three things guaranteed to make you laugh

Interesting weekend. I should probably start by staying that I’m an introvert mostly, except for when I’m being an extrovert. Basically I like to make people laugh, so I’m goofy and talkative and just a wee bit crazy when I’m in company. What that all means is that usually I GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE. There are hard cases, like the people who had their sense of humor removed at birth (happiness vampires), witchy/unhappy people (switch the ‘w’ for a ‘b’ and you’ll get what I mean), and the ignorant crowd. Typically I can get around that some which way…

Not on Saturday. Had a slightly miserable time at a party (I KNOW – how can that even happen?), but it ended up being okay because I had a book so hilarious and sassy and ridiculous with me that I chuckled aloud in my little abandoned corner a couple of times. Well, and the food ended up being delicious. But really…when the best part of a party is the book you brought with you? Hmm… (never, EVER leaving my own car at home – and thus cutting off my escape route – ever again)

That said, here are three things guaranteed to make you laugh:

1. Meeting Mr. Wrong (book mentioned above…guaranteed laughter and other healthy things included) by Stephanie Snowe. A true story of dating disasters and life gone awry told in an honest and hilarious and gosh-darn-awesome voice. The author is so authentic - I feel like I know her. If you don't see yourself getting the book anytime soon, check out her blog (just click on her name above). Same impish, feisty humor, in daily snippets. I want to be Ms. Snowe when I grow up. Well...at least when I'm older. How about tomorrow?

2. The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan. YA fantasy novel full of quotable sound bites and laugh-out-loud type moments, with an action-packed story and mystery to match. Also contains gorgeous bad boy with more ‘personality’ than Edward and Jacob *cough, cough* combined.

3. The INTERN’s blog. I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth checking again, and especially if you’ve never read the publishing INTERN’s snarky, fabulous adventures in manuscript and surreal-apartment-living land.

[begin aside]

Today marks the start of Book Blogger Appreciation Week (which hereafter will be referred to as BBAW), a celebration for and by book bloggers. Though I don’t consider myself a full-fledged book blogger (mostly because I like to post about…oh…everything?), I am taking part because the community is awesome, and I’ve met some super-sweet people through the blogging experience.

[end aside]

There you have it. I nominated the INTERN for best publishing industry blog, and can only assume that she didn’t make the shortlist through miscarriage of justice (err…scratch that. perhaps simple procrastination? failure to enter? yeah…). She’s my ‘mention.’ Many others deserved to make the shortlist as well, and I voted for them (you’d better believe it!), but this is the post entitled THREE things, so I’ll leave it at that for now. Go off and have a lovely Monday, and look around my blog tomorrow for a book blogging interview swap and GIVEAWAY. Yes, I said it. Now, shoo!

tuesday bests

Dad

My father turns 64 today. Not only is he a really cool (and OLD) dude, but 64 is also my favorite number (eight squared, baby!). And he is the best dad ever. Want to contest that? I’ll fight you. He does look kind of goofy in this photo, though. It's the beard-hat combo. Trust me, he doesn't go around looking like this all the time. Or if he does, at least I live on the other side of the country...

Blog

My last post broke all of the INTERN’s rules. It was long, it was boring, and it was all about me and my woes (hmm...maybe not boring, per se...). According to the hilarious and slightly witchy (trying to keep it PG here, but you get the idea) commentary on my new favorite blog, my entry would not cut it in the publishing world. The INTERN is the un-paid help at a publishing house/firm, and she blogs about the vagaries of life in the big city as the proverbial lowest person on the totem pole, as well as offering advice on how NOT to get published. By association (law of opposites), there are also hints on how to make it and organize a book contract. But if you browse a bit, you will learn that this is not all it’s cracked up to be, and keeping your sanity is more important than being published. In sum, the INTERN is hilarious, sardonic and gosh darn interesting. I recommend her blog for laughs, as a tongue in cheek cautionary tale, and as a source for ‘insider knowledge’ on the publishing world.

Film

I watched the movie Nim’s Island last night. It was an infamous Netflix pick, and had (predictably) been sitting by the TV for almost two weeks before I got around to watching it. Overall it offered cute, adventurous, harebrained fun. Though marketed for children, parts of the film will resonate with adult audiences. In my case, I definitely connected with Jodie Foster’s character: an agoraphobic writer who has definite OCD tendencies. Her fear of adventure and life spent in front of a computer screen clash with her written words, which conjure up a daring hero who always saves the day. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the audacious explorer is played by Gerard Butler, an extremely talented, good-looking, Irish-accent-wielding actor. Nim, the titular character, is played by Abigail Breslin, who always seems to manage genuine and adorable portrayals of ‘real’ kids. So it was good, clean fun, though a little heavy on the cute, and light on real drama. I give it a B.