Review: Mad Blood Stirring: The Inner Lives of Violent Men

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Review: The Boat People

The Boat People by Sharon Bala
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

*Please note I won a copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaways*

This book was difficult for me to engage with. I felt no emotional connection to the characters. Their story was told with a detached blandness, that made it hard to relate.

I could relate on a minor level, given that I immigrated to Canada, myself. But, I was not a refugee, so my experience was quite different.

I was also a little irked that it seemed the characters felt they should automatically be allowed to stay because they took a chance coming to Canada.

Now, I understand that these characters were escaping dire conditions. And I have absolutely no problem with people seeking asylum, let me be very clear on that. But, there are means and ways of doing that, which involve more than just paying and seeking passage on a ship.

I went through the proper process. I completed a medical exam, 2 sets of background checks (US and Canadian,) filled out a variety of forms, and even had to write a personal statement of my 12 year relationship with my husband. At final submission, my file was 102 pages. And I was still afraid that I would be turned down, for one reason or another. It's scary to think that a government can hold the fate of your life, your marriage, in their hands.

And, equally as scary, my own file was closed because of an error in the paperwork. An incorrect email address on file, and a missed communication about paying my right to permanent residence fee.

Luckily I had an excellent lawyer who fought to get my file reopened. And, almost 2 years ago, I became a permanent resident of Canada and was able to properly start my life with my husband.

So, I can relate to the characters impatience with the waiting, and the bureaucracy of the process. But, at the same time I understand the necessity of it. So impatience of the characters grated on me a bit.

I appreciated the familiarity of the setting, Burnaby, New West, and Richmond. I live on the edge of Burnaby and Coquitlam, so could visualize the physical settings of BC well when they were mentioned.

I also enjoyed the brief scenes with Sellian. He brought some color to the greyness of this story. It was refreshing to see Canada through his eyes.

Another reason I had a difficult time engaging with this story is the writing style. The jumping back and forth between three families, plus time shifts between past and present was too jarring. I also felt that the stories of the refugees were entirely too bland and detached for me to feel any emotion.

I also really felt that the chapters with Grace's perspective were uneccessary. And even Priya's for that matter. I understand the author is trying to bring multiple perspectives onto important social issues. But the intermixing of these three different stories made it feel unfocused, as though she were trying entirely too hard to make a point that just didn't come across well.

A Little Update..AKA Where I've Been

Hello out there in the blogosphere....

I've been MIA for quite a while, I know. That's happened a lot over the past few years.

For a while, it was due to the fact that I worked full time, and had a looong commute. While I loved my coworkers, and was definitely grateful to have had a job, without which I wouldn't be where I am now, even it had drawbacks. My former job consisted of a lot of getting yelled at over the phone, and that in itself was draining enough, not to mention the long commute on top of it.

A lot of my lack of posting has also been due to the fact that I have been working towards getting permanent residency in Canada, so that my husband Dearran and I can finally start our lives together.

Let me back up a little bit...

Dearran and I met online, in March of 2004. We made our relationship official in September of 2005 and have been in a long distance relationship ever since. In August of 2014, we got married, and started on the part of our journey that is long distance marriage.

I couldn't tell you why, but somehow, long distance marriage is different, and more difficult, than a long distance relationship. Especially when it's an international marriage (taxes are way more complicated!)

In February of 2015, we submitted an application to the Canadian government, asking them to grant me permanent residency in Canada, so that Dearran and I could be together. This process included an extensive application, criminal background checks in both the US and Canada, (since I lived here for more than 6 months previously,) and a medical exam.

After months of waiting, and a few snags with the application, (all I'll say about it is thank goodness  we hired an excellent lawyer. He was worth every penny) we finally got word that my permanent residency had been approved.
The only catch?

 Due to the aforementioned snags with the application, my visa validity period was only six short weeks. And permanent resident visas cannot be extended for any reason. If you don't land in Canada by the expiration date, you are out of luck. The only step is to start the long application process all over again, and just because it was already approved once, does not mean it will be approved again.

I found out my application had been approved on January 15th. I talked with my lawyer about the next steps. Then, I gave notice at my job. Because of the time sensitive nature of my paperwork, I was only able to give my work 1 week notice, but they were very understanding as I had been transparent with my plans  throughout the entirety of the application process.

There were other issues, like my visa paperwork needing to be reissued due to the fact that it had outdated passport info on it (I had renewed my passport before I knew my file was approved. )

Sending that paperwork back was probably one of the scariest things I've done in a while, just because I was so afraid I wouldn't get it back in time.

Among all that worrying, I still had to decluter all of my stuff, (including a ton of books) get myself packed up, find a moving company to handle an international move, find time to hang out with friends, take care of a million things like bills, lists of goods I was bringing to Canada, etc.

I honestly never thought I would get it all done. But, I finished with time to spare.

And, on February 28th, after a few hours and procedures at the airport, I officially became a permanent resident of Canada.

I am beyond grateful to be here and finally be home with my husband.

The adjustment has been a little difficult, and I do miss my family back in the States a lot, but I will be back to visit them soon. As hard as that is, I know that I am where I should be.

The past 10 days I've been trying to relax and take care of the important stuff at the same time. I already have a bank account from when I lived in Canada temporarily in 2010, so that was helpful. I got myself added to Dearran's lease, and I have keys. I also have my Social Insurance number (the equivalent of a Social Security number) I have my transit card, and last week, I got a library card as well.

I've actually read two books and started a third in the last 5 days, and it's been glorious.

I haven't gotten the reviews done yet, but those will follow shortly.

Since I have my social insurance number, I could start looking and applying for jobs right away, but I've decided not to.

I've been through a lot of stress in the last few months, and honestly,  I need to decompress and take a break for a while. As much for myself as for any potential future employer. I can't be a productive employee if I'm stressed out and overtired.  So, I'm just going to enjoy some time with my husband, explore my new city, and read, A LOT.

So, that's where I've been. What have you all been up to?

Does anyone have any recommendations for books that I should add to my immediate TBR pile. Any new series I should dive into?

It's Been Almost A Year...

Since I got married.

My first wedding anniversary is on Thursday. It's hard to believe it's been a year already. Time has flown by.

Unfortunately I haven't gotten to spend as much time with my husband as I would have liked, but we're much further in our process of getting to be together than we were. (For anyone who might not know, my husband is Canadian, and I live in the US. I'm currently in the process of trying to immigrate to Canada, so that we can be together.)

What's even crazier is that my husband and I have been together for 10 years in September.

My plane should have already taken off and I should be on my way to Canada see him already, but the flight has been delayed for about 3 more hours, til 8:25, so I'll just have to be a little more patient and wait a little longer.

Since I had to work this morning, and have been awake since 5 AM, that's going to make for a very long night. Here's to hoping that I can sleep on the plane.

Flying Away For A While

I'm getting ready to fly up to Vancouver B.C. to see my husband for the first time in about 7 months. I'll be leaving later this morning and I can't wait!

Unfortunately I will be a bit of a zombie seeing as I just finished up a stretch of working 7 days in a row.

Although it won't be a long trip, just six days,  I'm super glad to get to spend time with him for at least a little while. This whole long distance marriage thing is hard. I probably won't read a whole lot while I'm there, but I do have plenty of books on my Kindle if I do decide to take a reading break.

I have one upcoming post scheduled that includes a giveaway being hosted by the publisher so be sure to keep an eye out for that.

What are your weekend plans?

Book Tour Review: Her Loving Husband's Curse

Hello fellow readers I must start with apologies as I was supposed to have this review posted some time ago and had a scheduling mix up on my end. Read on to discover my thoughts about this book.

Title: Her Loving Husband's Curse

Author: Meredith Allard

Series: Loving Husband #2

Publisher: Copperfield Press

Published: April 20, 2012

Format: Kindle

Pages: 284

Source: Received from Author in 

exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:

How far will you go to protect the one you love?

Finally, after many long and lonely years, James Wentworth’s life is falling into place. Together with his wife, Sarah, the only woman he has ever loved, he has found the meaning behind her nightmares about the Salem Witch Trials, and now they are rebuilding the life they began together so long ago.

But the past is never far behind for the Wentworths. While Sarah is haunted by new visions, now about the baby she carried over three hundred years before, James is confronted with painful memories from his time with the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears. Through it all, the persistent reporter Kenneth Hempel reappears, still determined to prove that the undead walk the earth. If Hempel succeeds in his quest, James and Sarah will suffer. Will the curse of the vampire prevent James and Sarah from living their happily ever after?

Her Loving Husband’s Curse is Book Two of the Loving Husband Trilogy. Book One, Her Dear & Loving Husband, is now available from Copperfield Press

Melissa's Musings:

My Rating: 4 Stars

I was pulled in from the very first page. I was immediately enthralled with James and Sarah's story. Their love story is very romantic, but not too overly done. It's simple realistic, and true.

I have the first book on my kindle, I had purchased it a while ago when it was free on Amazon. I had hoped to read it before I read this book for the tour, but I ran out of time. Her Loving Husband's Curse works well as a stand alone novel, but I did feel a slight lack of connection as I knew there was more to the story and that there were details that I was missing. The lack of cohesion in the story from my not being able to read the first book in the series in time was very slight, and not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the book.

I always enjoy when an author incorporates smells, colors, and other small touches into a story. Here it was smells. The author pointed out that Sarah's "smell" for James was strawberries and cream, and that their daughter Grace smelled like cinnamon. As much as I enjoyed this detail, I did feel that it was mentioned a few too many times and was over done.

There is a great deal of history that is intertwined with this story, which makes it both an enjoyable and somewhat educational (in a sense) read. I paid close attention to the author's descriptions and references to the Trail of Tears. It's not something I remember learning much about in school so those parts were particularly interesting.

I also enjoyed all the different paranormal elements and characters that are woven into this series. There are vampires, witches, werewolves, and ghosts. Sometimes such an eclectic mix of paranormal characters can make a story crowded. That's not the case here. I think this may be due to the fact that the author does such a good job of seamlessly weaving the paranormal aspects into the story overall that you really focus more on the characters as they are, not what paranormal species they are.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable series. I look forward to reading this series in its' entirety and to reading more from this author.

Still Reading and Blogging But...

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still around even though I haven't posted in a while, but I do have a bit of an announcement.

Things are likely going to be a little quiet at Melissa's Midnight Musings for a while. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I have been out of work for a long time.I'm a bit embarrassed to say how long.

I have been searching for a job ever since I returned to the United States after my time in Canada, but haven't had the luck of being able to find anything. As of last week, that is. I was offered a temporary position with a local company for 30 hours a week for at least the next 30 days. The position could be extended, but there are no promises. While I'm hopeful that the position may be extended for a longer period of time,  at this point, I'm just happy to have the chance to be working again, and to help this company grow.

With that being said, going from not having a job to working almost full time will be an adjustment, so the blog will likely be quiet for a while. I'll still be reading and blogging, as best I can, but with the time involved in getting to and from work and working full days, my time is going to be very limited. I'll have to remember to stash my Kindle in my bag so that I can read on my lunch break and while I'm waiting to catch the bus home.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm not going to abandon this blog or anything like that, but work will definitely come first and family priorities after that, so things will likely be a little sparse around here for a bit. All events that have already been scheduled will be worked on and published on the blog at their scheduled times.

Sebastian's Poet by Kevin Craig

Title: Sebastian's Poet

Author: Kevin Craig

Publisher: Musa Publishing

Published: July 6, 2012

Format: PDF review copy

Pages: 119 PDF pages

Source:  Received from the publisher 

in exchange for an honest review

Read: October 26-27, 2012

In A Few Words: Soulful, secretive

My Rating: 5 Stars

Goodreads: Add this to your TBR shelf

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sebastian Nelson is a boy in search of a family. Abandoned by his mother, Sebastian is left with a broken father who doesn’t even seem present when he does show up. Forced to be the main caregiver of his younger brother, Renee, and lost in a sea of indifference, Sebastian only wants to experience the love a real, stable family could afford him.

One morning he discovers the famous folksinger, Teal Landen, asleep on the sofa. Teal’s nurturing nature brings an immediate sense of security into Sebastian’s tumultuous life. But a dark secret looms between Teal and Sebastian’s father of a hidden past. Sebastian is driven to discover their secret, but also he’s aware of how tenuous their hold on Teal really is. He doesn’t want to lose the feeling of home Teal’s presence has brought him.

If Sebastian pushes too hard, he could lose Teal forever. He could be destined to raise his younger brother alone, while witnessing the total decline of his emotionally devastated father. If Sebastian is abandoned by the only healthy influence in his otherwise shaky existence, he will also be forever in the dark about the secret that will reveal so much about his fractured family.

Melissa's Musings:

When you first start reading, you're somewhat shocked at how Sebastian, also known as Sebby, seems so mature and together for an 8 year old.  You first meet him when he's cleaning up after his father's wild parties,  and caring for his 4 year old brother Renee, because his father's somewhat hopeless after his mom left them. He has so much responsibility that a child of his age shouldn't have. You can tell just how much these responsibilities have affected him because he seems so much older than 8, especially in his descriptions of how he feels and what he wishes he had in his family. I felt so bad for him. 

He knows that his mother walked out because they weren't enough for her, she wanted more out of life. She basically told Sebastian, in not so many words, that he wasn't enough, so she had his brother, because she wanted to have a "re-birth" Only that didn't work, so she walked out on them. That's a lot to live with for a kid so young.

Personally, I was really drawn to Sebby because I know what it's like to feel like you're not enough, and not good enough, and be told as much, even if not in so many words. 

Then, Teal makes his way into their lives, and things get to be a little better, though there are still some major disappointments. 

Teal is a major player in the novel, even though he seems like he might be a fringe character at first. There's something magnetic about him, that makes you as a reader want to know him just as much as  Sebastian does. Maybe the magnetism comes from the fact that Teal is a musician, quite a famous one in Canada, where the book is based. Plus, in addition to his personally secretive nature, he's harboring secrets that impact the family in a major way. I won't spoil any of them here, but lets just say that the explain a lot, and they make the end of the book pack a particularly heart wrenching punch.

The writing style flows easily, and the transitions are really smooth, which I really appreciated. The characters are excellently described, so that you can see them in your mind's eye. I could picture Mrs. Clark, the owner of the corner store particularly well. Even the minor characters, who are only around for a chapter or two, are easy to picture.  And so are the events and scenery. This book made me really want to have the chance to see The Eaton Centre in Toronto at Christmas.

The major lesson I came away with from this book is that most of the time, keeping secrets hurts more than it helps. And if they've been kept too long, it'll may be  too late to repair the damage once they're out in the open. 

Just a warning for anyone who gets squeamish easily there are some violent scenes that involve some blood, but nothing major. I just wanted to put that out there as a small warning to people who are particularly sensitive to that sort of thing.

This is an excellent book about family, secrets, music, and the different kinds of love that we experience in our lives. 

The Sunday Post 18th Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly Meme hosted by

Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 

It's a chance to share news, 

a post to recap the past week on your blog,

 showcase books

and things we have received and

 share news about what is coming up 

on our blog for the week ahead

Last Week on Melissa's Midnight Musings:

(Click Links to be taken directly to the posts)

• I wished my readers and everyone else I know who lives there, a Happy Canadian Thanksgiving
• I reviewed A Whisper to A Scream as part of the Women on Writing Blog Tour for Karen Wojcik Berner
• I featured an Interview Plus Giveaway with author Lauren Grimley
• I had a second stop on the WOW blog tour where I reviewed Until My Soul Gets It Right and Karen posted a guest post entitled "Masquerade"
• I turned 27 I'll be sharing some of my birthday gifts as part of this week's haul.
• For Behind the Blog  I explained how It's All in the Numbers
• I brought you all some information about For Keeps by Aaron Lazar as part of the books' virtual blog tour. 
• I reviewed The Twelve Days to Christmas by Michele Gorman

It's been another super busy week on the blog and the upcoming week is just as busy!

Coming Up This Week:

• Review of Phoebe Who? by Emma Harrison
• I'll announce the winners of the giveaway for Rick and Wylie's Fantastical, Magical Adventure by Andi Katsina
• Review of Dream Magic: Awakenings by Dawn Harshaw
• Review of Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright
• Dr. Lesley Phillips, author of The Midas Tree will be stopping by to share her thoughts on past lives.
• The theme for Behind the Blog this week is Siblings: Every family is different. This week we’re asking you about yours. Do you have any siblings? If you do, can you tell us anything about them? If you don’t, did you have any friends who felt like siblings to you? How has the ideas surrounding brothers and sisters shaped your life?
  In relation to media; are there any sibblings in books or films that you truly love? Any that you wish were your own?

So, as you can see, it's going to be another jam packed week here at Melissa's Midnight Musings. I hope you'll all stop by and check out these great posts I have lined up.

Also, don't forget to enter my It's All in the Numbers Birthday Giveaway which is open INTERNATIONALLY

Search Terms:

I'm only going to do the top three this week

"happy thanksgiving" There were 7 different people who found this blog using that search term.

"dirk danger loves life" This is really funny book. You can find my review of it HERE

"Canadian thanksgiving memes" That one is pretty self explanatory.

Now onto the books! This week will also include some other media as well since I got a few pretty cool gifts for my birthday that I wanted to share.

This Week's Book Haul:

Clicking the links will take you to Goodreads' descriptions
*all book cover photos and links credited to Goodreads unless otherwise noted

Won:



Torched by Andrea Lynn Colt
I won this in a blog giveaway over at Lost in Literature


All Things Different by Shawn Underhill
I won this in a giveaway over at Getting Your Read On



The Wedding Cake Girl by Anne Pfeffer
I also won this in another giveaway over at Getting Your Read On

I won Last Chance Christmas by Hope Ramsay in a contest that I saw on Facebook. I wasn't notified that I won beforehand, so this was an awesome surprise. This actually came wrapped in red tissue paper inside the envelope and it came with that card in the corner as well as the angel ornament. This came in the mail on my birthday so it was like an extra present to open.

From Author:

Frank Nappi was kind enough to have his assistant send me an early copy of his newest novel called "Nobody Has to Know" The cover info and links for it aren't available yet but it is supposed to be released this coming Tuesday.

From the Library:

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and in Business by Charles Duhigg

Both of these were on hold for me at the library after waiting several months for them.

Media and Books From My Birthday:

I have some awesome presents to show you guys. Some of it is book related, some of it is more on the media side.

This is the  Charmed: Deluxe Limited Edition Set 

My awesome, amazing, wonderful boyfriend bought this for me because he knows I've wanted it for a long time. It's full of replicated pages from the "Book of Shadows" and has the whole show on DVD (I already have the whole show and will eventually be getting rid of individually boxed seasons)

He also got me:

Dirty Dancing: The Ultimate Edition

This is a classic movie.

He got me lots of other things too, he really spoiled me, but those are the only media related items. I'm lucky to have such a fantastic boyfriend.

My family got me:

The Big Bang Theory Trivia Game 

I love TBBT and can't wait to play this game

The Artisan Soda Workshop. 

 I love soda and now that we have a sodastream I'll love trying out the recipes in this book to make homemade soda.

My family knows how much I love to bake so they got me this awesome baking cookbook full of delicious recipes 

They also got me a great case for my Kindle so now it'll be protected. I got a bunch more stuff, because my family is awesome and really spoiled me, but that's all the book/media related gear. I'm very lucky to have such a wonderful family who knows me so well.

So, that's all the books and other great stuff I got this week! What did you get in your book hauls this week? Leave links and I'll be sure to stop by!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

I just want to say....

Image Source

To all of my Canadian readers and followers, I hope you have a wonderful holiday. I got to spend the past two fall seasons in Canada so I'm a bit sad that I won't get to be there to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving this year.  In 2010 it was doubly good because my birthday fell on the same day. :)  I hope that each and every one of my Canadian readers has a wonderful day filled with family, friends, good food and lots to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Catastrophically Consequential is Catastrophic Alright

Title: Catastrophically Consequential

Author: Stephen C. Bird

Publisher: Hysterical  Dementia

Published: February 16 2012

Format: Paperback

Pages: 152

Source: Won in a Goodreads Giveaway

Read: August 19, 2012

In A Few Words: Weird, Slightly Offensive

My Rating: 1 star

Goodreads:  Add this to your TBR pile

Goodreads Synopsyis:

This prequel-sequel to "Hideous Exuberance" incorporates non-linear plots; comical rants and disturbing inner monologues; stream of consciousness dream sequences; psychedelic, surrealistic scenarios and time-traveling characters.  Revel in the chaotic confusion of sociopathic celebrities, suburban swingers, suicidal trust fund girls, decadent jet setters, D-list standup comics, medieval princesses, sinister passive-aggressive jokers, "Evilangelists", and a host of other lost souls and disreputable, vindictive losers, as they search in vain for metaphysical clarity.

Please refer to the Blog Posting on the Stephen C. Bird Author Profile Page for Quotes from Goodreads Reviews for "Catastrophically Consequential".

Melissa's Musings:

This book is bizarre. Almost as bizarre as The Sugar Frosted Nutsack. Almost. Catastrophically Consequential, at the very least didn't make me want to bang my head into a wall because it basically repeated itself all the way through.

No,  this book had a variable story. But it failed to catch my attention.

It's full of ridiculous puns. Not even clever ones. Just a bunch of words that are misspelled and made to look like they're clever. There are plenty of random name droppings and strange associations too.

And then there's an entire chapter that's written in text-speak. That made me want to gouge out my eyes. And the chapter after that is written in redneck speak. Just as bad.

I understand that the book is supposed to be satirical, but in some spots this was just down right offensive, covered in thinly veiled jokes. I won't go into specifics because I don't want to upset any readers, but I'll just say be warned. There are also some semi-gruesome violent descriptions in this book as well.

It definitely lives up to it's name being that it's catastrophic, but as for consequential, I'm not sure....

I don't even know who I would recommend this to other than someone who likes bizarro fiction, which, I guess I'm learning from reading this, that I don't.

Happy Canada Day!

To all of my Canadian followers and friends, Happy Canada Day! Happy 145th  Birthday to your wonderful, beautiful, awesome country that I've had the privilege of both visiting and living in. Canada is like a second home to me, and it holds a special place in my heart. Have fun celebrating today and please be safe if your festivities involve fireworks.

Behind the Blog #5: Canada

Behind The Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The co-hosts Faye Kathe and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or media they find interesting!
Due to the Jubilee being on the beginning of this week, and with the upcoming Olympics, I thought it would be good to look at countries. Where do you live? What is your favourite country? Why? What do you like about it most? What about least favourite? What book has described a place you desperately want to visit? Etc...



I live in California. While we  do have plenty of beaches in California, unfortunately I don't live by the beach. Oh how I wish I did, because I love the ocean! The weather is nice enough, though it gets to be sweltering in the summer The winters are usually pretty mild, and where I live it doesn't snow, so it doesn't get too cold.

As for my favorite country? That's easy.

 Canada, hands down. I absolutely love Canada. Now, before anyone starts to wonder, I'm not saying that I don't love the US. I do. I love the US and Canada equally. I feel equally at home in both countries.

There are so many reasons I love Canada, I could probably go on and on, but I'll try not to.

One of the main reasons is that my boyfriend is Canadian. We've been friends for over 9 years, and  dating for nearly 7 years now, so I've had lots of time to enjoy and grow to love Canadian culture. I've visited plenty of times of course.

I even lived in Canada for a year and a half, between July of 2010 and January of 2012. I was fortunate enough to participate in a year long work exchange program. After my work permit expired, I applied for an extension on my stay so that I could do a bit more traveling that I didn't get to do while working full time. And so that I could spend the winter holidays here, even though winter isn't my favorite season. (Winters are a lot colder in Canada than I'm used to in California!)

Besides my boyfriend and his family, there are lots of other reasons I love Canada so much.

I love the diversity. There are so many different groups of people. It seems silly to say because there's diversity in every country really, but I notice it more when I'm in Canada for some reason.

The food is also awesome.  I've only had it once or twice, but Poutine is an excellent Canadian dish. I have to be in the right mood for it, because I don't like cheese curds all that much, but it's always pretty good. Another awesome food that's popular here is the Donair. While the origins are Turkish, the first time I ever had a donair, and the only place I've ever had them is in Canada. They are delicious. So is donair pizza.

I've also tried a lot of different ethnic foods for the first time while in Canada. I tried Thai (love it!) Japanese, Korean, Lebanese, and Malaysian foods. All of which were excellent.

And finally, I love the politeness of the people here. It's somewhat of an adjustment going back and forth sometimes. Not that there aren't nice people in California, of course there are. It's just a different, easier kind of mentality in most of the areas of Canada that I've spent time in. It's difficult to put into words what I mean by that.

 Some of my friends in Canada tell me I must be Canadian at heart because of my easygoing personality. I'd say I agree with them.

Since the only two countries I've ever been to are the US and Canada I can't say that I have a least favorite. Hopefully my lack of countries visited will change someday. It'll be silly if all the stamps in my passport are from visits to Canada.

Books and Films:

Since I gushed about Canada so much, it seems only fair that I bring up a book by a Canadian author. If you're looking for a hilarious read, I'd definitely recommend Dirk Danger Loves Life by Chris Rothe. You can check out my review here

And now for some books that center around a place I'd really like to visit. One day, I'd really like to go to France. 

A Secret Kept

This is a wonderfully intricate story set in both Paris and Noirmourtier Island, France.

French Lessons

Here you see Paris through three different character's eyes. This book also happened to make me want to try pain au chocolat very badly!

I'd also really like to visit Ireland someday as well, but I can't think of any good books off the top of my head that are set in Ireland. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Don't Forget!

If you're choosing to join us for Behind The Blog don't forget to link up your post by using the Linky List below!

Are you joining us? Here are our rules:

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• Last but not least, have fun!

Goodbye is the hardest part...

My time in Canada is almost up. The last year and a half that I've spent here has been wonderful. The yearlong work exchange program I was a part of was an invaluable experience. I learned so much, and made wonderful friends. The last 6 months I did a little traveling and just enjoyed my time here, which was hard to do when I was working full time. Canada is my second home, and I will miss my friends and family here, so much.

My plane leaves tomorrow morning at 5:30 am. Right now, I'm a raw bundle of nerves and energy. I tried to take a nap a little earlier, but only managed to half sleep for about an hour.


I'm sad, nervous and excited all at once.

I will miss:

My boyfriend. More than words can explain. Lucky for us, we've been together nearly 6 and a half years and are used to the distance. Though this time it'll be a lot harder after having lived together.

My boyfriend's family (My second family): I love them all very much, and am very appreciative of all that they have done to make me feel welcome and loved.

My friends: I've made awesome friends here.

The way people say hello on the street. I admit, this took getting used to at first, but it's nice to say hello and have someone smile, especially if you're having a rough day.

Tim Horton's Cherry Cheese Danishes. I don't like coffee at all, but these danishes are awesome.

There are many more things that I'll miss, but that's enough of a list I think.

I will not miss : The ice.  That's for darn sure. Luckily this winter it wasnt' so bad.


I'm excited to get to see my friends and family back at home in California too. I haven't seen many of them in almost a year, some even longer than that. As excited as I am,  I know it will take some time to adjust. Plus I've got to get back into the working world again as well, which I'm excited about. I have a lot to contribute and I'm looking forward to being part of a team again.

I'm staying with my best friend until the 28th, and then I'll be going home from there. I don't know how much I'll be on the internet during that week, if at all, so if you get really late comments on entries, that's why. I should have a couple of reviews to post, as I've got a few e books that I've been neglecting because of the move. I have 2 ebooks to read, so I'll try and get at least one review ready by monday or tuesday after next.

Happy Reading everyone!