing special because of class the next day.

As an adult, I gave Halloween one more try - with my soon to be husband and best friend. We dressed up and walked around a very decorated neighborhood but didn't try and collect any candy. It was fun to dress up, but it quickly wore off. Without a party to go to, Halloween is pretty boring for adults.

Until... You have kids :D As a new mother, we've celebrated Halloween with a lot of anticipation and fun. Last year was my daughter's first Halloween, but she was sick (well, teething, but not full of life all the same) so this year we're hoping it goes better. It's fun to dress them up and not feel any of the pressure I remember.

I hate the pressure that females are under when it comes dressing up for Halloween. It's either, make your own costume which is hard for most, or buy a stripper inspired costume from a local shop. Every thing is labeled as, "sexy" or "naughty" or something to that effect. I'm hoping that by the time my daughter is older (and with a womanly figure) she understands that Halloween is not an excuse to dress like a "sexy" or "naughty" character.

debt

First, I would pay off our debt, which really isn't that much - especially compared to a million dollars. Then, I'd see about investing it verses the immediate good it would do my family. I know there is some of my family who could use a bit of help now - but I also know that letting the money build will help everyone around us in the long run.

I would probably also buy a house, but not with the intention of keeping it - just with the thought in mind that not paying a mortgage/rent payment each month will KEEP more of that million dollars. So it would be something modest and fitting for our one child family - while we wait for money to build so we can build the perfect house in the perfect location :D

I don't know if I would quit my job at first. I think that the cost of retirement and health/ dental/ vision insurance for the duration of my working years is more than a million dollars - no matter how well I invest it. I could be wrong though. I would probably wait until we were ready to build and move into our dream home, because I can guarantee you it would not be built in the Inland Empire of Southern California.

Calamari Rings - Limor's AUD29 main

I think the term "weird" would imply its something that not many people would consider food. I've never eaten anything weird. I'm not adventurous - food wise - so this answer is going to be "What is the most INTERESTING food you've ever eaten?"

Calamari. For those who are even less adventurous than me, that's squid. You can have it a few different ways. The way I've consumed it is in fried ring form. I've also been offered it in mini-squid fried form, but I passed. I have this thing about eating meat that is still in it's living form. Probably why I don't enjoy expensive seafood restaurants - I like lobster, but not in lobster form. I don't want to pull off it's legs, then break them in half, then dig out the meat. That seems barbarous and revolting to me.

I sound like I should be a vegetarian, huh?

I would eat it again, it was good - but its generally expensive and since I wont eat it as prepared in some restaurants, I have to be REALLY picky to get it.

I loved Sabriel. She's one of the only characters I've ever read that seemed A) Sensible B) Level-headed C) Sensitive D) A good problem solver. Plus, she had some amazing abilities and I'd rather be super natural if I had the choice :D

I loved how she dealt with difficult situations. She thought about it, decided on an action, and then did it. When she ran into a bump in the road she simply picked herself back up and kept going. Sure, there were times when she was down and out, but she didn't dwell on it and that was what I loved the most (or, at least the author didn't dwell on it).

I recommend this book because its the first in a series and I firmly believe that children latching onto a series is what keeps them going.

While the basic premise of this book is witches and wizards, the themes are really what make me think every child should read it. Its about living with a bad situation. Its about confronting your fears. Its about love and loss. Its about action and consequences. Friendships and family. It's about good triumphing over evil!

Also, it's well written without being "dumbed down" - which I think is amazing. Plus, if you read it from beginning to end, you really see a progression in the writing style that grows and matures with the characters. Brilliant - I can't say enough great things about these novels.

I would change it to Claire. I'm a fan of the traditional names all together, but Claire reminds me of the character Claire Fraser out of the Outlander series - who is a wonderfully brave woman. I know she's fictional, but I still admire her greatly.

In fact, I decided quite awhile ago that my pen name, were I to ever become a successful author, would be Claire McVay. Not sure where the last name came from, but I've always felt like they went well together.

Plath's poetic voice caused this novel to sound fluid and musical from the very beginning. I wanted to read it out loud it was so smooth and engaging.

Husband
He'd probably be in the audience watching, but if he weren't then I'd call him next. He's quick-like-mongoose with Google so he'd be ready if he didn't know the answer. Is googling cheating?

Jose
Anything movie related would go to Jose, he's the resident expert in my opinion :)

Life goes on.
I'm also not one to believe in tongue a sore tooth. I understand that it takes time to grieve but it shouldn't be a lifetime.

Remember your friends & family.
Your friends & family will always be there for you. ALWAYS. That's why I think it's so important to have strong friendships OUTSIDE of a relationship. There's and Angels & Airwaves song that says it best, "your best friend is not your girl friend" - or at least it shouldn't be your ONLY best friend.

Its better to face the truth, then to live in a lie.
Be glad you pulled off the band-aid and made the hard decision - even if you weren't the one to do it. If either of you were unhappy enough to want to break up then be glad you did.

I'm assuming that this is any "hue" of any color - and I'd choose GREEN. I think green looks best on me, even though most would assume blue given my blue eyes.

I discovered myself.
I don't think I know who I am exactly, but that's a bit exciting to realize I'm 26 years old and not quite done yet.

I studied abroad.
Let's face it, if I didn't go to college for fear of spending 50K and four years on something that wasn't going to employee me, I certainly wasn't going to ad another 10K or so for a semester in Italy.

Easy - and not very interesting - money. I need money. Lots & lots of money. If I could just pay off my debt & get Paul a reliable car I'd be happy with the tree dying then.

I don't know why I haven't! My sister & I were just talking about this, we need to make a trip. I hear its quite a drive though :)

My Car
Manual transmissions will be worth twice as much as I paid aside from inflation, perhaps the gasoline injected engine alone will make it a top dollar antique.

Partymate Bowling
Its an entire bowling alley in my lunchbox. ROCK ON! I have sumo wrestlers too :)