Jana Says

Living life from cover to cover

Bookshelf scavenger hunt

by Jana 5 Comments

I saw this post when Bev tweeted about it the other day. I loved the idea and decided to go ahead and steal borrow it.

It’s a book scavenger hunt. Basically, she listed 19 categories and looked through her bookshelf to find one that matches. As for me, I just got rid of a bunch of books but added a ton to my Kindle so my finds were from both. Maybe it’s cheating, maybe it’s not. I don’t fully understand the rules so I’m going with what I feel.

Here are the categories:

  1. A title that starts with N
  2. A cover that’s mostly brown
  3. A book based on a true story
  4. A book with multiple perspectives
  5. A book you read last year
  6. The book you bought most recently
  7. A cover you don’t like
  8. A retelling
  9. A book that’s also a movie
  10. A book written this year (I’m reinterpreting to published this year)
  11. A nonfiction book
  12. A book you’ve told others to read
  13. A book with a tree on the cover
  14. A book with an author who has the same name as you
  15. A book you’ve read more than once
  16. A book you didn’t finish
  17. A book with a king in it
  18. A book that’s purple without the dust cover on it (weird. This one is just weird)
  19. A book you’ll read by the end of the year

However, I’m fairly lazy and the idea of inserting 19 pictures into one post makes me kind of nauseous so instead, I’m sharing my picks over on Instagram (one a day so as not to overwhelm everyone). Follow along or join in!

Also, if you have any other categories you’d like me to look for in my scavenger hunt, let me know!

Albums all the way through

by Jana 9 Comments

The other day on Twitter, I asked for some albums that people listen to all the way through to the end without skipping a song. I got some good answers. Some I’d heard of, some I hadn’t. Some I’d heard of and have never listened to ever at all.

It was a fun list to read. I like knowing people’s musical tastes.

Anyway, Erin (of the Book Challenge by Erin fame) asked me for some of mine. I gave her a few but I figured since not all of you follow me on the Twitter (you should, though. I’m hilarious), I’d put that list here.

There are in no particular order except how they pop into my brain. And you’ll notice that while I have a type, I’m a bit eclectic, too.

  1. Turnstiles (Billy Joel)
  2. Presto (Rush)
  3. Roll the Bones (Rush)
  4. Amaryllis (Shinedown)
  5. When Legends Rise (Godsmack)
  6. Bat Out of Hell (Meatloaf)
  7. One Thing Remains (Default)
  8. American Idiot (Green Day)
  9. The Strange Case of Mz. Hyde (Halestorm)
  10. Self-titled first album by Train
  11. Screamin’ for My Supper (Beth Hart)
  12. Little Earthquakes (Tori Amos)
  13. Pornograffitti (Extreme)

I also have a couple of greatest hits albums on my list but I feel like that’s cheating so I’m not listing them.

Okay, so. What are some albums you love that you listen to all the way through without skipping a song?

Things I love (that don’t love me back)

by Jana 12 Comments

I wanted to do a recap but then I thought, No! Let’s do a list instead! Because that’s easier to write from my phone! And since my laptop is charging and the thought of sitting at my desk makes me itchy right now, we’ll just go with this.

Things I love that don’t love me back (does this remind anyone of that Meatloaf song? I didn’t think so when I wrote it initially but now I can’t stop singing it):

  • Licorice
  • Cheez Its
  • My cat
  • Sleep
  • Starbucks cold brew coffee
  • That ONE librarian (well, okay, I don’t love her but I do love librarians in general)
  • Red wine
  • My hair
  • Chick Fil A
  • Technology (WordPress, I am looking at you)

That’s where we’ll end.

And now, these funnies.

Tell me, what are some things you love that don’t love you back?

Three things in May

by Jana 17 Comments

The writer’s block is real, y’all. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it a few times but I am struggling hard. I’m working my issues out at a snail’s pace and hope to rejoin the world sooner than later. But I can’t say for sure when. Which is why, every so often, I like to peak my head up from behind the mountain of shit I’m buried under if for nothing else than air and a moment of normalcy.

That’s what’s going on today.

And what better why to do that than with another edition of three things

 

Recipes I’d like to try

  1. These lasagna stuffed peppers
  2. These Szechuan scallops
  3. This asparagus and tomato side dish

Apps I really, really like

  1. At Bat
  2. Dunkin Donuts
  3. Duolingo

Things I don’t entirely hate about Facebook

  1. The “on this day”memories thing
  2. Thug Notes
  3. 60 Second Docs

People I love on Twitter

  1. Seth MacFarlane (@sethmacfarlane). Yes, the celebrity guy. I think I love him.
  2. TenaciousJ (@tenaciousfemini). Finance, feminism, snark. She’s awesome.
  3. Melville House (@melvillehouse). A book publisher with a very large side of sarcasm.

Things I wish I had money to do

  1. Save all the dogs and cats and other animals, too
  2. Buy an island
  3. Completely renovate and refurbish my local library and hire all new staff

New-to-me podcasts I’m loving

  1. In the Dark. For the true crime fan
  2. Sandra. Some weird AI mystery-ish stuff but with Kristen Wiig
  3. Annotated. A Book Riot offering

Random facts about me

  1. At 5’3″, I am the tallest of all my siblings
  2. I cannot name all of the state capitals but I do know all the words to American Pie (the song, not the movie)
  3. I once met Adam Sandler

That’s all for this month. Let me know if you have any topics you’d like me to cover in June!

10 things I’m loving right now

by Jana 7 Comments

Here are a few things I love right now:

  • Good Girls. Have you watched this? It’s darkly funny, full of female badassery, has Christina Hendricks and Retta and the guy who played Matt Saracen on FNL, and it’s on NBC so you don’t need Netflix or Amazon or anything special to find it.
  • Boom Chicka Pop. Can’t stop, won’t stop eating it. The butter and cheddar cheese are my favorites.
  • Pilot Mr. Grip pens. You know how a good pen is life changing? That’s what these are. Plus they’re refillable to props to not having to toss an empty pen.
  • Hulu. I’ve recently learned that one of my all-time favorite shows, SouthLAnd is available on Hulu and I love that they took the plunge and added it.
  • Thug Notes. One of only like 4 things I enjoy about Facebook. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a show hosted by Sparky Sweets, PhD discussing classic literature and it is glorious. And I just learned there’s a book so you know what my next book purchase will be.
  • Death, Sex, and Money. It’s a podcast that covers the topics in the title and if any of those interest you, I highly recommend checking this one out. For me, it’s a nice balance to true crime and books.
  • Libby. Since my library app is broken and the people in charge have no interest in fixing it, I’ve starting using eBooks more and Libby helps enable that. It’s a books app that’s exclusively for eBooks and, unlike other apps, is very specific about available copies, where you are on the waiting list, and how long your expected wait is. And you can put the books directly in the app on your phone.
  • Vacation planning. Since my daughter’s cheer team didn’t qualify to go to Disney this year, the money saved can go towards a real vacation and planning vacations is almost as fun as actually going.
  • The rats scattering. It’s no secret around here how much I hate, loathe, and despise our current administration but watching these fuckers run scared because they know their time is limited fills me with glee.
  • This transformation picture of Lizzy. Left is on day one, right is the other night. One of these days I’ll get around to writing about what it’s like with a puppy mill survivor but for now, please just enjoy how fucking cute she is.

What are you loving right now?

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