New fiction book delivers rare honesty (and laughs!) for single and married women

I just finished Kristin Billerbeck’s new book, “The Trophy Wives Club,” and I must say – it’s a homerun! From the engaging cover art of three women getting pedicures to the delightful main character, Haley, and her journey after heartbreak, this book kept my attention and never let go.

Haley is absolutely adorable. She’s a little clutzy, loves clothes with sparkling sequins, and has a sarcastic edge to her humor. (Hmm, maybe I like her because she reminds me of myself!) In fact, Haley is the type of character many women can relate to – she’s loving, loyal, and a little too ready to trust and believe her man. When her adored husband kicks her out, she’s devastated. And she doesn’t react in the perfect way that many of us come to expect from Christian books…

Haley Cutler sets out to get revenge. And the lessons she learns in the process are hilarious.

In “The Trophy Wives Club,” Billerbeck doesn’t gloss over heartbreak and she doesn’t suggest “too simple to be true” solutions that many of us women find so irritating. In fact, she acknowledges how tough it can be to get back on your feet after the romantic rug’s been pulled out. She even battles some of those pat cliches we’ve all heard with humor, quick wit, and common sense. You won’t find an unrealistic “let go and let God” here. And you won’t find a plastic character who encounters trouble and magically gets over everything without a scar. Instead, you’ll encounter authentic scenes couched between moments of refreshing honesty.

Take this exchange from a scene at a Bible study:

**** 

“Haley, we’re here to take responsibility for our part… so we don’t make the same mistakes and we become more useful in the Kingdom of God.”

“Oh” – I raise a palm at her – “you don’t have to worry about me. I’m never getting married again, and I was never really very useful to the Kingdom of God to begin with. No offense.”

****

How can a reader not love a character who displays such blunt honesty? Despite the heavy subject of the book, Billerbeck had me laughing from page to page. Sure, there were moments when the dialogue hit close to home, but the quickness of the read and the hilarity of some of the situations made the lessons really easy – and fun – to learn.

****

“You used to like sparkles, remember?”

“How could I forget? It led up to one of the worst nights of my life.”

“If there was an outfit with … a little sequin at the hem, you were all over it. It made you happy to wear it, and you didn’t care what anyone thought. … Where did that girl go?”

****

Haley is drowned out by disapproval. She’s subverted her personality for a man who expects her to be fashionably and personably perfect for his social set. She’s spent years desperately attempting to live up to others’ expectations. Will the real Haley come back? Will she ever feel good enough to wear sparkles again?

You’ll have to read the book to find out.

I guarantee it’ll be worth it.

Cloverfield made me sick – and lots of other people, says CNN

 

Now national news is reporting that the popular movie “Cloverfield” is making people sick:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/01/24/movie.sickness/index.html

I could have told you that weeks ago! (And I did if you read my previous Cloverfield post…)  

The effects are also far worse if you sit near the front of the movie theater – so if you’re motion-sickness prone and want to go, sit near the back!

When I was a kid I got motion-sick pretty easily, but I didn’t realize I still did until I went to Cloverfield. I had to keep closing my eyes throughout the movie so my stomach could calm down and not feel so queasy. There were lots of times I thought I might have to leave the theater, but I soldiered on through!

CNN reports, “AMC theaters across the country have posted signs warning moviegoers of potential side effects associated with motion sickness similar to riding a roller-coaster.”

If there’s one thing Cloverfield taught me: It’s a good thing I don’t like roller coasters! And an even better thing for all the other passengers. If I felt as sick as I did when I was watching the movie, I can only imagine…

Or maybe I shouldn’t.

Anyway, the CNN article offers advice for vertigo-sufferers who want to see Cloverfield: “Experts recommend taking a dose of over-the-counter anti-vertigo medicine, sold under such brand names as Bonine and Dramamine.”

Hahahahahaha! Oh ya, that’ll work well. Wanna see Cloverfield and not get sick? Just take some Dramamine. And do you know why you won’t be sick? Because you’ll be sleeping through the whole thing!

Good advice, CNN.

Girls Gone Gadgets! Top 10 pink electronics for Valentine’s

 

I adore pink, so I’ve come up with a list of pretty gadgets for women who absolutely love browsing through BestBuy, but want to round out an electronics obsession with flirty, feminine finds (now say that 10 times fast!)

Oh, and please excuse the horrid white boxes around my pics. I’m changing the background of this blog soon to white, but until then, we’ll have to think of these as “pretty white frames.”

And be sure to check out the handy yellow links in each entry. With just one click, you can be on your way to buying one of these pretty items! (And sure, I could’ve chosen pink for the links, but even I have my limits…)

1. Smart and Pink

First up is Sprint’s newly released pink Palm Centro! It’s a popular phone in a very pleasing shade. Sure, it eats up batteries faster than my dog eats a milkbone, but think about how pretty it’ll look when it’s plugged in and charging!

2. Trendy & Loud

Next we have the new pink iPod nano. Ok, so there’s nothing new about the technology itself. But some girls sure would look cute listening to it while working out in a new pink Bebe Sport outfit!

3. Is it Laptop Luxury or is it Target?

Ah, the “limited edition but still available at Targets everywhere” Asus S6 pink laptop. It’s everything we should have seen on “Legally Blonde.” Pink leather accents and a pretty silver bag. If you don’t mind the 12-inch screen, it can be yours! Not brave enough to try a computer sold at Target? Sony and Dell both offer pink laptops too.

4. Pretty in Pink

Sony has a pink Cybershot DSC-T70 for the photographer in your family. I don’t have this particular camera, but my current Sony Cybershot is amazing. This one sports a 2.5″ LCD and Sony’s reputation for quality. (Psst: Sony has other cameras in pink too!)

5. Craving Strawberry Chocolate?

Looking for a pink phone from Verizon? Try a strawberry chocolate gift by LG! This slim phone is quite attractive (although, to be honest, I might prefer one of the other available colors if I were you!)

6. The iPod Wannabe

The answer to the iPod’s pink nano is Microsoft’s pink Zune. I love iTunes and I’m not too thrilled with the shade, so I won’t be going this route. But maybe you will?

7. Shameless & Cheap

If you’re a guy and you want to get your girlfriend something cheaper for Valentine’s (shame on you!) then consider a Speck Macbook See-Through Case (13″). Personally, I think it looks kind of cheap, but if you choose this for your gift, maybe that’s what you’re going for.

8. Tastefully Inexpensive

If you want something even less expensive, consider a pink Motorola Bluetooth (I’ve seen it on Amazon for just $29). Admittedly, I’d love to get this baby as a gift and I’d prefer it FAR over the see-through pink Mac cover. Price really isn’t what’s important, but taste. And this baby is definitely tasteful.

But what if you want to go even FARTHER in the pink world? What if you want to cross that line from fashionable to “sudden explosion of Pepto Bismol everywhere”?

9. Pink Explosion!

Sony has two choices for you! The Sony Bravia Fuchsia TV (20″ screen and a 4000:1 contrast ratio) OR the Sony Bravia Cosmo Pink TV (26″ screen and a 6000:1 contrast ratio).  Cosmo pink is a lighter color and available in the US for $899 (and it’s IN STOCK. Imagine that!)If you want the bright fuchsia, you’ll have to shop overseas (or perhaps at an online auction?) For some reason, Sony thought the garishly bright color wouldn’t fair too well with sophisticated Americans. Hmm, wonder why?

One word of warning for any women reading this: The men in your life might puke when they are forced to watch ESPN and war movies on a pink television. Then again, maybe that’s part of the appeal.  

10. The Epitome of Pink

And finally… If you want to go ALL OUT for your sweetheart, here is something that can’t be beat…

Yes, it’s a Tulip Ego laptop! These fancy laptops come in a variety of colors and are designed to be carried like a bag (I’ll be blogging about this in the future). This particular “hearts design” is no longer available (but who knows what you can find on eBay!) However, if you really want to sweep your girl off her feet, you can always buy her a diamond-covered one. It’s only $35,000.

Don’t worry, you can thank me later.

HTC Touch: Can’t touch this! … And maybe you shouldn’t

In my search for a Sprint phone that rivals the iPhone, I’ve been considering the HTC Touch. But a recent push for a class-action lawsuit has me thinking I should wait for the Samsung M800.

www.htcclassaction.org (subtitled: “Because HTC dropped the ball, and it’s about time they picked it up!”)

More than 4,000 people have signed a petition about poor video performance and slowdowns encountered with HTC smart phones and pocket PCs. This is a result of the phone not taking advantage of ATI Imageon hardware. According to the site’s “Misunderstandings” page, it’s about more than poor video playback, but about everything that appears on an HTC screen, including camera ability, touchscreen speed, etc. Says the site:

“You could compare the display performance to running your Windows computer in safe mode with the default VGA driver.”

Now that is scary. There’s nothing “safe” about Windows safe mode (shudder).  

Although some are saying that HTC is looking into fixing the problem, other sources show that HTC released a statement which basically said, “You’re right, but we can’t do much about it. Enjoy your phone.”

Great HTC, thanks for that. :-/

Alert followers of mobile technology might know that if you buy an HTC Touch overseas (that is, if you’re brave enough after reading the htcclassaction site) you have the option of one of two colors: black or THIS:

Puke green. WOW! I can just see hip teens all over the world racing to be the first with such a gorgeous piece of technology. Forget the pink Palm Centro or the ruby Blackberry pearl. I want the phone that looks like moldy cheese!

Color choice aside, the HTC Touch isn’t a bad piece of technology, but it’s not great either. Sprint users will find that theirs does NOT come with GPS or wifi. And all versions *only* sport a touchscreen keyboard (which takes a couple weeks to get used to). The phone does include a 2.8-inch LCD screen, 2 megapixel camera, bluetooth, and up to five hours talk time.

Users complain, however, that the touchscreen lacks sensitivity, TouchFLO doesn’t work right, and the Windows Mobile Professional 6 is a graphics letdown. More shining recommendations for HTC.

On a side note, HTC has other options available for some GSM users, including the HTC Dual and the HTC Cruise (the latter appears to be a very nifty phone). The Dual comes with a sliding keyboard. The Cruise features a 3 megapixel camera, 2.8-inch LCD screen, FM radio tuner, MP3 player, 4-way navigational wheel (ala iPhones-R-us), and a sluggish screen.

I think I’ll wait for the Samsung M800.

Replacement for Windows Vista ALREADY in the works

 

Vista wasn’t exactly a hit when it first came out (cue: “understatement of the year.”) But apparently it was SUCH a flop that Microsoft is already planning its new OS, Windows 7 (codename), set to be released near the end of 2009.

http://www.apcmag.com/7874/windows_7_to_be_released_next_year

http://www.news.com/8301-13860_3-9855257-56.html?tag=nefd.lede

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7

I don’t have Vista, but was it really THAT bad? If the following image that kept popping up on Christmas wish lists this year is any indication – YES:

I’d love to hear comments and opinions from people who’ve used it.  Is Vista as horribly awful as I’ve heard?

 I know Microsoft offered so many versions of Vista that it got ridiculous: Vista Business, Vista Home, Vista Ultimate, Vista Super Duper Ultimate, Vista Now You See It Now You Don’t, Vista Here Today Gone Tomorrow… I also know that Vista comes with a very annoying digital rights manager installed. It’s constantly monitoring your computer and slowing things down. “Functionality crippling” is one word I’ve seen thrown around quite a bit.

Shortly after Vista was first released, hackers got onto Wikipedia and changed Vista’s page to this:

Hmm… Think this might be a hint how people feel about Vista? 

Perhaps Vista is Microsoft’s next ME – a bad dream they’d prefer to forget. But will 7 (previously referred to as Windows Vienna) be any better?

There’s already a blog out by someone claiming to be a Microsoft employee: www.shippingseven.blogspot.com. Who knows if it’s true though. It could just be a ploy to get more readers.

So far, Windows 7 is being hailed as a major release. (I’ve heard that phrase before – *cough* Vista *cough.*)

Vista (short for “the Version that ISn’t Tackling Apple“) was the product of Windows OS’ accumulating code libraries for over 20 years (about 50 million lines of code.) This staggering code-built-upon-code made Vista more vulnerable to security exploits, slower, and just overall annoying. The word is that Windows 7 will introduce a new generation of operating systems free of the bloated problems affecting Vista.  It will also feature some type of “touch” system (which could certainly be fun.)

But will it live up to the hype? Microsoft is being tight-lipped. And if history is any lesson, that is a very good idea.

UFO attacks!

If you watched the news last week, you probably remember that UFOs were sighted in Stephenville, Texas: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/409903.html

Apparently this is big enough to make national news (certainly more interesting than the current presidential coverage…) But what I think is even BIGGER news is a quote by UFO sighter Steve Allen:

“People wonder what in the world it is because this is the Bible Belt.”

Seriously? The only reason people are wondering is because it happened where a lot of churches happen to be? This is the Bible Belt dude, not the Scientology base camp. But even more alarming, if you check out some of the YouTube videos circulating, is the man who considered SHOOTING at the UFO.

Welcome to Texas. :-/

Of course, the question on the forefront of all of our minds is: Just what WAS that unidentified flying object? And friends, I found the answer in a startling photo released a few short days after the sighting.

If you have children, tell them to leave them room…

Ready?

Yes, the unidentified objects flying across Stephenville were a flock of MAC AIRS! I always knew there was something unearthly about that Jobs guy. Why is he always one step ahead of the rest of technology? Just watch a Mac enthusiast and you’ll know they’re not actually smart enough to come up with this stuff. It has to be something else.

Now we know.

Remember, you heard it here first.

Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

If you’re looking for a Star Trek fix while waiting for JJ Abrams’ December 2008 “Star Trek XI,” give the fan-created “Star Trek: Of Gods and Men” a try.

http://startrekofgodsandmen.net/

It’s directed by Tim Russ (Tuvok from Voyager) and part one certainly provides an entertaining 30 minutes. It’s filmed in the “classic” Star Trek style, featuring old-timey special effects and music. You’ll also spot some beloved actors from the Original Series and Voyager.

Now, the film isn’t perfect. The dialogue slows the action in parts and could certainly use a good trimming. But it’s interesting and, for now, probably the best fan-created Star Trek film available on the ‘Net.

So check out the link and enjoy! I’d love to hear your comments.

 

 

 

 

 

http://startrekofgodsandmen.net/

Aha! You’re driving me crazy…

And now for my next installment of: “Why Some People Should Never Be Allowed Inside a Gym.” Today when I stepped on my elliptical machine, I was greeted with the sounds of “Take on Me” from a nearby runner’s iPod. No, she wasn’t wearing headphones. She just had it turned up loudly enough for EVERYONE to hear.

Not a problem. I figured I’d be entertained with 80s music for the duration of my workout.

After a little over a minute, the iPod paused to switch songs. And then…

“Take on Me” played again.

And again.

And again.

No, I’m not kidding. This person was playing the SAME song over and over and over and… After about 20 minutes of this, I stepped off my machine and kindly asked her to turn down her music.

Me: Excuse me?
Runner: Yes?
Me: Can you turn down that music?
Runner: What? This? (stares blankly at iPod that’s running at full blast)
Me: Yes.
Runner: Are you sure?
Me: PLEASE. If you don’t, I am going to fling myself on the nearest stair-stepper and PRAY it crams me between its steps and knocks me unconscious!!!

Just a word of advice to anyone who visits a gym. iPods and MP3 Players are for PERSONAL USE. I do NOT want to be subjected to a rousing rendition of “la la la – I can’t get you out of my head” over and over and over and over…

And if you do that, well… I can download the soundtrack to Barney and bring it next time.

Cloverfield Review: Too much clover, not enough field

It was a dark and stormy night. The cold rain beat against me as I raced across the parking lot, stumbling into masses of people, all hurrying to the same destination. I turned on my phone, checking to see if I had reception yet. Nothing. The roars grew louder. Whatever it was, it was getting closer. If I didn’t find somewhere to hide soon…

Oh, I’m sorry, did you need something? I was just enjoying a lighthearted memory of a horror-flick I recently saw: Godzilla. Or was it King Kong? No, no, it was far more recent than that. New York was under siege. Crazy creatures were attacking people in the night. No one could escape because everything was blowing up.

 Oh ya, I remember now!

 

What? That’s not the movie you were wanting to read about? Oh silly me. It’s so easy to get these shoot-em-up, big-monster-is-going-to-eat-us-all-and-no-one-will-ever-live movies mixed up.  At least I Am Legend had a cute dog. I’m a big fan of German Shepherds now. I think I’ll even be getting one for myself one of these days.

But you wanted to read about Cloverfield. So here we are, with a guest appearance by the Statue of Liberty:

Oh, oops! Wrong again. I must be suffering post-traumatic movie disorder. Let’s try that one more time:

Ok, that’s better. You know, come to think of it, why are movie producers always picking on Lady Liberty, anyway? And why do monster movies always take place in New York? Can’t anyone come up with something original, like Tokyo?

As a scifi fanatic, I had to see Cloverfield on opening night. So I dragged my friend Rachel with me, and we braved the wind, rain, and really long lines to see what all the hype was about. As we entered the theater, movie employees warned us that people were getting motion sickness from this flick. I just laughed off the warnings. I made it through Blair Witch. How could this be worse?

We sat down, and a cute guy decided to take the seat next to me. We chatted away, with him commenting about what a totally cool girl I am and what amazing taste in movies I have. Ya, I know, thank you, what can I say? I hear it all the time. ;-)

As for the movie itself, sadly, I can only give it 3 out of a possible 5 “Star Trek communicators.” A grade of C. I love JJ Abrams. I’m a big fan of Lost. But this just didn’t hit home. It was packed full of every horror-flick cliche one can imagine. It employed the Blair Witch technique of filming with dizzying effect. I never thought I was prone to motion sickness before, but I got seriously queasy. I even contemplated pulling over on my drive home to puke in the pouring rain. I don’t know anyone in their 20s who films THAT badly. I know it was supposed to have a “home-spun” feel, but come on. If I tied a camera around my dog’s neck, the film would have turned out better than that. The effect was a great idea, but VERY overdone. If your audience is so busy trying to keep their lunch in their stomach that they can’t oooh and aaaah over your monster scenes, you’ve done something wrong. In fact, if you want to see the movie, I’ll help you out. Here it is: 

Yep, that’s basically every scene.  

But seriously, if you really want to see the movie, just watch the preview. It’s basically the same thing, just a shorter version. Sure, you’ll miss a few laughs and a love story… Yes, you heard me right. Abrams dropped in a completely inane love story that only served to move the characters from point A to point B. If I wanted romance, I would’ve gone to 27 Dresses. Come on Abrams!

(On a side note, my friend Rachel really liked the movie. Maybe I’m just a scifi snob.)

One word of warning: this film is not for kids, so don’t even think about taking your 4-year-old Barbie fan. The glimpses of the monster were compelling, but anticlimactic. Why is imagination always better than the big screen?

I know Abrams was trying for a home run, but this time he only made it to second base. One suggestion to Abrams: Try creating a “Cloverfield world” on the web – one where we can delve into the mysteries, watch additional news clips, explanations of events from “Cloverfield scientists,” etc. That would be fun. (Disclaimer: If this already exists, please post the link in a comment!)

With all that said, save the movie for the dollar theater or a rental for a night at your house with your friends. But don’t serve popcorn or pretzels. Just leave a candy tray of Pepto-Bismol and airplane sick bags on the coffeetable. Your friends will thank you later.

Hope for the Human Race

Every now and then, I see someone display such compassion that I have to pause, step back, and thank God for people who still have giving spirits. Today at the gym, I saw a young woman working out with her father. But this wasn’t an ordinary Dad-Daughter duo. The father has Parkinson’s. His daughter was patiently taking him to each set of weights and to different cardio machines, explaining how they worked and encouraging him. I heard her say, “Hey Dad! Remember Michael J. Fox? He’s doing great and you can too!” In fact, this wasn’t the first time I’d seen her there with her father. Every week she’s there with him, helping him and encouraging him.

Wow.

Many of us have moments of being downcast about the “backstabbers” and “only-out-for-me” people of the world. But sometimes, we see a little reminder that there are different people out there.

If Jesus was walking on Earth right now, who would He be? That hungry politician who wants to rule the world? The person who puts others down in the name of a “calling”? The elitists who only want to dine with the “higher-ups”?

No. Jesus would be like the woman who was on her knees, selflessly and happily helping her dad week in and week out without expecting a world of accolades – joyfully making a difference in one life.

It’s a lesson for all of us, including me.