May '09

May '09: 24 - 30

May 24;

Title: Two for the Dough Author: Janet Evanovich Rating: Goal: 20/60 (33 1/3% Complete) Pages: 312 Genre: Mystery About: Kenny Mancuso shot his childhood buddy Moogey Bues and then jumped bail. Now bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is on the case to track Kenny down. Then someone finished Moogey off, Kenny can't be found, twenty-four coffins are missing, and there's some ex-army heavy artillery roaming the streets. And Joe Morelli - the cop with more than a professional interest in her every move - is tailing Stephanie. With a healthy disregard for the law, and an unhealthy dependence on marshmallow hot chocolate, Stephanie's a match for anyone - even Morelli. That is, until her eccentric grandmother goes AWOL and little pieces of corpses start to disappear... My Thoughts: Just as wonderful as the first book. The grandmother is to die for.

Movie: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Rating: Goal: 16/50 (32% Complete) Genre: Family/Fantasy/Comedy About: Ben Stiller returns as hapless museum night watchman Larry Daley in this sequel to the hit comedy. Though he's now working at the Smithsonian Institution, Daley continues to deal with exhibits that come to life while the museum is closed. His adventures this time include close encounters with Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams), George Custer (Bill Hader) and Ivan the Terrible (Christopher Guest). Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais and Dick Van Dyke co-star. Quote: "Crimey, we've been jimmy-jacked! " -Amelia Earhart "Jimmy-jacked? " -Larry "It's how I speak! " -Amelia Earhart "Yeah, but that sounds made-up, even for you... " -Larry "'Oh no, our path has been blocked by bad people' where's the excitement in that? " -Amelia Earhart My Thoughts: Didn't I say it was nothing special yesterday? Well guess what, I got tricked into paying to see it again less than 24 hours later. Still cute, still blah, totally not as cool when not played in IMAX.

Angel Falls in Venezuela is the world's highest waterfall, at 979 meters. This waterfall is sixteen times the height of Niagara Falls.

May 25;

The Rainbow Bridge is the world's largest natural bridge. It is located at the base of Navajo Mountain, Utah and is as long as a football field.

May 26;

Finland has 187,888 lakes and 179,584 islands.

May 27;

Title: Three to Get Deadly Author: Janet Evanovich Rating: Goal: 21/60 (35% Complete) Pages: 321 Genre: Mystery About: Stephanie Plum, the brassy babe in the powder-blue Buick, has been given the unpopular task of finding Mo Bedemier, Trenton's most beloved citizen, arrested for carrying concealed and a no-show for his court appearance. She's got big, blonde, black Lula, a former hooker turned file clerk -- now a wannabe bounty hunter -- at her side, sticking like glue. And Lula's itching to get the chance to lock up a crook in the trunk of her car. Joe Morelli, the New Jersey vice cop with the slow-burning smile that undermines a girl's strongest resolve, is suddenly being polite. What gives? Might he be manipulating Steph, using her in his investigation, counting on her curiosity and competitive Jersey attitude? Once again, the whole crew is in action, including Ranger and Grandma Mazur, searching for Mo, tripping down a trail of dead drug dealers, leading Stephanie to suspect Mo has traded his ice-cream scoop for a vigilante gun. Cursed with a disastrous new hair color and an increasing sense that it's time to get a new job, Stephanie tumbles through Three to Get Deadly with all the high-speed hijinks her fans have come to love. My Thoughts: Another winner! I'm glad Lula is given an even bigger role. I'm amazed at how often I'm actually laughing out loud while reading this series.

The world's highest capital is La Paz, which is the capital of Bolivia. The capital is located about 12,000 feet above sea level.

May 28;

TV Show: CSI Episode: 9.05 - Leave Out All the Rest Goal: 141/400 (35.25% Complete) About: When the CSI team investigates a case involving the world of domination, Grissom pays a visit to Lady Heather to help find some answers. Quote: "So, you're in love with Ian, Martin's in love with you, and they're both you're slaves. Sounds like a kinky soap opera." - Brass

The Earth's rain forest are home to about 75% of all known species of plant and animal life.

May 29;

Title: Four to Score Author: Janet Evanovich Rating: Goal: 22/60 (36 2/3% Complete) Pages: 313 Genre: Mystery About: Stephanie Plum, Trenton, New Jersey's favorite pistol-packing, condom-carrying bounty hunter, is back--and on the trail of a revenge-seeking waitress who's skipped bail. With then help of 73-year-old Grandma Mazur, ex-hooker Lula, a transvestite musician named Sally Sweet, and the all-too-hospitable, all-too-sexy Joe Morelli, Stephanie might just catch her woman. Then again, with more mishaps than there are exits on the Jersey Turnpike--including murders, firebombs, and Stephanie's arch-rival bounty hunter chasing after the same fugative--Stephanie better watch her back big-time if she wants to live to crack this case. My Thoughts: Sally Sweet is hilarious. (S)he really made this book stand out. I felt like there was a lot more going on in this book than in previous books. There was a secondary plot as well as a few new main voices. Evanovich did a great managing all of this.

Movie: Up Rating: Goal: 17/50 (34% Complete) Genre: Animation/Family About: After a lifetime of dreaming of traveling the world, 78-year-old homebody Carl (voiced by Ed Asner) is lured into an unbelievable adventure, thanks in part to the persistence of Russell, an 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer (Jordan Nagai). Together, the unlikely pair embarks on a thrilling odyssey full of jungle beasts and rough terrain. Other voices include the renowned Christopher Plummer and Pixar stalwart John Ratzenberger. Quote: "Do you want to play a game? It's called See Who Can Go the Longest Without Saying Anything." -Carl Fredricksen "Cool! My mom loves that game!" -Russell My Thoughts: Best Pixar movie yet. It amazes me how powerful they're able to make the animation, I practically cried twice. The movie is also unbelievably funny. Don't even get me started on how awesome all the balloons look. I could watch the movie again to just see all of the balloons. I was bummed that there was no short before the movie though.

An acre of trees can remove about 13 tons of dust and gases every year from the surrounding environment.

May 30;

TV Show: Glee Episode: 1.01 - Pilot Goal: 142/400 (35.5% Complete) About: Will Schuester an optimistic high school teacher, tries to reinvent the McKinley High School's glee club, while reinventing himself. He challenge a group of outcasts to realize their true star potential, while facing harsh criticism from everyone in the school. Quote: "You might think that all of the boys in school would want to tap this, but my MySpace schedule keeps me way too busy to date." -Rachel

Uranus has 27 moons.