Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Feb 10, 2012, 6:08 am
My wife has been a fan of the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich for years. I'm not sure if she's read all of them, but she's certainly kept up on the series and has read aloud a number of passages to me over time. I've never read them myself, but from what I've learned through my wife, these... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Feb 9, 2012, 3:53 am
First of all…Happy New Year 2012!!! I just had to get that off my chest. I may do an official "new year's" post with goals and all that, but for now, let's just move on.
It's been about 6 weeks since my last blog post. Interestingly I still managed to have ~300 hits to various blog pages, so at... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Jan 2, 2012, 11:42 pm
From a high level, The Star Shard could be summed up as a fairly typical adventure book set in a medieval fantasy world. I received this book from Amazon Vine and found that it differentiates itself in many unique and intriguing ways that make it a fresh and fun read.
First of all, the settin... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Dec 31, 2011, 1:37 am
The premise to this book sounded like tons of fun. I went into it expecting a "riveting" and intense recounting of the various attempts (successful and failed) to steal the First Folio over the years. What I ended up reading was indeed interesting but not nearly as compelling or intriguing as the ... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Dec 29, 2011, 10:52 pm
Merry Christmas!!!
Our Christmas festivities this year were a little different in terms of scheduling, but still a lot of fun. Lynette went in for her second hip surgery less than a week before Christmas, so we knew ahead of time we'd have to do most of our "out-and-about" activities well bef... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Dec 28, 2011, 7:18 pm
It's no secret that Peter Pan is one of my favorite children's stories, Disney movies, etc. I've sometimes been told I suffer from Peter Pan syndrome and while I don't know all the ins and outs of what that means, but I definitely have plenty of immature tendencies and am willing to revel in the jo... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Dec 24, 2011, 1:35 am
The Maltese Falcon is a classic. A definitive entry in the "Noir" or "Hard Boiled" detective genre. Probably Hammet's most well known work. I have very vague memories of watching Humphrey Bogart work his way through this mystery but I haven't seen the film in ages and had forgotten enough that th... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Dec 23, 2011, 6:15 am
I received an ARC of Flygirl ages ago and let it sit idly on my bookshelf. I procrastinated reading it thinking it was going to be a trite, stereotypically emotional book pounding its message into my head at the expense of good writing and good storytelling. Once I finally picked up the book and ... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Dec 23, 2011, 1:07 am
I've been a fan of Batman for as long as I can remember but only really via TV Shows, cartoons and movies. I never really got into the monthly comic book scene and haven't picked up many superhero graphic novels. But I've seen The Killing Joke sitting on the store and library shelves for a long wh... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Dec 21, 2011, 2:19 pm
We all know the story of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, right? Well, this new book tells the story of Jacob T. Marley both before and after he met Scrooge as well as what happened after he died and his side of the story familiar to us in A Christmas Carol.
When I first this book, I wa... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Dec 20, 2011, 9:30 am
And as a balance to the humorous videos, here are a couple of inspirational videos.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
********
Today's Quote from Quoting Quotes:
QuotingQuotes.com
********
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "htt... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Dec 20, 2011, 9:28 am
Just in time for Christmas, here's some video fun from JibJab and other sources.
From my family to you and yours...Merry Christmas. :)
A Christmas Carol
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
A Christmas Story
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Oct 27, 2011, 4:40 am
I guess doing it two years in a row kind of makes it a tradition.
Enjoy this cheesy Halloween video from JibJab with my family having some Halloween fun.
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
********
Today's Quote from Quoting Quotes:
QuotingQuotes.com
******... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Oct 25, 2011, 10:23 pm
Last weekend was "UEA" which basically means the kids get a 4 day weekend from school. A month or two ago, we bought a groupon-style weekend getaway to Snowberry Inn Bed & Breakfast up in Eden. We figured it would make a fun little last-hoorah mini-vacation before winter hit.
It ended up being won... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Oct 21, 2011, 10:42 pm
The Ruins of Gorlanis the first book in the Ranger's Apprentice series and it has left me wanting more. The book is geared towards younger, presumably middle-grade readers. There are now 10 books in the series and from what I hear, the adventures just continue to be a lot of fun.
The concept... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Oct 19, 2011, 6:10 am
I've often heard Stranger in a Strange Land referred to as THE quintessential science fiction novel. I purchased a copy two decades ago and only barely got around to reading it. The edition I have is apparently the "original uncut" version and I'm not sure what exactly was originally cut out or wh... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Oct 17, 2011, 3:45 am
I read about The Orphan of Awkward Falls over at librarything.com and subsequently entered to get an early copy. To my delighted surprise, I received a copy.
This book sounded like a lot of fun for my kids and I just in time for Halloween. It touts a whimsically grotesque villain, an eccentr... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Oct 15, 2011, 3:49 pm
... their roles. I especially loved the "slow" sequences with Harrison Ford ... juvenile humor (which is alright…and I can enjoy it…hey ... kids who were watching. While the family situation shown was somewhat ... -Blood Prince, so when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part ... proba... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Oct 13, 2011, 7:43 pm
Before picking up The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I'd heard some general buzz and a quick high level overview of the plot…an orphan boy lives "in the walls" of a Paris train station fixing the clocks and trying to fix up a little robotic man. That was all I knew. I finally picked the book up... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Oct 12, 2011, 2:01 am
Today marks 15 wonderful years being married to the most FABULOUS woman in the world.
Thanks for putting up with me sweetie. I love you the most and always will!
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
********
Today's Quote from Quoting Quotes:
QuotingQuotes.c... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Oct 10, 2011, 8:05 pm
Andrew's 10th birthday was at the end of September, but we didn't want the Church Conference to interfere with his party so we waited until this weekend to have his party. We still had fun festivities as a family on his birthday...gave gifts, had his favorite dinner (Chinese from Joy Luck), sang Ha... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Oct 7, 2011, 7:45 pm
I like this idea. I'm not a big reader of "scary" books, per se. I could probably come up with something.
Though, if you want to "give" me a scary book to read, just make some suggestions in the comments and I'll look them up.
Great idea Neil Gaiman. Thanks for sharing. (and a cool ... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Sep 5, 2011, 7:02 am
A Room with a View is yet another "classic novel" that I never got around to reading…nor did I ever see the movie based on it. Apparently the book has made a few "100 best novels" lists and has received some pretty good praise. I also haven't read much by Forster…actually the only other book I... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Sep 1, 2011, 8:55 pm
The Gypsy Morph concludes the "Genesis of Shannara" trilogy. This trilogy worked to bridge the gap between Terry Brooks's fantasy world set in a more traditional fantasy setting (elves, dwarves, trolls, castles, knights, magic, etc) and Terry's books set in our own contemporary world (his Word and ... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Aug 27, 2011, 1:46 am
As part of our summertime fun, I took the kids to see Cars 2. Going in, I wasn't entirely sure of my excitement level. The first Cars movie had been fun, but hadn't really stayed with me (granted, my viewing experience wasn't great and I keep intending to watch it again and give it a second chance... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Aug 24, 2011, 4:07 am
Well...the kids are back in school which means summer is "officially" over. It's been a busy, fun-filled summer. I did a bulk post earlier in the summer giving a sort of 'first half' recap of the summer. I always intend to do more frequent posts on each event or even a few times a month so I don'... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Aug 19, 2011, 7:14 am
OK, so this summer has been a lot of hit and miss for me as far as blogging. Which means it's time for another catch up post to recap what I've been up to with the fam in the past two months….
But first, I figure I'll just post a bunch of fun and silly stuff I've come across. I can't remem... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Aug 16, 2011, 12:22 am
Last Saturday we gathered up the kids and made a trip to the theatre to watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. We've had the tickets for a couple of months now and the kids have been looking forward to the show for a while and reminding/asking us about it for the past few weeks. This was my first ... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Jul 28, 2011, 6:17 am
I've been a fan of the James Bond movies for a long, long time. I finally decided to read some of the books that inspired the movies and where better to start than with the first book in the James Bondseries? When Casino Royale came to theaters a few years back, I was a little nervous at first abo... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Jul 4, 2011, 2:04 am
I just wanted to wish a Happy 4th of July to everybody, particularly to fellow Americans wherever you are.
Whether you're relaxing with family, working in the yard, hiking in the mountains, swimming at a beach, barbecuing with friends, ooh-ing and aah-ing at fireworks or just sleeping in and b... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Jul 1, 2011, 10:50 pm
WARNING: This post is image heavy. :)
Wow…this summer is flying by. I can't believe June is already gone. Generally, summer has been fairly relaxing so far. i did a little golfing, went to a few family get togethers and birthday parties, went to a neighborhood BBQ, a piano concert at the Salt... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Jun 27, 2011, 12:14 am
It's funny...when I first heard the soundtrack to the Scarlet Pimpernel musical years ago, I wanted to see it. Sadly, I missed out on any tours that came anywhere close to Salt Lake and it looked like it might be one of those I wouldn't ever see. And yet, I have now seen it 3 different times in th... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Jun 21, 2011, 4:43 am
When I first read the general premise of this book, my first thought was that this was just going to be "the Percy Jackson series but with Egyptian mythology rather than Greek mythology." While that generalization is enough to provide some interest and insight into the book, it doesn't adequately d... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Jun 19, 2011, 7:43 am
Happy Father's Day dad. Here's a video just for you. ;)
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
********
Today's Quote from Quoting Quotes:
QuotingQuotes.com
********
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Jun 17, 2011, 10:51 pm
I have a conundrum and would love your feedback…Just for fun, I'm going to take a trip down memory lane and explore how my current music collection was created. (Skip down to the bottom of the post for my conundrum if you don't want to read the lengthy history).
I love music. All kinds of music... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Jun 16, 2011, 9:21 pm
Wow. Where has the year gone? I can't believe it's already June. Time has just flown by...the last couple of months especially. It's crazy how hectic everything feels. I haven't been blogging regularly at all for the past couple of months and I've definitely not been keeping up on other people'... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
May 28, 2011, 6:01 pm
Before anything, I just have to say that I've been a huge fan of the Pirates franchise all along. Pirates of the Caribbean was always one of my favorite rides at Disneyland. I've always loved "all things pirate" and was super excited when the first movie came out. As with most viewers, I wasn't q... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
May 10, 2011, 9:48 pm
I admit that I didn't go into Thor with overly high expectations. I was basically expecting a cheesy and rowdy superhero flick with lots of over-the-top action, some eye candy (both in terms of explosions/effects and the cast), and not much more. I was rather pleasantly surprised.
I wasn't e... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
May 5, 2011, 7:17 pm
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
In honor of Cinco de Mayo:
I tortured (er entertained) my family and co-workers with a variety of Spanish music streamed from my iPod (speaking of...to my latino readers, if you could recommend some new tunes...I haven't bought anything r... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Apr 25, 2011, 6:48 am
When I first heard about this book, I was totally stoked and knew I must eventually read it. I've been a Disney fan for as long as I can remember and I absolutely LOVE the Disney parks. The idea of an adventure book set in Walt Disney World with some crazy technological/sci-fi style elements…I w... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Apr 23, 2011, 1:08 am
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
Enjoy some JibJab video silliness.
From my family to yours. :)
********
Today's Quote from Quoting Quotes:
QuotingQuotes.com
********
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl.... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Apr 19, 2011, 9:12 pm
So last weekend, the family and I packed up into the van and drove to Mesa Arizona. Back when we were dating and first married, my wife and I used to do "suicide trips" like this quite a lot…drive 10-15 hours to go to an event and then drive 10-15 hours home immediately afterwards.
Since ... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Apr 14, 2011, 7:43 pm
I've seen the musical play/movie of Oliver dozens of times since I was a kid and generally know the story backwards and forwards. I anticipated there would be some differences between the book and the movie/play but didn't expect to find many surprises. Thus, I wasn't shocked by the changes I enco... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Apr 9, 2011, 9:46 pm
When I first saw the trailer for Sucker Punch last year, I was definitely intrigued. As a guy, it definitely had appeal…in many regards, it looked like a stylized video game filled with crazy action sequences and sexy female protagonists….so as a guy, what's not to like, right?
The movi... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Apr 8, 2011, 8:04 pm
The Lost Hero is a new series set in the same 'world' as Riordan's Percy Jackson series. While we're still in the realm of modern day demigod children of Greek gods and goddesses, we're given a strange new twists, most notable of which is (*small spoiler*) the introduction of a demigod with ties to... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Apr 1, 2011, 7:59 am
I'd read some Agatha Christie before but this was my first foray into the adventures of Hercule Poirot. In many ways this novel felt like a very typical murder mystery book. But as I stepped back to think about it, I was pleased by the elegance and the way the book was put together.
In this ... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Mar 30, 2011, 10:42 am
Last weekend my little girl turned 7. It's hard to believe. For her birthday party, she invited over a bunch of her friends for a fun filled princess tea party followed by a visit from a special guest…Rapunzel (invited through Princess Parties).
The girls were all so cute and wonderfully well be... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Mar 19, 2011, 11:56 pm
Tuck Everlasting is yet another one of those childhood classics that I failed to read as a child, nor did I watch the movie. Still, I'd heard enough general discussions about the book to have a high level feel for what to expect.
Diving right into the story, I was quickly sucked in by the sim... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Mar 14, 2011, 3:59 am
That's right. Today is Pi Day. Go have a slice of your favorite pie in celebration.
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3... Comment - Like
Okie posted an article on
cucullus non facit monachum
-
Mar 13, 2011, 12:33 am
It's High School Musical Theatre season and so Lynette and I took advantage of the opportunity to go see The Scarlet Pimpernel at Viewmont High School. We've enjoyed the story (and the movie) for years. When it was turned into a musical in the 90s, I picked up the soundtracks and we've really enjo... Comment - Like
Married for 12+ years, father of 3. Work in the software industry (~10 years in video games, now in web design). Finalizing Education degree to teach High School. Aspiring writer hoping to land in major bookstores someday. Fan of board games, mind puzzles, action/mystery movies, British comedy, hiking, travel, beaches & video games.
My blog includes my reviews of books, movies, plays, games as well as general commentary on news and family.
Recent Discussions
