Book Club Friday: City of Ashes

City of Ashes

By: Cassandra Clare

Pages: 453

Read: 2/21/14

"Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend, Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't let her go--especially her handsome, infuriating newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil--and also her father. When the second of the Mortal Instruments os stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?"
{GoodReads}

Once again, loved it!  I had heard that the story gets better with each book and so far, that seems to be the case.  I love watching the characters develop and their relationships change.   I really don't have much to say that I didn't say about City of Bones, but I can't wait to read the rest of the series :)

I gave this a 4/5 on my GoodReads.  

 

Passion

I was recently asked to think of different things that I am passionate about.  Of course, that immediately sparked a blog post!  So, I'm going to share with you today, 4 things that I am passionate about. 

1. Travel

 This is probably the most obvious.  I love to travel and it's a love that started when I was very young and traveled to Canada.  I love going somewhere that I've never been before.  I love meeting people whose way of life is different than mine.  I love learning about different cultures and hearing stories from people who live so far from me.  I love the experiences and the knowledge and acceptance I've gained from traveling.   Each of my trips have been a unique experience that I'll always treasure and the people I've met will always have a place in my heart.  I also think that due to the nature of some of my travels, I have a different perspective on things than others on certain subjects.  Because I have witnessed such extreme poverty, I have learned that I need to be grateful for what I have and I do not concern myself with things such as brands or having the newest "thing".   I've learned that I can live minimally and still be happy.  I get by on what I need and the rest of my money gets donated or put in savings.   Travel can teach so much and that is definitely something I am grateful for.

2. Reading

This is another one that is probably pretty obvious.  I love to read, and do so every chance I get.  I am one of those people who gets so lost in a book that if you try to talk to me while I'm reading, I probably wont hear you.  I love being transported into someone else's world and going through the ups and downs with the characters.  It also amazes me, people's ability to write these stories!  J.K. Rowling just amazes me, the world she created is so complex and detailed and I'm amazed at her ability to create that world in a way that feels so real to the reader.  I often get so emotionally invested in books but I love that.  I still get sad thinking of Dumbledore and Fred.

3. Animals and Animals Rights

As I mentioned in this post, I love animals and usually like them more than people.  I am passionate about animal rights because for the most part animals are defenseless against humans.  Dogs are so loyal and trusting that humans have the ability to take advantage of them and break them.  Horses are such beautiful animals, but are often mistreated especially in the racing industry.  Elephants are incredible creatures but people kill them for money.  It absolutely breaks my heart and infuriates me that people can be so selfish and hateful.   Most of my donation money goes towards animal shelters and rescues because I want to help give a voice to those who can't speak.  Also, I make myself aware of the products that are tested on animals and am sure to avoid such products.  There are lists online that I check quite regularly - I just started doing this within the last  year so I am definitely still learning.

4.  Education

I think education is one of the most important things a person can have.   I believe that everyone who wants an education should be able to get one and that college tuition rates keep intelligent people from getting the education they should be allowed to get.   This is one of the reasons I love Coursera.  Even though I can't get a degree from taking the classes, I am taking classes taught by professors I'd never be able to take classes with and learning things I otherwise wouldn't have has access to.  It makes me so angry that funds are being used for millions of other things but our schools are barely getting any funding.   It infuriates me that the children of Baltimore City are getting a lesser education than they deserve because people in power don't believe it's worth it to invest in them.  I could go on about this topic for hours. 

The Battleship NJ: Part 3: Camden, NJ

Previous Posts:
Part 1, Part 2

The Battleship New Jersey

This final installment of our BSNJ tour is going to be a photo dump.  Otherwise, I'd be posting about this for a month!

 The huge missiles you've been seeing throughout these posts are Tomahawk Cruise Missiles. These Missiles are long range precision strike weapons used against both surface and land targets.  Each Mark 143 Armored Box Launcher holds four Tomahawk missiles in their canisters.  Once the launchers are fired, they can only be reloaded in port.   A nuclear tipped Tomahawk has a range of over 1,500 miles.  That means that if it were launched where it currently sits, it could hit any location east of Dallas, TX and as far South as Cuba!

I sent Josh to the Brig!! The Brig is the Navy version of prison.  Sailors were sent here for bad behavior and during WW2 it was also used to hold Japanese prisoners.

And that concludes our day at the Battleship New Jersey!  If you like history and are looking for something to do in the Philadelphia area, I highly recommend taking a trip to the BSNJ and doing a self guided radio tour!  It was such an interesting site to see and there is so much more than when I've posted about - I really had to weed out pictures!

I'm the Kinda Girl Who ...

These posts have been going around for a few days.  Though I'm not going to participate in the actual link-up, I love the idea and definitely wanted to do a post of my own!

I'm the Kinda Girl Who:

... has to have a stylist do her hair on special occasions because she's to impatient to do it herself.

... pours over travel magazines and trip itinerary's dreaming of the day she gets to travel again.

... would rather spend Saturday nights reading than going out. 

... loves tattoos and will always ask people about theirs, and tell people off who make snotty comments about mine or others. 

... loves fruit snacks, specifically Scooby Doo fruit snacks. 

... used to never watch TV but is now way to addicted to Netfix ... and Bones ... and Chicago Fire ... and Chicago PD.  

... loves school and loves to learn. 

... hates the voicemail symbol at the top of the phone and the annoying computer voice that comes on before voicemails - just don't leave me voicemails!

... could eat spaghetti for all three meals every day.

... is the worlds best bullshitter.  I can bullshit a paper like there is no tomorrow.  My Mother is amazed at my ability to crank out a five page paper in just a few hours and get an 'A'.

... is a major procrastinator.  But hey, it usually work in my favor; I work best under pressure. 

... can play instruments (piano, guitar, violin, clarinet) like it's nobody's business, but can't sing for shit.

... loves her friends and family to death but is horrible at keeping in touch.  Thank God for social media!

... generally likes animals more than people (maybe not the best thing to say on my blog, but it's true)

... is obsessed with Harry Potter and secretly believes she is Hermione Granger. 

Book Club Friday: City of Bones

City of Bones

By: Cassandra Clare

Pages: 351 (nook)

Read: 2/14/13

"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end."
{GoodReads}

Well, I made the stupid mistake of seeing the movie first.  After reading the book, all I could think about was how crappy the movie was in comparison!  I loved the book.  I think the author does a great job of drawing the reader in quickly and I feel like there were very few, if any slow points.  I also really like the whole idea behind Shadowhunters - although her world isn't completely unique, the Shadowhunters set it apart.  I also think she did a good job with the characters, I think they are definitely real and believable - not too overly dramatic.   I really enjoyed this book and am already making my way through the second one.  I recommend this to anyone who likes a little fantasy and action.

I gave this book a 4/5 on my GoodReads.

The Nerd in Me

*This is not a sponsored post!

The nerd in me is so insanely happy right now!!   I am that person that has (for the most part) always loved to learn.   I am taking a year long break now before I go back to school to finish my bachelors but I've really been missing school!  I would be a professional student if that were an option.  So, when Mar from T.O. and Fro wrote a post on this amazing website, I knew I had to check it out!

Coursera offers FREE online courses through Universities!  You have to option of getting a verified certificate if you pay for the course (usually about $50.00) or if you're like me and you just want to learn, you can take the course for free!

I am currently signed up for seven classes! All of which start at different times.  I am taking:
*Archaeology's Dirty Little Secrets (February 24)

* Introduction to International Criminal Law (March 1)
* International Human Rights Law: Prospects and Challenges (March 31)

* Introduction to Forensic Science (May)
*Paradoxes of War (June 1)
* The American Disease: Drugs and Drug Control in the USA (July 14)
* Social Psychology (July 14)
*Human Trafficking (August)

A few courses on my "watch list" to take at a later time (so as to not overwhelm myself or because they are not yet available) are:
*The Emergence of the Modern Middle East
* Human Evolution: Past and Future
*Resilience in Children Exposed to Trauma, Disaster, and War: Global Perspectives
* Marine Megafauna: An Introduction to Marine Science and Conservation
*Globalization and You
 

As you can see, they offer a wide variety of courses from Universities all over the world!

I am so excited to get started!  I also plan to review each course as I finish it.  This is also great because it is on my 52 in 52 list to complete a free online course in a subject that interests me!

To learn a bit more read Mar's Post or check out Coursera's website!

The Battleship NJ: Part 2 - Camden, NJ

Last week I wrote about a great day trip that Josh and I took to NJ in 2011.  The highlight of our day was our tour of the Battleship New Jersey.  This is part two of that trip.

The Battleship New Jersey

Josh and I did a radio tour instead of a guided tour, that way we could take our time and really enjoy ourselves.  Lucky for us, there were only two other groups on the ship and we only ran into them once.

The BSNJ was nicknamed "The Black Dragon" and is Americas most decorated war ship.  It is also the only battleship that provided gunfire support in Vietnam.   When she was decommissioned (for the last time) in 1991, she had served 21 years in the active fleet!  

The 04 Level Navigation Bridge is where the crew steered the ship.  The crew members involved in steering the ship were the helmsmen, Officer of the deck, and navigation crew.

Each of these armored doors weighs over a ton!  Inside of the armored doors is the primary wheel. 

Come back next week for the final installment of BSNJ posts!