Day 23: Favorite movie? Nahh, favorite book

So I have two things to say before we kick off this post: Sorry for being really bad about blogging lately--life decided to attack me and it was a hectic few weeks for no real reason other than my teachers went nuts. And secondly, this post was supposed to be about my favorite movie, but I've already talked about my favorite movies, so another post would be redundant.

Now day 23 is about my favorite book. And trust me, it is a challenge in itself to pick one book.

I guess I can be cliche and say "The Bible!" but we all know that it's my favorite non-fiction book. Yes, all you non-Christians, NON-fiction. Aka, real. Not made up. True. Just thought I'd clear the air.

My favorite fiction book of all time goes to the Percy Jackson series. Okay, okay, so it's a series and not technically just one book. But I don't need your sass.

I have ranted and raved about my intense love for Percy Jackson many a-time on this blog, but those books are just too good to not be talked about. Laugh-out-loud hilarious, edge-of-your-seat intensity, page-turning mystery, burning-the-midnight-oil suspense. Like the hyphens? Anyway, the book combines Greek mythology with the modern world in a totally not-lame-or-boring way. With witty comebacks, frustratingly awesome cliffhangers, and a master plan like nothing else, Rick Riordan does an exceptional job with his first young adult series.

Also as I mentioned before, his new spinoff series is equally as amazing, the first one debuting this past October (The Lost Hero). Unfortunately, I have to wait another seven months for the next one (The Son of Neptune) to come out. If you've never picked up a copy of any of Riordan's books (just make sure it isn't in the middle of a series), I would highly recommend it.

Peace, love, Greek mythology.

Day 22: What's in my purse?

Oh gosh. Very good question. This is going to be funny.

Chunk of keys: Kenya keychain, WWJD key ring, A&M key ring, car clicker, car key, red velvet cupcake flavored hand sanitizer

Lame cell phone

Massive pink wallet

Vocabulary notecards

Old gum holder

"Jesus loves you" bracelet pack of assorted colors

Camera with a dead battery

Headphones

2 pens and a pencil my friend gave to me (thanks Ben)

Blow pop

Student ID

A bunch of trash...mostly receipts

Bloody (it's fake!) and half-naked Polly Pocket (just don't ask)

Gum packet with gum actually in it

iTouch

Change-filled driver license holder

Chapstick

Pieces of gum that have escaped the holder

Random pocket change

Just don't worry about it.

Day 21: My favorite picture of myself of ALL TIME and why

Fun fact: I'm not a fantastic picture taker. I'm not a great subject of a picture when I'm really trying to smile. Mostly I just try and take goofy pictures with my friends and avoid being serious if at all possible.

But this one I took at my senior picture photo shoot thing. You, blog reader, will be the first person outside of my family to see it.

Why do I like it? I don't know. I look like a model maybe? My other all-time favorite picture is of me and Tyson from Kenya, but that's been in a previous post. Go a-searchin' if you want to find it.

So yeah.

Day 20: Nicknames

I have several nicknames--there's a lot you can do with "Linley"--and I have several friends and family members to give me those nicknames.

Sissy--What Tanner called me for years.

Niney--My little sister couldn't say my name, so that's what she called me for a long time.

Ninley--An evolution nickname that came from Leslie. She was able to say the second L but not the first one. Very strange.

Nin/Ninster--They're pretty much the same thing. Nin is a nickname for a nickname and those came from my dad.

Sweet Ninster--My dad.

Sweet 'n' Sweet Ninster--Dad

Sweet 'n' Sweet--The final product. Now that's pretty much all he calls me.

Linners--Product of Kirstin, Haley, Meredith, and Shaylee.

Liney--That's what happens when I type my name too fast and that's what my friend Paige calls me.

Pippah--Tanner's strange nickname for me.

Amira--Long story. The things that happen in Kenya...Name courtesy of Mary Beth.

Linnerly--My dear friend Sarah

Now for my nicknames for other people:

Fafie--Tanner

Shaylee--Zaylee, Docta Zaugg, Humpercup (long story)

Kirstin--Kirsty

Paige--Tejjy, Tej, The Pummonator, PT, Pe-Te

Haley--Hales

Leslie--Bean

Tannah--Banana

Mary Beth--Tut Tut

Holly--Howwy

Parker--Jug Jug

Dad--Tick Tick

Mom--Mam Mam, Mudder

There you have it.

Day 19: Something I miss

I know this was my 3rd post in the past 20 minutes, but I need to get caught up! And now was the perfect time to get it done. So yes. On to the prompt now.

To be honest, I don't miss anything. I'm not really nostalgic. I mean, I miss being innocent and not knowing half the things I know now (innocence is blissfulness) but that's corny and I don't think I can write more than that on the subject.

I guess, more than anything, I miss elementary school. Where things were simple and less dramatic.

I miss kindergarten where I got to nap. I miss recess. I miss playing kickball in PE. I miss pizza day Wednesdays. I miss choir practice on Wednesday nights at church with all of my friends. I miss the band my friends and I made up when we were cool 5th graders. I miss being a kindergartener and thinking 5th graders were the coolest people ever. I miss learning how to read. I miss the days where math was 1+3 and that was the hardest part of the day. I miss my teacher giving me a sticker and telling me to make a story about it. I miss thinking shows like Spongebob and Rugrats were hilarious. I miss Pokemon and how my brother and I watched it every day. I miss my feet not being able to touch the ground when I sat in my chair. I miss having issues getting on the swing because I wasn't tall enough. I miss being frustrated when the older kids broke the bridge on the playground. I miss it being socially acceptable for me to sleep with a stuffed dog every night. I miss ladybug hunting and dandelion blowing and tag playing.

And now I'm nostalgic. Thanks, 30 day blog challenge.

Day 18: Favorite place to eat

I love Mexican food. Actually, it's more like Tex-Mex. It's delicious.

My favorite restaurant is this place called Ole's. It's, I believe, a single restaurant--not part of a chain. My dad personally knows the owner (we go there that often) and I go there at least once a month. Everyone in my family has our favorites that we order and whenever I come home from college, that will be the first place I go. It's good and a family place and I just like it.

Tex-Mex. Nom, nom, nom, nom.

Day 17: Something I've been looking forward to

Well, there are several things I'm looking forward to. Prom, senior skip day, graduation, graduation parties, 86:12 mission trip to New York City, New Student Conference, Fish Camp, Impact, college, Parachute concert, the next day I get to sleep in...the list goes on and on and on. The possibilities to write about are endless.

But let's take step back from the chaos that is my life, shall we? Senior year can be put on pause for a moment. Let's be nerds.

I have an unhealthy addiction of fictional worlds. Why? Because they tend to be a lot more interesting and exciting than the bubble that I live in. But one of my favorite fictional dimension is the one of Maximum Ride. I know that I've ranted about this book series before (see "writing contest" for more information...sometime in March, June/July, and September is where you might find those) but it has been brought to my attention, by a very reliable source, that the series ends next year.

The Mayans were right: the world is ending in 2012.

And somehow I get the impression that that was James Patterson's plan the whole time. Clever man.

Basically, if you don't know the premise, there are these 6 kids who are 98% and 2% bird. That measly 2% plays a major part though. These kids have wings. They literally fly. The main character, Max, has been told that the saving of the world is on her (yes, Max is a girl) shoulders. The earth will experience a catastrophic something that will destroy the human race and it is Max's job to stop it. If she doesn't, in this world, the Mayans will be correct in their dire prediction.

In case I'm confusing you, I don't really think that the world is going to end in 2012--I'm just pointing out the irony.

Anyway, the second to last book is coming out on Monday (aka Valentine's Day) and part of me is amazingly excited for it and I know I'll stay up later than I should reading/finishing it. Don't judge me. I'm a book nerd. Anyway, I'm excited to continue the adventure, because it feels like forever since I cracked a book open just for pleasure. But, at the same time, the end of an epic journey is about to end right before my eyes.

I feel like these characters are some of my friends. I've been in their minds. I've watched them almost be killed countless times. I've watched them grow up. I've watched them save each other and fight and then save each other again.

The last book ended with a shock that left my stomach in knots for days. It was like a bad break up...everything reminded me of the book and I couldn't even look at it for days. It was ridiculous but that's just me. I'm character oriented and feel so empathetic towards characters. Even if the plot is awful, I still might like the book because of the characters. I'm just weird that way.

So that's what I'm looking forward to. A book that will probably make me cry.

Color me masochistic.