Music & Maurice

ROCK N ROLL
I finally got my concert fix Friday night (it's been 3+ months, people). My friend Sue and I ventured out to see Candyland favorite New Medicine with American Idol rocker, James Durbin. I've seen New Meds before, and yes, Candace is right, they do indeed rock. And yes, Brady is a sigh-worthy bassist. The girl don't lie! And he's as sweet as can be; he had just returned from Ghana a few days before the concert.

Here's James Durbin.


A couple of rock chicks


LITERARY LAUGHS
Okay, if you are one of the few who didn't see the Colbert Report with author Maurice Sendak, you must watch. It is flippin' hilarious! Love his candor. He even sings! And Stephen Colbert makes me laugh pretty easily anyway. Check it out here. Definitely worth your time.

OTHER DANG GOOD STUFF
Thank you again to Nutschell! I won a signed Ellen Degeneres book at her blog! Yes, I'm one lucky girl!

A poem of mine was accepted for a summer issue of Stories for Children magazine. I've switched gears for the last month (and next month) and have been concentrating on poetry and picture book writing instead of middle grade. I think it's good for my creativity to mix it up a bit!

Please check out Book Recs of the Rock & Famous at http://www.bookrecsthatrock.blogspot.com today. I have one of my favorite actors ever chatting books with me. He played my best loved literary character in a movie. Any guesses?? (Again, I'm one lucky girl!)

Have a fabulous week, you! Thank you for stopping by!

Top 7 of 2011

Happy freaking new year. No, really, I hope it's a great one! :)

Today is a post of reflections on the past year. What did I read, watch, and listen to in 2011? Tell me your faves of 2011 in the comments!

Why Top 7 and not 11? Because I care about you and your time. I'm a giver, people.

Top 7 Songs of 2011

7. "Walk" by Foo Fighters

6. "The Sound of Winter" by Bush

5. "Buried Alive" by Avenged Sevenfold

4. "Race You to the Bottom" by New Medicine

3. "Planetary (Go!)" by My Chemical Romance

2. "Burn" by Papa Roach

1. "This is Gonna Hurt" by Sixx: A.M.

Bonus fave pop song "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO

Top 11 Books Read in 2011

(in no particular order, I couldn't stop at seven)

I was so happy to read many books by fellow bloggers/tweeters this year. And the best part? I loved them! Here are my top eleven faves in alphabetical order by author's last name.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger, Untraceable by Shelli Johannes, Possession by Elana Johnson, On Writing by Stephen King, A Scary Good Book by Anita Laydon Miller, The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker, The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan, The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander, Forever by Maggie Steifvator, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner.

Top 7 Movies watched in 2011

Breaking Dawn Part One (I didn't love Eclipse movie, but this was better, especially ending)

Bridesmaids

The Change Up

Christmas Vacation with my kids for the first time

Elf for the umpteenth time

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 (sniff...)

Horrible Bosses

Can you tell I love comedies or book adaptations?!

Also, thank you to Sherrie Peterson for the A Great and Terrible Beauty book I won at her blog. Plus I won Wildefire at Literary Rambles from Natalie and Casey! Thanks, ladies! What a wonderful way to start the year.

What are your faves of 2011?

Here's one of my fave songs of 2011 by MCR (I've already posted my first two faves on the blog at some point). "If my velocity starts to make you sweat, then just don't let go..."