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casiestewart · 5 years ago

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Day 39: Book Recommendations https://ift.tt/2XSeDLv

Last night I finished the first book I’d read a while and then we watched 1917. I’m not usually into period pieces or wartime moves but it kept me in suspense the whole time. I started another book in bed before falling asleep. I think an escape from reality was just what I needed yesterday.

A couple of months ago I was wandering aimlessly at Chapters (remember doing that?) and surprised myself at how many books I’d actually read. I took photos of all the covers to make a blog post with recommendations. I guess I didn’t really find the time until waking up at 5:30 this morning saying, today’s the day!

You’ll notice a theme, lots of thriller/suspense, almost no self-help. Reading for me is a distraction from the outside world and I love a good story involving some type of crime or murder. Idk why, I just do.

This post isn’t sponsored, I bought my own Kindle and most of these books. A few in the list below were advance reader copies from the publisher via PR or Netgalley. All books are linked on Amazon and can be found in my reading list here.

I love reading on the Kindle. Until I got an e-reader, it had been ages since I’d read a whole book. I love traditional books but with Kindle, you have almost any book at your fingertips, you can read in the sun, in the dark, in water, or highlight things to look back on later.

I also quite enjoy Audible, especially when the book is read by the author. A great feature of both Audible and Kindle is you can preview the book before you buy it, this has really come in handy with recommendations and the discovery process of finding your next read. Kindle is also cheaper than hardcover or paperback and you don’t have to wait for shipping.

Here are some books I’ve enjoyed reading over the past two years. My last post with summer books to read was in 2016, where did the time go!

My Top Picks to Read Right Now

Jessica Simpson‘s memoir ‘Open Book‘ is one of the best books I’ve read recently. I listened to it over an 8-hour drive to visit my dad in February. It was 4 hours each way and I loved listening, it’s real, honest, and so relatable. The Audiobook is read by her and I highly recommend.

I finished The Swap yesterday and I recommend pre-ordering it for June 23rd. It’s a suspenseful modern thriller about sex, friendship, social media, and fertility. I received an advance publisher copy via NetGalley, good read!

Woman On The Edge by Samantha Bailey is a great read, I couldn’t put it down. A page-turning thriller with a story that’s so well written. I received it from Simon Schuster and then got to meet the author at a luncheon. So good I’d almost read it again.

When Life Gives You Lululemons is a sequel to The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. A light, funny and drama-filled read, it’s from the perspective of Emily Charlton on her new adventure. Good summer read.

Feel Good Light Listening

When You Find Out The World Is Against You is a collection of personal stories from Oxford’s life. The book is read by the author and documents her life, parenting, and is filled with references to being Canadian. I listened to it at the cottage this month on walks or while doing things around the house. A good distraction from life right now.

At first, I wasn’t into The Year of Magical Thinking but I was in a book club so I stuck with it. As I made my way through it, it really grew on me and I’ve since gone back to listen to the stories. It’s relaxing, comforting, and a really good book to give you perspective on life and death.

I worked with Anne T. Donahue at The Keg before I moved to Australia in 2004. I have always been a fan of her and the way she writes. Her book Nobody Cares is a collection of personal essays about life in your twenties and thirties, she talks about failure, feminism, body image, alcoholism, and growing up in our hometown. The audiobook is read by her!

I have gone back to The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck over and over. I’m not into self-help books that tell me how to live my life, this is not one of those. It will help you shift your perspective and think about that really matters to you, in YOUR life. I’m glad I purchased it on Audible because it’s a good kick in the ass when you need to get back on track.

Mystery & Thriller

My favourite genre to read are books that involve a couple, best friends, or family that have some type of twist and there’s always a murder. For some reason these books give me so much joy, I can’t stop reading them. This list is in no particular order, my most favs are bold.

The Perfect Wife, JP Delaney

The Best Kind of People, Zoe Whittal

The Perfect Stranger, Megan Miranda

Watching You, Lisa Jewell

The Cliff House, Amanda Jennings

In A Dark Dark Wood, Ruth Ware

Woman In Cabin 10, Ruth Ware

Darling Rose Gold, Stephanie Wrobel

The Last House Guest, Megan Miranda

The Lying Room, Nicci french

Someone We know, Shari Lapina

The Family Upstairs, Lisa Jewell

Dark Water, Robert Bryndza

Left to Die, Lisa Jackson

A Spark of Light, Jodi Picoult

The Killer Inside, Cass Green

The First Mistake, Sandie Jones

Glad I finally put this list together, I’ve been meaning to do it for months. If you have any recommendations I’m all ears, feel free to share.

It’s still freezing outside but I’m feeling better today.

Original article: Day 39: Book Recommendations

#IFTTT #WordPress #Casie Stewart #Toronto #Blogger #Travel #Tech

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thenewsedge · 5 years ago

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Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visit Canada House in London on Jan. 7, 2020. POOL/Pool Photo via Reuters Anne T. Donahue is the author of Nobody Cares. Scrolling through Twitter on Wednesday afternoon, reading report after report that Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, might be moving to Canada,…

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dramaruth7-blog · 6 years ago

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WIN TICKETS TO 'SEX & THE CITY & US: A 20TH ANNIVERSARY EXTRAVAGANZA'

Our Beautygeeks giveaway winners be like...

During the 'Sex and the City' series' 6-year run, my roommate at the time (hi, Mychelle!) and I watched every episode, either as it aired or on DVD. All our friends did too.

Years and years later, a few things have stuck with me. Remember Samantha and Bobby (Bobby Carnavale) and the wheatgrass shot? And Carrie's breakup post-it-note from Jack Berger (Ron Livingston)? What about Charlotte and Harry and the white couch? (Hint: he liked to hang out starkers at home.) And Miranda and Steve – I think I was happier that they ended up together than I was about Carrie and Mr. Big.

Thanks for watching!Visit Website

Big day in 2010

Then there was that time that someone stole Carrie's new, $485 Manolo Blahnik shoes from a baby shower. And that time Charlotte needed a "rabbit" intervention. And the time Samantha found a grey hair down there. And who didn't feel for Miranda when she struggled with moving from Manhattan?

And maybe we should talk about Carrie and Big's insane apartment in Sex & The City 2?

I've had my own brushes with the show. I had a chat with Sex & The City author Candace Bushnell (she wears Crocs), and with Mr. Big, too, when Chris Noth became the face of Biotherm Homme and nearly melted my FujiFilm camera with smoulder. (That shot led to sister's hilarious Photoshopped selfie with Mr. Big, and this contest before Instagram was invented.) The candid interview revealed how Noth snagged the Biotherm gig, as well as how he really felt about skincare and grooming in his showbiz arena.

Okay, giveaway! Tickets courtesy of Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.

Thanks for watching!Visit Website

win tickets to "sex and the city and us"

Be warned: the Sex and the City and Us: 20th Anniversary Extravaganza will include cosmos and cupcakes. The main event will feature pop-culture commentator/writer Anne T. Donahue and Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of Sex and the City and Us: How Four Single Women Changed the Way We Think, Live and Love (available here).

The Hot Docs website offers this: Learn how a columnist, two gay men, and a writers’ room full of women used their own poignant, hilarious, and humiliating stories to launch a cultural phenomenon—and how this iconic, if sometimes problematic, series endured slut-shaming and a slew of nasty reviews on its way to revolutionizing television for women.

I am so in. I love this kind of thing.

sex and the city: a brief retrospective

I'd really love to chat over cupcakes with a couple of you next week! We've got TWO pairs of tickets to give away to two readers. The details:

Sex and the City and Us: 20th Anniversary Extravaganza Wednesday August 22, 6:30pm

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema 506 Bloor Street West Toronto

Doors open at 5:30pm

To be eligible to win, you need to 18 or older, and you'll need to enter via the widget options below. Enter as many times as you like by Sunday August 19th at 11:59pm EST.

Our winners will be selected at random and notified via email. Response is required within 12 hours – there isn't much time to contact the runner-up if the first person doesn't reply. We'll confirm by Tuesday that the tickets are waiting for you at the door.

Good luck, lovelies – can't wait to see you there!

Please be advised that usually we have to share your information with our contact in order to have your prize shipped. With this giveaway, your prize will be waiting for you at the location.

Source: https://imabeautygeek.com/2018/08/16/sex-and-the-city-and-us-hot-docs/

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20-19stepforward-blog · 6 years ago

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Week 7

It looks like I have gotten a little delayed with my posts, so bear with me as we do a little bit of catching up in the next few days. For this seventh week of makeup random acts of kindness I give you 7 book recommendations. Reading is one of my favourite pastimes and I’m so glad that I have gotten back into it the last 2 years or so. For a long time in my early twenties I really didn’t do much recreational reading, but once I began to dive in again I rediscovered my love of it. Today, I am hoping at least one of these titles may spark a similar interest for you. Not all of these books fall into the same genres so hopefully there will be something here for everyone in some capacity. Without further ado I recommend the following to you:

- Tell No One by Harlan Coben: this novel is a non-stop thriller that follows the main character on his pursuit to discover the truth behind the cryptic messages he is receiving and their link to his late wife.

- Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult: centers on the collision of two very different worlds, when a case of infanticide is discovered on an Amish farm; old testament meets new world order with a young woman at the epicenter.

- Chill Factor by Sandra Brown: combines countless plot twists with surging adrenaline as you follow a small town “up the trail” to unveil a serial killer who is already responsible for 4 deaths with an impending fifth in the balance.

- No Relation by Terry Fallis: is a lighter read with lots of humour and a fabulous take on being true to one’s identity especially when faced with everyone else’s preconceptions.

- Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer: depicts obstruction of justice, friendship, the shadiness of legalities and the power of revenge as the main character finds himself wrongfully tossed into an inescapable prison, only to scheme his way out and set about righting the wrongs of injustice.

- What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan: brings to life a mother’s worst nightmare when her son goes missing from a local park, as the days start to slip by without answers she begins to question the innocence of those who she should trust the most.

- Nobody Cares by Anne T. Donahue: is a collection of personal essays that express the author’s journey of coming to terms with every day relatable struggles, and puts forth the liberating reminder that nobody really cares (it’s all in our own heads).

I hope you are all ready pick up a book now, even if it’s not one that I have mentioned here today. There are always so many adventures to be had, and you don’t even have to travel to far to be transported away. Happy reading everyone!

#randomactsofkindness #reading #loveofreading #books #pageturner

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charliebroger-blog · 6 years ago

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Nobody Cares: Essays

Anne T. Donahue

“The internet’s best friend.” ― Flare

From the author of the popular newsletter That’s What She Said, Nobody Cares is a frank, funny personal essay collection about work, failure, friendship, and the messy business of being alive in your twenties and thirties.

As she shares her hard-won insights from screwing up, growing up, and trying to find her own path, Anne T. Donahue’s debut book offers all the honesty, laughs, and reassurance of a late-night phone call with your best friend. Whether she’s giving a signature pep talk, railing against summer, or describing her own mental health struggles, Anne reminds us that failure is normal, saying no to things is liberating, and that we’re all a bunch of beautiful disasters ― and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

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recentnews18-blog · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://shovelnews.com/16-funny-audiobooks-to-get-you-through-all-those-chores-you-dont-want-to-do/

16 Funny Audiobooks To Get You Through All Those Chores You Don't Want To Do

Is it just me or has 2018 felt like the longest year in the history of humankind? Now that the days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder, and the realization that Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson’s love wasn’t meant to be is sinking in, you might need some cheering up or some entertainment as you “winter clean” (that’s a thing, right?) and funny audiobooks are the perfect things to do it.

Whenever I am feeling down or whenever I have a lot to do, I can always trust an entertaining book to get me through it. The only problem? I have been so busy and so tired lately that I haven’t had the time or energy to sit down and read a physical novel. That is what makes funny audiobooks the perfect cure. No matter how exhausted you are, no matter how over-scheduled you are, no matter how crazy life seems to be, there is always enough time to listen to something that can make you laugh. Getting a head start on holiday shopping? Bring your audiobook to the mall. Stuck shoveling the driveway all morning? Don’t forget to pop your headphones in before you go outside. Stuck in traffic after work? Sit back, relax, and let the soothing sounds of funny people make your commute that much more enjoyable.

Whether you are heading off to your morning gym session, taking a long trip home for the holidays, or just sitting at home and looking for a fun way to relax, turn on one of these 16 humorous audiobooks and get ready to LOL.

‘Congratulations, Who Are You Again?’ by Harrison Scott Key, read by Josh Bloomberg

Winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, Harrison Scott Key has been making readers laugh with his personal stories for years. Now he is back with a brand new memoir that will have listeners in stitches. A witty and brilliant account of his evolution from a young boy in Mississippi to an award-winning writer and humorist, Congratulations, Who Are You Again? will put a smile on listeners faces before inspiring them to chase their own dreams.

Click here to buy.

‘How Hard Can It Be?’ by Allison Pearson, read by Poppy Miller

When her husband quits her job and decides to devote all of his time (and their money) to cycling and therapy, Kate Reddy has to go back to work. The only problem? The job market isn’t a particularly inviting place for 49-year-old mothers of two, so in order to get hired, she lies about her age, fibs on her resume, hires a trainer, and even joins a Women Returners group. But getting the job proves to be the easy part, because, after being hired at the hedge fund she founded, Kate finds herself struggling to prove herself at work while caring for her family at home. A clever and comical novel about motherhood, success, family, love, and sacrifice, How Hard Can It Be? illustrates just how impossible modern womanhood seems sometimes.

Click here to buy.

‘Nobody Cares’ by Anne T. Donahue

If you read her popular newsletter That’s What She Said, Nobody Cares, then you already know just how hilarious and relatable Anne T. Donahue can be. Her debut essay collection about work, friendship, failure, and growing up features the same fierce wit, honesty, and humor that has made her one of the most beloved voices on the internet.

Click here to buy.

‘The Shakespeare Requirement’ by Julie Schumacher, read by the author

In the sequel to the Thurber Prize-winning novel Dear Committee Members, Julie Schumacher returns to academia to tell readers about the next chapter in Jason Fitger’s life. Now the newly appointed chair of the English Department at Payne University, the dissatisfied academic faces both personal and professional challenges, not the least of which is a controversy over what appears to be his attempt to remove Shakespeare from the school’s curriculum. A biting satire about collegiate life, The Shakespeare Requirement is bold, biting, and just the right amount of absurd.

Click here to buy.

‘Severance’ by Ling Ma, read by Nancy Wu

You would think the end of the world would be scary or dangerous or depressing, but in Ling Ma’s debut, it’s a riot. At least, it is from the perspective of Candace Chen, an aloof millennial who finds herself alone in New York after a plague sweeps through the city. When she meets a group of survivors, Candace isn’t sure if she’s found salvation or the key to her undoing. A sharp satire about immigration, ambition, capitalism, and coming of age, Severance is side-splitting novel of suspense like you’ve never seen before.

Click here to buy.

‘Whose Boat Is This Boat? Comments That Don’t Help in the Aftermath of a Hurricane’ by the staff of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’, read by Stephen Colbert

Picture books don’t always make the best audiobooks, but that is far from the case withWhose Boat Is This Boar? A hilarious reading of some of Donald Trump’s most cringe-worthy quotes post-Hurricane Florence, this not-so-kids book by The Late Show staff will have adults laughing out loud. But that isn’t the best part: 100% of The Late Show‘s proceeds from the sale of Whose Boat Is This Boat? goes to hurricane relief, so you can do good and feel good at the same time.

Click here to buy.

‘Fight or Flight’ by Samantha Young, read by Angelica Lee

Ava Breevort is on her way home to Boston to bury a childhood friend, and she is in no mood for romance. Which is why she is surprised to find herself in bed with Caleb, the rude passenger who stole her seat, during a layover. She is even more surprised when he shows up on her doorstep later and asks to see her again while he is stranded in her hometown. The more time Ava spends with Caleb, the less she wants him to leave, but when his stay becomes permanent, she must decide if she’s willing to put her heart on the line for a chance at real romance. A sweet and charming novel with plenty of sexy banter, Fight or Flight is a rom-com you’ll love listening to.

Click here to buy.

‘I Might Regret This’ by Abbi Jacobson, read by the author

We all do crazy things after a breakup, but following a particularly difficult one of her own, actress, artist, and Broad City co-creator Abbi Jacobson decided to take a cross-country road adventure all by herself. I Might Regret This chronicles that journey with humor, heart, honesty, and the same kind of TMI storytelling fans have come to know and love.

Click here to buy.

‘Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay’ by Phoebe Robinson, read by the author

She made you laugh until it hurt on 2 Dope Queens, she cracked you up on Sooo Many White Guys, she’s always finding new ways to make you giggle on late night shows, and she practically made you pee your pants with her book You Can’t Touch My Hair. Now, stand-up comedian, actress, and author Phoebe Robinson is back with a brand new audiobook that will leave you in stitches. Featuring personal anecdotes about dating, money, and her career, pointed essays about feminism, race, and politics, and plenty of pop culture references, Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay has everything you’ve come to know and love about Phoebe Robinson.

Click here to buy.

‘Mr. & Mrs. American Pie’ by Juliet McDaniel, ready by Sarah Mollo-Christensen and Jonathan Todd Ross

It’s the year 1969, and Maxine Simmons life is completely turned upside down when she finds out her husband is leaving her for his much younger secretary. A social pariah exiled to Arizona after a public meltdown at Thanksgiving, Maxine is determined to put the pieces of her broken world back together. Her plan: to win the Mrs. American Pie pageant for the nation’s best wife and mother. That is, after building a new family. A laugh-out-loud story starring a offbeat heroine you won’t soon forget, Mr. and Mrs. American Pie is the comic relief you’ve been waiting for.

Click here to buy.

‘Sophia of Silicon Valley’ by Anna Yen, read by Emily Woo Zeller

In the tech world, Sophia Young had become something of a nerd whisperer. The right-hand woman to Treehouse animation studio CEO Scott Kraft, she does whatever it takes to be successful in what is otherwise an impenetrable boys’ club. That is, until she is hired by engineer/inventor Andre Stark to run his investor relations, and Sophia realizes the massive paycheck and high-status career she’s built might not be worth the price she paid for it. A fun, fast-paced story about what it’s like being a woman in the male-dominated world of tech, Sophia of Silicon Valley is a seriously wild ride.

Click here to buy.

‘Feminasty’ by Erin Gibson, read by the author

Who says feminism can’t be funny? In Feminasty, the creator and host of Throwing Shade offers readers advice for surviving the patriarchy in the form of amusing and often relatable personal essays she narrates herself. Fierce and uproariously funny, this audiobook is here to empower listeners to change the world.

Click here to buy.

‘Lake Success’ by Gary Shteyngart, read by Arthur Morey and Soneela Nankani

Anxious about an SEC investigation at work, stressed about his young son’s recent autism diagnosis, and overwhelmed by his life as a member of the 0.1 Percent, hedge-fund manager Barry Cohen decides to leave it all behind and chase a simpler life with his old college sweetheart. Back in New York, his driven, first-generation American wife, faces down her own demons as she struggles to hold onto the life she has always wanted. Sharp, insightful, and utterly entertaining, Lake Success is Gary Shteyngart at his best.

Click here to buy.

‘The Greatest Love Story Ever Told: An Oral History’ by Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, read by the authors

Grab a cozy blanket, a bottle of wine, and your beau before pressing play on The Greatest Love Story Every Told. Narrated by everyone’s favorite celebrity couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, this audiobook takes listeners on an heartfelt and hilarious journey through their legendary Hollywood romance. You will laugh, you will cry, you will wish you could have an epic love story like this of your own.

Click here to buy.

‘My Sister, the Serial Killer’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite, read by Adepero Oduye (Nov. 20)

If you think murder and humor have no business being together, think again, because in My Sister, the Serial Killer, they make the perfect pair. A razor-sharp and wickedly funny thriller about a Nigerian woman and her younger sister who can’t seem to stop killer her boyfriends, Oyinkan Braithwaite’s debut will make you squeal with delight and fright in equal measure.

Click here to buy.

‘The Adults’ by Caroline Hulse, read by Penelope Rawlins, Peter Kenny, and Sarah Ovens (Nov. 27)

If Love, Actually and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation are your two favorite holiday movies, you’re going to love The Adults. It chronicles the Christmas vacation of a recently separated couple, their seven-year-old daughter, their new partners, and one imaginary friend. If you’re wondering what could possibly go wrong, the answer is: everything.

Click here to buy.

Source: https://www.bustle.com/p/16-funny-audiobooks-to-get-you-through-all-those-chores-you-dont-want-to-do-13099943

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atdatyahoo · 9 years ago

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In Defence of Uniform Dressing

This week, Kate Middleton made her first public appearance since the birth of her daughter, wearing skinny jeans and a striped top like a normal, clothes-wearing person. So obviously, the media went bananas: not only was Kate wearing the very clothes she seemingly fit into before having another baby (gasp!), she was in what could best be described as her royal uniform: slim-fitting pants, an equally fitted top, and flat shoes. The Kate Middleton special. Seen also at your local J. Crew.

But since the media was focused more on her body than what was on it (can you believe her post-baby figure, everybody? CAN YOU?), they failed to notice that the Duchess was keeping it refreshingly real: wearing blue, wearing denim, and eclipsing even her son’s Crocs in the process, she stuck to the pieces she clearly feels comfortable in. Which, as a human woman who wears clothes daily, I can understand completely.

Comfort and laziness are the upsides of a definitive uniform. But first, calm down: as a person who spent five years of her working life in McDonalds, Shoe Company, Future Shop, Keg, and Rona uniforms (and then even more spent adhering to a strict American Eagle dress code), I recognize the knee-jerk reaction upon hearing some writer sing the praises of wearing the same thing every day. I spent two years wearing a smock and safety boots. I know how boring “the same” can be.

But that’s the thing about uniform dressing: it’s not a question of wearing the same thing every day. (Because we’re not The Simpsons, much as we wish we were.) What uniform dressing serves to do is exploit the pieces you feel amazing in, and then allow you to wear versions of those pieces on a regular basis. It frees you from trends. It reserves your right not to be in or out of style. It justifies your need to buy several pairs of the same pants (potentially in different colours), and it makes your wardrobe interchangeable, which gives you more time to do other things -- or more space for the same cuts of various t-shirts (in an array of materials). It injects you with confidence if you’re not somebody who finds said confidence through aesthetic experimentation.

Because the thing about honing an eclectic fashion sense is that it takes work, and not everyone is built to put energy into that type of work. The older I get, the less I’m inclined to try a new type of pant, and the more I’ll bulk up on the same cut from the same store, just in case they end up going on final sale and disappearing forever. I know I don’t like tank tops. I know I’d rather wear a roomy t-shirt or sweatshirt or something that involves both. Button-up short-sleeved blouses look terrible on me, and I will never attempt one again. All my shoes -- minus anything wedding-appropriate -- are flat and of the running variety. I like all coats. If I do wear a heel, I have to be able to move in it. And one time I tried to wear a cape and my arms kept getting stuck. Somehow, I morphed into my own version of normcore, and now, sitting here in skinny jeans and a three-quarter length sweatshirt, I am wearing a uniform again. And I’m more than okay with it.

Frankly, to judge based on a person’s unwillingness to stray from what they feel good in is none of our business. What anybody chooses to wear at all isn’t really any of our business. So to scrutinize based on wardrobe staples and/or an eternal capsule collection is just as embarrassing as judging somebody for wearing feathers. Uniform dressing is just another means of expression -- and part of that expression may be, “I just want to wear what I like, man.”

So here’s to Kate Middleton obviously finding her style groove. My only hang-up? That George continues to wear Crocs through adulthood. No insult to comfort, but they’re like flip-flops, you guys: a bad idea.

#author: anne t. donahue

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cacelebrityarchive-yahoopar-blog · 10 years ago

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Ranking the boyfriends of 'Gilmore Girls'

This weekend, Canadians have everything to be thankful for. And by that I am mostly referring to the release of “Gilmore Girls” on Netflix Canada, because as of today (Friday, Oct. 10), it is available.

So we asked ourselves: is this the perfect excuse to rank all the boyfriends and/or love interests of Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel)? Absolutely. Here’s how they stand up.

Lorelai Gilmore

Alex Lesman (Billy Burke) If any character were to personify “nobody cares,” he would come in the form of Lorelai’s second boyfriend of the series; a man so uninteresting he didn’t even get a proper send-off. (Seriously: we never find out how they broke up, or even why.) Sure, he was kind, but so are a lot of people — and none of them are worthy of a Gilmore Girl, either.

Max Medina (Scott Cohen) The thing about Max is that at first we kind of got the appeal: he was a teacher at Rory’s school, so dating Lorelai would be all “forbidden” and “weird, probably.” But then after declaring him not romantic enough (is that a thing?!), Lorelai comes face to face with the thousand yellow daisies he sends to her work. Calm down, dude. (Also: anyone else would’ve been fired if a thousand flowers showed up in the workplace unannounced and for no real reason.)

Jason Stiles (Chris Eigeman) Okay, now if you want to talk about illicit affairs — and I do, trust me — we can take a moment to briefly sing the praises of Jason Stiles, competitor of Lorelai’s dad’s company (and then later enemy of Lorelai’s dad). After all, secret relationships are fun! Although they are less so when the woman in question must choose between some guy she used to go to camp with, and her Dad. (Bye, Jason.)

Christopher Hayden (David Sutcliffe) Well, he’s Rory’s biological father, so he gets points for that. Also, if not for Christopher, the “will they or won’t they?” with Luke would never have happened — or seemed so dire. But the rest? Ugh: always drama with this guy. He’s unreliable, he promises a reunion between Lorelai and Rory early on in the series, then goes back to his girlfriend when he finds out that she’s pregnant. But then he comes back again, resulting in another reunion between he and Lorelai that ends in marriage. And then just ends. (Because he’s the worst? Yes. #TeamLuke, obviously.)

Luke Danes (Scott Patterson) Yes, he’s moody. Yes, he’s snarky. Yes, he’s sometimes stupidly unpleasant. But he cares about Lorelai and Rory more than any other boyfriend and/or romantic partner to have paired with the former — and he also owns the greatest coffee shop in town. He’s flawed, sure (remember his secret daughter?) but he’s patient — a.k.a. they finally reunite at the end of the series after the worst couple of years ever.

Rory Gilmore

Graham Sullivan (Teddy Dunn) A date so horrible Rory has to call Dean (again — we’ll get to him) for a rescue. Get out of here, Graham.

Marty (Wayne Wilcox) Well, first, Rory meets Marty for the first time when he’s naked in a hallway at school — so there’s that. Then, despite him having feelings for Rory, Marty does nothing, which is particularly distressing because he had a girlfriend of whom he’d mentioned nothing about. Cool! Go hang out with Graham, guy.

Dean Forester (Jared Padalecki) Ultimately, Rory’s relationship with Dean was doomed to fail because they met when they were so young. (Have we learned nothing from Lorelai and Christopher, people?) Then, toss in the following factors, and we’ve got the problematic relationship of the decade: they don’t have any shared interests, Dean insisted on wearing the ugliest jacket all the time, he was uber-attentive (to the point of it being overbearing), and then he cheated on his wife to sleep with Rory which just makes him even more Christopher-esque. Next!

Logan Huntzberger (Matt Czuchry) At first you get it: Logan and Rory were cut from the same cloth, having been bred by wealthy families and going on to pursue higher education at Yale, as familial rule would dictate. But unlike Rory, Logan was rich, spoiled, entitle, arrogant, immature, and then he cheated on her during a “break.” (Have these people learned nothing from “Friends”?) The worst part: he kept calling Luke, “Duke.” Go to bed, tiny boy.

Tristan DuGrey (Chad Michael Murray) Pro: he got Rory tickets to PJ Harvey in an attempt to take her out on a date. Con: Rory’s best friend loved him from afar. Con again: we first meet Tristan after he harasses Rory at school, calling her the “Virgin Mary.” Con thrice: he’s sent away to military school. Tristan, we hardly knew ye (but you were misunderstood and PJ Harvey so we actually would’ve liked to).

Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia) Enter: the bad boy. Was he flaky, mean, moody, manipulative, and usually terrible? Absolutely. But he at least liked … books. (It’s important, for the sake of this piece, kind of.) He challenged Rory when he felt like she was losing herself — despite it being none of his business — and … actually, no. He was a terrible boyfriend, too. (What was up with this show?)

Basically what we’re saying here is by default, Jess is the best. But in real life, he’d be a walking red flag. At least he didn’t wear Dean’s coat.

#author: anne t. donahue #author:anne t. donahue #_uuid:4b617152-56a4-345b-95a8-8262dbe549b2

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ca-celebrity-celebrity-news · 10 years ago

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Presenting: your Grammys 2015 drinking game

One week after the Super Bowl and one week before "SNL's" 40th anniversary, we've got Biggest Night in Music (at least according to CBS): The Grammys.

Starting at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 8, industry royalty will descend upon the Staples Center, listen to jokes by host LL Cool J (and his hat), and watch no less than 45 performers.

And that's all well and good, but we have something better. In the spirit of our Golden Globes drinking game from 2013, we have this: our Grammys drinking game from 2015, open only to readers 19+ (unless of course you're drinking water or juice, then drink away).

Here we go!

- Take a drink every time LL Cool J says, "This next performer..."

- Take a drink every time you see LL Cool J's hat

- Refill your glass and drink the entire thing if LL Cool J changes his hat

- Every pun, take a drink

- Every "pause for laughter" moment, take a drink

- Refill and chug if Taylor Swift is shown during Katy Perry's performance

- Refill and chug if Katy Perry is shown during Taylor Swift's Best New Artist presentation

- Put your drink down and show some damn respect when Beyonce's performing

- Fill your glass, raise it in the air, then drink all of it after Beyonce's left the stage

- Throw your glass across the room whenever a male presenter/artist refers to a female performer's looks -- and then drink from the bottle

- Take a drink whenever a winner thanks their family

- Take two drinks whenever a winner thanks whatever higher power they believe in

- Take three drinks whenever a winner tells their kids to go to bed

- Take a sympathy drink whenever an artist is played off

- Take an embarrassed drink whenever an artist curses to be edgy

- For every hat shown, take a sip

- Take the bottle and pour the contents over your head if Iggy Azalea wins in her categories

- Drink whatever's left in your glass whenever an artist is overly surprised

- Drink whatever's left in the bottle if/when a winner starts crying

- Drink whatever's left at all if LL Cool J performs a tribute to music

- Try and go out for drinks with LL Cool J if he performs "Phenomenon"

The Grammys air on Global TV/CBS at 8 p.m. on Sunday, February 8. You have been warned.

#author: anne t. donahue

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casiestewart · 5 years ago

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Day 39: Book Recommendations

Here are some books I’ve enjoyed reading over the past two years. My last post with summer books to read was in 2016, where did the time go!

My Top Picks to Read Right Now

Feel Good Light Listening

Mystery & Thriller

The Perfect Wife, JP Delaney

The Best Kind of People, Zoe Whittal

The Perfect Stranger, Megan Miranda

Watching You, Lisa Jewell

The Cliff House, Amanda Jennings

In A Dark Dark Wood, Ruth Ware

Woman In Cabin 10, Ruth Ware

Darling Rose Gold, Stephanie Wrobel

The Last House Guest, Megan Miranda

The Lying Room, Nicci french

Someone We know, Shari Lapina

The Family Upstairs, Lisa Jewell

Dark Water, Robert Bryndza

Left to Die, Lisa Jackson

A Spark of Light, Jodi Picoult

The Killer Inside, Cass Green

The First Mistake, Sandie Jones

Glad I finally put this list together, I’ve been meaning to do it for months. If you have any recommendations I’m all ears, feel free to share.

It’s still freezing outside but I’m feeling better today.

Original article: Day 39: Book Recommendations

from WordPress https://casiestewart.com/day-39-book-recommendations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=day-39-book-recommendations

#AMAZON #BOOKS #LIFE #covid19

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atdatyahoo · 9 years ago

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10 Things We Learned From “Degrassi”

On Thursday, it was announced that after 14 seasons, “Degrassi’s” reign will come to an end. And with the the last episodes scheduled to start airing on July 20, this news is sad. Not only did “Degrassi” give us Drizzy Drake and Paige’s passive-aggressive-but-more-specifically terrifying “hun,” it was a cornerstone of Canadian television, serving up cold, hard reality in the form of teen drama.

So to say we didn’t learn anything from the series is to be blasphemous. And to prove it, here are 10 of the most poignant lessons we took from that infamous high school.

1. Reboots can work

When “Degrassi: The Next Generation” debuted in 2001, we franchise die-hards were cynical: could these random people replace Spike, Joey Jeremiah, Snake, and everybody else? (I’m not about to start listing the cast list, you guys -- that’s what IMDB is for.) The answer? Of course not. But “Degrassi’s” new actors carved out their own spaces, helping to make the show its own bankable franchise. (Bless.)

2. “Hun” is the most condescending thing you can say to a personMaybe it’s the way Paige (Lauren Collins) said it. Maybe it’s because I’ve been called it too many times by various customer service associates. Maybe it’s because I tried to make it a term of endearment back in high school. But who cares: how dare everyone who says it. How dare you say “hun” to me or to anybody. How dare you. (Hun.)

3. Without Wheelchair Jimmy, there’d be no Drake

Because to play a character who’s been shot in the back and lost the use of his legs requires exactly as much emotion as writing and performing every song on Take Care. And that’s just a fact.

4. Teen drama is the most compelling kind

The issues “Degrassi” dealt with were very real: sexual assault, sexuality in general, violence, bullying -- you name it. But the fact that we (as grown-ass viewers) remember the ins and outs of “Degrassi’s” alumni is just a testament to how powerful the series was. Teen dramas matter, and this one was just further proof of that.

5. “Hide and Seek” matters most when applied to Jimmy

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I’m sorry, but Marissa Cooper has nothing on this.

6. Degrassi would be a nightmare high school, IRL

We love “Degrassi” the show, and we know Degrassi is based out of a real school in a real city. But if Degrassi was a real, live place, it would be hell. It would be nothing short of hell. High school -- in general -- is usually hell. But this high school is the academic equivalent of Seattle Grace: it is a place where the worst case scenario happens all the time. Hell. And no parent would send their child there because whatever they were afraid of happening, would happen. A million times.

7. Closure is overrated

Out of every “Degrassi” episode, less than one ended with a neat, tidy, “we did it, guys!” wrap up. And for that, we must all be grateful. First, because life doesn’t offer closure, so get over it, Rachel Green. Second, because it kept us intrigued. “Degrassi” was the TV equivalent of somebody answering “maybe” when you ask if they’re mad at you. And we just kept coming back for more.

8. Degrassi might be a cursed place, though

I mean, not to go back to this, but think about everything that happened during “Degrassi Junior High” and “Degrassi High.” Then, think about everything that happened in the first four years of “Degrassi” alone. The school is damned. It is a harbour of doom. Not even “Heathers” would be interested in attending.

9. The only cure for the drama of “Degrassi” is “Wheels, Ontario”

The follow-up drama masterminded by Nick Kroll.

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Even though he’s wrong: people in Toronto do tuck-in their blouses.

10. But seriously: Canadian television can/does resonate

As Canadians, we’re not kind to Canadian TV. But the success and longevity of “Degrassi” served as a reminder that our cultural landscape consists of more than just “Dragon’s Den” repeats. We’re capable of making good and interesting television. (See: “Schitt’s Creek.”) And what’s even better, is that we validated the teen experience through said television, which is what makes “Degrassi” so important.

#author: anne t. donahue

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atdatyahoo · 9 years ago

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Summer Office Dress Codes

Well, obviously.

Summer Office Dress Codes

Anne T. Donahue

It’s that time of year: the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and you have absolutely no idea what to wear to work.

Of course, this is common. With changing trends come changing dress codes, and it can be easy to want to roll out of bed wearing the Beyonce concert t-shirt you haven’t taken off since Saturday morning, hoping a bucket hat brings it all together.

But it won’t. Not just because a bucket hat will bring nothing together (other than masses of people dressed up for a Breaker High re-enactment) (spoiler alert: they are all Jimmy), but because as grown-ass citizens, it’s up to us to learn how to wear clothes in a professional way.

Naturally, there are different definitions for “professional.” Case in point: I worked in retail for ten years, so it was professional for me to wear low-rise jeans and flip-flops because that’s what we were selling. Before that, it was professional for me to wear anything that looked good with safety boots and an oversize vest. But could you wear those things in a lawyer’s office? A hospital? A regular office with a dress code that’s like, “No tube tops, please?” No. But just in case you’re confused about what you can wear and, well, where, I’ve got it all figured out.

I’m here for you, survivors of office highrise air conditioning.

Should you wear:

A bucket hat?

No. I actually can’t believe you’re asking me this five seconds after I just told you it won’t fix your life, and I’m sorry. (I’m apologizing to myself.)

A tube top?

So we’re pretending we’re working in an everyday, professional, 9-5 office? Yes? Okay, so no. I like you, I’m sure your shoulders are great, but tube tops are questionable on a regular day outside of work (see: I can’t wear them without looking very disproportionate myself), if your workday involves video calls, you will 100% look shirtless (regardless of gender) and the person on the other end has probably not signed up for that.

Flip-flops?

Flip-flops are unhygienic and bad for your back, but hey: if that’s the game you’re willing to play, I’m sorry but you still can’t wear them to work because that sound -- that sound -- will ruin the psyches of everyone around you and everyone you will ever meet. This isn’t Abercrombie. And even if it was, I still stand by everything I just said.

Shorts?

Terrific question! Here’s a very vague answer: it depends. Are they of “dress code” material? Are they long enough? Are they ironed? Are you wearing a fancy top with it? Are you wearing shoes or a sandal that isn’t a flip-flop? If the shorts have pockets, that brings me to my next point.

Cargo shorts?

Only if you can name five things you have carried in those pockets. And all five have to work and/or office-related.

Graphic t-shirts?

So it’s not a dress-down day, and your fellow employees are hanging out in button-downs and maybe polos? Some nice slacks? Skirts? Okay, great! Then nope, no way, absolutely not. You could wear basically any other shirt (minus tube and tank) and look more pulled together than if you were to waltz into an accountant’s place, wearing a t-shirt with a pun about beer. We know you’re funny. Your emails are witty and great. You don’t need to wear it on your t-shirt in this moment because I’m sorry, you could probably tell the joke better at a later date and not have to advertise your brand of humour via cotton-blend. Tweet, friend. Go forth.

Tank tops?

This question has a million answers, none of which I am prepared to answer here. So I’ll make it easy: ask your boss, because tank tops can mean a lot of things, and my main advice is just to avoid a lot of mesh.

Mesh?

What did I just say. (Though I mean, maybe. Mesh can be cool. Who am I to judge?)

Anything that makes me look like Christian Grey?

If you or anyone you cares about begins to look like Christian Grey, call the police immediately and move that person to a yurt, where they can recover. Administer bucket hats, graphic t-shirts, and flip-flops at will. Encourage the phrase, “Hang loose.”

A graphic t-shirt that says “hang loose”?

Well, obviously.

#author: anne t. donahue

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atdatyahoo · 10 years ago

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What Harry Shearer’s “Simpsons” Departure Is Like

The worst possible thing on this planet has happened: Harry Shearer (the voice of Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, and Mr. Burns -- among others) is leaving Springfield. Or more specifically, after more than 25 years as a voice wizard, Shearer is walking away from “The Simpsons” because he wants to do other work.

And look -- we get it. (I say, pretending the casts of “Family Guy” and “Bob’s Burgers” and “BoJack Horseman” all don’t have full-time gigs outside their animated job.) Maybe he’s having a crisi-tunity. Maybe Shearer is ready to brach out and open his own Uncle Moe’s Family Feedbag. Maybe he just wants to follow Martin’s lead and also be Queen of Summertime. (Who doesn’t?)

Regardless, the only way we can articulate how his soon-to-be-absence makes us all is by comparing it to other “Simpsons” moments. So, without further adieu, here’s what we think Harry Shearer’s departure is like:

- Krusty replacing “Itchy and Scratchy” with “Worker and Parasite”

- Armand Tamzarian

- Kirk drawing “dignity.”

- The song, “Can I Borrow A Feeling”

- Darla lying about needing to change wigs

- The wig outlet that replaced the World’s Fair

- Homer’s first visit to New York City

- Homer’s second visit to New York City

- Mountain Dew

- The suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked

- Moe removing “It’s Raining Men” from the jukebox

- The food poisoning that prevented Homer from visiting Duff Gardens

- Lisa’s reaction to the Duff Gardens river water

- Being the Lizard Queen

- Homer’s rivalry with George Bush

- Living above a bowling alley and below another bowling alley

- Lisa’s Florida costume

- The moment Ralph’s heart broke in half

- The absence of Mr. Bergstrom

- Uncle Moe’s Family Feedbag

- Lisa needing braces

- Lisa getting her first pair of braces

- A lack of “any” key

- ‘Lil Lisa’s Slurry

- “Can I come too?”

- When Homer sat on the hood of his car in the desert, sadly gazing up at the stars

Yes, I left it on a dark note. (Harry, come back.) (And you reading this: add more.)

#author: anne t. donahue

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ca-celebrity-celebrity-news · 10 years ago

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Ranking the boyfriends of 'Gilmore Girls'

This weekend, Canadians have everything to be thankful for. And by that I am mostly referring to the release of "Gilmore Girls" on Netflix Canada, because as of today (Friday, Oct. 10), it is available.

So we asked ourselves: is this the perfect excuse to rank all the boyfriends and/or love interests of Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel)? Absolutely. Here's how they stand up.

Lorelai Gilmore

Alex Lesman (Billy Burke) If any character were to personify "nobody cares," he would come in the form of Lorelai's second boyfriend of the series; a man so uninteresting he didn't even get a proper send-off. (Seriously: we never find out how they broke up, or even why.) Sure, he was kind, but so are a lot of people -- and none of them are worthy of a Gilmore Girl, either.

Max Medina (Scott Cohen) The thing about Max is that at first we kind of got the appeal: he was a teacher at Rory's school, so dating Lorelai would be all "forbidden" and "weird, probably." But then after declaring him not romantic enough (is that a thing?!), Lorelai comes face to face with the thousand yellow daisies he sends to her work. Calm down, dude. (Also: anyone else would've been fired if a thousand flowers showed up in the workplace unannounced and for no real reason.)

Jason Stiles (Chris Eigeman) Okay, now if you want to talk about illicit affairs -- and I do, trust me -- we can take a moment to briefly sing the praises of Jason Stiles, competitor of Lorelai's dad's company (and then later enemy of Lorelai's dad). After all, secret relationships are fun! Although they are less so when the woman in question must choose between some guy she used to go to camp with, and her Dad. (Bye, Jason.)

Christopher Hayden (David Sutcliffe) Well, he's Rory's biological father, so he gets points for that. Also, if not for Christopher, the "will they or won't they?" with Luke would never have happened -- or seemed so dire. But the rest? Ugh: always drama with this guy. He's unreliable, he promises a reunion between Lorelai and Rory early on in the series, then goes back to his girlfriend when he finds out that she's pregnant. But then he comes back again, resulting in another reunion between he and Lorelai that ends in marriage. And then just ends. (Because he's the worst? Yes. #TeamLuke, obviously.)

Luke Danes (Scott Patterson) Yes, he's moody. Yes, he's snarky. Yes, he's sometimes stupidly unpleasant. But he cares about Lorelai and Rory more than any other boyfriend and/or romantic partner to have paired with the former -- and he also owns the greatest coffee shop in town. He's flawed, sure (remember his secret daughter?) but he's patient -- a.k.a. they finally reunite at the end of the series after the worst couple of years ever.

Rory Gilmore

Graham Sullivan (Teddy Dunn) A date so horrible Rory has to call Dean (again -- we'll get to him) for a rescue. Get out of here, Graham.

Marty (Wayne Wilcox) Well, first, Rory meets Marty for the first time when he's naked in a hallway at school -- so there's that. Then, despite him having feelings for Rory, Marty does nothing, which is particularly distressing because he had a girlfriend of whom he'd mentioned nothing about. Cool! Go hang out with Graham, guy.

Dean Forester (Jared Padalecki) Ultimately, Rory's relationship with Dean was doomed to fail because they met when they were so young. (Have we learned nothing from Lorelai and Christopher, people?) Then, toss in the following factors, and we've got the problematic relationship of the decade: they don't have any shared interests, Dean insisted on wearing the ugliest jacket all the time, he was uber-attentive (to the point of it being overbearing), and then he cheated on his wife to sleep with Rory which just makes him even more Christopher-esque. Next!

Logan Huntzberger (Matt Czuchry) At first you get it: Logan and Rory were cut from the same cloth, having been bred by wealthy families and going on to pursue higher education at Yale, as familial rule would dictate. But unlike Rory, Logan was rich, spoiled, entitle, arrogant, immature, and then he cheated on her during a "break." (Have these people learned nothing from "Friends"?) The worst part: he kept calling Luke, "Duke." Go to bed, tiny boy.

Tristan DuGrey (Chad Michael Murray) Pro: he got Rory tickets to PJ Harvey in an attempt to take her out on a date. Con: Rory's best friend loved him from afar. Con again: we first meet Tristan after he harasses Rory at school, calling her the "Virgin Mary." Con thrice: he's sent away to military school. Tristan, we hardly knew ye (but you were misunderstood and PJ Harvey so we actually would've liked to).

Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia) Enter: the bad boy. Was he flaky, mean, moody, manipulative, and usually terrible? Absolutely. But he at least liked . . . books. (It's important, for the sake of this piece, kind of.) He challenged Rory when he felt like she was losing herself -- despite it being none of his business -- and . . . actually, no. He was a terrible boyfriend, too. (What was up with this show?)

Basically what we're saying here is by default, Jess is the best. But in real life, he'd be a walking red flag. At least he didn't wear Dean's coat.

#author: anne t. donahue

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