[You can find this layout here ... Credits: Wondrous kit by creashens, at twolittlepixels. Font: Segoe Script.DJB Pookiedoo.
More surfing photos from my surfing/photography buddy, taken during yesterday's surfing session ... he gets a LOT closer to our surfers than I would, with my big camera! It was storming violently up north this afternoon, so it was a little overcast during the swim.
I have a love/hate relationship with the beach ... I love the warmth and the sun and the beauty, I hate the stickiness, the sand on my feet, the humidity. I love that my family loves to surf and swim, I hate what swims underneath them, cruising hungrily below their tempting toes and surfboards. I love the relaxed, laid-back feel of the holiday, I hate the commercial crassness of the Christmas season, the crowded shops even down here at the beach, the cranky parents, the sunburnt and fretful kids, so totally out of routine, wandering aimlessly and noisily through the malls. I love the 'no make-up for the week' rule I have set myself, but I hate looking at myself in the mirror, where the clear summer light highlights my wrinkles. I love the night lights, the colours and twinkles from surrounding units, the light reflecting off the ocean, but I hate that the sun and my family gets up before 5 am each morning. I love the relaxed dress code we adopt, but hate that despite being on holidays, there is still always laundry to be done!!! Ahh ... the summer holidays!
Book review time ... today, I'm looking at a faerie series by Melissa Marr ...
Here's a taste of what the first book, wicked lovely, is about ...
Aislinn has always followed the rules. Her Grandmother has drilled them into her since she was a young child. Don't stare at invisible faeries. Don't speak to invisible faeries. Don't ever attract faeries' attention. Aislinn has developed the skill to ignore them. She walks passed them without flinching even when the faeries are pinching or touching others around her like they love to do.
Faeries come in many shapes and sizes and Aislinn has seen them all. She's seen them in the glamours they wear in order to pass as humans and can pick one out of a crowd even when they are trying to blend in. Aislinn has never been surprised by what she has seen them do – that is, until they start breaking the rules.
Faeries don't like steel. It causes them pain and weakens them. Because of that, Aislinn's "safe" place has always been Seth's house. Seth is a long time friend who happens to live in a converted steel train car. Aislinn always knew if she could make it there she'd have peace because the faeries could never follow her into the train yard. But, something has changed. They are creeping closer and closer and paying more attention to her. They are even gathering outside Seth's place. [review by Karin]
The girl and I enjoyed the series, I think I liked the first book the most, she liked book 3 best. She read ahead of me, and when she had finished, she said, 'I'm glad I read them first, because you mightn't have let me read the series!' LOL, they are 'young adult' in content, so check them out first before sharing with tweens or younger. I sneakily pinch the girl as she goes past me, and then blame the faeries, he he he. I love the covers of the book ... I am a big 'cover fan', often drawn into picking up a book in a bookstore, attracted by the artwork. Ohhhh, looks like book 4 in the series, radiant shadows, is out in April of 2010 ... enjoy! :)
