Nimavenl - Nicole's Random Ramblings

I´ve just finished reading Twilight´s Dawn , the latest book in Anne Bishop´s Black Jewels series. I was hesitant about reading the book, and especially hesitant about the last story in it, as I knew what it would hold before going into it. However I did not expect to be so captivated and so moved by it. By the whole book, actually. I´ve been a fan of these books for over a decade now (my, how time flies!), and have looked forward to each and every new book that comes out. I read the books as hard copy at least twice a year and listen to the books on my iPod. They make me smile and laugh and grin and cry and think about life and the wonderful world we live in - both the real word around us and the various fantasy worlds created in stories. And this book, while I hoped I would love it, I wasn't completely sure about before starting it.

Happened to visit The Voyager Blog today as I wanted to read a post by Anne Bishop about the world of the Black Jewels post-Twilight's Dawn . I love all of Anne Bishop's books and characters, however have to admit to a real fondness for Surreal and Marian. Jaenelle too is an amazing character, and Lucivar's ways of shoving life into submission are second to none. Well, perhaps Daemonar's when he grows up... Having read the post by Anne Bishop, I had a look around the blog and came across a few stories about books by Traci Harding . Traci is one of my all-time favourite story-tellers and Tory, the heroine from her The Ancient Future series is someone who has really helped shape who I am today. I used to re-read Traci's books every few months (now it's more like every year or so), and would be inspired by Tory time and time again. She's courageous and bold, smart and sassy, knows her way around ancient languages as well as a fighting arena, looks goo...

Just logged on to Twitter, saw Jerusalem was (is) a trending topic. Decided to head straight to Ha'aretz to find the headline story to be: Bomb explodes in central Jerusalem. As tears flooded my eyes reading the article, I just wondered one thing. WHY??? Why do humans feel the need to kill and maim each other to get their point across? Why does violence seem to be the answer and the solution instead of the problem ? Why??? Bomb explodes in central Jerusalem Bomaanslag bij busstation Jeruzalem

Browsing Facebook for anything fun, new and interesting, a post from the Doctor Who Facebook page popped out at me. Following the link, I came to a Radio Times article on Matt Smith doing a movie. Cool for sure and kudos to him, but gimme more Doctor Who news already!!!!! I'm always happy to find a new website with interesting articles and pictures, and The Radio Times did not disappoint. First article that grabbed my attention --> Doctor Who's Karen Gillan on being 'too sexy' Apparently Amy Pond's short skirts are too short, according to some. Seriously???!!! As the actress says herself in the article, "It's what any girl on the street is wearing." And that's exactly right. Take a look around at the local mall or any place teens hang out and short skirts are pretty much everywhere. Stop moaning about Amy's clothes already and start worrying about those cracks in the universe, I say! Personally I find Amy Pond herself a lot more in...

I haven't spent much time in front of my computer since Friday. Instead, I've been spending time in front of my TV watching the news and the updates on the situation in Japan. It's unbelievable. Just completely unbelievable. Not only do the people of Japan have to deal with the aftermath of an extremely strong earthquake, there's also a tsunami, and to top it off fears for a possible nuclear disaster. I'm no stranger to earthquakes, however I'm used to 3, 4, and 5-point quakes on the Richter scale. A quake as huge, as enormous as the one in Japan, with as many aftershocks as there have been, that quite frankly scares the crap out of me. The feeling you get when the ground you stand on starts rumbling and shaking, that feeling of utter insignificance and smallness, that feeling is incredibly humbling. It is also incredibly scary. My first big earthquake was a life-changing experience. It really made me realise (even more than before) how small and insi...