Audiobooks

Since I finished listening to all 7 Harry Potter books on audio (so sad), I have moved on to the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series.  The hubby got a bunch for Christmas (OK, so some of them were from me, which might have been a little self serving), so I put them on my ipod and off I went.  I just started the third one, The Titan's Curse today.  Oh!  Which reminds me, I just finished The Sea of Monsters, which went perfectly with the monster theme from a couple of days ago.  Man, there are monsters everywhere!  Good thing I can punch them!  Anyway, I'm not going to post shoes for every book like I did with HP, but thought I'd go see what was out there since I've been listening.

 Wow.  That's dedication and some nerdiness right there.  Not that I would know anything about nerdiness, or about obsessing over a series of books.  Nope.  Not me.

 

These are from the first book, The Lightening Thief.  Go read it, its too much to explain.

I wish this picture was bigger, because it seems to be artwork from the book covers.  I see these types a lot when I search for book-related shoes.  While I might not wear them, I think they're kind of cool in that obsessed and nerdy kind of way.

OK, it's been a long first day back in the office after vacation.  Time to call it a night.

Catching Fire

The hubby and I saw the new Hunger Games movie tonight.  It's the 2nd of the trilogy, and I liked it even better than the first.  I've read the books a couple of times.  The first time I struggled with a good part of the first book and then suddenly got sucked in and devoured the rest very quickly.  I always have trouble with movies that were books first because there is so much that needs to be different to translate to the big screen.  And there's always those things they add or leave out that make absolutely no sense to me whatsoever.  But, like I said, we both really liked this one, and I wasn't too obsessed with comparing to the book, so they must have done something well.  Now, on to the shoes!

 

 

These are the covers for the first 2 books.  I really don't know why it continues to surprise me that someone will make a shoe with dang near any theme you could ever imagine.  Who wears these?

 

Although, I do have to say that it does continue to provide me with topics to post about, so I suppose I shouldn't complain.  But, even with the sparkles, I just can't get on board with these.

Definite 2nd book/movie reference.  If you don't already know what it means, then go read the book.  Or watch the movie, but come on...you know the book  is better.

 

 

These are insane.  Again, who wears these?

 

I have no new comments.  See above, and repeat.

 

Day of the Doctor

The hubby loves Doctor Who, and today is the 50th anniversary of the TV Show.  It has been on for 50 years, and there have been 11 doctors.  I'm not going to try to explain it to you, because there is time travel, regeneration, and lots of science fiction.  If you really want to try to figure it out, go here (and hopefully your brain doesn't explode from too much information).  I've seen bits and pieces, and it looks like a really good show, but today was the first full episode I've ever seen.  I'm guessing you either LOVE the show or have never seen it.  There doesn't seem to be much in-between.  At any rate, 50 years is pretty impressive, so here is a post in honor of the hubby:

 

 

 

 

These seem to be in reference to David Tennant as the Doctor, and I think I saw pairs that referenced the wardrobe choices of each Doctor.  Oh, if you want to explore the insane number of shoes, go here.

 

Weeping angels.  Creeeeeeepy.  They're statues.  They're aliens.  They'll kill you.

 

Another wardrobe reference.  I don't know which one.  The hubby would know, but he's not here at the moment.  I liked that there were heels as well as tennies.

 

On the left is the Tardis, the Doctor's means of travel.  On the right is a Dalek.  They are the enemy, and this is the only instance I can think of where what is basically a salt shaker is somehow scary and threatening.

 

This is Tom Baker, and he is the hubby's favorite Doctor.  He thinks I should make a scarf like this for Pedro.  Which would actually be pretty hilarious.

 

So, Happy Day of the Doctor to all you fans out there!  Please don't point out all of the flaws and gaps in my knowledge...

 

Book 7

Yesterday I mentioned how I wished I could read and crochet at the same time.  Ideally, I would love to be able to read, crochet and soak in a hot bath at the same time.  The last couple of days I have kind of managed 2 of the 3.  As you know, I've been working my way through the Harry Potter series while I drive, but since I got to the last one I've been listening to it while I crochet as well.  I always get like this at the end.  I want to race to the end to see how it all turns out (even though I already know), but I also know that once I'm done I will be bereft and sad about the ending.  Sigh...the struggles of a reader.  Anyway, I'm over half way through The Deathly Hallows

 

 

If you've read the book, you will know what the symbol on the shoes is about.  If you haven't, what the hell is the matter with you?  Read the books!  I like the simplicity of the last pair of shoes the best.  Awesome.  I will be sad to finish the series (until I start them again in a year or so), and sad that I won't be sharing shoes from each book with you.  Although maybe you'll be glad not to be bombarded with yet another HP post, since I've done something like 11 of them...

 

Wait...You DON'T Dress Your Bear Up For Halloween?

Pedro's Halloween costume came in the mail today!  So...it's a long story, many of you know it, but the hubby and I have a bear named Pedro.  We started taking silly pictures of Pedro and sending them to each other.  Then, when I proposed to the hubby, Pedro helped me write a book about our relationship from his (Pedro's) perspective.  He has also written a book about our wedding and another about our first year married.  Some people have kids, we have a bear.  A bear for whom I buy outfits.  Last year Pedro channeled my Scottish ancestry for Halloween:

 

 

This year Pedro is going the superhero route.  He's...Batbear!

 

 

I of course had to put his outfit on him as soon as it came in the mail today.  And he's just so stinkin' cute that I then had to post the picture on Facebook and blog about him.  Yes, I need therapy.

 

OK, off of my Pedro obsession and on to my shoe obsession.  In honor of Batbear:

 

 

 

I think the hubby and I need to get us some Batman shoes so we can take our bear out trick-or-treating.  Then the men in white coats will come and take us away...

 

 

 

Book 6

I started listening to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince on Sunday.

 

 

One advantage to being lost is that I got extra listening time in.  The problem with being on book 6 of 7 is that I now don't want to only listen in the car.  I want to listen when I should be working.  I always get this way toward the end of the series:  I want to find out how it ends (as though it will end differently than the first million read-throughs), but I also know I will be all sad and bereft when I am done.  Thankfully this isn't a graded paper, because I can't come up with a decent transition between the book cover and the shoes, so I'm just going to tell you I'm transitioning and show you the shoes:

 

 

There.  Now you've seen the shoes.  Which should look entirely familiar if you spent even a tiny bit of time looking at the book cover.

 

Harry Potter, as I've mentioned before, has been my car book for the last couple of months.  I also have several other books in the mix as well:

 

 

I've been reading this one on my phone.  It's the book I read when I am waiting for stuff.  This one happens to be number 5 in a series that apparently will never ever end.  There are currently 7, with an 8th one coming out in March.  It was supposed to be done 1 or 2 books ago, but the bloody woman keeps writing.  I'd just give up, but it's been a 20 year commitment and I want some closure.  I am trying to reread them before the next one comes out because at almost a thousand pages a book, it's hard to keep the details straight.  I'm not going to make it if I only read it in small snatches, though.

 

 

This is also on my phone.  I read it when I just can't do the other one.  I've been slogging away at The Fiery Cross fairly well lately, but it's nice to have a back-up waiting book.

 

 

I should actually be done with this one by now, but I've been busy and tired and haven't been reading as much before I go to bed as usual. This is the book I read at home, usually at bedtime, but whenever else I can sneak in a few pages as well.

 

 

This is technically on hold until I finish House of Hades, but I'm in the process of reading it, so I'll count it as another back-up. 

 

I'm guessing you don't really care what I'm reading, but it's my blog, so I'll blather about whatever I want.  And, just to bring the blog full-circle and back to Harry Potter, I will leave you with this:

 

 

And also this:  If I could just get a paycheck and benefits for reading whatever and whenever I want, that would be fan-freaking-tastic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Books 2 and 3

My journey through the Harry Potter audio books continues.  I finished Chamber of Secrets this week

and started Prisoner of Azkaban immediately after.

 

As I'm sure you've gathered, I love these books.  I've read them a lot.  Before each new book came out I would reread the entire series, and since the last one I tend to read all 7 about once a year.

 

Chamber of Secrets is the book where we are introduced to Dobby, the house elf.  Did you know that there are shoes with Dobby on them?

 

 

You do now!  Despite these being Gryffindor shoes, and therefore awesome, the half of Dobby's face peering out of the left shoe just creeps me out.  I'll just wear the right one and hop around on one foot.

 

 

Crocheted Dobby is way cuter!  I kind of want to find this pattern and make my very own Dobby.

 

Prisoner of Azkaban was definitely my favorite book for a long time.  It might still be, although I think Deathly Hallows may have edged it out.  I like that we get to learn more about Harry's parents in this book, especially his father.  We also learn about Harry's father's friends, who created the Maurader's Map, a magical map that looks like a blank piece of parchment until activated (with the words, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good") and then shows all of the school's secret passages and where each person present in the school is located as you are looking at the map.  Little wonder this map also appears as a theme on shoes.

 

 

Edited:  I realized after I posted that I had included this picture.  Clearly these shoes do NOT have the Marauder's Map on them.  But they're still fun.  And since it's a map of the castle, these sort of kind of work.

 

I know I've been showing a lot of baby shoes lately, but these were too cute to pass up.

 

 

There must be a baby in my life who needs these and a crocheted Dobby toy...

 

I'm listening to books in the car during my commute.  Sometimes I find it difficult to get out of the car when I get to church or home because once I start I want to keep listening, even though I know exactly what is going to happen next.  So, that's my car book.  I also always have a book on my phone that I read while waiting (Dr's appointments, etc.), a book on my nightstand, that I read before bed or when I have a spare moment, and a book (or 2) on my desk at church that I never seem to have enough time during the day to read like I should.  Being in the middle of 4 books at once is awesome.  I'd have more if I had more time.

 

 

More HP

I know I threw a lot of Harry Potter posts at you in July, but here is another.  I usually reread the series every 12-18 months.  I know...I'm a dork.  This year instead of rereading I'm listening to them on  my ipod in the car while I commute.  I'm currently listening to The Sorcerer's Stone and totally sympathized with Harry while listening on my drive home tonight:

 

"Harry didn't feel brave or quick-witted or any of it at the moment.  If only the hat had mentioned a house for people who felt a bit queasy, that would have been the one for him," (page 119)

 

I actually had a good day, so this isn't specific to today.  It just struck me that I feel like this quite a bit.  Sometimes I can't think of anything I'm particularly good at, I just feel a little queasy. Like Harry, I always get "sorted" into the right place eventually, but man, did this resonate with me tonight.  So, because of that, you get some more HP shoes.

 

 

 

That last one has nothing to do with the book, but if you are a dork like me, you'll get it!

 

 

 



HP

OK, so you might be getting tired of the Harry Potter themed shoes, but there are just so many.  I've done the houses, so tonight I went in search of more general HP shoes and there are 8 kajillion of them.  No, really.

 

 

I didn't see a picture of these separately, although I'm sure I just didn't search hard enough, but even Nike got in on the house shoe act.

There are shoes with art work from the various book covers.

 

 

Ooooh...Marauder's Map shoes.  These are awesome.

 

Shoes with scary renditions of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

 



Another in the series of sparkly pumps.  Ignore the other shoes that have nothing to do with HP.

 

 

But these are my favorite.  Yes, I realize they are rather childish and simple, but if you don't know Potter Puppet Pals then your life is a sad state of affairs.  Please let me help to remedy that:

 

 

Yes, naked Dumbledore.  Entertaining the nieces for more than half a decade.  You're welcome.

 

Today was a bit up and down.  I feel crappy, so that doesn't help.  Our yard guy asked the hubby this morning if I am pregnant.  Sigh.  NOT pregnant.  On the other hand, my father-in-law told the hubby this morning that he thinks the hubby picked the sweetest berry in the swamp.  Not the compliment I had ever expected, but my FIL loves me quite a lot, so I'll take being a swamp berry. :-)

 

Hufflepuff

We've covered the rest, so today we get to Hufflepuff House.  Hufflepuffs are described as just, loyal and hard-working, but they definitely get a bad rap in the house system.  You get the idea that Hufflepuffs are the dorks of the wizarding world.  Gryffindors are brave, Ravenclaws are smart, and Slytherins are clever (when they're being described politely).  I would want to be in Gryffindor, would settle for Ravenclaw, but I'm pretty sure I'd get sorted into Hufflepuff.  I'd definitely be a dork in the wizarding world.  And yet, what's wrong with being just, loyal and hard-working?  They just aren't as flashy as the other houses.  So I will embrace my inner Hufflepuff and look at today's batch of shoes.

 

 

I don't think yellow is necessarily my best color, but maybe I could just accent the black with it.

 

Hey, guess what?  My new antibiotics help treat or prevent anthrax and the plague in certain patients!  I find this hilarious.  They also cause insomnia, so it was very early this morning before I got to sleep.  Not good.  Will be taking them in the morning from here on out.  But, thankfully I don't have to worry about the plague, so that's a plus.

 

In other news, the hubby comes home tonight!  It's about time, he's been gone for 2 weeks, and was gone for almost 2 weeks not long before this.  Granted, I do like hogging the bed while he's gone, but it's time for him to return to me.