damn the muse

I tried a new Tilapia recipe today. It was a simple bake with lemon, garlic, and sage. Delish!

I always have a hard time cooking fish. I never know what condiments to add, how long to bake, and nothing is as fancy as the stuff you get at restaurants. Sure, I’m not a Master Chef, but I’d like to at least do something simple like fish.

Methinks I can count today as a success.

Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

So, I received a free copy for review…

I really wanted to like this book. As a matter of fact, I believe it deserves a 2.5 rating versus just a 2 because it was a decent read.

I’m a fan of urban fantasy. The world Wright creates is intriguing, and I see the parallels to our history’s past. The problem is that it’s not enough. The book glosses over this world giving little hints and pieces. Supernaturals are branded and relegated to habitats, but why this was done isn’t explained. Mixed breeds are hated but again, there’s no explanation as to why. I’m guessing this will be explained in the next books, but it comes off as lazy story-telling.

The book seems more focused on the romance, and it’s horrible. We’re supposed to feel perplexed over who Lanore should choose. Hulking and beautiful MeShack, or hulking and beautiful Zulu. Their skin-color is the only characteristic that really tells them apart, but even that changes. These men are alpha males, misogynistic, brutish, and boring, but the heroine soaks it all up. I hated them, and I could not stand Lanore. One second she’s all tough and determined, and the next she’s unrealistically skittish and cowardly. It’s lazy writing meant to please the romance freaks. Sorry, I just don’t do poorly written romance.

Like I said, it’s a nifty world. Some of the plot points were intriguing, but at less than 300 pages long, it’s not that great.



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Sonant by A. Sparrow

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What a quirky read. I love a book that can just lose itself in the details. In Sonant, music plays a huge part in the plot, and it was fun to just read through lines dwelling on the harmony and melody of sound. For a music lover, it’s the ultimate geekfest. I was revited.

Religion also seems to be a focus of this novel in both it’s positive and negative aspects. The over zealous anre humane but flawed as are the ones without faith. It’s not preachy in the least. It’s quirky.

My only complaint is the editing. Words were missing, creating incomplete gaps in sentences. Filling in the blank was no biggie, but the book could have used a bit more editing.



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Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ok, so I have one question that nagged me throughout the entire book. Why was Ethan’s fate messed with? I get who did it, but who was behind it? It’s probably staring me in the face.

Anyway, what an awesome series. Loved the world building and the characters. The reveal of what Link did at 9 was just hysterical. I think he’s such a great character. Really, what a nifty series.

So sad it’s over. :(



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Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Almost the entire time I was reading this book I kept thinking, “how was the movie version? I have to see the movie!” Only to probably be disappointed.

Ethan’s a great character. He’s sweet and loyal, and maybe a little funny. The book is told from his point of view, which I wasn’t expecting, but being that he’s the Mortal of the story, it brings a unique male perspective. His love for Lena is sweet, and you feel for him when things don’t go quite as expected.

The other characters are fairly well developed, with Amma and Macon being the most intriguing of the bunch.

For being Young Adult, the read was fun and quick. I definitely recommend t.



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The Harlequin by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

No mas!!!

Had a promising start which devolved into one ginormous bitchfest. I could have done without the Dolph angst and the Richard angst. New characters showed up out of no where only to disappear just as quickly and I’m supposed to care?

Who finds this crap appealing?

No more Anita Blake novels for me.



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Lágrimas en la lluvia by Rosa Montero

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There’s a lot to love about this book. It’s set in the world of Blade Runner and yet it isn’t. The main character is Bruna Husky, a replicant, a technohuman who ritualistically counts down the days of her inevitable demise: 4 years, two months, twenty-one days. She’s a tough, flawed character thrust into solving a murder spree of replicants. Obviously, her little search leads her towards something more.

I wonder what it would have been like to read this in English. Montero’s descriptions are detailed and humorous. I know I lost something in my own translation, but as a whole, it’s such a fun read. I enjoy a good sci-fi mystery, and this has it all.

My only complaint is that it wrapped up all too neatly. I’m wondering if this isn’t the last that we’ve read of Bruna Husky. I hope not.



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It’s a fact that I have too many books. My Kindle has opened this vast world of literature, and I’m buying way more books than actually reading them, and I want to read them all. Except maybe the trilogies. Apparently, the ‘it’ thing to do these days is write a trilogy. There may not even be enough story for a three parter, but that’s not the point. Hook someone in with the first part, and the other two will be bought up come premiere day. And that’s the most frustrating thing of all. I’m not the type to read a book and patiently wait for the next two. No. I snap them all up if I can, and maybe later find out that I’ve regretted doing so. Because it’s a fact that if the first book sucks, the other two are sure to follow.

And everyone seems to be writing trilogies, but I just want a measly stand alone novel. A very well written, blow me away story, told in a couple hundred pages or less. No to be continued or senseless cliffhangers. Just a beginning, middle, and end.

A dear friend lost her dog this weekend. He escaped from her backyard along with their other dog. Although not a normal occurrence, the dogs tended to do this from time to time. Once, they disappeared for a couple of months, only to be discovered in a shelter in New Braunfels. Needless to say, my friend was thrilled to have them back. After all, these were two very unique dogs.

I remember when she got Dante. He was this tiny little thing wrecking havoc through out the apartment. Then he grew into this massive beast with a tender heart. When Dolce stumbled into their lives, it was like they became this perfect little family. And as dogs tend to do, Dante and Dolce were inseparable.

And apparently Dolce stayed by Dante’s side after he was hit by a car. She didn’t leave until it was no longer safe for her, and fortunately she found someone to take her home, broken tail and all.

I’m heartbroken for her and my friend.

It’s easy to say that these are just dogs. Why mourn over a being that isn’t human. And yet there’s a reason they’re labeled as man’s best friend. They’re companions with personalities meant to match our own. They make us laugh, and they make us yell. They love us and protect us. What more could anyone ask for in such a precious friend?

When I got the news I immediately thought of Ravi. I came home and promptly hugged him. And maybe he could tell that I was sad because he plopped himself by my knees, and didn’t move until I was ready to move.

Man’s best friend indeed.

So maybe this is why I’m having such a hard time getting a scooter?

FBI executes search warrant at the Scooter Store.

The Scooter Store employs about 1,200 people at its New Braunfels headquarters and about 1,800 overall, Zipp told the Express-News earlier this month. The company laid off 150 people earlier this month and 220 people in September.

The search warrant comes as The Scooter Store has been grappling with changes in its business model. Power-mobility devices have come under scrutiny as part of a crackdown on Medicare fraud. Concerns have been raised that the devices are being prescribed to people who don’t need them.

And maybe it’s a good thing that I’m not using them to get my new wheels, although I did try many years ago.

In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled in Padilla v. Kentucky that defense attorneys had a duty to inform their clients of the potential risks a guilty plea would have on their immigration status. Why? Well, with a felony conviction, an immigrant, legal or non, would be banned from seeking citizenship or any other immigration status.

The thing is, many immigrants, some who have been here for many years in legal status, have quite quickly found themselves in deport proceedings because of crimes they committed in the past. Many times, they accepted a guilty plea because it involved less jail time, or their attorney advised that the case was just not winnable. This advise was given in most cases without the knowledge of the immigration consequences of such a deal. The attorney didn’t know, and the client certainly didn’t know. So, hypothetically, a one time drug charge that happened when the immigrant was 18 would inevitably come back to haunt him at 50. 32 years after the fact. And now this immigrant, a family man and resident for many years, faces deportation for a mistake.

The Padilla case changed this situation. Now attorneys have a duty to inform their clients of the immigration consequences they face because of the criminal charges against them. As of 2010, this is the law of the land. But what about cases that occured prior to 2010? Can a criminal case be challenged and re-opened based on a Padilla claim?

No. The Supreme Court just ruled in Chaidez v. USA that Padilla claims are not retroactive. So that 18 year old immigrant can’t go back and challenge his guilty plea at 50. It doesn’t matter if he could have plead to a much lesser charge. It doesn’t matter if he wasn’t guilty and only followed his attorney’s uninformed advice. The 50 year old man will more than likely be deported.

What a shame.

Our department was moved last Thursday to a different building. We’re now the Guadalupe Community Center’s new neighbor.

The offices are smaller. The walls echo with the sound of our voices, so that someone in the back can easily hear anyone chatting in the front. Since we uphold confidentiality above all else, the sound situation makes things a bit complicated. Obviously, I’ll have to keep my door closed. Unless my master plan of covering all the walls helps.

Either way, the place is nice and cozy. We’re back amongst people, other employees assisting with taxes or food.

Now I just hope the clients can find us.

Pistorius charged with murder.

As the hearing started, Pistorius kept his head down, cried and held his hands to his face. At times, he appeared confused.

“Take it easy. Come, take a seat,” Reuters quoted Magistrate Desmond Nair as telling him.

A defense lawyer referred to his client’s “traumatised state of mind.”

Several of Pistorius’ family members were in the courtroom and also appeared emotional; one seemed distraught and others wept.

Poor sympathetic Pistorius. He mistakenly killed his girlfriend, and seems all but distraught at the fact. It’s a buffet for the media. A free for all. It seems quite unreal that a man such as Pistorius could be guilty. Then again he may not be not guilty.

But, he’s disabled? He couldn’t possibly…?

I’m a firm believer in innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, since I’m not a fly on the courthouse wall, nor am I privy to the man’s mind, it’s really hard to say if he’s innocent or not. It’s not for me to judge. But I do feel bad. This man was a hero to many. He proved that anything was possible. I admired him for that. So it’s a shame this happened because a remarkable man has just been charged with murder. His hero image has been tarnished.

And yet anyone can be a murderer, regardless of skin color, size, or capacity. Anyone can be a saint. It’s the person who chooses what to do in life, not the image or the blades.

Don’t make me sympathize for him because he’s disabled, or make him seem more incapacitated than he is. He’s just a man who may or may not have committed murder.

I keep squeaking by on my trusty Amigo scooter. For some reason the longer I go in reverse, the better it works going forward. It’s like, give it 5 and it turns into 10. So I’ve caught myself going backwards wherever I can, trying to ignore the gawking stares of that security guard at Frost bank, and that couple strolling down Houston St. I smile and try to avoid sharp corners while marveling at my dexterity with the steering. Really, going backwards is scary.

This little bit of freedom recaptured is startling. I’m thankful that I can go out and about, but at the same time I’m paranoid that my scooter will stop, never to budge again. I think, just don’t let it happen while I’m crossing a street. It’s not that I’m afraid I’ll get run down, though knowing San Antonio, it could happen. No, it’s the fact that people will stop to stare, horns will blare, and maybe then someone might come up hollering if I need any help. How mortifying.

But I have to keep going.

The VIATrans schedulers have given me horrible times for the next few days, and if I don’t want to get in trouble at work, I’ll have no choice but to use the regular bus and travel like I used to.

And the new scooter is no where near to being approved. I called to check on the status, and the lady told me she had used the wrong code. Which means getting a new authorization signed by the doctor. Which means starting over.

So my baby has to hold on a little longer. Please, hold on.

I was preparing a post on caregiving and Texas health care, but the State of the Union sounds like so much more fun.

I hate SOTU’s. The last one I listened to was during GW Bush’s term, and his accent alone was enough to send me running.

I’m listening today because I want to hear what Obama has to say on immigration. It probably won’t be anything new from what I’ve heard, but it will be interesting to hear. And watch how members react to the President’s comments.

So, I’ll be updating this post with my reaction. Catch me on twitter to @lekiare.

update: The SOTU isn’t over yet, but I’ve found myself yawning.

The only thing that irks me is the President’s comments on sending eligible immigrants to the back of the line before they can qualify for status. Well why not fix the actual line? Wait times for citizen siblings petitioning their immigrant siblings is over 15 years. The priority date is ’96, but the line only advances a week per month. So in reality that line is like a 100 yrs.

Fix the lines!

As Oscar time nears, a few of the nominated short films have begun to pop-up online. The Paperman from Disney, originally screened in front of “Wreck it Ralph.”

This film is so cute. I dare you not to tear up.

So I’m checking the stats on my dashboard and I notice someone has made a search on my blog for “submissive husband, mother piss.” Really? Why here? How entirely bizarre.

I sincerely hope they got what they were looking for. ::cough, cough::

Our office is moving.

We’re leaving an asbestos filled building for a much smaller one, probably just as old. I actually started to wonder if I would get claustrophobic. My office will be that small. Half the size of my current one, minus the creepy crawlies. At least I hope that’s the case.

We spent the day packing and working on cases of course. My whole workspace fits in 5 tiny boxes, sans the desk and the laptop. I’ll be getting a different desk there, and a window I can actually gaze out of. This info comes of course from word of mouth.

I have yet to see the new place. I’ll get to go on Thursday. Hopefully, I’ll fit.

I was served today.

The man wouldn’t hand the court documents to my provider. No, they were personally delivered.

I was expecting. I knew it was coming, but it was so surreal.

I know about the process, the procedure behind filing a lawsuit. It was drilled into me in law school and through bar study (of which I still have tons of useless facts tumbling through my head). I’ve seen it dramatically done on tv.

It’s not the same. There’s no screaming, no hissy fit. Just this sinking feeling in my stomach reminding me that it’s kind of serious.

And of course I can’t disclose why I’m being sued until I speak to my lawyer.

The irony is that I’ve been contemplating going back to law school to get my LLM. Oy.

Blogging will be light this week. I have a major Board meeting tomorrow and a translation to finish by Friday.

Of course, knowing me I’ll write to procrastinate. :)

Another little experiment from yesterday.

I’ve been messing around with the settings on my Droid Bionic. It doesn’t take the best pictures, but the ones I took today were halfway decent.

Obviously, I’m a fan of macro.

Alright, so I installed disqus. I’m not sure I’ll keep it around because I like handling comments on my end, but we’ll see.

later: Yeah, disqus seems nifty, but I think it was meant for high volume blogs. My poor blog needs to build up its audience again.

Since Friday I’ve noticed something odd happening to my Amigo scooter. It stopped stalling (KNOCK ON WOOD!). Literally, no stalling. Hit the forward button, and instead of no movement, I moved. I haven’t had any issues since. I even went to the gas station by work today and it was business as usual. Nada. No squeaking by or repeated willing to push my scooter forward. Zilch.

This is totally freaking me out.

A part of me is convinced it’s going to do it again. The last great stall to rule them all. Then I’ll be stranded and stuck going in reverse till the rental gets approved or the new scooter arrives.

Am I being paranoid? Why is it working now? This is why I’m not a mechanic.

The disability carnival is back up and running. There are some great stories on there, so do please check it out.

The Cardinal’s Heir by Jaki Demarest

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Guerite, as she’s fondly called, is a base born woman living during the time of Cardinal Richelieu and the musketeers. Only two of the famous quartet appear, but this is not a continuation of their story. Guerite is Richelieu’s niece and the leader of his spy network. She’s been tasked with uncovering the perpetrators of his murder, and thus, many hijinks ensue.

This was a fun read. Guerite is a spunky protagonist who embraces her sex and finds love in the process. Being a fan of alternative history, I realize that many of the plot points found in the book would never happen, but that’s the point. Guerite is believable as a woman of strength and resolve. Though she’s bound by the limits of her society, the fact that she’s respected and placed in a position of power is refreshing.

The secondary characters could have used a bit more development. And I think I missed a bit having not read The Three Musketeers.



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Ever have so much to do and no time to do it?

Story of my life!

I have all these plans, tiny projects that I’ve been aching to tackle. If I had to make a list it would reach into the twenties and never stop. I like being a jack of all trades, but as per usual, time slips by and I’m not there to catch it.

I want to write! So I’m blogging instead of creative writing.

I want to learn php, and I’ve made it through the second lesson. That was last weekend.

My goal is to read at least 50 books this year, but I have this uncanny tendency to pick the longest books, making my chances of finishing almost superhuman. After all, work and the previous two things have to fit into this jumbled mess.

And I’m sure that along the way I’ll find more things to keep me busy. Forgetting that I have no time.

I mean, just yesterday I learned how to make a backup copy of my dvds. I’m determined to back up all my movies now!

The master of sci-fi may be directing the new Star Wars. Yikes!

It’s not that I think he’ll do a horrible job. His Star Trek reboot is awesome, and I’m anxiously awaiting the sequel.

My worry is that it might be too much for him.

Then again he could do no worse than the previous trilogy. I still can’t rewatch them.

Seriously, who did not see this coming?

Citing “false, deceptive” and “misleading affirmative statements of fact,” two New Jersey men, John Farley of Evesham and Charles Pendrak of Ocean City, sued Subway on Tuesday to regain losses of 5 to 8.3 percent on the several “Footlong” sandwiches they bought from the sandwich store — about $.41-$.54 per sub, depending on whether it was the $5 or $6.50 kind.

I hate frivolous crap like this. Sure, some of the bread tends to be on the slight shorter end of things, but claiming disinformation is ridiculous.

They know this.

It’s about the bucks.