Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Sunday Post / It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Billy Burgess #IMWAYR , Sunday Post

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by The Book Date.

Good Morning, Everyone!

I was hoping 2019 would be better than 2018, so far it hasn't been that great. On December 31st, I decided to start working out again, which has involved 6 days of lifting weights. I've been doing these workouts at night, but I've been wanting to move them to the mornings, so I can add a 30-minute cardio routine afterwards. However, within a few days of exercising, "insomnia" sneaked into my life. I thought the cause might have been from my extra cup of coffee in the afternoons, so I eliminated it. Well, it didn't help a bit, so I've switched to decaffeinated coffee. That didn't work either! I still have insomnia throughout the night! I believe it has something to do with my workouts being at night, which is increasing my cortisol levels (a.k.a. - the stress hormone). Today is "legs day," so I'm going to do my workout as soon as I finish this post.

My grandmother was moved to the "skilled nursing" at the local nursing home. She can be there up to 69 days. Then we have to make a decision whether or not to put in here in the nursing home permanently or let her go back home. Last night, she fell while trying to get to the bathroom while using her walker. She seemed to be fine after the fall. However, she fell again this morning while trying to reach for a brush. Instead of pushing the call button for help, which she has been told to do, she thought she could do it herself. She broke her right hip again!! She's been sent to Liberty Hospital, where she's going to have to have surgery today or tomorrow.

My parents and me are the only ones that really takes care of my grandmother. My aunt, who is only six years older than me, her husband, and her brother (who I've disowned years ago) only visited my grandmother once in the hospital after she had hip surgery the first time last month. They didn't even send her a Christmas card! My other aunt lives three to four hours south of here and she has visited my grandmother a few times. However, my cousins who live in the next county made no attempt to visit.

The weather is really bad here with nearly 10 inches of snow on the ground. Here's a little unknown fact about - I don't drive!! Unless, I hitch a ride with somebody else to the city, I'm not going to the hospital. My parents are headed to the hospital as I'm writing this. They'll text me when the know something. My mom hates driving in bad weather (especially on the highway) and my dad can't ask for any more days off from work. Either my aunt and uncle has to step up and help out or my grandmother will have to be by herself in the hospital this week.

I'm hoping the doctors runs tests to see if my grandmother has Alzheimers. I know she has dementia that's getting worse. It was recommended that we take her to a neurologist once she was on back on her feet. However, she's never going to be her old herself. At the rate she's going, she'll end up in a wheelchair. Also, she's very stubborn. She doesn't listen to the physical therapists. They try to teach her the proper way of grabbing for things while using her walker, but she believes they are wrong. She does things her way and ends up back in the hospital.

Worrying about my grandmother is probably another cause of my insomnia.

What Am I Currently Reading?

My original intention was to read Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin last week, but that didn't happen. I didn't have very much free time to read; though I should have gotten up and read the book at night instead of tossing and turning when I couldn't sleep. I was sent a copy of Ashes in the Snow by Ruta Sepetys and I read 108 pages yesterday. I'm determined to finish reading it today! Then I'm going to read Who I Am with You by Robin Lee Hatcher, as my review for it is due on the 17th! After I get done with those two books, then I'll put my full attention on Fire & Blood, which I really do want to read!

Last Week's Reviews

The Karate Kid Part III & The Next Karate Kid
(Blu-ray Review)

Hell Fest
(Midnight Horror Review)

The Sinner
(Winter Reads)

In the Mail

Capturing the Moment with These Memorable Bridesmaid Photo Ideas

Billy Burgess sponsored content ,

Your wedding day is going to be a whirlwind of experiences and moments that you may struggle to remember. While you might assume that after months of planning, there is no way you would forget even a moment of your big day, the reality is that your wedding will be a busy, stressful, exciting, and emotional day that will go by in the blink of an eye. This is why we always recommend that couples invest in the best possible photographer they can afford.

Your photographer will be able to capture moments that you may have missed or may have forgotten. They will be there to capture your groom’s eyes when he first sees you walk down the aisle, your friends laughing together over appetizers, and your parents smiling fondly at you as you have your first dance. They will also be there to capture some fun moments with you and your bridesmaids.

If you and your girls are prone to some fun with your photos, then here are some memorable bridesmaid photo ideas you can do with your bridesmaids:

Show everyone how you met

This is a great idea if many of your bridesmaids met you at different points in your life. Have them hold decorated mini blackboards that each say how you met and have them hold them around you.

Create a tunnel for the bride’s entrance

When you’re just about ready to walk down the aisle, have your bridesmaids line up and create a tunnel with their raised arms for you to walk through with your photographer at the other end. This sweet photo is playful and visually interesting.

Do a ‘first look’ shot

From Book to Film: Ashes in the Snow

Billy Burgess

*This is a sponsored post.

Arriving in selected theatres and VOD today from Vertical Entertainment is the WWII drama Ashes in the Snow, which is based on the New York Bestseller "Between Shades Of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys.

Directed by Marius Markevicius and adapted for the screen by Ben York Jones, the 99-minute film stars Bel Powley, Martin Wallstrom, and Lisa Loven Kongsli.

Set during World War II, Ashes in the Snow centers around a 16 year-old aspiring artist (played by Bel Powley) and her family, who are deported to Siberia amidst Stalin's brutal dismantling of the Baltic region. One girl's passion for art and her never-ending hope will break the silence of history.

Penguin Randomhouse has re-released the "Between Shades Of Gray" to tie-in with the film's release. The book has been retitled as "Ashes in the Snow" and has a brand-new cover design, which is very similar to the film's poster.

(FYI: I'll be reviewing the book soon!)

To learn more about the Ashes in the Snow, please visit Vertical Entertainment's Facebook page or the film's Facebook page.

Book Blogger Hop: January 11th - 17th

Billy Burgess book blogger hop ,

Book Blogger Hop

Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

If you want to schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

The Book Blogger Hop now has its own Facebook Group! Please join the group to get all the newest Book Blogger Hop updates. Also, you can communicate with your fellow book bloggers in the group.

What To Do

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews.

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below. Please enter your Name/Nickname @ Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Here's an example: Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer

3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading a few posts and possible become a new follower. The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

The Friday 56: Fire & Blood

Billy Burgess The Friday 56 ,

Rules

Grab a book, any book.
Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it).
Post it.
Add your (url) post below in the Linky at: www.fredasvoice.com
Add the post url, not your blog url.

With her dragon beside her, the princess slowly began to grow out of her shyness; at the age of twelve she took to the skies for the first time, and thereafter, though she remained a quiet girl, no one dared to call her timid.

page 56, Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin

My Thoughts

Blu-ray Review: The Karate Kid III & The Next Karate Kid

Billy Burgess Blu-ray , movie

Mill Creek Entertainment; AMAZON

I'm almost positive almost everyone has watched the 1984 classic The Karate Kid at least one time in their lifetime. It's an iconic underdog story that inspired many 80s kids to learn martial arts. And, of course, the film kicked off a franchise, which recently included the YouTube Red spinoff series Cobra Kai.

Now available on a Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment is the The Karate Kid III & The Next Karate Kid ($14.98). There are no special features or bonus extras.

Directed by John G. Avildsen, The Karate Kid III (1989; PG; 112 minutes) picks up several months after the second film with Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi (played by Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki "Pat" Morita) returning to Los Angeles after their trip to Japan. Upon their return, they learn that Daniel's mother has moved to New Jersey to take care of her sick uncle and their apartment building is being torn down, leaving Mr. Miyagi jobless and Daniel homeless. Well, not exactly homeless, as he ends moving into Mr. Miyagi's home.

Mr. Miyagi isn't unemployed for too long. Daniel uses his college fund to open a bonsai shop with him. Unknowingly to them, disgraced Cobra Kai sensei John Kreese (played by Martin Kove) teams up with Vietnam War buddy, Terry Silver (played by Thomas Ian Griffith), to seek revenge against Daniel for winning the All-Valley Karate Championships. They hire Mike Barnes (played by Sean Kanan) to bully Daniel and to challenge him to a fight at the next tournament.

Directed by Christopher Cain, The Next Karate Kid (1994; PG; 107 minutes) centers on Julie (played by Hilary Swank), a troubled teenager living with her grandmother in Boston. After meeting Mr. Miyagi at a commendation for Japanese-American soldiers, he talks the grandmother into taking a vacation to Los Angeles and he would stay in Boston to look after Julie. Of course, Mr. Miyagi has another reason for wanting to babysit a teenager. He wants to teach Julie how to control her anger issues that she has had ever since the death of her parents.

Final Thoughts

Midnight Horror Review: Hell Fest

Billy Burgess Blu-ray , horror

AMAZON

Yes, I'm well aware it's way past midnight, but since it has been a few weeks since I've reviewed a horror movie I thought I would go ahead and post this review as a Midnight Horror Review post; though technically I did watch a horror movie at around midnight.

The horror flick that I'd watched was the 2018 slasher Hell Fest, which just arrived on Blu-ray this week from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. It's also available on 4K Ulta HD, DVD, and Digital for those of you who need to know that bit of information. The only special feature is the 16-minute "Thrills and Kills: Making Hell Fest" and the Theatrical Trailer.

Directed by Gregory Plotkin, the film stars Amy Forsyth, Reign Edwards, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Matt Mercurio, Roby Attal, Stephen Conroy, and Tony Todd.

Hell Fest centers on a group of friends (Natalie, Brooke, Taylor, Asher, and Gavin) going to a horror-themed Halloween event at an amusement park, which is filled with games, mazes, and rides. This is the type of place were the workers (and probably a few volunteers) are dressed as zombies, ghosts, creatures, etc., anything that would scare someone to death. Everyone is having a blast except for Natalie, who believes a masked stranger "The Other" is stalking her.

Like all slashers go, one by one "The Other" preys on each teen in the group and he leaves a few other dead bodies in his path of destruction.