Si, Se Puede--Yes, you can!

This week started off very stressful with Jenny, our cockatiel, having more mini seizures.  Took her to vet for another examination.  After getting a $146 x-ray, vet found an enlarged liver and what looks like some toxicity in her system.  It's not in her intestines, but still... Jenny not happy with the situation.  In vet's office waiting.  Dr. Coward is an avian specialist, meaning his specialty is exotic birds. So it's a round of liver supplements and immunity boosters for a while.  If that doesn't work, then we need to do another round to see what exactly the toxicity might be.  Send positive thoughts and prayers our way please! 2. Getting to the end of the first round of Cybils.  I'm on the first panel that needs to whittle down a list of 205 nominated books to the top 5-7 finalists.  Yes, this is challenging but the reason why I love doing this has to be working with other bloggers, librarians, and...

1. This week has been busy with reading Cybils books.  I thought I'd share some of my reads! **Can you see a trend here? THE HIT by Melvin Burgess This futurist world is set in a very depressing UK where only a select few make it while the rest are struggling.  Add to the mix a drug that gives you a surge of emotion/energy/life.  Wouldn't you want to at least try that?  But there is a condition.  The 'Death' drug lasts only for a week, then you're dead. This unique take on the very satiated dystopia market kept my attention with all the twists and turns. 2.  THE BODIES WE WEAR by Jeyn Roberts Another dystopia novel, with another type of drug, but this one 'promises a glimpse into heaven. 3. WINTERKILL by Kate Boorman A futurist world in a commune like society.  Emm resists the urge to go into the forbidden forest.  The same forest that was her grandmother's downfall.  When the leader of the commune offers his h...

1.  Hard to get back into the swing of things after last week's break but in order to finish a book, I got to actually write! Please, so nice to be DONE with family drama for a little while. 2. Cybil's books this week: This one was just nominated as a Morris Finalist and I can see why. Love the surreal feel to this story of a teen born with wings.  The writing is magical and I'm totally falling under it's spell. 3. Another Morris Finalist: I met the publicist of this publisher at Kidlitcon and told her I'd love to read/review this book. Love the voice of Gabi and totally can relate with her challenges including the whole 'not Latina' enough based on the stereotypical view the world has of us. Must reads! 4.  Am I the only one disappointed with the midseason finale of SLEEPY HOLLOW? Photo courtesy of mstarz.com I'm a huge fan of this alternative history show.  Plus, I love the diversity. What I did...

1. This week I've been catching up with not only my writing but reading some fab Cybils nominated books. I'll try to share some teasers every Friday of some of the nominated books. 2. TIN STAR Really enjoyed this story of Tula, who is beaten and left for dead on a space station.  She has to learn to deal with the aliens there but what's different is she's really the alien as she's the only human there. Can't wait to read the next book to see what happens next! 3. NOGGIN What happens if you find out that an experiment to replace your head on a healthy body does in fact work? Love the voice of this story which takes place five years after sixteen-year-old Travis finds himself alive with a new body.  Listening to the audio and totally loving! 4. The whole Ferguson verdict left me so angry and upset.  An OC writer friend sent me this link to an upcoming rally to unite in protest of how Black & Brown youth are profil...

1. Hate when some think because I'm a parent that I don't know about the educational system. What happened is it was picture day at the student center.  So we got to the center only to find out that the photographer 'left' for the day.  The email said he'd be there from 8-1pm.  We got to the center around 10:20ish. You'd think the office would have said, "Sorry, but here's the card and you can call or they'd reschedule." No. The one aide was very abrupt with me and said it might have been a typo to "Call the director about it." Well, the director showed up yesterday and I told her what happened and how I was frustrated and that it wasn't dealt with well.  That aide then proceeded to say she never said any of those things to me and even said that they were giving cards out on that day. I came back at her, angry that she was basically calling me a liar. Her story though didn't pan through as someone else in off...

Congrats to Princess12250 for winning the Atlantia giveaway which included two awesome necklaces and a galley of the book! Thanks to everyone who commented and entered the contest!

1. Let's start with the good news first: Cybils books are a coming! Love this part of being a Cybil's panelist! 2. Received GRIM: So far loving this anthology of short YA tales that have a dark twist off of the Grim stories we heard as children.  THE STEPSISTER'S TALE: A twist on Cinderella. **See a theme here? 3. Last Friday went with son's Spanish class to Olvera Street.  Loved going as my bisabuela's family lived there at the tail end of the 1880s. **A restored mural that had been 'whitewashed'.  Artist was a friend of Diego Rivera. Couldn't resist this Frida coin purse! Also found a Latina t-shirt.  Had to get! Here's what the shirt says: Cool, huh? 4.  Also can't wait to read SALVAGE: Loved Beth Revis's ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and Beth highly recommended SALVAGE.  Plus, heard it has one stro...

1. Week started out really awlful.  Had a 504 meeting with middle school counselor(a sub as the other one is on maternity leave).  Once again I tried to get them to give son some extra help for his learning disability.  But they told me(again) that he doesn't have one as it's not bad enough.  Then they dropped a big whammy on me.  "If son is wanting to go to tradition high school, he needs to go next year."  Uh, what? See, we had decided to wait till tenth grade and work more on being responsible and all. His ES then told me she agreed with this counselor, who is a sub and not that old.  I was shocked and then very angry. To make matters worse, they pressured me right there to make the decision. NO. 2. Add to that, my ear ached enough that I had to stop a few times on my usual power walk.  Not good.  Went to doctor and found out I have static liquid behind my ear and with allergies/cold, it can cause one mother of an ear ache. Love...

First off: Feliz Dia de las Brujas!  Happy Halloween! 1. Just in time for the Halloween spirit: Morganville: The Series is up online!  Loved the books and really enjoying this web adaption.  Plus, Amber Benson, (you know Tara on Buffy the Vampire slayer) is fab playing the badass Founder of the town.  So far there are 5 episodes up.  Check them out! **Here's a little teaser on the series: 2. Really enjoying PERFECTED by Kate Jarvoik Birch: Think of a future where the very elite can purchase human 'pets' for their pleasure.  Loving the voice and twist on HANDMAIDEN'S TALE where girls are 'breed' to be accessories for wealthy clients. 3. Really excited to read COMPULSION: I've been wanting to read this since I read the 'teaser' a while back.  A curse and three plantations.  Check out the trailer. 4. Love Dia de los Muertos-Day of the Dead.  It's the day after Halloween.  In Mexican culture it's a da...

1. Went to Comic Quest on Wednesday to get the latest issue of BTVS and found this:  So yeah, I totally HAD TO GET!!! **Yes, I'm such a Buffy geek! 2. Here's my revision that has so much marched on it.  Yes, I'm being brutal this time around. 3. Finished reading this: Loved the voice of this new paranormal series that has wereanimals that are out to find the murderer of a friend.  Lots of diversity in this story too! 4. Grabbed this book at Kidlitcon as I loved the first book by this author.  This book got me on the first chapter.  Win! Blurb from Goodreads: With New Agey parents and a Pakistani heritage, it might have been difficult for Sunny Pryce-Shah to fit in. Thankfully, she had her older, popular cousin Shiri to talk to—until now. Shiri’s shocking suicide brings heartwrenching pain and grief, and also seems to have triggered a new and disturbing ability in Sunny: hearing people’s tho...