Awesome - Chuck P and his infinite wisdom

Today, kids, we will be discussing a man by the name of Chuck palahniuk (pal-a-nik). Sort of.

He is a writer. He is a good writer. He is over-rated and under-rated, depending on who you're speaking to. He is a cult writer. Well, what does he write? He wrote 'Fight Club'. Are we on the same page now?

Okay. He wrote the novel 'Fight Club' and 'Choke' (also a movie). He took a try at writing the script for 'Fight Club' but they went with someone else'. Like the movie? Holy snaps, try the book. You'll still be surprised in the end.

He has written a lot of great things. My favorite is 'Diary'. The only way to really describe how that book made me feel is this; I loved the book the entire way through, even though I was lost. I kept going, knowing that Chucky P wouldn't let me down. I finished the book and was awstruck. I thought it was a phenominal read. There is a blank page, then another page and I was floored. Never saw it coming. Fantastic.

Read it. Don't cheat. Read it. You will feel this way.

He also wrote a book called 'Survivor'. I loved this too. They attempted to make it into a movie but it had some themes about hijacking and it was right around 9-11. So it was nixed.

He is a fantastical writer who will put you in a world that didn't exist before you started reading. He will give you crazy twists that you will never see coming. He will throw a lot of sexual themes at you. But they often show characters perpetual flaws.

My favorite part about his writing is the way he sells it. For example, the main character in 'Survivor' is very knowledgeable in cleaning stains. He just is. But palahniuk will describe how to get this stain out of this fabric and that stain out of that fabric. He sells every little word and all the while, I search wikipedia for the truth on how much he actually knows. I am always fooled. You just believe that it is truth, whether it is or not.

He is a great author and I hope to turn a few of you on to him. If you've already read him, try some more. Some of my favorites are Diary, Survivor, Lullaby, Invisible Monsters, and check out Stranger than Fiction, Haunted and Rant. He's got a few more too. He's just plain good.

Here are his books.

The downside is that, lately, he can come off as overdone. This is just a personal feeling in some of his recent books. It sometimes seems like he is throwing a different character in the same worlds and twisting up the end to keep the readers on their toes. I am going to bypass this as just me not completely enjoying his recent books and give the next one a fresh try.

He just released 'Pygmy' which has some pretty good reviews. I will be reading that soon. That has a much more 'Fight Club' feel as it touches a lot of terrorism.

Yes! Check it out. Let me know what you have read and how you feel about him!

Awesome - baked goods and how awesome they are

oh ya, and....how I know a girl who bakes them the awesome-est!

So, this is a tribute post. A tribute to my oldest reader. The only reader who stayed with me through the many different blogs, even though they each only lasted a few posts. I know nothing about this topic but I took it upon myself to do a little research. Here you are Kelly.

I shoot weddings for a living. Sorta not awesome. But, I will use something that I see much of to help me with this topic; Wedding Cakes!

Who doesn't like a bagel. With some schmear (for my Jewish readers (I don't know what this means but I read it on a site)). Who doesn't indulge in the occasion donut or 8? Who doesn't love cake and well, sugar?

I do! Sorta. I can't eat a whole bunch of it. I do love the tastes though. "Why not?" ask the concerned readers. Not diabetic, just got achy, child-like teeth. Ask Nick Marfart.

Moving on.

Seeing all these cakes at weddings really get you thinking about the time and energy that goes into making one of these mammoth sugar stacks. I wonder why they don't just lay actual flowers on it? Why do they construct them? Why do they build these statues and creations when they could just buy a figurine at the store?

Well, I have seen these enormous cakes up close. They really are a thing to stare at. It all breaks down to this science of baked goods turned into a very delicate art. It really is. It is someones blood sweat and tears poured into that cakes (Um, I really hope not literally). But it is a crafted piece of art.

Don't believe me? Take a peak at this

Unbelievable. Its something often left unappreciated. You see it on TV now and maybe at the occasional wedding. But beyond that it is happening more and more. I am seeing bigger, better cakes at weddings. They are not necessarily taller but more detailed. Beautiful creatures that I dream of swimming through...at least until I inhale some cake and drown.

Cakes can be hilarious too. Feast your peepers on this!

So, go to the mom and pop place in your neighborhood and buy the bagels. Buy the pastries and cakes they are selling. Quit with the Giant Eagle quick cakes. I will say no bad about DQ ice cream cakes. I mean come on. Satan invented that, right? If someone can make me that I will marry you. Or at least befriend you for several months. (I have commitment issues).

Okay. wrap up. Cakes are awesome. Baked goods in general, straight up art. Enjoy them. Appreciate them. Quit eating so fast. I mean, would it really hurt for you to put the fork down for a second and appreciate your purchase. Hang it on the wall and don't mind the flies.

What's your favorite baked good?
Make something and send me a picture.

Baked goods. They really are flippin' awesome. Enjoy!

Here is Kelly's site, again. Check it out!

Here is the cake blog, again.