Shatter - Michael Robotham

Shatter
Author: Michael Robotham
Published by: Mulholland Books


Joe has just finished lecturing his first class of the semester when a group of policemen take him to a bridge where a woman is threatening to jump. A professional psychologist, Joe tries to talk her down from the ledge but she won't listen to him. She is talking to someone on a cell phone. When she jumps, Joe is devastated but doesn't think anything more about it. Until the woman's daughter finds him and tells him that her mother would never have committed suicide. The closer Joe looks at the situation, the more questions pop up. When he's finally able to convince local law enforcement that the suicide might have been something more sinister, they race to find the sadistic killer.

I started reading this book in the restroom at a get-together when I went to hide from all the commotion for a few minutes. (Hello, my name is Introvert.) I was hooked from the first few pages.


Robotham does an incredible job with his characters. Some of the chapters are split between Joe's point of view and the psychopath himself. It is the killer's chapters that are truly terrifying as he describes gruesome scenes and acts that he has performed with causal words and a lack of emotion. Joe's chapters are filled with trouble between his wife and his daughter, the jumper's daughter, and his Parkinson's disease.

The book does a good job of moving forward. I was never bored. Even in the beginning there are other subplots that add to the entire feel of the novel. Relationship problems and things like finding a nanny for the children keep the novel pushing forward and add a level of authenticity to the feel of Joe and his life. He is not a police officer, he has Parkinson's, he should not be running around after murderers. But he is a psychologist and his need to understand the killer and his empathy for the victims gives him no other option. He cannot just run away and call for help; if he can provide help then he must.

While reading this book alone, I actually had to put it down and step away for a minute to get my bearings back. Robotham makes a truly terrifying killer character. He is intelligent, trained, and dedicated. It is the real things in life that scare me (fire, murder, rape) and Robotham gives his killer power by knowing that most people feel the same way. The killer preys on the weaknesses of his victims and he's very good at knowing what they are. His ability to get inside the head of his victims and turn them from composed people to humans begging for their lives gives him pride and a sick sense of satisfaction.


This book will keep you up at night, wanting to figure out who the killer is and what is going to become of him. With its twists and turns you'll be able to read this one in a few sittings with a racing heart.


I give it 5 out of 5 cateyes.

Past Present Future - Vol. 2

\\PAST\\
I admit that I usually get to say what we watch as I'm kind of a movie snob. But on Sunday, it was all about John. He decided that I was going to watch the Fast and the Furious saga so that I can go with him to watch the seventh installment in theaters. I had seen the first one, years ago, when it first came out but not a one afterward. So John rented Fast & Furious on GooglePlay and we got about two minutes in before he realized something was off.


"That's not how it starts. I don't remember this happening in the first one."
"What do you mean it's not how it starts? You rented Fast and Furious, obviously this is how it starts. Maybe you just got mixed up?" I said.
"No...I don't think so."

Well it turns out that the first one is actually called THE Fast and THE Furious. Which is probably the stupidest thing ever. Not the title itself but that all of their titles are so similar. Anyway, we got that all settled, and watched the first one with sarcastic commentary and heavy eyeball rolling from me.


Then we watched the next one: 2 Fast 2 Furious. Then over the week we watched Tokyo Drift, Fast & Furious, Fast Five, & Furious 6.

Which means that I'm all caught up! They actually weren't as bad as I originally thought. The second and third were pretty hard to get through but the ones after that were so much better. I'm actually pretty excited to see the seventh in theaters. It'll be even better seeing it on the big screen and with the awesome surround sound.

This week was also Fiesta week and I ended up getting my flower crown just like I wanted! Score!

\\PRESENT\\
I received my first Dress of the Month from Unique Vintage but didn't like it. Sad. I will be returning
it and anxiously awaiting next month's, which will hopefully yield better results.

I have also decided to try to get my blog more exposure and more opportunities so I signed up for a few groups and collaborators. So far, I'm just waiting.

I ordered a Day Designer planner because I have a really bad addiction to planners and office supplies in general. Even though I already have a weekly/monthly calendar, this sectioned day-to-day one just wouldn't leave my mind. But it was a bit too steep a price for me. So I waited and by the time I decided I really wanted to try it out the black and white stripe was sold out! So I bought the Gold Spotty.

And because of a misprint it's discounted. So I couldn't pass it up. I just love the idea of being able to plan my whole day and the fact that it has a gratitude section because, I totally admit, that I am a realist/pessimist at heart and I need all the help I can get. I just got it yesterday so I'll let you know what I think of it once I give it a good run.



\\FUTURE\\
John and I went to a friend's party at this new brewery. It was a lot of fun and the place was nothing like we expected. I cannot wait until I'm on a more regular schedule so we can frequent the place. They had board games, horse shoes, cornhole, music, and a food truck. Plus their beer is pretty good and decently priced.

Still cannot wait for our vacation. I'm definitely a vacation person and it's true that it makes work easier by having a rest in your sights.

Also, I'll be finishing my temp job soon. Huge sigh of relief. I'll be able to sleep my normal 9 hours again. Haha. But I will try to be more productive since I know just how many hours are in a day and all the things I've been able to accomplish within them. I am going to miss that extra paycheck though. Eh...we did fine before.



Reading: From A Buick 6 - Stephen King
Watching: Parenthood, Call the Midwife, Mr. Selfridge, Wolf Hall
Listening to: Still lovin' my Valerie June Pandora station.
Needing: To go grocery shopping.
Wanting: A new dress.
Something I'm Looking Toward To: I'm having lunch with an old friend this week at (plus!) a place I've never been to before. I love trying new places.
Five Good Things That Happened This Week: 

1. I got my Fiesta flower crown. 
2. My Day Designer came in.
3. I got free food from work for working one of the Fiesta parades. Yes! 
4. A girl at work donated her Keurig to us. Double yes! Fresh coffee all the time. 
5. One of my friends/co-worker called me a strong woman. Thrice yes!

So how was your week? What was the thing you loved the most about it?

Things I've Crossed Off My Bucket List

I recently discovered this little website gem called Bucketlist.

It lets you digitally make, add, & cross off things from your bucket list! As soon as I saw it I was hooked. I was on it for an hour just adding, adding, adding!

You can browse their different categories for ideas on your own goals. You can see those that are most popular, or pick something you'd want to learn, or add a place you want to visit.

It was while browsing through these lists that I discovered how absolutely lucky and grateful I am to my parents and all the things that I've ALREADY done. It's always fun making and crossing things off your own list but it's a feeling of gratitude when you know you've been fortunate enough to do something that someone else is right now only dreaming about.

At the age of 26 I have done all of these wonderful things.


I have

• Visited Roswell, New Mexico
• Visited New Orelans, Louisiana
• Visited New York City, New York
• Visited San Diego, California
• Visted New Jersey
• Visited Mexico
• Gambled in Las Vegas
• Vacationed at Disney World
• Eaten at the James Beard Foundation
• Started a Blog
• Adopted a Dog(s)
• Graduated High School
• Been Fishing
• Been on a Rollercoaster
• Been to a Rock Concert
• Been to an Orchestra Concert
• Seen a Play
• Seen a Stand Up Comedian
• Seen a Ballet
• Seen a Magician
• Seen the Statue of Liberty
• Seen the Twin Towers (Before 9/11)
• Seen a Broadway Show
• Danced at a Club
• Made a Cake from Scratch
• Realized the dangers of the Long Island Iced Tea
• Lived on My Own
• Lived in a Dorm
• Gotten my First Job
• Ridden in a Helicopter
• Ridden an Elephant
• Swam with beluga whales
• Gotten a Tattoo
• Dyed my Hair a Crazy Color
• Passed my Driving Test

If you have a Bucketlist why don't you add me? What things have you crossed off your bucket list?

Fiesta San Antonio

When people hear San Antonio, Texas they probably think of two things: The Riverwalk & the Alamo. Yeah these things are important but what you should really think of when you hear my hometown is Fiesta.

Fiesta is this huge celebration that takes place every year to honor and remember the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. In 1891 when the whole hoopla first officially began, it was nothing more than a parade called the Battle of Flowers. But since then, it's grown exponentially. It's now 10 days of beer-drinking, food-tasting, flower crowns, cascarones, and very pretty papel picado.

papel picado: literally means pierced paper: traditional way of decorating for celebrations and used as art.

cascarones: egg shells filled with confetti meant to be broken on people's heads.

fiesta flower crowns: made from tissue paper and totally awesome. Via: Events That Sparkle

As the main event, the Battle of Flowers is still the largest parade within Fiesta. It is the only parade in the nation that is planned and directed entirely by women volunteers. This parade has become such a huge part of our lives that schools and most businesses close, treating the day as a holiday.

Over the years they've added two other parades to the lineup: The Texas Cavaliers River Parade, which you guessed it - takes place on the Riverwalk.

Via: Stone Creek Homes

And The Flambeau Parade which is the nation's largest illuminated night parade. My dad and my brother have walked the route the last three years with the Boy Scouts.

Via: San Antonio Magazine

Along with these parades there are over 100 official Fiesta events and even more unofficial events that take place within the city. It's estimated that three million people take part in the various festivities and that the city rakes in about 280 million dollars.

It has also become a tradition to collect various Fiesta medals and pins. These medals are updated every year and sold to people who want to wear or collect them.

If you're interested in seeing what this Fiesta thing is all about you can watch from home! Just go to KSAT.com to watch the parades live!


The Battle of Flowers will take place on Friday around 12:30pm CST.

The Flambeau Parade will take place on Saturday around 6:30pm CST.

How I Handle Stress

I've been a bit more stressed as of late. You may recall I'm currently going through this whole fiasco. But there are a few tried and true ways I destress.


Read a Book
I don't know if I've mentioned this (only a million times) but I love reading. There is nothing better than forgetting all your troubles by diving into someone else's. What makes it even better is that their lives are all ready figured out and nicely wrapped at the end! No judging, thinking, questioning, or making decisions on your part. Just read and relax.

Take a Bath/Shower
I'm not a bath person but even just standing underneath the shower will relax your mind and body. And who says you can only use bath scents/bombs in the bathtub? Try them in the shower. The fragrances will leave you feeling calm, cool, and collected.

Watch TV or a Movie
This is similar to reading a book. These people's lives are already scripted so even if things don't go exactly as planned you know that nothing will be THAT bad. Watching TV just lets your mind wander in a great way.

Read an Article About Someone Who Has It Worse Or Bounced Back From Failure
So you're super stressed because you just lost your company a thousand dollars in what was a true, noncriminal accident? Hey, don't worry. Read an article about someone who lost their job and went bankrupt and then became the next Bill Gates or whatever. Stress tends to stem from the fact that whatever we are stressing about is the absolute.worst.thing.possible and for the most part -- that's simply not true. It's easy to calm down, think rationally, and de-escalate problems when you put them into perspective.

Yoga & Breathing Exercises
I love yoga. I don't do it as often as I should (10$ a class? Who am I, Mr. Monopoly?) but there are great YouTube channels devoted to easy, de-stressing, no-equipment yoga postures that will relieve the tension from your shoulders, open those hips up, and will have you focused on your breath rather than the horrible customer who just won't go away.

Listen to Happy Music or Dramatic Soundtracks 
Nothing makes somebody happier than hearing their favorite catchy tune. That's why you should definitely have a Happy Playlist. But sometimes I find that listening to an action or dramatic soundtrack makes me feel as if I'm in a super important position of power, like Batman, and you can't just go throwing stress tantrums. Instead, you let the music guide you to find ways to defeat The Joker. Or use the Sherlock soundtrack to figure out who's been stealing your homemade lunches.



What are some of the ways you de-stress? Do we de-stress in some of the same ways?

What I've Learned Working Two Full Time Jobs

When one of my ex-coworkers/friends told me that my old job was looking for a temp to fill while someone was on maternity leave I was a bit hesitant to go back. "But," this person said, "You could really use the money. Pay off your loans! Save for a new car. Do whatever. It's only for three months."

I reluctantly agreed. I knew I needed another job and my friend was right. I could really use the money to get ahead. So I decided to accept the job. Woo! When I went to sign all the paperwork and meet with my old boss (now boss again) I was told the position was going to be full time.


*Cue record scratching*

WHAAAT?

I seriously thought about running out of there right then. Imagine my car peeling out in a cartoony fashion.  But then I thought well, I already know all the procedures. Not much has changed since I've been away. And it's not manual labor, I should be okay, right?


Right?!

I ended up accepting the job since it was only going to be for 90 days. Let me tell you, it's been a bit of a tough one. I tend to get really grumpy towards the end of the week. John's gotten a bit fed-up with me at one time or another but I was too tired to care quite frankly. Still, I feel I've been learning some valuable life lessons with all this extra jobbing.


Sleep is Overrated
You really don't need that much sleep to function at an appropriate level. Yeah, you may look like shit more often than not but you'll still be able to do your job(s), eat, shower, and maybe read a page or two from a book.

When You're So Tired, Even Sleeping for 20 Minutes Will Do Wonders
I take a nap on my first lunch break and for the hour between the two jobs. It is amazing how refreshed and ready to go I feel after taking those naps.

You Can Teach Yourself to Fall Asleep Almost Instantly
When you're really tired and there's only so many minutes or hours until you wake up again getting to sleep quickly can be really important. I've always been an easy sleeper. I can sleep just about anywhere but I do tend to be a light-to-medium sleeper. Now, when I know I only have a few minutes or hours I can go to sleep in less than 2 minutes and I can tune out annoying distractions, waking up only to my alarm.

Coffee is More of a Mind Thing than an Actual Caffeine Thing
I find that coffee doesn't do much to help me stay awake. Never really has. But there is nothing like that first hot cup of coffee as I'm getting into work to perk me up and get me ready for the day ahead.

You Can Get Used to Anything
The first two weeks were hell. Like, seriously. But now that I've gotten used to it and what to expect it's gotten a lot easier. Especially with my routine. Wake up, go to Job 1, sleep on lunch break, sleep after Job 1, go to Job 2, go home, sleep, wake up, rinse, repeat.

When You Have No Free Time You Tend to Save More Money
The first two weeks I worked I didn't even go to the grocery store. John and I were in awe when we realized how much money we still had in the bank from not spending it needlessly.

It Sucks So Much Until You Get that Double Paycheck
I'm always dreading going back into work(s) the next day but payday is like winning the lottery. It's easy to forget how much working so much sucks. Especially since I'm throwing that whole extra paycheck to my loans. Sure I don't really get a bunch of fun money but knowing that I'll have one less monthly bill to pay is the best feeling.


I'm sure I've learned a slew of other things but my brain is a bit too fried to think that hard. For now, I think I'm going to go to Zzzzzzzz.