My New Toy

It is redundant to take a picture of my blog and post it on my blog? Hmmm.

I'm sure you have all seen a Macbook Air before so I wont bore you with the specs or details, but I am very excited about it. I've purchased quite a few computers over the past few years (maybe I'm hard on my electronics) but I have been coveting this one for some time. Once the BX did the "No interest unit 2017" special, I knew it was time. That's how I operate. I spend Umteen months/years wanting something until the perfect moment. Unless it's journalling supplies...those I get immediately because I have no restraint. But I am on a "No Dori Spending" restriction until my birthday in September.

Anywho, the thing that shocked me the most was how freaking light this thing is! I had no idea. Its amazingly light. I will have absolutely no problems carting this thing around when I go back to work.  None what so ever. I'm bringing it to a conference tomorrow. I would never do that with my old PC. The real reason I knew it was time to make the big purchase was because my little brother needs a computer for his senior year in high school.  All those AP classes are requiring some serious paper writing, and baby bro is tired of going to the library all the time. Baby sis is starting her first year of high school so she'll need it too. Seems like the stars aligned for everyone!

In other news, I've been getting it in pretty regularly in the gym lately.  I keep trying to maintain my eating but this 2 week conference makes it hard because we are not allowed to leave for lunch, and there are no microwaves. *Insert pissed face here*. So it's sandwiches and atkins bars. Such is life.

But I'm going to start working with the trainer soon. #Pumped about that. That weave is out now, by the way. Hubs had to come in and help me take the tracks out the back because I could NOT see the web of thread hanging out back there. It was a mess. I missed the curls, but I am already tired of them :).

Do you have a Mac? What are some Apps I should download?

"Dorothy Must Die"- A Retake on my Old Favorite

Where to begin? I'll start by saying that this novel stayed in my to read shelf for about 6 months before I actually pulled the trigger. I am an AVID reader of old school rewrites so I wanted to give it a fair shake even though the reviews were pretty all over the place. I wasn't disappointed, but as someone who is a serious lover of all things Wizard of Oz related, I felt it could be better. 

What I liked: 

The concept was fabulous. Wicked Dorothy. Wicked Galinda (notice I used the "Wicked" spelling). Sounded like a match made in heaven for me. 

The whole bad is good theme was great. Loved the wicked witches being the good ones. Loved to see the lion being such a thug. 

Old characters from the other Oz novels making their way into the books. 

What I didn't like:

Amy in general. I just didn't love her. She seems to just HAVE to do the opposite of everything she was told. 

Dorothy wasn't evil enough. I expected some serious evil shit. I thought she was going to be chopping off fingers and popping out eyeballs. The novellas that went along with the story line were actually really good.  There was more violence and murdering. But I had to remind myself that this is a YA (very YA) novel. Which leads me to my second point. 

The writing was too YA for me. That's sounds so ridiculous doesn't it. This is no reflection on the author. It is clearly a book for young adults, but it's a little too basic for my tastes. I like more creative language. I like when I have to go to the dictionary to clarify. 

Imagery was lacking. There were a few times when Amy "couldn't find the words to describe" what she was seeing. That felt like a cop out to me. I wanted, yearned for, that description. It's funny because I'm reading the short novellas and they are much more vivid. I didn't feel like I had a picture of the scene because of the lack of details. 

What was the last book you read? Have you checked out this series?

Update: I've read all three of the novellas and The first two were pretty good. That last one left something to be desired. I have just downloaded "The Wicked will Rise" and I will update with my thoughts on it.