.: so comes snow after fire :.

And here it is. The last entry of this year's Reading Bingo. And I left the best for last, with the last book in a saga that I've deeply loved for years.



For the "A Book With More Than 500 pages" square, I waited patiently for Rick Riordan's last book in the Percy Jackson saga to come out. It's Herous of Olympus - Blood of Olympus.

As I said before, I love these books, and I have for years. I grew up with Greek myths, I graduated in Archaeology with a thesis in Roman Topography, and I have a weird sense of humor. The Percy Jackson books are written by someone who loves Greek mythology and knows every single detail, every forgotten myth, and knows how to put them in a modern context in a way that's believable and doesn't betray their roots at all. He has incredible respect for the original source, and he still loves playing with it. Plus he has an incredible sense of humor, cunning and sharp, while never offensive. For years I've loved these books with a fierce passion. With the new saga, the Heroes of Olympus, he breathed new life in his stories, moving from the single character to the chorus, introducing heroes of all different races, and last year he even revealed that one of them was gay. In this book he let him talk at lenght about his sexuality, exactly like he had done for all the other main characters, and I loved him so much for it. AT the same time he didn't make his sexuality the central point of his character, just one of the many ways he's himself. His female characters are all different, and they all have their own stories, their own agenda, and they're all strong in their different ways.

In this book we faced the final battle, and said goodbye to our heroes. I was prepared to be devastated, but the story was so perfect, the ending so well-written, I actually feel happy. He didn't try to wrap every single story up, he didn't give us a horrible epilogue (yes, I'm pointing fingers), he left some doors open, he left us to imagine all new different paths our heroes could take, while still giving us a wonderful finale to a fantastic story. Such brilliant writing!

I told Tati yesterday, while I was mid-journey, that I planned on re-reading all the saga from the start when I reached the ending of this book. But the ending was so perfect, I feel like keeping it fresh in my heart for a while longer, before going back to the beginning. That's how much I loved it. ^^

And seriously, if you love Greek and Roman history and myths, and are looking for a fantasy saga that's both funny and gripping and wonderfully written, I can't recommend these books enough. \o/ (Just, do not watch the movies, they're horrible and offensive and still give me nightmares with how bad they are. Just FYI.)

Today was an historical day for me. The first time in seven years I went downtown and ended up in the Acqua Alta! Not per se, as I just stepped on the footbridges and kept walking, but it was a great nostalgic moment anyway. My therapist wasn't that lucky this morning, and had to buy fishing boots on the way, because the water was too high even for the footbridge. I still have mine but I haven't used them in years.

Another highlight of the last couple of days was a long conversation I had with my hairdresser, where she ended up telling me she was diagnosed with dyslexia when she was 13, and she was terrified her 5-year-old daughter could have it too, because it made her school years a living hell. Amazingly enough, I managed to calm her down, made her realize if it's diagnosed very early it won't be a problem like it was for her, and then I even made her smile when I told her to get the Percy Jackson books for her daughter, since dislexia is one of the signs for a kid being a demigod. She was ecstatic at the idea. I'm not going to lie, I feel very pleased with myself. ^^

I'm still worried about this new train wreck LJ has cooked up for our friendslists. If they really do that, it'll have to be RSS readers for me, as that kind of layout would give me a headache in seconds. Let's cross our fingers it'll be at least optional. And infinite scrolling? Who even uses that? I turned it off the second I got a Tumblr account.

On real life news, my aunt is coming next monday/tuesday. She hasn't decided yet, but it's next week for sure, so I've been in a jubilant mood all day. ^^

Just finished the new Heroes of Olympus book. How the hell does he write such beautiful books that make me laugh and shiver and jump on my chair, and then inevitably rip the heart off my chest at the last pages, every single time? I'm torn between sobbing while hugging the cat, or throwing the book out of the window.

I checked Rick Riordan's site, and the next one, The House Of Hades, is set to be released in October 2013. Gods, it's going to be epic. I need a Tardis.

First, real life update. Yesterday I did a liver ultrasonography. Two years ago we found out I had completely benign angiomas, and so I had to check if they're still there, still the same. In other words, I got freckles in my liver. Anyway, everything's fine. It's my favourite kind of exam because it's quick, you keep your clothes on, and it's completely painless.

The bad part was there was a demonstration on the road to get there, because a factory there is going to fire two hundred people next month. The buses couldn't go through, so we had to get out and take the train. It was 8 am, and there were hundreds of people at the railway station, it was nuts. I managed to jump on a train, and had to run all the way to the hospital. When I got there the nurse was shocked, and asked me how on earth I had done it, since three patients had already called to tell them the roads to Venice were blocked. Then another nurse heard us and she came to ask me about the trains because her mom was still at the railway station and she had just called to tell her the trains weren't moving. I was this close to say "You got me, my mutant power is flying." This close.

Anyway, did my exam, had breakfast at the bar, and then walked back. The trains were going again, even if the timetable was completely messed up. I jumped on the first one I saw, took that five-minute ride, and then walked home from the station. More than 40 minutes by feet. I was lucky it was a very warm day, so it wasn't unpleasant. Yet today my muscles are all cramping. XD

Then in the afternoon I went to the cinema to watch Jane Eyre. First of all, that was my sister's favourite book, so you can imagine how crazy I am about that book, about every scene and detail. Even so, I *loved* the movie. It's the first one where they finally manage to capture the essence of the main character, her complexity. Mia Wasikowska was amazing. I knew her from Alice in Wonderland, but I wasn't expecting her to be so good. If the entire movie had been her talking, I wouldn't have minded it at all. Left me speechless. Michael Fassbender was pure perfection too, but it wasn't a surprise or anything. So, so good. When he cried, I was sobbing my eyes out, and I already knew everything, and how it was going to end, and yet I was crying like a baby because of him. He's such a terrific actor.

Only thing I didn't like, and mind you, it's a tiny detail, it's how they rushed the ending. I would have liked a couple more scenes there. But anyway. Another thing I noticed, I liked all the secondary characters here more than in the book. In the book everyone is just a bit meaner. Even the little girl, I found her annoying in the book, while she was adorable here.

Long story short, I must get the dvd. Or the bluray. God, I hope there's a bluray.

Today I watched Super 8. I'm not going to write any spoilers here, don't worry. The weird thing is, it took me half an hour to figure out it was set in 1979. I don't know why, I was sure it was 1995 or something. No, the super 8 didn't give it away, I thought they were going for a classic look or whatever. XD

The weirdest thing, anyway, was that they sold it like a big sci-fi film, and yes, it is, but what I liked about it was the kids. I wasn't interested that much in the big mystery, I was worried about Joe and his dad, and what happened to Alice's mom, and if they would have finished their little movie. Yes, it's a good movie, but seen once I don't think I'm going to see it again. It's cute, I liked the sci-fi storyline, the ending, and the fact that it was two hours of homages to the movies I grew up with (The Goonies, E.T. and so on), but let's face it, if I want that kind of story, I'll just go and watch The Goonies again.

That's two movies off my to-see list, only 86 left. Yay! :D And I still have two Dresden Files books left to read. And a gazillion comics and manga volumes stashed everywhere because of Harry Dresden, and because I bought the latest Percy Jackson book and it was awesome beyond words and so it cut in at the front of the line.

Tomorrow I have another medical exam, but since it's at half past noon I hope there won't be any roadblocks and everyone will be having lunch. Once a week is enough for me, thanks. ^^"

First, real life update. Yesterday I did a liver ultrasonography. Two years ago we found out I had completely benign angiomas, and so I had to check if they're still there, still the same. In other words, I got freckles in my liver. Anyway, everything's fine. It's my favourite kind of exam because it's quick, you keep your clothes on, and it's completely painless.

The bad part was there was a demonstration on the road to get there, because a factory there is going to fire two hundred people next month. The buses couldn't go through, so we had to get out and take the train. It was 8 am, and there were hundreds of people at the railway station, it was nuts. I managed to jump on a train, and had to run all the way to the hospital. When I got there the nurse was shocked, and asked me how on earth I had done it, since three patients had already called to tell them the roads to Venice were blocked. Then another nurse heard us and she came to ask me about the trains because her mom was still at the railway station and she had just called to tell her the trains weren't moving. I was this close to say "You got me, my mutant power is flying." This close.

Anyway, did my exam, had breakfast at the bar, and then walked back. The trains were going again, even if the timetable was completely messed up. I jumped on the first one I saw, took that five-minute ride, and then walked home from the station. More than 40 minutes by feet. I was lucky it was a very warm day, so it wasn't unpleasant. Yet today my muscles are all cramping. XD

Then in the afternoon I went to the cinema to watch Jane Eyre. First of all, that was my sister's favourite book, so you can imagine how crazy I am about that book, about every scene and detail. Even so, I *loved* the movie. It's the first one where they finally manage to capture the essence of the main character, her complexity. Mia Wasikowska was amazing. I knew her from Alice in Wonderland, but I wasn't expecting her to be so good. If the entire movie had been her talking, I wouldn't have minded it at all. Left me speechless. Michael Fassbender was pure perfection too, but it wasn't a surprise or anything. So, so good. When he cried, I was sobbing my eyes out, and I already knew everything, and how it was going to end, and yet I was crying like a baby because of him. He's such a terrific actor.

Only thing I didn't like, and mind you, it's a tiny detail, it's how they rushed the ending. I would have liked a couple more scenes there. But anyway. Another thing I noticed, I liked all the secondary characters here more than in the book. In the book everyone is just a bit meaner. Even the little girl, I found her annoying in the book, while she was adorable here.

Long story short, I must get the dvd. Or the bluray. God, I hope there's a bluray.

Today I watched Super 8. I'm not going to write any spoilers here, don't worry. The weird thing is, it took me half an hour to figure out it was set in 1979. I don't know why, I was sure it was 1995 or something. No, the super 8 didn't give it away, I thought they were going for a classic look or whatever. XD

The weirdest thing, anyway, was that they sold it like a big sci-fi film, and yes, it is, but what I liked about it was the kids. I wasn't interested that much in the big mystery, I was worried about Joe and his dad, and what happened to Alice's mom, and if they would have finished their little movie. Yes, it's a good movie, but seen once I don't think I'm going to see it again. It's cute, I liked the sci-fi storyline, the ending, and the fact that it was two hours of homages to the movies I grew up with (The Goonies, E.T. and so on), but let's face it, if I want that kind of story, I'll just go and watch The Goonies again.

That's two movies off my to-see list, only 86 left. Yay! :D And I still have two Dresden Files books left to read. And a gazillion comics and manga volumes stashed everywhere because of Harry Dresden, and because I bought the latest Percy Jackson book and it was awesome beyond words and so it cut in at the front of the line.

Tomorrow I have another medical exam, but since it's at half past noon I hope there won't be any roadblocks and everyone will be having lunch. Once a week is enough for me, thanks. ^^"

I was singing and playing Paparazzi on Rock Band with my cousin and Tati, and the SDA courier picks that exact moment to ring the doorbell. He goes "There's a book here for you, I'll leave it on the doorstep". A book. Here's what was inside that not-at-all-shaped-like-a-book package:



Besides the squeeing and the running around and the flailing my arms, a part of my brain is still wondering how he could think that was a single gigantic book. :D

Anyway, we have lots of music that I bought over the past two months, The National, Elvis Perkins, The Magnetic Fields (finally, I was sick and tired of mp3s), The Parlotones (it took them three months to get back in stock), Rick Riordan's The Demigod Files, three new Percy Jackson adventures since the next book comes out in the fall and I can't freaking wait.

And a bunch of X-Men comics, both Uncanny and Ultimate X-Men, because there are SO MANY of them and I have to start somewhere. Manga are much easier to understand, you pick a story, get all the volumes, but here there are multiverses, and avengers and iron man and everyone knows everyone else. It's a maze.

Yesterday I finally read House of M, and it blew my mind. I had a feeling it was going to be great, I just didn't know how much. The art, so gorgeous. The writing. Wow. That scene with Quicksilver and Magneto? I had to re-read it three times on the spot, it was just so perfect and heartbreaking. First thing I did this morning was order a few volumes from the same series. I need to know what happens next. I need more!

The best part is, comics on amazon.co.uk cost one third of what they would cost at the comic book store, and they're in the original language. The only thing that's more expensive is manga, and even if they have to translate them, I still don't get why they cost at least double than here.

After such a long wait, I finally have it in my hands!



That's right, that's the Rock Band 3 Keyboard. It's so amazing! First song I did was John Lennon's Imagine. It took me a little practice, but luckly I can play the piano a bit (as in, don't ask me to keep the beat, and only with the right hand), and that helped a lot while getting the basics. After that, I just tried every song I knew from the setlist, and it was so much fun! Flat notes are tricky, but when I got around to playing them right I was so happy with myself. :D

On other news, I just got my latest Percy Jackson book, Heroes of Olympus: The Lost One, i.e. the first book of a new series with new heroes. I'm going to miss Percy, but I'm still so excited. I love these books, I'm sure this one is going to be amazing too. ^^

After such a long wait, I finally have it in my hands!



That's right, that's the Rock Band 3 Keyboard. It's so amazing! First song I did was John Lennon's Imagine. It took me a little practice, but luckly I can play the piano a bit (as in, don't ask me to keep the beat, and only with the right hand), and that helped a lot while getting the basics. After that, I just tried every song I knew from the setlist, and it was so much fun! Flat notes are tricky, but when I got around to playing them right I was so happy with myself. :D

On other news, I just got my latest Percy Jackson book, Heroes of Olympus: The Lost One, i.e. the first book of a new series with new heroes. I'm going to miss Percy, but I'm still so excited. I love these books, I'm sure this one is going to be amazing too. ^^

Obligatory where-I've-been-hiding post. This week I had my dad's anniversary, and it's eleven years now since he died, so I've been feeling really down. I'm so lucky I have friends who keep supporting and cheering me up, I just don't know what I would do without them.

Tomorrow we're leaving for a short trip on the mountains, and that's so welcome, since the summer is most definitely here, and I need some cool spring weather. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy the warm days are finally here, but it's july all of a sudden, and I want a couple of days of april too. ^^

Other than that, I'm gallopping through my reading list: I just finished Burned, as in twenty minutes ago, so I'm up to date with the House of Night novels, and I'm halfway through Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse. Next, it'll be Memories of a Geisha's turn.

And now, I have some ironing to do, so I better go change in my bikini or something. XD

EDIT: They're doing the Supernatural anime. No, I'm not kidding. This is the craziest, coolest thing I've ever heard. :D

Finally got around to watch the Percy Jackson movie. I read the first book and loved it, but I had very low expectations about this movie, mostly because Chris Columbus was directing it. Still, what a disappointment! They cut all the best parts, and mess around with what was left. The actors only knew two expressions, and Pierce Brosnan was so annoying. And I still can't believe how they butchered the Underworld sequence, which was my favourite part from the book. At least I'll get the rest of the books in the series by thursday (hurrah for amazon.co.uk), and forget about this awful movie.

Only good thing about it? It was good to see Adam from Supernatural again.