• I'm a Christian, a mom, stepmom and wife first and foremost.

    I try to be durned great at all of those roles.

    I have trouble being a "submissive" wife.

    I tend to be goofier than my kids - at times.

    I have books on every flat (and not so flat surface) in the house.

    I am an absolute geek and nerd.

    I am a master of sarcasm.

    I am very reserved.

    I enjoy wine a bit much

    I read more than most people brush their teeth.

    I like my solitude a bit too much for many.

    I have an incredible repertoire of mean/confused/aggravated expressions.

    I don't like sweets.

    I love horror - movies, books, personal stories, whatever.

    I will fight for my kiddo to the end - try me.

    I would be a life long student if I didn't have to work for a living.

    I can kick your butt in trivial pursuit!

    I hate drama.

    I love the smell of books.

    I have a strong desire to take books and hug them and even consider kissing them when I get a new one! (geek alert)

    I blog about nothing ness, randomness, mommy ness and books.

  • Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

  • Quote:

    "Read me a book and I’ll be entertained for a day, teach me to read and I’ll have a nervous breakdown when I realize I can’t read every book I see.”
  • Photobucket

  • 101 Things About Me

    I decided to do this ‘101 Things About Me’ thing because I read some others and I felt like I was having wine with the folks who wrote them. And durn it, do I love wine. 1. I am blessed.
    2. I am the oldest of 3 children.
    3. I am the only girl.
    4. I have 3 step brothers and 1 half brother in addition to my birth brothers.
    5. Because I grew up with so many boys, I received boy toys as gifts.
    6. I didn’t have a birthday cake until I was in my twenties.
    7. Prior to that, I had had two birthday parties.
    8. I started cooking the family meal at 12. All of it. Every day.
    9. My mother used to take in foster kids.
    10. Edited due to my new found love of people.
    11. I love my family something fierce.
    12. I am pro-choice and have experienced the horror of an abortion.
    13. I have experienced the horror of a rape.
    14. I have battled a bi-polar disorder for at least 12 years.
    15. I have been depressed severely enough to seriously contemplate suicide.
    16. I imagined my funeral, and the sadness of my family members and decided I couldn’t do that to them. I lived for them for a few years.
    17. I am a natural redhead. I dye my hair various shades of red because I bore easily.
    18. There are angels. I do not doubt that one bit.
    19. And ghosts. I know this.
    20. My Mom's Mom and I have a very special bond.
    21. I also have a very special bond with my stepmom.
    22. Marriage is not all sunshine and flowers. In fact, I would say it was freaking hard work.
    23. I have never seen my husband cry. Edited to add: Until seeing The Time Traveler's Wife. And then it was more of a I Heard Him Crying incident.
    24. I don't think I'll ever be too old to hear my Dad say he's proud of me.
    25. My husband is my #1 fan. And I am his.
    26. I had a loooooooong life before marriage came along. Sometimes I’m cool with that. Sometimes I'm not.
    27. I didn’t become a Christian till my late twenties.
    28. I loved to climb trees when I was a kid.
    29. My best friends growing up taught me to kiss – on a tree.
    30. My right foot is bigger than my left by a size. Both my second toes are longer than any of the others.
    31. I won 3rd place in a spelling bee in 6th grade without studying.
    32. I like the smell of gasoline.
    33. I have a scar in my right eyebrow. I tried to fly off the table and busted my eye open.
    34. I don't plan ahead very well. Actually, that's not true. I plan ahead just fine. It's the execution of the plan that is often the problem.
    35. I have a crush on Joaquin Phoenix. My husband thinks he is ugly. Obviously, I do not.
    36. I take physical, spiritual and emotional comfort from the presence of books. 37. I prefer eye glasses to contact lenses.
    38. If I could afford it, I would spend the rest of my life in school.
    39. I watch very little TV, and yet will still pay for digital cable so I can watch The Tudors. Edited to add: we no longer have cable but I do Netflix The Tudors and True Blood
    40. I have a hard time comprehending the fact that some people don't read for pleasure.
    41. I don't write as often as I should.
    42. I can hold a grudge for way too long.
    43. It is tremendously easy to annoy me. Some people do it by merely existing
    44. I am cynical and suspicious by nature.
    45. Halloween is my favorite holiday.
    46. I dislike being asked to provide the name of my favorite song, film, book, etc - because I find these things change moment to moment.
    47. I prefer to be barefoot.
    48. When a film based on a book comes out, or a movie remake is released, I feel the need to read the book and/or see the original film version, regardless of whether or not I plan to see the remake.
    49. My brain is my own worst enemy; especially when I'm asleep.
    50. Someday I'd like to open my own bookstore.
    51. I readily admit to being a geek. Also a dork, and possibly a nerd - although somehow I fear being bad with numbers precludes me from being a nerd.
    52. I can become bored with a job very easily.
    53. I prefer to be continually challenged.
    54. I am fan of horror fiction (books, film etc) - and my tastes run the gamut from classic suspense to full-on, gorey slasher stuff.
    55. I always have a thing for vampire fiction.
    56. I have a fairly dark sense of humor.
    57. I am a caffeine fiend. Pass the Diet Coke please.
    58. I hate getting gifts. Its very awkward for me.
    59. I have been stalked – in real life, not just online.
    60. I’m messy but not dirty.
    61. If left alone, I can read an entire book in a day.
    62. I constantly re-read books.
    63. I have never lived by myself.
    64. I love Diet Cherry Coke more than any other type of soft drink.
    65. I am Cherokee on my mother's side and Cherokee-Irish on my father's. All told, I am ¼ Cherokee.
    66. I think most dolls are incredibly creepy.
    67. I have four holes in my left ear, five in my right, one in each nipple and one Monroe piercing.
    68. I have three tattoos.
    69. I have plans for at least four more.
    70. I can’t drive a standard.
    71. I can blow bubbles inside of bubbles with bubble gum.
    72. I have long, complicated, vivid dreams nearly every night.
    73. Like Scout from “To Kill a Mockingbird”, I don’t remember ever not knowing how to read. (According to my mom, I actually started to read when I was three years old.)
    74. I hate driving in the rain, especially at night.
    75. I am very impatient.
    76. I have always believed I will die before my 35th birthday
    77. I detest having my picture taken.
    78. I am a dedicated mother.
    79. I can be a good liar.
    80. I cry too easily – but not about my own situations.
    81. I wish with every fiber of my being that I lived next to the ocean.
    82. When I was in elementary school, I made a daily trip to the HS via short bus to take part in a gifted class and learned French.
    83. I can’t speak any foreign language today.
    84. I quit the gifted class because the teachers treated me funny.
    85. I secretly wish I could sew my own clothes.
    86. I puke when cleaning up a child’s puke. Or hearing someone puke. Or thinking about it.
    87. I don’t understand Monty Python movies.
    88. I despise shopping.
    89. I despise malls and crowds.
    90. I have sleep apnea and sleep about 12 hours a day.
    91. I did inhale.
    92. I dislike girlie things.
    93. But I used to want to be a ballerina.
    94. Much to my daughter’s amazement, I can do a cartwheel that ends in the splits.
    95. My gym teacher urged me to take gymnastics. My mom refused.
    96. I talk to myself in my head.
    97. I am not very observant.
    98. I want to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.
    99. I love red wines.
    100. I wish I were crafty.
    101. I take medication. I hate it.

Keith’s Relationship/Self Help Book Challenge For Jen

Posted on December 17, 2007 by sarcasticredheadedgeek

I asked Keith to pick out 12 books for me that come from my self-help/Christian/financial help bookshelf.  These are all books that I want HIM to want ME to get something from.
Of all my other book challenges, they are books I chose for pleasure. This time, its for work.
Wish me luck!
I will post them when [...]

Filed under: Book Challenges, Husbands, Life, Marriage, Parenting, Step Parenting, Stepparenting, books, honor, job, money | 3 Comments »

Reading Dangerously

Posted on December 15, 2007 by sarcasticredheadedgeek

Welcome to a Year of Reading Dangerously!

  Hello, one and all! We have a very special treat for you here at Estella’s Revenge. We’ve decided to host our very first reading challenge!“My Year of Reading Dangerously: A Challenge” will begin on January 1, 2008 and consist of some very simple rules. Namely, read authors or genres [...]

Filed under: Book Challenges, books | 1 Comment »

First In A Series Challenge

Posted on December 15, 2007 by sarcasticredheadedgeek

Yes, indeed . . . it is another challenge.  Are you sick of them yet?I keep stealing them from Joy over at Thought of Joy.
WHO: Anyone who would like to join me
WHAT: Read 12 books that are the first in any series (new authors not required).You may read your chosen books any time during the [...]

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Celebrate the Author Challenge

Posted on December 15, 2007 by sarcasticredheadedgeek

Celebrate the Author Challenge

Though my timing may not be the best, I believe a lot of challenge-addicts ARE shopping around for 2008 Challenges beginning in January. (Yes, I am one of them.) And while it is true that I will already be hosting a challenge, the Cardathon Challenge, next year. I can’t resist starting another [...]

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What’s In A Name?

Posted on December 15, 2007 by sarcasticredheadedgeek

 
 
 
“What’s In A Name?” Reading Challenge
Dates: January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008
The Challenge: Choose one book from each of the following categories.
1. A book with a color in its title. Examples might include: The Amber Spyglass, The Red Pony, Blue Blood
2. A book with an animal in its title. Examples might include: The Hound [...]

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Man Booker Challenge

Posted on December 15, 2007 by sarcasticredheadedgeek

Man Booker Challenge

To participate in the Man Booker Challenge, you just choose 6 books that have won the Man Booker Prize, or have been shortlisted or longlisted. They can be from any year. The challenge will run from January to December 2008. When you’ve made your list, please leave the link to your post in [...]

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88888888 Challenge

Posted on December 15, 2007 by sarcasticredheadedgeek

88888888 Challenge: Read from eight categories with eight books in each during this year. 
Category 1: Eight of the Top 100 Sellers of 2007 Barnes and Noble
1. Water for Elephants -  Sara Gruen
2.      Double Bind  – Chris Bohjalian
3.      For One More Day – Mitch Albom
4.      Night – Elie Wiesel
5.      Sisters – Danielle Steele (yeah, I am giggling [...]

Filed under: Book Challenges, Children, books | Leave a Comment »

Notable Book Challenge

Posted on December 15, 2007 by sarcasticredheadedgeek

 Notable Books Challenge. This is where you choose notable books from a variety of lists (National Book Critics Circle, New York Times 2007 Most Notable, Publisher’s Weekly Best Books 2007, and a few more). They can all be seen here.
So, I have accepted the challenge and here are my list of books:
The Abstinence Teacher. – [...]

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Young Adult Challenge!!!

Posted on December 15, 2007 by sarcasticredheadedgeek

SWEET AND SIMPLE:
 
~ Choose 12 Young Adult novels
(you may switch novels at any time)

~ Link your YAC list from your blog onto Mister Linky

(and subsequent monthly reviews)

~ Read them during 2008
(you may read them at your own pace)
 
 
Need Ideas? Thanks to Becky’s Book Reviews, here are some sites to browse:
 
teensread.com
TeensReadToo.com
YA Authors Cafe
YA Books Central Blog
 
 

Semicolon [...]

Filed under: Book Challenges, Children, books | Leave a Comment »

Reading Challenges

Posted on December 15, 2007 by sarcasticredheadedgeek

So, I found two tons of Reading Challenges for 2008 around the web. 
However…I don’t know how to make them nice and clickable on the side of my blog.
So, in my ignorance, I am going to post the blogs that I found them on until someone tells me how to do it the “right” way.
Off to [...]

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