Graphic Novels are Not for Me

Oh Mr. Martin... I really do enjoy your stories with all it's plot twists and excitement... but I can't stand your writing. I'll be sticking to the graphic novels and cliff notes for the rest of the books now, thank you.

And on that note:

A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 by Daniel Abraham... ish

pg.240

Uh... just kidding... I won't be reading the rest of the graphic novels.  Turns out I'm not a graphic novel reading type person.  But they did a really good job of taking the first book and breaking it down.  A lot faster to read through without missing too much. Granted it was mainly pictures, but still.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12962439-a-game-of-thrones?from_search=true

***

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

pg. 256

We read this as a class and I'm not sure why the English teacher picked this book when we didn't really get to "get into it" really, since we finish the book basically the last day of school.  It started out slow but then got good towards the end and because of that the kids struggled with it.  The English teacher pointed out that authors these days jump right into the action.  Then there was a comparison brought up of a study about sponge-bob and short attention spans.  Maybe that's the link...

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/703292.The_Witch_of_Blackbird_Pond?from_search=true
***

The Undead Pool (The Hollows #12) by Kim Harrison
pg.423

#12... one book left in the series...

Sad face :( 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17285883-the-undead-pool?from_search=true

****

Unstrung (#1.5) by Neal Shusterman

pg.50

So this one doesn't count towards my book goal because it's only 50 pages, but it was only available via ebook + $.99 = worth investing in. And it was worth it.  Just another interesting aspect to an interesting thought. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15722490-unstrung

***
Daddy's Little Killer (Eriksson #1) by L.S. Sygnet
pg. 302 (ebook only)

Hello Free book Fridays on my nook! I was so caught up in checking books out from the library that I totally forgot about my lil nook. So glad we reunited so I can get some sweet freebies! I really enjoyed reading this book- it's been a while since I read a crime novel that was purely a crime novel.  I thought I had the killer figured out, then things happened and I thought it was someone else, then I went back to my first thought who ended it being the bad guy... thus far... turns out this is a series.  Book #2 was free as well :)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17569664-daddy-s-little-killer
****

Beneath the Cracks (Eriksson #2) by L.S. Sygnet
pg. 312 (ebook only)

Score for another free ebook that just so happens to be the second book in a series I think I'm getting into.
More murder mystery to solve! But will Helen be caught?!!!!!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17569673-beneath-the-cracks
****

The Forgotten Place (Eriksson #3) by L.S. Sygnet
pg. 336 (ebook only)

What can I say? I've been sucked in. Bonus- This book was also free, however all the rest of them cost $$ lucky for me they're only $1 :) I've really gotten into the support characters, and I'm kinda bummed that some of the main support roles from the first book don't have as much weight in this one. And I'm a sucker for the romance side of it in wanting Helen and Johnny to end up together- although Helen (main character) I would totally punch in the throat if she was my friend because she's that shellfish.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17569686-forgotten-place
****

The Witch of Duva (The Grisha 0.5) by Leigh Bardugo
ebook 43 pages

This book may not count towards my goal but I figured, hey free ebook might as well start off the series in the order that it's "written".
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13643163-the-witch-of-duva
***

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo
pg. 356

I think I need to learn some Russian.
I first read this book when it first came out and then forgot about it while waiting for the second book to be published.  Then I remembered and re-read it so the story was fresh in my mind when I read the second book. Different take on things, still plays in the "magic" world but not as how other books do it.  Kinda like avatar wind-bender stuff.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194157-shadow-and-bone
****

Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo
pg. 435

Second book. Was not disappointed. I'm fairy certain these books are for a younger audience but I find them entertaining.  This book, although it started out with lots of action, cooled itself for vast majority of the book, then picked up right at the end again.  This time the author left off in a spot where I thought wasn't much of a cliff hanger.
Book 3 should be published sometime this month.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14061955-siege-and-storm
****

The Too Clever Fox (The Grisha #2.5) by Leigh Bardugo
pg. 32 (ebook only)

It's part of the series so of course I had to get it. Worth the $1? Not really since it's basically based off of a story I've heard before. Either way.. it was read.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17790188-the-too-clever-fox?from_search=true
**

8 Books (that count, 3 that don't): 24/52
Page Count: 2,749=8,373
I've decided to count the small short stories in with the page count (2,626+125)

Gilgal

I came across this little gem by accident.

But it intrigued Derek and I enough and the fact that it's free sold us on the idea to spend our date night checking it out. 

Brace yourself for some uniquely religious things... well just brace yourself...

It's not a far walk from Trolley Square but is kinda tucked away from the road with this mega tree in front of it.

Then right when you walk in... Bam! You see this!

We just didn't know what to think so we just turned our heads to the left and decided to save that for the end. It does have the SLC temple carved on the chest with the angel facing west... And if you haven't figured it out, that's Joesph Smith's head on a Sphinx. 

This one had a Genesis scripture with it.  I think that's the burning bush at the bottom.

Everywhere you walk, you walk on these things.  Hymns, scriptures mostly. 

We've decided this is ice cream...

Angel facing west...

This just shows you how small this little garden really is.

I don't care so much for this picture but with that rock face photo-bombing us.. Creepy.

Overall it was a fun adventure type night together :)
Have nothing to do? I suggest you check this out.  I think we spent 45 minutes tops here.

The Living Room

While making my lil poster for our 100+ miles of hiking goal for this summer, I read about this hike.  All excited about hiking to a spot where they've made chairs out of the rocks, I inform Derek. His reply consisted of informing me that he already knew about this hike and that his co-workers hike it often "any rock you come across on a hike you can sit on. If your reaction to this news was also "Say Wha?!" then you sir now know my shock and now also understand why Derek was put into a brief hiking timeout.

So me and my hiking coreligionist Andrea went on the Living Room Hike adventure.

The gist:

Mileage: 2.5 RT for us, but there's lots of other little trails that lead into it and other ways up to the main part of the trail so it could be more or less.

Time: It took us less than 2 hours- including the time we spent at the top chillin.

Difficulty: HARD.  Unless you're not in the best of hiking shape like we are, then VERY HARD.  If you are in decent hiking shape then it's moderate. The trail is straight up, no switch backs.

Dogs: All the sings ask you to keep your dog on leash.  However, out of the 15+ dogs we ran into, none were on a leash.

Directions: So there's 2 ways you can take to get there; brace yourself, I get carried away when giving directions.

The straight-ish way:

From I-15 take the 400s/University Blvd exit and head East on 400s ALLLLLLLL the way down past U of U, past the SLC cemetery, past the VA hospital, the name of the road will change to Foothill.  Turn LEFT at the light onto Wakara Way (this brings you into Research Park).

The SLC scenic route:

This route really only works if you are heading South on I-15 into Salt Lake. Ok you can take it if you're coming North on I-15 but I'm not going to give the directions for that way.

Take the Beck Street Exit.  Follow it ALLLLL the way down. Turn LEFT onto Victory Rd going up the hill (the bar called "Garage" will be on the west side of the light).

Now the scenic part kicks in! As you come up on top of the hill, to the east is our lovely Utah State Capital. If you're not in a hurry, take a minute to check it out.  Turn LEFT at the light at 300N. When you come to the round about, turn right to go down the hill on State Street. Continue down the hill going under "the Eagle's butt".

Evidence...

More Evidence...
Turn LEFT onto South Temple.
As you go down this road, on the North Side you will pass the Cathedral of the Madeleine, the First Presbyterian Church, and the Governor's Mansion. All places to check out so put it on your SLC to do list. Follow this road in the right hand lane ALLLL the way until you are FORCED to turn RIGHT onto 1300 E. Continue until you reach the light on 400s/Univeristy Blvd and turn LEFT. Go past the U of U, the name of the road will change to Foothill.  Turn LEFT at the light onto Wakara Way (this brings you into Research Park). Follow ALLLL the way down (watch out for pedestrians). You will come to a 4 way stop.  The Red Butte Gardens will be straight ahead, another spot you should add to your SLC to do list.

This is the 4-way stop... when you see this water feature ahead and to your left you know you're close!
Turn RIGHT onto Chipeta Way.  You will pass the Fort Douglas Cemetery on your left. Some interesting history up in there. Turn LEFT on Tabby lane (see picture below).

 Follow Tabby all the way to the end to Colorow.  Turn RIGHT.
There is no real parking lot for the hike, nor signs.  It's super popular so just look for all the cars.
The trail head is on your left.

Behold your trail head.

Hiking Ho!

The hike was super easy to find even though there were no trail head signs other than the "clean up after yourself and your dog".  The hike was crowded so we didn't have to worry about getting lost. 

 Your first fork in the road. Doesn't matter which way you pick it takes you to the same place.  To the right you cross a little stream. 

Just follow the trail.  When you see this fork again it doesn't matter which way you go.  Left is steep and less rocky.  Right is steep and you climb over a boulder.

Now you are on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  Turn RIGHT and carry on until you see this fork.
Hopefully that rock is big enough of a marker for you.
Turn LEFT.

Now that you are here. Go diagonal and to the left up.
Start Hiking.

Holy cow the trail was a LOT steeper than we had heard about.  We had to stop often for my ankle. The trail wasn't that well taken care of, very rut-like.

We didn't bring the dogs with us because we didn't want to have to have them on leash.  However NO ONE had their dogs on leash.  No problem for us.  We always hike off-leash.  Our dogs rather chase each other all over in the "wild" and tree animals. But my lil Ragnar loves people and believes they are here on this earth to play with her.  So she might have gotten in the way of some of the more "serious" hikers. Thus she stayed home.  Frieda, Andrea's dog, is more chill and likes to blaze her own trails instead.

Good spot to take a breather!  Continue on UPwards.

Go LEFT.

Getting close...

So CLOSE!

The top. Was not disappointed. We had maybe 5 minutes at the top to ourselves.  The view of the valley as pretty awesome and the chairs weren't that bad.  It was a victorious adventure!

The Living Room.

Chilling and looking over the Salt Lake Valley.

In conclusion: 

Weber Trails are like a million times better than Salt Lake trails.

Still not sure if the time spent on this trail was worth the end result- mainly due to the fact that the trail is super crowded. In Ogden a crowded trail is seeing maybe 5 other hikers.  On this trail there was probably 30 other people. Great leg hike.