Ape's 2012 Challenge (1)

Books Read: 0
Pages Read: 0

Welcome! I don't have some big thoughtful speech to add here, I'm just going to quickly say that I cherish every minute spent posting here with my fellow 75ers the past couple years, and I greatly look forward to another year of doing the same. Happy reading everyone!

Now, for those who didn't follow my thread, here are my stats for 2011.

2011 STATISTICS

Books read: 81
Pages read: 19,935

Average star rating: 3.34

Average book size: 246 pages

Average pages read per day: 54
Average pages read per week: 383
Average pages read per month: 1,661

On average, I finished a book every: 4.5 days


Fiction/Nonfiction

Fiction books read: 50
Nonfiction books read: 31

Average star rating for fiction books: 3.40
Average star rating for nonfiction books: 3.25


Male/Female

Books by male authors: 59
Books by female authors: 22

Average star rating for male authors: 3.37
Average star rating for female authors: 3.40


Genre/Subject
(Subject to utter and disastrous innacuracy, also many books like historical science books about biological diseases, will fit under several categories)

Total read-
Horror: 15
Literature: 13
Science Fiction: 9
Historical Fiction: 7
Apocalypse: 7
Classic: 7
Fantasy: 3
Graphic Novel: 2
Mystery: 1
Thriller: 0

Science: 13
History: 11
Art: 8
Biology: 7
Memoir: 6
Politics: 3

Average star rating-
Classic: 3.8
Literature: 3.7
Historical Fiction: 3.7
Science Fiction: 3.3
Fantasy: 3.3
Apocalypse: 3.2
Horror: 3.2
Graphic Novel: 3.0
Mystery: 2

Biology: 4.0
Science: 3.7
History: 3.4
Art: 3.3
Memoir: 3.0
Politics: 3.0

-------------------------------

Books sorted by star rating:

5 stars:
The Medical Detective
The Cellist of Sarajevo
Vampire Haiku
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Wicked Bugs
Montana 1948

4 stars:
Wave of Terror
The Ten Thousand
The Atlantic Sound
Perdido Street Station
Day by Day Armageddon
Where the Sky Ends
The Bounty
Muse of Fire
Van Gogh
Riddled with Life
The Wild Trees
The Pearl
Cannery Row
The Uncommon Reader
The Moon is Down
Tribes
The Canterville Ghost
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Wicked Plants
Dark Banquet
The Solitude of Prime Numbers
Fast Food Nation
Parasite Rex
The Reapers are the Angels
The Man in the Picture
Earth (The Book)
Harbor
The Madonna of Leningrad
Locust
Od Magic
Legend

3 stars:
The Killers Within
Book of Clouds
Victorian Painting
Zombie Haiku
Gods and Legions
Terror on Troll Mountain
Plague
What I Was
Leonardo Da Vinci
The End of the Alphabet
Peace
Prisons of Light
Rembrandt
The Sword of Hannibal
Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs
The Time Machine
Aristotle Leads the Way
The Plague
Charlatan
Dead City
Plague Year
Plague War
Plague Zone
No Reservations
Second Genesis
The Soul of a Man Under Socialism
The Tattoo Chronicles
Dead of Night
Midnight Mass
The Taking
The Nightmare Factory
Arkham Asylum: Madness
In the Light of the Moon

2 stars:
Southern Storm
Biohazard
Never Suck a Dead Man's Hand
I Am Zoe Handke
Achilles
America (The Book)
Trauma
God of War
Shapeshifter
Play Dead

1 stars:
ESPN Guide to Psycho Fan Behavior

w00t! First here! *pulls out cushion, gets comfy*

Hello there, Faith! :)

Why, hello, good sir! What a lovely, virginal new thread you have here. >:)

Btw, your stats are seriously in depth. Do you like sort your clothes by color, iron your underwear, etc, by any chance? :P

red x-ed.





just kidding!

I nearly forgot! The list of questions you must answer with book titles you have read this year. I'm not going to mess with fixing the touchstones, you can visit last year's thread to see the correct author if you are interested. :)

Describe yourself: The Uncommon Reader

Describe how you feel: Riddled with Life

Describe where you currently live: The Wild Trees

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Where the Sky Ends

Your favorite form of transportation: The Time Machine

Your best friend is: The Man in the Picture

You and your friends are: Tribes

What’s the weather like: The Art of Racing in the Rain

You fear: The Canterville Ghost

What is the best advice you have to give: Never Suck a Dead Man's Hand

Thought for the day: Day by Day Armageddon

How I would like to die: The End of the Alphabet

My soul’s present condition: The Solitude of Prime Numbers

Sara: Nope, I just love stats. And it didn't take any amount of obsessiveness or anything, that whole post didn't take me more than an hour or so.

Nora: *Wipes brow in relief*

Welcome back!

#5: Here ya go: I've got the red X's covered. Actually, the X's are kind of pink, but meh. (shrugs) I'm not going to fly over to London and knock on their shop door to correct them.

#6: I swear, every time I hear that title (Never Suck a Dead Man's Hand), I crave one of these. And a foot or two if I'm extra hungry. Heck, just give me the whole zombie. I haven't had breakfast yet.

#7: I like viewing my stats, too, on LT, but I don't think they get quite as detailed as you do. Or maybe they do and I'm just not aware of it?

*********

hmmm

place looks the same

am I really in the 2012 thread...?

Hope you have a Good Year reading and other wise. I've got you starred.

Hi Stephen - looking forward to another year of ... hmm ... *interesting* posts:)

*peeks around the corner*

Thanks Jim!

Sara: HUGE picture. I loaded about 35 percent of it and I think I get the point. Wait, I know what your thinking, I mean I get the picture. No wait, I didn't get the picture because I stopped it from loading...I mean...Ahhh, screw it. WAIT! I didn't mean that either!

Thanks Laura!

Richard: Yep, and OF COURSE it looks the same, it's supposed to. It's the smell that's different. It's a lot less...well, it's new, let's put it that way. :)

Thanks Cindy!

Calm: Hehe, welcome, I hope you enjoy the, ummmm, discussions...

I see you there, Luxx! Come on in, I promise Sara hasn't perverted up my thread too much yet. ;)

Whassssssssssup! I want to do my stats now but I've been at work all Bank Holiday (*shudders*) and I can't really be arsed. Maybe tomorrow. For now, I'll just look at yours, k? K. Starred for later!

#15: I know; sorry the pic was so big. I was debating on posting it or not, 'cause it was even taking me forever to load. And ha! I think you finally contradicted yourself so many time, even I'm confused. :D

And no, I haven't perverted up the place. But I can make it smell much, MUCH different. And not in a good way. :X

#16: (pats ellie on the head) Working sucks. That's why I've taken this week off; so I can avoid the crowds and whatnot. Hang in there! :)

Ellie: Welllll, if taking a gander at my statistic floats your boat, then I welcome to peruse at your leisure!

Sara: Well, it still smell NICE, so lets wait on that please. o.o

I'll bite on the meme:

Describe yourself: Plum Gorgeous

Describe how you feel: I am Half-Sick of Shadows

Describe where you currently live: The Land of the Smokies

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Bachelor Brothers’ Bed and Breakfast

Your favorite form of transportation: Parnassus on Wheels

Your best friend is: Remembering Knoxville

You and your friends are: Birds of a Feather

What’s the weather like: A Dark and Stormy Night

You fear: The Haunted Bookshop

What is the best advice you have to give: A Praying Life

Thought for the day: If God, Why Evil?

How I would like to die: Shaking the Family Tree

My soul’s present condition: Book Lust

Oh my. And the craziness begins for a new year (that technically isn't here yet. What's up with that, Stephen?). Starred because I lo.. I like you. That's right. Yes. :D

Was that loathe you were gonna say?

Micky: I won't finish any more books in 2011, so I'm abandoning it!

Sara: Probably, good thing she recovered so quickly! :(

Hey Stephen, just checking out your new digs. I'm holding off creating my new thread till Jan 1st, I'm just not ready to move on.

Get with the times, Lynda! Okay, technically it's still 2011, but that isn't stopping me! :P

Just thought I'd let you that we're in the car on our way to Ohio...

EEEEEK!



So how long are you staying for?

Hi there, I'm new here but I'll try to follow your readings :) I think I will start with Herman Hesse. See you on Jan 1st!

Hello there, Joaquin, and welcome to the group! I assure you the people here are some of the nicest and most wonderful group I've ever met. ...ummm, I'm not sure if I'm an accurate representation of that, though. :P

Yeah, I have read you guys and this group is a very friendly one :) hope we can know each others better soon.

>21 saraslibrary: Nope.

>22 Ape: I wouldn't be so quick with that wish. It may have been the verb that you've been hoping for. Maybe it decided to stick around after Christmas after all. ;)

>19 thornton37814: - "How I would like to die: Shaking the Family Tree" *snorts* That's one I've not heard before...

Hi Joaquin! :)

#25-26: Psst, Stephen, did scaifea answer your question yet? I'm a little afraid for you. (hands him some camouflage clothes) Just in case they find your place and you need to hide in the woods for a week or two.

I couldn't resist making Shaking the Family Tree the "mode of death" because genealogy is my passion!

Glad you explained, because my mind was headed the monkey route....

Joaquin: Indeed!

Micky: Wait, you mean you lo-...oh wait, I get it, you drunk. New Year's isn't for a few more days yet, y'know...

*Waves at Ellie, then ties her to the couch so she can't return to the old thread* ... *Smiles sweetly*

Sara: No, but I read on her thread that she's only staying for the day, so I'm safe. :P

Lori: Ohhhh! That makes sense. I thought you were calling your family a bunch of fruits and they were going to fall out of a tree on you. Hey, it's better than monkeys like Sara was thinking! :)

Oh good, 'cause I wasn't sure what you were gonna do for food. I hear tree bark's pretty nutritious. And horse apples.

*Glances down at 'winter belly'* Ergh, I think I could go a day without food and be okay, really...

Okay, silly boy, I'll bite. As soon as I get my thread up & going I will post my answers on it. So you will have to visit at least once. Or more, if I keep piddling around.

Oh Terri, I already visit your thread every time there's a new post. If I don't visit as much as you like it's only because you don't post here often enough. :P

Movie update:

Gasland:
Amazing and eye-opening! What a delightful(?) and horrific documentary, about the effects of 'frack' drilling on drinking water. It's scary to see people set their tap water ON FIRE because it is so contaminated by toxic chemicals. Seriously worth watching.

The Plague (History Channel documentary):
*YAWN* Snooze-fest. Granted the production value was way higher than th previous 2 documentaries I have watched (Gasland and Darwin's Nightmare) but the science was glossed over and the history was, naturally, rather vague. Not sure what the point of watching it was...I guess to see actors re-enacting (poorly) what plague victims may looked like. ... *Yawn*

Sorry. I try but alas, there are so many demands on my time.....

But I have a question: Which Plague?

Personally I consider the Black Death as "The Plague." Granted there have been many outbreaks in disease in history but that one is obviously more significant than all the other ones. I don't know why though...perhaps because it was white people that were dying?

Gotcha. I can see where that would be a yawner. Carry on.

I probably didn't like it because, well, it was made by the HISTORY channel. *Yawn* Now if I find a Science Channel documentary on The Plague...I'm sure that'll be much better. :D

>35 Ape: You know, I think you're deductive reasoning skills need some work. I don't drink beverages of the alcoholic variety, Stephekins. That was pure affection attempting to worm its way out. But seeing as you keep coming up with excuses for why it can't be true, maybe I'll have to retract the sentiment. :(

#40: people set their tap water ON FIRE because it is so contaminated by toxic chemicals. -- Nice. Makes me want to drink my 64+ daily oz of water now. :P I'll check for it at work. I'm pretty sure I've seen that one . . . somewhere. (scratches head)

I just finished a documentary last night (in between the horror flicks, of course)--If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front--which I thought would be kind of like your Gasland (in that it would expose all the toxic stuff going on around us), but it was more on the people and cases involved with the E.L.F. It wasn't really eye-opening (for me, at least, because if you live in the NW, E.L.F.'s arsons were pretty commonplace), but I'd still recommend it if your library has it.

Back Stephen! Looking forward to the antics on your thread(S) this year. ;)

Micky: Sorry! :( It's just that you've not loved me for so long that I can only assume that you are intoxicated in some way. That's reasonable, isn't it? *Nervous laugh*

Sara: Unfortunately my library doesn't have that one. It has If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period but, errr, I think I'll pass on that one.

Hello and welcome, Valerie! :)

Yep, we're back in Indiana and you're safe. Sigh.

Awww, c'mon, I was multiple hours out of your way anyway. *Pat pat* Trust me, I'm not worth the gas money. :)

>48 Ape: Mhrmm. Well, no professions of affection for you until the new year at the very least. ;)

Okay. But what if my future 2012 self thinks you have been drugged by Mo or something? While my current 2011 self is a fiercely rational and logical thinking person, it's possible that my future self will invent a rational and logical explanation for why Mo would do such an absurdly out-of-character thing. He's been known to do that in the past, and I suspect that won't change any time soon.

Maybe we can drug him and then have a wizard perform a mind-altering ritual to make him behave like a NORMAL person. That would make him less weird, yes? Although I personally like him the way he is now, a bit silly and eccentric. I might be bias though, I've known him for, oh I don't know, a decade at least. I guess we'll just have to put up with him. *Rolls eyes*

52 messages already?! Really, Stephen, you must pace yourself!

Sorry, Stasia, I can't help how talkative everyone is. Nevermind that 20 of the messages are mine alone. :P

#48: Aw, major disappointment! I was hoping If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period was a picture book, but no. :( Skippin' it, too.

#53: Yeah, it's pretty much always Stephen's fault.

Baaaad, Stephen, baaad! (glares and returns to last year's thread)

#55: Yeah, I know.

Sara: Nothing is ever my fault, obviously. Everyone knows that.

Stasia: Don't encourage her!

I refuse to believe the "multiple hours away" malarky. I was close, I just know it...

Weren't you in Cincinatti? I believe that's at LEAST 2 hours away. That's like, a MILLION miles away, almost.

Nope, not in Cincy...

Oh, well shoot. Where WERE you? Quick, use Google Maps/Mapquest to see how far away you were from Logan. :o

She's outside your house RIGHT NOW.

Brrrr! I don't envy her.

Logan?

Ah, he let it slip!

#65: Terri, I looked and it is only 16 hours from Texas to Logan, Ohio. Want to do a field trip/reconnaisance mission?

>52 Ape: I think it would be very difficult for Mo to drug me seeing as he's a moose and has no opposable thumbs. Now unless you're Mo's minion and drugging me for him... But what am I saying, Mo is my guard moose. He'd never hurt me. :)

No. He'd do much worse things come mating season. O_0

Terri/Stasia: I've had my local library listed on my profile for months/up to a year now, actually... Wait, only 16 hours? *Checks map* o.O

Micky: I would never drug you! Never never! But Mo, well, he does have a history, y'know. I believe there are two passed out lady mooses in your back yard. He's such an animal!

Sara: A honorable moose waits for mating season like a gentleman, Mo is not one of those patient "wait for the female to be consenting" types...

Does anyone else think that maybe Mo is a manifestation of Stephen's repressed inner desires?

Stephen, how does that make you feel? *sits in swivel chair and takes out notebook and pen*

Well, Micky is the one that invented Mo (or did she give birth to him? Oh dear...) so that would have to mean that Micky is the mother of my repressed inner desire. Or the engineer of them, if Mo is a robot. Or she has psychic mind reading abilities. Or you made that whole thing up. Hmmm, all things considered I'm hoping for the last one.

Hi Stephen, thanks for posting that meme. I'm going to use it as part of my 2011 recap. Thanks also for the laughs (and serious moments) in 2011. I'll do my best to keep up with you in 2012!

I'm reading your thread backwards and ditto Donna's comment about your meme. Very creative. Did you come up with that yourself? The organization at the beginning of your thread is very impressive. :)

Aww, thanks Donna! It's always nice to see you, regardless of the frequency of your visits. :)

Valerie: It's a fun meme, but I didn't create it. In, what was it, 2009 or something it was really popular, seemed like everyone in the group filled it out that year, and I like it so much I make sure I fill it out at the end of every year now. :)

I will probably pull out that meme with my wrap-up. It is quite fun. And just to be clear, I imagined Mo so unless we're going with the Zeus and Athena definition, I did not give birth to him. As for whether I have pyschic mind reading abilities, wouldn't you like to know? ;)

So you are merely projecting your repressed inner desires onto someone else's imaginary pet. Iiiiinteresting. . .

*scribbles in notebook*

Micky: I'm thinking you don't have psychic mind reading abilities...unless you implanted that thought into my head...

Nora: Maybe you just WANT those to be my repressed inner desires, because like all psychiatrists (or those pretending to be one) you accuse your patients of your own misgivings as a way to deal with the guilt you feel when you get a hankering for drugging lady mooses and doing Zeus-knows-what to them.

*Sets Nora's notebook on fire, just in case*

Noooooo my grocery list was in there!! :-(

Sorry! I'll replace it. *Grabs pen and paper* Okay. Cookies. Donuts. Cake. Chocolate milk. Gummi bears. Mountain Dew. Should we try to balance this out a bit? Ummmm, Starburst? Skittles? Jelly beans!

omg I missed your WHOLE LAST THREAD. Im a bad bad person but in my defense I have been holidaying in a small town with no cell phone access and no street lights and no shops (apart from the place that rents out kayaks which has a coffee machine). Happy new year and will see you on the 2012 threads!

>77 Ape: I'll never tell you. :P

>79 Ape: You need to add some salty snacks in there to really balance it out. Pretzels. Chips. Cheetos. Crackers. Oh and with crackers we obviously need cheese. Mmm, cheese.

What about ice cream? Hot Fudge? Whipped Cream? Pie would work since it's both sugary and counts as a fruit. Mmmmm cheese is right, Micky. To keep in with this whole "healthy" theme, it should probably be cheese in a can, though.

No actually it said "Red wine, baking soda, skim milk, chips, bourbon, yogurt, waffles"*


_____________________________

*actual shopping list I found in my purse yesterday

Megan: Hehe, this IS the 2012 group, dear... ;)

Micky: Can the pretzels be chocolate covered? Mmmm....

Laura: We already have fruit. Starburst. . .

Nora: Haha, mine usually says "everything in a big container with a little number on the price tag." :D

Hey! I am gettin' ALL KINDS of grief from folks on my 2012 thread, razzin' me about needing a new thread before 1/1, and all's I got is like 65 posts! YOU, on the other hand, are cruisin' for triple digits before tomorrow, and no one, as in like No One, is so much as squeaking at you!

NO. FAIR. Now, you go get some of the Longface Puritan League over in here to bitch at you, or I am shuttin' this Romper Room down as the Official Thread Police!

People figure I do enough complaining for everyone, so they try to be more positive around here. Plus, I'm delicate and will cry if people make fun of me. Just ask Sara and Micky, they do it all the time on their threads. :_(

SQUEAK! Dang it, Stephen, it's still December and you're almost ready for another thread. Slow down!

How's that, Richard?

Oh, Stasia, I am so there. That means St. Charles is probably the half way point between Sherman & Logan. Really, it's all falling into place.

And honestly, Stephen, I never read profiles. I barely have time to read threads!

*starts looking for a map to see if Logan is en route to NYC*

Surely not. It must be HOURS out of your way. Definitely.

Hey, Keith will be with me. You two can stand around shyly and roll your eyes at me together.

That's the worst part! I can't meet new people, ever, ESPECIALLY if I'm being introduced to them. Most socially awkward thing imaginable for me to go through. *Shuts self inside and locks doors*

But Stephen. He could run socially awkward circles around you. I suspect neither of you would even make eye contact. That's what makes it so perfect!

Eye contact? That sounds...unsanitary.

Just thought I'd let you know that we're in the car on our way to Ohio...

Me too!!!! Oh wait, I live here.

92 posts! You're some kind of likeable guy, Stephen.

Hi Lynda! I think I mostly just post a lot on my own thread, is all... :P

>87 tloeffler: Can always count on TLo. Yeup. She's an always-come-through kinda gal. *smooch*

>93 Carmenere: Oooh, good one, Lynda! Pretend he's likeable, instead of how we're all *really* planning to come to his house in Logan and laugh at him while we make him dance on the front lawn in girls' underwear! *thumbs up*

Y'know...I could fly to Pittsburgh and abscond with that *other* socialphobe, Kath, and drag her to Logan with me. The Keith, Kath, and Aperini could all mumble and blush at each other! HOURS of fun!

I don't like that plan at all...

Hey Stephen, stopping by after Richard's whining over on his thread (I've threatened to start posting pictures on his thread to hasten the arrival of the Thread Police) - so I had to come see what the kerfuffle is about with your almost-100 posts. And -- lo and behold, I find that you're funny!! I don't know about the delicate part.....

You find me funny? Hm. Well the only explanation I can come up with for that oddity is that you have very poor taste in humor. Yes, that must be it.

You're not the first to accuse me of such.
:-P

^
^
^
I'm #100!

99: Well then, welcome to the club! :)

100: ...ummmm, congrats for being #100!

Have no idea what has gone on before...but

I am here...present and accounted for

ready for Further Adventures in the New Year

(with pics of Tasty Babes, on my thread, at least)

;-)

Well then, welcome to the club! It's an exclusive one, I hear. Does that mean the whiskey is top shelf? :-)

>103 EBT1002: I don't know about exclusive. You obviously haven't noticed the zombies in the cage over in the far corner. ;)

I'm such a marshmallow that I posted the below message on my own thread....time for bed me thinks!

*Plops down and grabs some popcorn*

Stephen, your thread provides more entertainment than some of the books I read... :)

Nite nite, jolerie.

#87: Oh, Stasia, I am so there. That means St. Charles is probably the half way point between Sherman & Logan.

Obviously we need to start formulating a plan! I need to drive to St. Charles. . .and then on to Logan!

Welcome Jude! Tasty babes are welcome, so long as they don't expect me to talk to them. :P

Ellen: I'm afraid my thread is strictly Bring Your Own Whisky (or other alcohol.) I can't say I have a clue how I act when intoxicated but I think it's a safe bet it would NOT be pretty. :)

Micky: Sara is not a zombie!

*Licks Valerie* Well, you don't TASTE like a marshmallow... Glad you find entertainment in all my awkwardness. :)

Sara: (Pssst, Micky, I think I was wrong. I think she is speaking secret zombie language right now!)

Stasia: ...

Yes, Stephen? (she inquires innocently)

"Books, books, bookity, books."

(...just thought I'd do my part in helping stop the thread police who seem to think there aren't any posts about books in this thread...)

Stasia: ...

Faith: You're a life-saver! :D

>110 dk_phoenix: ...aiding and abetting a known brat...failure to report abusive practices against Zombified Americans...oh this'll keep her lawyers in fees for months!

>111 Ape: So the road trip planning commences. **evil Muttley laugh*

Got you starred! And this time, I'll try to keep up. Maybe :-)

Glad to see the insanity is already filling this thread...

Forgive me for not catching up... I am just trying to stake a place :)

112: Known brat? Oh no, I can't believe I have become such a thing. I'm so ashamed. What can I do to fix this? How can I get back to being an UNKNOWN brat? :(

113: Hiiii! Hope you can sucessfully keep up, maybe I can hire you to fill me in when I fall behind. :P

114: Don't worry Kath, I'm sure you didn't miss much. Just don't read post 95.

Hi Stephen, not to worry you or anything, but if you're feeling lonely I can be at your house before 9:00 tonight. Want to ring in the new year with company? *evil Muttley laugh*

9 hours? Surely you aren't THAT far away. :P

Just a little note to assure you that in no way I could reach your house ever ;-)

*sigh* ..it's not even the first day of 2012 and there's already 117 posts to catch up on here. How did I get behind before I even started the year proper?

118: *Wipes brow in relief*

119: Sorry Caro! :( Hmmm...so, who should we blame for this situation?

#115> Post 95 on this thread? Too late! It's not as bad as it could be, probably :-D

I think I need supplements to my diet to help me have the energy to keep up with your thread.

#108: Micky: Sara is not a zombie! -- I so read that! No scrolling this time, no sirree. But to correct you: I wasn't in a cage! I was tied up in chains, remember? That you, Stephen, chained together. Lightbulb coming on yet? But no worries. I'm already in Canada and cruising along the border. Seeing as most Canadians secretly want to be Americans, they usually live along the border, so I should find Micky and Mo in no time. >:)

#123: Oooh, right, "supplements." Yeah, you might need those. I usually do speed in the morning, cocaine for lunch, followed by meth for dinner. Don't worry. It's all FDA approved, so you should be fine to keep up with Stephen's threads--and then some! ;)

I'm just glad you didn't say I looked like a marshmallow. ;)

Stephen at least I'm actually alread in 2012. 125 posts and you're not even in 2012 yet. Agree with RD NO FAIR

>123 saraslibrary: Sorry, Sara, I'm one of the exceptions to that rule. According to Google maps, I'm about 6 hours away from the border. :P

>108 Ape: I thought you were already a zombie whisperer, Stephen. Maybe Sara picked up zombie language from you.

Does anyone else think that "The Keith, Kath, and Aperini" would be a great name for a rock band?

Stasia, if you can make it to St. Charles, I'LL drive the rest of the way to Logan!

#123> Hmm, this Canadian/Brit may need to argue with you about all Canadians wanting to be American :-D It always seems to be the other way round from my perspective north of the border.

stared :)

>112 richardderus:: Ah, but you forget, as a Canadian citizen, I'm not obligated to report abusive practices against Zombified Americans... in fact, I'm ONLY slightly obligated to watch the inevitable zombie-related bad reality TV programming that will soon make its way to, undoubtedly, the FOX network... *retains lawyers JUST IN CASE*

>128 archerygirl:: I'm with you on that one! In fact, most of my American relatives who moved to Canada changed their citizenship as soon as they were able to (or went dual)... ;D

#126: Oh, so you do live in the Arctic Circle. We were right about the igloo! ;)

Naw, I'm self-taught. Zombie language isn't really too hard to learn, whether you're dead or undead.

#128: Well, I don't know if I'm ready to be a Canadian just yet, but the only things I really envy them for is their health care, weather (mostly during the summer), and export of actors. :) The moose, I think, are what's keeping me on this side of the fence, though.

#131: The only Canadians I know came from eastern Europe first (not exactly the greatest place on earth), got their Canadian citizenship, then high-tailed it to the U.S. I never pried into why they did it that way instead of just going to the U.S. first, but (shrugs) at least they're legal. Can't say the same for a lot of people who live in the U.S. now.

>131 dk_phoenix:: My dual Canadian/Brit citizenship is something that I'd never give up and seems to cause great envy for many people. Canada does seem to be seen as utopia by many Americans.

>132 saraslibrary:: Been here three years and not seen any moose yet :-)

Hi Stephen! I see the party is in full swing here. Have a great time and a wonderful New Year!

Happy New Year Stephen!

Not sure why - But I am starring you.
I must be a glutton for punishment :)
Try to behave a bit this coming year.... lol
oh, nevermind. That wouldn't be any fun!

>84 Ape: to get off on a technicality....it was 2011 when I wrote that, AND I had only had 5 hours of broken sleep so didnt even know who I was let alone where I was :)

But now I do, so HAPPY NEW YEAR! And I will catch up properly when my nanny arrives (I wish!)

#127: Terri, what are you doing tomorrow? I am sure I can be in Saint Charles. . .

ETA: Happy New Year, Stephen!

Happy New Year, Stephen!!

Wow, it's only January 1st and you've topped 100 posts already!

Hope you have a great 2012!

Wow, that's a lot of posts! Ummm, I'll just respond to all of you by saying HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! :D

My sister got home from her near-month-long vacation yesterday (with week-long cruise through the Bahamas, stays in Florida, South Carolina, and Connecticut and forays into Washington DC and New York) so I spent most of yesterday/last night catching up with her and looking at all the pictures. Despite my social phobias I'm quite envious, it looks like she had a great time.

Now onto the books! My first book of the year is going to be a delicious disease-related one. It's HUGE with tiny text so I might be awhile finishing it, I'm only 108 pages into it after 3-4 days of reading, but I'll get it done eventually. :)

>115 Ape: LOLOL

Happy New Year Stephen! 141 posts already?! Looks like I'm late to this party! :)

Kath: Are you one of those people that laugh when you're frigthened? Heh heh heh... *Hides*

Hiii Rachel! Happy New Year to yourself. :)

Happy New Year! Now I can be in the 2012 group. Not reading all these messages from before though :P

Katie: Don't worry, I swear I didn't make fun of you once. Seriously. No, don't read those posts, there's nothing to see there!

I'll use the logic of my dog, "If I don't see it, it's not there."

I hope that logic doesn't apply to my pancreas.

Yep, that and oxygen. We'll all be suffocating soon.

#140: I'm glad your sister got to have such a long vacation--and to go to so many places! :) That's awesome. I can understand your envy about wanting to go to the same places, but that's why I watch travel DVDs. It shows you all the good parts, and you don't get mugged or have your luggage lost or catch the local epidemic, etc. ;)

As for books, I haven't even started. I'm still finishing up on my half-watched movies from last year. Then I'll start reading for 2012... whenever that'll be.

Oh, yeah. And HAPPY NEW YEAR back atcha! :) Doesn't feel any different than 24 hours ago, though. (shrugs)

#143: Or when they have a bloody knife hidden behind their back? :o (hides behind Stephen)

#146: (nods) Dogs are very, very wise. Well, aside for their love of eating cat poop. XP

You are as bad as Richard. 149!!! Already?! Hope I can keep up...with the number of posts AND the sense of humor. Not mention outrunning zombies! Hugs and Happy New Year!

Katie: Wait, so we're NOT supposed to be able to see oxygen? *Goes all glassy-eyed and slowly waves fingers in front of his eyes.*

Sara: They drove all the way down, actually, in road trip fashion, so there was no lost luggage definitely. They got lucking on the mugging (although they were ambushed by people trying to sell them things. As for the epidemic...well, nothing so far, but they could still be incubating. :P

Hi there, Kim! While I understand perfectly that falling behind is inevitable, it's always a delight to see you post so I'll be happy to encourage you to try to keep up! :)

#151: I'm going with incubating. You might want to quarantine them. Just in case.

Btw, here! Have a really freakish smiley I found while looking for sad smilies. Does he look sad to you?? Uh, nooo would be the answer to that. As well as wtf!?! Is he gagged and shaking?



Oh, and you're welcome! I'll try and find something even more random next time.

. . . . I think that's supposed to be a scarf and shivering. But I wasn't paying attention at first glance and thought it was a kung-fu Easter Egg *le sigh

Sara: Quarantine them? But your teeth prints are all over my chains!

Katie: I thought the exact same thing! Well, I thought ninja easter egg, but close enough... :)

Then why am I seeing a gag? (pauses) Oooh, never mind. It's like one of those ink blot tests, right?

#155: Eh, what? You were going to chain your own sister up? Hmm. Wow, look at the time! I've got this thing to, um, go to. (runs away)

*sigh* Never. I can NEVER catch up here.

It's ok. I'll sum it up: nonsense, nonsense, Happy New Year, sex, nonsense, Happy New Year, I'm a dork. Yep, haven't missed much. :)

LOL You have a career as a summarist at Television Without Pity!

Yay! I'll tell my boss I quit tomorrow.

:-)
Wish I had known the summary was in message 158. Good job!
Carry on, fun lovers!

That smiley really is weird, Sara. Maybe he was playing pin the tail on the donkey and the blindfold slipped down?

Also, HIIIIIIIIIII Stephen! Happy new year!

Thanks for the concise summary Sara! I think you should do that full time on Stephen's thread and he should pay you for all the hard work you put into it. ;)

Happy New Year, Stephen. I see I've arrived just in time to help you pack for your next thread. Meanwhile, I'll just sit quietly in the Canadian Corner, I've brought my own Zombie book to read when things slow down.

Ah, Sara nailed that didn't she. Whew.
xoxo

So now instead of looking for Stephen's name I'll just look for Sara's and get the lowdown that way. : P

#161: Thanks! :) But I expect a throttling from Stephen for not including memes and statistics. Can't forget the statistics. (keeps one eye out for Stephen)

#162: That's the G-rated possible scenario. I still say he was gagged... and who knows what else. 0_o If only he could talk around that cloth....

#163: Thanks! :)

lol @ the thought of Stephen paying me. Yes, he'd pay me in pennies that he'd heat with a lighter and flick at me. (I am so kidding, Stephen! First I insinuate you're gay all last year, and now I make you sound like a monster. Sorry, sorry! :)

#165: I only nailed it, because I'm probably responsible for all that "nonsense" bit. ;)

#166: Ooh, I don't know if you want to do that. I say and post some things that are sometimes, um, well, better left in my dungeon *ahem* the gutter.

I did say LOW down didn't I?

Ew! Yeah, you did. I just noticed that. :D Please don't look for me when you need the lowdown. (points emphatically @ Stephen) He'll help you out there!

LOL!

I'm refusing to acknowledge all the above posts. Except Judy's. Hi Judy, enjoy the zomie novel, whichever one it is! :)

Stephen! Just checking in with various people's threads for the New Year and I'm already doomed to be 170 posts behind for the rest of the year I fear :S
Happy Reading for 2012!
*leaves star in hope of keeping up*

*leaves star in hope of keeping up*
I've left my star but I have no illusion that I'll "keep up," especially when I go back to work tomorrow!

Rachel! Y'know you could just say that you are lurking, then you can completely abandon my thread and I'll still think that you are reading. Everyone's happy!

Ellen: Well of course you'll never keep up with THAT attitude. You need to have confidence. Yes you can keep up! Just quit your job. :)

>EBT - Yea I have little expectations of actually managing to keep up with the pace of posts here but it's always nice to have hope right?
Ugh don't remind me about work, these 10 days I've had off have not been nearly enough! :/

Stephen - I will do my best not to lose your thread which I think happened by the end of last year, but I wouldn't want to say I'm lurking when in fact I'm not - this year I'm gonna try a lot harder to be more active in the threads :D

*pouts at being ignored*

I'm not ignoring you, Micky dear. Just refusing to acknowledge you. There's a big difference...as in, multiple syllables!

Ditto what Ellen said. It's been relatively easy keeping up with threads so far ... oh wait, the year's only 2 days old ... but once I get back to work tomorrow ...... *sigh* It's terrible how RL takes over my reading and LT time.

*pouts even more* Stephen, don't you like me anymore?

Caro: That's why I don't have a Real Life. 8-)

Micky: *Sigh* I have no willpower. *Acknowledges Micky* There. Wait, wasn't I already acknowledging you by responding to you in post 177...

Yay! You like me after all! As for whether or not you acknowledged me in 177, I dunno. I'm just glad to be back among the acknowledged at all. *offers Stephen a cookie*

Ha!! I am still current on at least one thread. This one. And it will last about a nanosecond...

Possibly not even that long, Kim!

I got four hours on this one. That is a record!!

I think Stephen's ignoring us all.

Bloody nora (that's nora, not Nora), I'm going to find it hard to keep up this year. I haven't even found everyone yet but I'm already behind on the ones I HAVE! *chugs bottle of energy water and runs off to the next thread*

>154 katelisim: Katie I wasn't paying attention at first glance and thought it was a kung-fu Easter Egg *le sigh*

SO glad I'd swallowed my coffee before I read that, or I'd be hastily swabbing down my laptop screen round about now... :D

Micky: *Scrutinizes cookie* Is it poisoned? Oh, don't worry, it's not that I think YOU would poison me. What I meant to ask was, were these left alone with Sara at any time? :P

Kim: I'm glad you are keeping up! :)

Stasia: You too!

Sara:

Ellie: Hiiii! I'm having much the same problem. I think I'm just laying low until everything settles down and then I'll jump into everyone's threads.

Ellie-- Glad you didn't spit beverage everywhere :P

The wiki! It's a finding miracle. Just sayin.

>174 Ape:: Y'know you could just say that you are lurking, then you can completely abandon my thread and I'll still think that you are reading.

Ha! I see you finally caught on to my stategy.
Just kidding, Stephen. I'm chuckling here in the background but get tongue tied around all this clever banter. ;-)

So it's not just me struggling already to keep up with threads...

We talk too much. How do we read so much?

Katie: Oh great, now I have to get caught up on the wiki too? Ack! Noooo....

Donna: Clever banter? Me? Yep, you definitely haven't been reading my thread. :P

Kathy: Here's my strategy. Don't read. I've only read 40 pages in 3 days. Then again, I'm not keeping up with the group either, so maybe it's not a great strategy afterall. Grrrr!

If I had a normal-people job, I'd never be able to do this LT life. I don't know how the gainfully employed do it!

#192> I'm in about the same place as you with both reading and keeping up with the group! I'm determined to at least get an hour of reading in tonight and I've got some comics that may at least mean I'll have one completed 'work' this week. My TV and the DVD collection are way too tempting...

>193 richardderus: I squeeze in reading time on public transit, LT time during work breaks. I'm always a little behind, but it works. :D

>188 Ape: Umm, I don't think Sara was near them. But they were on a plate with a note saying, "Much love, Captain Hook" so maybe they are a bit suspicious. Care for an apple?

>6 Ape: Thanks for the list of questions, Stephen. I had fun filling it out!

>194 archerygirl: I tried to get in an hour of reading last night and ended up asleep with the book in my hands, dammit!

Hows your tiny print / many pages book going Stephen?

Richard: Yeah, not sure what's going to happen if (I've stopped saying 'when') I get hired. My local library recently turned me down. Again. *Glares furiously and prepares to continue to beat head against wall*

Kathy: Yeah, for me it's video games. *Twitch* I used an Amazon gift card to buy a whole bunch of them (used, for cheap) and I'm also borrowing some of my sister's games. At least it's interactive, right? Heh heh...

Micky: Isn't Captain Hook Sara's nickname??

Joe: No problem, I just copy/pasted them. Wish I remember who posted them in 2009.

Megan: I went on a reading rampage today and finished a giant chunk of it. 30+ pages. Okay, so it doesn't sound like much but I feel very accomplished considering how little I've been reading lately.

The TASTY BABES on my thread are strictly "eye candy", but you gotta bring your own drool bib!

Okay, Jude, although I don't know how you expect me to keep my wits about me when presented with such imagery at your doorstep. It makes things hard. Errr, and difficult to!

if you're nice maybe one will turn up at your doorstep in RL, Stefano - delivering pizza and fried chicken

#198> I was playing the new Zelda game on my Wii over the holidays (so much fun) and I'm seriously considering a PS3 for Skyrim and Assasin's Creeed. The fact that it can also function as a DVD player and mine is being a tiny bit dodgy is not helping me to not get tempted. And it would be a Blu-ray as well, which would mean that I could get the Star Wars box-set and then my box-set of Harry Potter could also be Blu-ray rather than regular and so on.

Yeah, if a games console capable of cool stuff like Skyrim walked into my house there would be even less time for reading. Between my DVD problem and the games...

Stephen:

Eat the apple, Stephen. Eeeaaattt ttthhheeee aaapppllleeee....

#202: A new Zelda game? I will have to check that out, especially if I can get it for my Wii. Thanks for the mention, Kathy!

>204 saraslibrary: LOL! Love the smilie, Sara!

>198 Ape: Hmm, considering all the time you've spent in her dungeon you'd know better than I would. With me it's all lights and happiness. It's like living with a Disney princess, minus all the forest creatures helping me get dressed. ;)

Thanks! :) It was quicker to find him than a picture of Captain Hook.

minus all the forest creatures helping me get dressed.

Yeah, even I think that borders a little on the taboo side.

I got a few pages in today too Stephen, feeling chuffed with myself and hoping pride doesnt come before a fall......tomorrow Ill probably have to go back and re-read the lot!

Caro: Eeek! Stop that! You're just trying to scare me. *Quivers*

Kathy: Skyrim is AMAZING!!!! My sister let me borrow her copy, and holy crap is it addicting. I have (*gulp*) 119 hours on it...and there is still a ton of stuff I haven't done. It's so freaking huge. Unfortunately I've hit some huge lag/frame rate issues, but apparently there is a patch you can download to fix that if you are connected to the internet with it. (Oh, and Playstation Network accounts are free, I believe, so no paying a monthly fee or whatever it is like Microsoft does.)

The blu-ray player is indeed really cool. I haven't used mine at all, except for the copy of Spiderman 3 I got with my PS3, because I'm not a big movie guy, but I can see how that would add some extra appeal. :)

Sara: *Waves* All things considered I'm glad that's all you found while searching for a picture of Captain Hook...

Stasia: Yep! My sister's boyfriend is a Nintendo fanatic and he was raving about it. I've only ever played 1 Zelda game (on the DS) and really liked it, but I'm just not a huge Nintendo person. Their games are ridiculously expensive. Until recently even games that came out 3-4 years ago were still $40-$50 online. Ick! I rarely pay more than $15 for a game, even best sellers.

Micky: Right, you are much like Disney, aren't you? Pretending to be all innocent but tons of disgusting perverted ickiness just beneath the surface. ;)

Megan: We'll see how I do today. I've started playing another one of my sister's video games and it's super addicting. *Sigh* and *Grumble*

games scare me... time sucking.. 119 hours???

Yes. 119 hours. It's crazy. Most linear single player non-rpg games only take 6-7 hours to finish. But these big 'open world' games that these people are producing nowadays are freakin' huge!

Xbox does have a free online account; it's just limited. You can download and update. The paid account is for playing with friends, watching Netflix (if you have a subscription), chatting, etc. I'm not sure where FB/Twitter land, cause I just use my laptop/phone for that.

I bought a game that has 3 discs. . . 3 DISCS! I've spent over 100hrs on a 1 disc game, can't even imagine how many will be on 3. I haven't even made it through a quarter of the first. It's really hard. Someday I will beat that beast *puts on determined face

Which game is this, Katie? I can't imagine games needing that many discs nowadays! They hold so much on them, holy crap! Or is this a PC game?

Ape@209: I've heard so many good things about Skyrim and I can easily believe the 119 hours. That's not exactly making me put off the purchase. Maybe at the weekend...

alcottacre@205: Yup, it's Skyward Sword and I'm enjoying it a lot. It's the first time a non get fit or dance type game for the Wii has really worked for me.

#215: Thanks for letting me know the game title, Kathy. I will have to lay my hands on a copy.

#209 De-lurking in a puff of Skyrim envy. I just cannot afford it at the moment but it's one of the few items in the last few years that makes me want to stamp my feet and go 'I want I want!'.

Sulk.

Kathy: Hehe, sorry, I'm horrible at discouraging people to do things. :P

Stasia: Have fun. :D

Bekka: Muahaha! Lucky me, my younger sister bought it, finished it, and let me borrow it. So it was all free! Yippee!

And now I'm playing her copy of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel. I've got 20 hours into it and while there are lots bad things I can say about it (like the graphics, voice acting, lackluster/nonexistent story) it's incredibly addicting. :)

It's an Xbox game. . . one of the Star Oceans, I don't remember which. The previous installment I have for the PS2 and that's 2 discs. Um, I didn't really finish that one either. . . . Which really begs the question why I would buy the next one. They're really fun, up to the point I get stuck. I should find strategy guides; that would prolly fix it.

I also want Skyrim, but am definitely waiting for a price drop. And time. Maybe in 2013? lol

Ohhh. Yeah, I avoid the anime-inspired RPGs, I'm afraid. Except for the Final Fantasy games....which reminds me, I need to re-borrow my sister's copy of FFXIII...

So, how about books. They're pretty great, huh.

Anime games aren't too bad. I got Full Metal Alchemist on PS2 and really like that one. I am toying with the idea of getting a Ghost in the Shell game that HPB has for cheap. And I always always always wanted the original .Hack Sign games, but they're so dang expensive, even years after their release. I should see if they're finally down in price after 6+yrs of being out.

I've only played FFX on PS2 and the original on NES. Which, by the way, are so much harder now. NES games used to be doable. Now I suck at them. Modern games ruined my old school skillz :(

Yeah. I haven't read a page today. :(

Katie: It's true, games are so easy now, when I play old games I just get destroyed. At least initially.

I got stuck on the Metro for like 20 extra minutes this morning so I've read like 100 pages today. Go me!

*Grumbles* Let's see, I need to go out and warm my car up and drive it around a bit, then I need to consider whether I want to shower/shave now or tonight, then I need to shower/shave now or not, then I need to play Sacred again. Then I need to check LT again. Then I need to eat more. Nope, no time for reading today. Such a busy schedule I have. *Sighs dramatically*

Yeah, I like books too Nora. Although to be included in all this gaming talk, I ordered Lego Pirates of the Caribbean for my Xbox from Amazon on Boxing Day and I'm pretty psyched to play that. :D

Virtual Legos defeat the purpose

Micky: Oooh, those Lego games look fun, but they haven't really made one from a theme I'm interested in. I mean yes, there was the Harry Potter ones, but those ones didn't look terribly exciting. I did check out Lego Star Wars from the library but it only worked for a day and then deleted my game. -.-

Nora: True, but they seem pretty popular nonetheless. Besides, don't Legos make big lego sets with instructions on what to build specifically? Pffft. :P

>229 Ape: Well they are intended for 8 year olds (which is my basic gaming level anyway) so they're never really complicated. I have Star Wars, Harry Potter (years 1-4), and Indiana Jones and I enjoy them all. But I'm weird like that. :D

>229 Ape: Depending on the set, they might have one or several suggested things to make, but you can build whatever you want.

Micky: They seem fairly popular, regardless of their intended age. Why is there NOT a Lord of the Rings one already? C'mon, it's too obvious!

Nora: Meh, I was much less creative as a kid. I just played demolition derby with my Hot Wheels cars and got angry at Sonic the Hedgehog on Sega Genesis. That game was infuriating when I was in elementary school. Hmmm...STILL is, as a matter of fact. >:(

I'm happy to report that I did NOT lose my Sonic skillz :P
Though, if I lose, it's usually that stupid brain level. I hate that level.

I've never really played the LEGO games either, only a demo for Star Wars. It was okay. I'd prolly get way more into the HP ones, but they don't seem awesome enough for me to buy. Way more interesting things out there for me.

>232 Ape: They'd have to get rights to them and Peter Jackson slash the other powers that be may not be willing to give them. Or sell them at a reasonable price.

Katie: Those are pretty much my exact thoughts on the Lego games. As soon as they make one about something I'm interested in, then I might be...well, interested in it. Maybe they should start making Lego games of other games! Lego Grand Theft Auto! Lego Resident Evil! Lego Soul Calibur. Oh yes.

Micky: Yes, but you would think that with all the profits to be had that every side would be enthusiastic about partnering up. All the other games have been pretty darn successful, and I can't imagine a LEGO LOTR wouldn't be a big hit, right?

Happy New Year Stephen!

Hi there, Tom! Thanks, you too! Wait a second, you aren't just now waking up after the new year, are you? It's the 4th, y'know...do you remember the last 3-4 days? :P

It was a very good new year's eve.

Riiiight... do you want ointment or anything for the cigarette burns on your chest? Oh, and throw that empty glass bottle of cloroform in the recycling bin, please.

I think I'm with Katie and Ape on the Lego games - none of them have so far interested me enough to want to buy them. Now, a Doctor Who one might...

o_0
Genius! Doctor Who LEGO game! I can already see the Daleks falling to pieces.

Only chloroform and cigarette burns? With three days missing there should also be tattoos, missing clothing, mystery tickets, and kinky restraint marks. But that corner smells a bit like vomit, so I'll keep my distance ;P

(sniffs) Smells like rotting flesh to me. Stephen, what have you been doing? (hands on hips)

Kathy: Doctor Who gets brought up alot on this thread, and I'm not terribly familiar with it. :(

Katie: Wait, Tom was in my corner all this time? I thought he just showed up. What else is lurking around here that I don't know about. o.o

Sara: It's what I've NOT been doing that's the issue. *Sigh* The bodies are just so freaking heavy, I don't want to move them to the basement. -.-

*psst* Stephen, I'm going to post a photo on my thread I thought you might appreciate. I didn't want to clog up your thread, though.

Thanks Luxx. I posted on your thread. :)

Ape: Doctor Who is brilliant :-) That's probably why it keeps getting brought up...

Katie: A Doctor Who LEGO game would be fabulous. Did you see that a PS3 Doctor Who game is in the works for release this year? It's not helping me resist the lure of a PS3!

Ape: Doctor Who is brilliant :-) That's probably why it keeps getting brought up...

Ahhh, of course. It's important to keep a balance, definitely. ;)

. . . . I don't own a PS3

That's okay. You can play Halo instead. :D

New thread posted. :)