A Few Good Reads

     As the summer draws to a close, I look back over all of the books I've read this summer-- 21 of them, to be exact. Some were meaningless novels, others fantastical adventure stories, and some still historical fiction. Out of all of them, there are five I would really recommend for a good read. Here they are:


Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer 
     This exciting book tells the story of Jacky Faber, an orphan girl trying to survive on the streets of 19th century London. After the street gang she belongs to breaks up, young Jacky disguises herself as a boy, "Jack", and gets a job as a ship's boy aboard His Majesty's Ship, the Dolphin. Bloody Jack chronicles her adventures aboard the Dolphin as she attempts to keep her gender a secret, befriends the other ship's boys, and learns to fight like a real sailor. I would recommend this book for any girl who's interested in adventure, romance, and the art of sailing, and who can appreciate an independent female character.


Dragonfly by Julia Golding 
     In the mystical land of "The Known World", trouble is brewing. A power-hungry king has taken over the largest countries, and is planning to go after the only two nations left. The Blue Crescent Islands and the kingdom of Gerfal must unite to defend themselves against a common enemy. To do this, dignitaries from both countries arrange a marriage between Tashi, princess of the smallest of the Blue Crescent Islands, and Ramil, who is soon to inherit the throne of Gerfal. When the two meet, however, they hate each other instantly. How can formal Tashi from a strict island nation ever love (or even like) roguish Ramil, who is used to running and hunting all day in the Royal Forests? When the two of them are kidnapped by a mysterious band of travelers, however, they will have to learn to get along if they want to make it home alive. If you like fantasy and adventure mixed with  elaborate fight scenes, amusing arguments, and fascinating strategies, then this book is definitely for you!


Elvis and Me by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley
     This is the amusing story of the romance and life that Elvis and Priscilla shared. After purchasing Elvis and Me on our vacation down South, my entire family devoured this book, one after the other, in about a week. It's an interesting read that lets you into the personal lives of Elvis and his family. Although it's dreck, it's extremely good dreck full of scandal and passionate romance that will keep you reading. A must-read for all Elvis fans.


If I Should Die Before I Wake by Han Nolan
     If I Should Die Before I Wake is a story about a racist, white-supremicist girl Hilary who ends up in a Jewish hospital after a motorcycle accident. At first, she is unbelievably rude to all her doctors, criticizing everything they do simply because they're Jewish. But then, her roommate, an elderly Jewish woman named Chana, begins to show Hilary what the Holocaust was like via a mysterious power that has been passed down through Chana's family for generations. Ultimately, this power enables Chana to transport Hilary back in time so that she can see what the Nazis and WW2 were really like. Will Hilary's opinion of Jewish people change, or will she leave the hospital with her hateful opinions? You'll have to read the book to find out!


In the Shadow of the Bear by Regina Doman 
     In the book In the Shadow of the Bear, Regina Doman artfully retells the story of Snow White and Rose Red. This modern-day fairy tale, set in New York City, chronicles the lives of sisters Blanche and Rose Brier, and what happens to them when a "bear" (a mysterious stranger who has named himself after the beast) shows up on their doorstep, asking for a place to stay out of the cold. After they take him in, their lives will never be the same. If you like adventure, are interested in New York City, and enjoy fairy tales, you're sure to love this book.


     Enjoy the rest of your summer by curling up with any of these great books! And if you have any good reads you'd like to recommended, feel free to post the titles in the comments.


Thanks for listening,
Maggs :) 

Girl Friday

     Introducing....... washer of windows, organizer of files, mover of boxes, cutter of yarn, and cleaner of all things, Maggs, the amazing Girl Friday! Yes, that's right, folks, I, Maggs, sole authoress of Life as a Starving Poet, have finally, finally, found a summer job. Well, it's not really a real job, shall we say-- it's more of an I-help-out-doing-odd-chores-for-one-of-the-local-businesses-in-hopes-of-receiving-odd-gift-certificates-and-random-pocket-change sort of thing, but still. Coupons for free ice cream and a handful of quarters is better than nothing, which was my previous salary. 
     So you may be wondering, what exactly is a Girl Friday? Well, according to many on-line dictionaries, a Girl Friday is, "an especially loyal female worker who serves an executive by doing all sorts of chores that need to be done in an office setting." Yup, that sounds about right.
     Today was my first day on the job, and what a day. First things first, I didn't even know that I was going to be working today. It just so happened that my mom and I were out running errands, and she decided to stop by said local business and touch base, as we had discussed the possibility of the owner, whom I'll call Miss Boss, having me around for a couple of days to basically help with whatever was needed. As it turned out, they had a bunch of stuff that needed doing, and I was put to work right away. Among other things, I was assigned to the task of preparing 26 gift bags for a promotional event the company is doing later this week. For the previously mentioned bags, I spent 45 minutes cutting little slips of paper (business cards, if you will) and arranging them in precise stacks of eight, paper-clipping said stacks together, and depositing one in each bag. After that, I proceeded to cut out exactly 26 pieces of string, each 25 feet long, also to go in the bags (in case you're wondering, the string is for a game at the outing later this week). I did all this as the local "Hits of the Seventies" radio station played in the background. "Dancing Queen, only 17....." Let's just say I've heard enough ABBA to last me a lifetime.
     And that, folks, was my first day on the job. Here's to many more!




Thanks for listening,
Maggs :) 

What's on Your Bucket List?

     I have recently, as of about a month ago, begun to compile a list of 101 things I want to do before I die. Slightly morbid, yes, however, very important. As my teachers have always told me, "It's good to have goals. Goals make you a better person. Goals help you lead a productive life. Everyone should have at least a few goals." Etc, etc, etc. However annoying these statements may have been, they certainly worked on me. Teachers: 1 Student: 0
     My list is what I'd call, mmmmm, eclectic. It includes everything from traveling the world to kissing the Blarney Stone to graduating college. In addition  to these, I'd also like to beat my school's marching arch-nemesis, see the Northern Lights, fall in love, meet a ninja, go hang gliding, learn to speak Spanish fluently, and participate in a flash mob. And that's just the beginning! 
     So today I ask you, my readers, what's on your bucket list? Do you long to go snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef? Is it your heart's desire to learn Swahili? Are you wishing for a winning lottery ticket? Or maybe hoping to have kids? Either way, I suggest you sit yourself down and begin to write out a bucket list-- a to-do list of epic proportions, shall we say. After all, knowing what you want is the first step to getting it.


Thanks for listening and keep on wishing,
Yours truly,
Maggs :)          

The Art of Poetic Cooking

     During the summer, when I am left to my own devices for lunch, I am not one of those people who is content to eat the same peanut butter and jelly sandwich every day for lunch. No, I like to try new meals, and I find ideas for dishes everywhere. For example, the other day, I was watching one of my favorite movies, Napoleon Dynamite, and the scene above inspired me to create a new sort of lunch for myself. After days of variations, added ingredients, and experimenting, I have finally perfected my recipe:     

The Dang Quesadilla* 

Ingredients**: 

 canned corn

 canned black beans

 tomato sauce

 shredded cheddar cheese

 one regulation-sized tortilla

 sour cream

 chicken (already cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces)

 oregano

 salt 

 pepper

Instructions:

1. Put your regulation-sized tortilla on a plate
2. Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese on the regulation-sized tortilla
3. Put the chicken pieces on the bed of cheese 
4. Cover the chicken with beans and corn
5. Pour tomato sauce over everything
6. Sprinkle healthy amounts of salt, pepper, and oregano on the sauce
7. Heat in the microwave for approximately one minute
8. Remove from microwave (caution, may be hot) and put a spoonful of sour cream on top
9. Blend it all together, and eat the toppings until there is a small enough amount left that you can close the regulation-sized tortilla over it. Then roll the regulation-sized tortilla up and enjoy like a burrito with your favorite beverage on the side. 

And that, folks, is the art of poetic cooking. Enjoy!

Thanks for listening,

Maggs

*Life as a Starving Poet cannot guarantee that the Dang Quesadilla bears any resemblance to an actual quesadilla. If it does not meet your expectations, we are sorry. Also, we will not be held accountable for any accidents that occur because of eating, enjoying, or creating a Dang Quesadilla in your own home, the home of another, or some other random location. Lastly, feel free to experiment with the recipe, but know that as soon as you change it, it is no longer a Dang Quesadilla that you are creating, and therefore, Life as a Starving Poet won't be held responsible if the thing suddenly mutates on you and destroys Manhattan. Thanks again, and eat wisely, my friends!

** Because we prefer for our readers to experience the danger and adrenaline rush that comes with making decisions on their own, we have not specified the amounts of the ingredients to be used in this unusual dish.

Happy Memorial Day

     Up until today, Memorial Day had seemed like just another holiday to me-- I didn't really know the purpose, where or why it was started, or even what it was all about. Of course, I had guessed the holiday had something to do with remembering loved ones or some such thing, but it never really registered. Up until this year, Memorial Day had just been an excuse to miss school and a trip to my uncle's house for swimming, a picnic, and the celebration of summer birthdays.
     This Memorial Day, however, everything changed. Instead of heading off for a day of relaxation and family time, I stayed in town and participated in a parade with the STH (Small Town High) marching band. Now let me just take a moment to point out the fact that all this weekend, it was cool and rainy here in the Midwest. But today, the day when I had to march in an all black wool uniform, it was 90 degrees and very sunny, and extremely miserable. But the heat is incredibly beside the point.
     After the parade, everyone headed over to the town cemetery where the war memorial is located. The band played the national anthem, and then several veterans were invited to speak. They all said good things about today's holiday, but what struck me the most was the speech a veteran from Vietnam gave. She talked about how Memorial Day was in danger of becoming just another payed holiday or an excuse for a get-together with friends, when really, it had been started so that those who died fighting for America would never be forgotten. The speaker encouraged us all to never forget those who protected us and "stood in the gap between our people and evil".  
     In turn, I want to make sure everyone realizes what this holiday's all about-- not hamburgers on the grill or fireworks in the evening, but the men and women who gave everything they had so that we could enjoy our lives as we live them today. It's the sort of sacrifice that you can't, and shouldn't, forget. And hopefully, we never will.


God bless all soldiers and thanks for listening,
Maggs   

Farewell to April

Approaching Storm

Up from the pavement comes an acrid smell

While moisture rides in ev’ry drop of air

And the approaching, monstrous clouds do tell

About the torrent that will soon be there.

Now all is silent ’ere the coming rain

And absent winds have stilled the waiting land

The grasses in the meadow and the plain

Lie still under the storm’s gigantic hand.

Ev’ry creature lies waiting for the storm

While sunlight fades as clouds block sky away

Then raindrops fall in ev’ry shape and form

And lightning tangles with the trees in play.

Then all at once the rain stops suddenly

And left is a world fresh as sparkling sea.

Copyright MPK 2011, all rights reserved, unauthorized use is prohibited.

Happy May!

Thanks for listening,

Maggs

Happy Birthday, Little Blog!

     Happy Birthday, Life as a Starving Poet! You are now officially one year old, and I congratulate you (and myself) for surviving this long. So how did I do it? Well, here's the answer:
     Finding things to write about isn't always easy, and trying to write too often can have terribly chaotic results. Some of my worst posts come from when I was trying to write every day and was simply rambling to take up space and produce something. I have learned, however, that quality is better than quantity, which is why I rarely write two days in a row, unless I have something terribly amazing to talk about. 
     Most of my topics come from random bits of life that I notice. For example, I'll be sitting in class and a teacher will say something that sparks an idea and suddenly I have something to talk about. Or I'll be reading and a few sentences will catch my eye and remind me of a post I was planning to write and I'll take note of this idea and come home later to share it with the amazing readers of the internet (that's you, people. Smile for gosh's sakes!) And then sometimes, when I haven't written in two weeks and am feeling terribly guilty, I'll pull up a chair and sit at my computer with a blank page in front of me until I get and idea. It all depends, really, on the things I see and hear everyday. Of one thing I can be sure, though: as a starving poet, life really does get pretty interesting (sometimes) and I will always have plenty to write about. 


Well folks, that's all I have time for tonight!
Thanks for listening and may Life as a Starving Poet have many more successful years.
Maggs :)