Well it was a long bumpy ride for Aaron and I this last year. We spent much of our time clipping coupons, playing softball, rushing from work to classes, sitting in dentist chairs and filling out employment applications. We are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Christmas was/has been a wonderful time. We got to spend some good time with Aaron's mother who's health has dramatically improved. Every year we get to know Kendall, her husband, better and we adore him.

We are living out in the ASU housing on Williamsfield and thoroughly enjoy our home with a great view of the mountains. You can't really beat the low rent and large houses.

Aaron will have his BA in March and will start his Masters program and will hopefully finding a job that doesn't make him insane. He has had the oppurtunitiy to play football just about every weekend, which he enjoys, but would like to get a part in a play.

I, Cassie, just returned to the known evil this is University of Phoenix. However, I've started working at the ground campus rather than online and this has already proven to be a lesser evil. I enjoy my job, the people and my manager. I am slowly but surely approaching the end of my AA. When working full time I only sign up for two night/internet classes at a time. Although I do have the option to transfer all my credits back to Eastern Arizona College after this next semster and get my AA that way.

All in all, we are doing really well. In fact,I am constantly surprised how well we are doing. Call it planning, call it luck or blessings. Whatever it is, we're happy.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

My half sister-in-law, Rene, reads probably close to the amount I did when I was her age. This has lead us to buy books for each other as presents and up until Twilight Rene always hit the nail right on the head for the kind of book I would enjoy. This book can be described in three words: teen, thriller, romance. I don't like teen novels, I can hardly stand romance novels but I do have a soft spot for thrillers and vampires. So about every 3rd page I found something I enjoyed.

The premise of Twilight is Isabella, a young, rather pretty and klutzy, woman who falls for a dashing 17 year old vampire, Edward, with a blood lust for exactly Isabella's blood. Their romance is stuttered by secrets and obvious differences in diet. Although I do not like romances I will throw Meyer a bone and admit that the romance was easy to root for. I would not classify this book as a vampire book. To suggest so is to slap Anne Rice in the face.

Did this book make me want to read the sequel? No. But did I get general enjoyment out of it? Yes.

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

Haunted is quite possibly the only book I will ever say that I both adored it but would never recommend it to another reader. This is because I cannot assume someone can tolerate the level of disgusting gore that I put up with, especially through that first stomach churning chapter. This is a story that has us stumbling and gagging until the very last page. I know this doesn't make you want to go out and read it and I urge you not to bearing me in mind. The magic of this book is threefold. Chuck gives us a story, mangled back stories and poetry. Almost each chapter is prefaced by a poem about one of the characters who's names are as whimsical and telling as Comrade Snarky, Miss Sneezy and Saint Gut-Free. Some chapters follow the entire story while others are short stories written by one of the 17 characters. The story takes place at a writer's retreat where all these characters come together. My favorite parts in Haunted were the short stories of the nightmare box and the bowling balls....of all things. I will admit the story was choppy, too edgy and followed a rather weak storyline. I was okay with this because the character development and short stories were pages and pages of Turkish delight, I couldn't get enough of it. So, don't read it unless you were already planning to. Forgive the first chapter...and be warned of language...but if you can look past that, the story is amazing! ~Cassie~

The Ruins by Scott Smith

Let me preface this review by noting that I am not a horror novel fan. This could have an impact on my general disliking for this book.The Ruins was a good idea that was over embellished. Good character development for the first 70 pages, though there were 5 characters that needed proper introduction. The story takes these 5 characters on a hike to find one of the character's brother. Entering into the ruins they find themselves unable to leave the site by force of the Mayan villagers nearby. Perhaps too quickly, they find that there is something rather unusual about the vegetation therein. Like I said, the story was a good idea but as we discover who/what the adversary is, its hard not to laugh. But even suppressing the urge to laugh and giving it a shot, Smith destroys our tolerance. The author had a few clumsy sexual parts that hardly had pertinence to character development or the story. I am one who can stand a sexual part in a book now and then, but it must build the story. I can accept a lot of things, but this book was nothing short of a serious Little Shop of Horrors...and nobody wants to see that. I would only recommend this book to pure lovers of cheesy horror stories. To each their own. ~Cassie~

Seven Books in Two Months: 61 Pages a Day

Like many before me, I've finished the Harry Potter series and have acute withdrawals. I read them all in just two months. There is something to be said for a writer who can create well over 80 characters, at least 50 of them being good round characters. Reading this series filled me with a foreboding sense of under achievement. Probably I will never write a series much less a single book that would be read by more than a handful of children who found my book by garage sale happenstance.

Anyway, love, love, loved Harry Potter! I recommend the series to any fantasy lovers. In fact, I recommend it period. My husband is a science fiction nut but he is rather enjoying the series as we speak (lucky). The books contain a lot of British *ahem* humour. I especially enjoyed Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I only wish I would have had more restraint than to read them all in two months, I could be enjoying it now.

~Cassie~

Finances Are Adversely Related to UK Harry Potter Book Sets

Like many I enjoy blogging simply because it gives me a sense of propriety.

Recently I have had a number of jobs not worth sticking around for, by this I mean two jobs. I am not a job hopper so switching jobs is something that is discontenting for me. However I do have something lined up that will not only pay the bills but will allow Aaron to quit his job to go full time for his Masters. Meanwhile I am left doing laundry, making eBay steals and running in the morning.

However, this time of year is always a little unnerving for me. August seems to be a sort of January because I live in the academic year. This is why I create playlists called Morning Tea and listen to it whilst I blog.

Aaron and I are doing really well. This doesn't mean anything big is happening, we just are the kind of people who can be happy knowing we are getting things done for the big picture, though we need reminding of this from time to time. Which is why I am ever so pleased that I've married someone quite my opposite.