Book Synopsis:

There are some girls who have everything.  She has the right clothes, the right friends, and the right last name, but fifteen-year-old Maddie Crane sometimes feels like an outsider in her wealthy seaside town.  And when her gorgeous, eccentric cousin Cordelia LeClaire moves to town, Maddie is drawn toward her ethereal, magical spirit and teeters even more toward the edge of her friends' tightly-knit circle...

Then there are the jealous ones.  Kate Endicott and the Sisters of Misery - a secret clique of the most popular, powerful girls in school - are less than thrilled by Cordelia's arrival.  When Kate's on-again, off-again boyfriend Trevor takes an interest in Cordelia, the Sisters of Misery become determined to make her pay...

Now  Maddie must choose between her loyalty to her cousin and the wrath of the Sisters of Misery...

All I can say is WOW!!!  There is nothing more thrilling than finding an author who has the capabilities of luring you into their story and not letting go.  I fell straight in, and didn't resurface until the book was finished, reading it straight through.  Hawthorne is right next to Salem and is described perfectly in this passage from the book:

There was the Hawthorne that most people talked about: the one with the stories as old and weathered as the shingles of the historic houses.  The town that's picture postcard perfect, a Currier and Ives landscape filled with the scents of apple cider in the fall, pine and woodsmoke in the winter, and honey and jasmine in the summer.  The town known for sailing and quaint shops and an envialbe coastline.

And then there were the legends.

Stories of ghostly soldiers that still lurked outside the Old Sandy Dog Tavern and the specter of Jack Derby, the tyranical sheriff who terrorized the town over two hundred years ago.  But the most startling of all were the townspeople reporting the sensation of a small hand reaching up to grab hold and be helped across the street - the tiny hand of Hester Proctor, who died so many years ago trampled by a horse and wagon.

During the times of the witch hunts, three sisters were killed on Misery Island.  Trying to recover, the town has tried to put all of the "evil" of the past behind it and become the perfect tourist town.  Unfortunately, the past isn't willing to give up that easy.

Maddy Crane seems to have it all from the outside but looks can be deceiving.  One thing she does have is a coveted spot in the elite group known as The Sisters of Misery.  A clique of sorts, these girls rule the town, and previous members are all prominent members of the community.  The Sisters of Misery is led Kate Endicott, a girl not only looked up to, but feared as well.  Maddie knows that even if she wanted to, she will never leave the club for fear of what may happen to her.  

A spot of happiness is about to grace her doorstep.  Her aunt Rebecca and cousin Cordelia have moved in to the house she shares with her Grandmother and mother.  Her aunt and mother are like night and day, and so are her and Cordelia.  But, as time passes Cordelia becomes her best friend.  She is truly a free spirit, and eccentric, but these are some qualities that Maddie is hoping to embrace.  So, when the Sister of Misery taunt her and treat her poorly, Maddie doesn't know what to do but try and ignore it.  Cordelia, strong as she is, doesn't put up with any of it.  So, when they decide to do a ritual ceremony out on Misery Island, Cordelia decides to come along to experience what is so special about this group.  Kate has plans for Cordelia, and has been studying up on the witchcraft that their town is notorious for.  Maddie witnesses some of the torture her cousin endures before passing out and waking up at home.  Cordelia is nowhere to be found and the Sisters aren't talking.  Frantic, Maddie fights to gain clues as to what happened to her cousin, at any cost.

This was such an excellent read and I am hopeful that the author will honor me by allowing me to review her future books - EXCELLENT!!

When I think of natural sounds, I think of being at some less-than-satisfying massage place somewhere in the city, where my masseuse of the day has hit play on sounds meant to ‘calm’ and/ or ‘quieten’ my senses.  In these circumstances, being at the ocean’s edge in Big Sur, CA seems comically irrelevant as I lay down for my massage in a small thread-bare room in NYC.  Perhaps, that’s because the music is usually mixed with some god awful wind instrument which probably requires smoking hash to truly appreciate.

On the flip side of awful, wildsanctuary.com delivers 3,500 hours of natural soundscapes including 15,000 species as recorded by Dr. Bernie Krause.  Krause’s mission is to record sound environments from all over the world before they disappear, overburdened by the sounds of man and machinery.  To date, Krause claims that over 40% of the sound environments he has recorded have been destroyed.

Check out the Google XML overlayer (above) to hear sounds from all over the world.  Check out the Azores in Portugal for something particularly hilarious.  Perfect prank?  Set this soundscape off in the living room while a loved one is napping.  And then, send me the photos. . .

One more thing:

For anyone who has visited Big Sur, CA, you are aware of the truly majestic beauty of the area.  I was just in Big Sur in May and cringe when I think of the thousands of acres burned in such a pristine natural preserve.

As of this posting, the wildfires have been raging in Big Sur for about a week and a mandatory evacuation order has been issued.  The above site, Surfire2008.org offers a community for those displaced by the fire.  If you’re in the CA area, there are areas on the site where you can offer housing or volunteer.  For those not in the area, information on donating to the Big Sur Fire Relief Fund is included in the bottom right corner.  Click here or on the image above for the homepage.  Full unofficial reports from those on the ground are available on the blog.

With the constant rain in the area, it is likely your basement may not have withstood the weather. If this is the case, do not wait any longer to fix the damages. R&C Cleaning Specialists are certified Water Restoration Professionals. Time is critical when it comes to water damage restoration, and the R&C technicians are formally trained to handle these issues quickly and in the proper order.

R&C offers the following services:

• Devices that detect water beneath floor coverings and in walls, wood framing materials, insulation, and sheetrock;
• FREE telephone consultations;
• Initial emergency service calls;
• Structural drying (including equipment rental);
• Structural demolition, as needed;
• Reconstruction with the help of a general contractor,
  if requested.

Contact R&C Cleaning today if you believe your home has sustained any water damage. 763-789-9600

Additional information click here:  http://www.yourvirtualmainstreet.biz/2008/05/scavello-restoration-specialists-of-montgomery-county-pa/ 

Gina Scavello

Owner

Serving all of Montgomery County, PA  

Phone:  610-489-0859

Or Call

Gina Scavello
Owner

Serving all of Berks County, PA 
Phone:  610-489-0859

Serving all of Berks County, PA 

Phone:  610-489-0859

Visit their website at: http://www.bythezip.com/Companies/1000011785.htm

Cleaning & Janitorial Services,Commercial Services,Contractors,Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning,Commercial Building Remodel, Renovation & Repair,Fire/Smoke/Water Damage Restoration & Repair,Air Ducts/HVAC Cleaning - Smoke & Soot,Antique Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Antique Restoration - Water Damage,Artwork Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Artwork Restoration - Water Damage,Books Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Books Restoration - Water Damage,Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning,Carpets & Upholstery Cleaning - Fire & Smoke Damage,Carpets & Upholstery Cleaning - Water Damage,Ceilings & Walls Cleaning - Fire & Smoke Damage,Ceilings & Walls Cleaning - Water Damage,China/Crystal Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,China/Crystal Restoration - Water Damage,Collectibles Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Collectibles Restoration - Water Damage,Commercial Cleaning,Commercial Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration,Commercial Flooding/Water Damage Restoration,Crime / Accident Scene Clean Up,Delicate Materials Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Delicate Materials Restoration - Water Damage,Deodorizing & Odor Removal,Document Drying & Reclamation - Water Damage,Document Restoration - Fire & Smoke,Drapes & Blinds Cleaning - Fire & Smoke Damage,Drapes & Blinds Cleaning - Water Damage,Electronics Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Electronics Restoration - Water Damage,Emergency Board Up - Fire/Water Damage,Emergency Power Generation,Emergency Service,Fire, Smoke & Soot Damage Restoration,Fire. Smoke & Soot Clean Up,Flooding Clean Up,Furniture/ Home Contents Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Furniture/ Home Contents Restoration - Water Damage,Hard Drive/Computer Data Recovery,Heirloom Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Heirloom Restoration - Water Damage,Home Demolition Contractor - Selective/Partial,Hot Water Cleaning,Insurance Work & Billing,Move Out/Pack Out Restoration Services,No-Residue Cleaning,Non-Toxic,Safety Barriers,Sanitizing,Smoke & Soot Clean Up,Spot & Stain Removal,Steam Cleaning,Structural Cleaning - Fire, Smoke & Soot,Structural Cleaning - Water & Flooding,Structural Repair - Fire/Water Damage Restoration,Truck Mounted System,Water Damage Restoration,Water Extraction & Removal - Carpet,Water Extraction & Removal - Furniture & Contents,Water Extraction - Emergency Service,Hereford,PA,18056,Bally,19503,Barto,19504,Bechtelsville,19505,Bernville,19506,Bethel,19507,Birdsboro,19508,Blandon,19510,

Bowers,19511,Boyertown,19512,Centerport,19516,Douglassville,19518,Earlville,19519,Fleetwood,19522,Geigertown,19523,Hamburg,

19526,Kempton,19529,Kutztown,19530,Leesport,19533,Lenhartsville,19534,Limekiln,19535,Lyon Station,19536,Maxatawny,19538,Mertztown,19539,Mohnton,19540,Mohrsville,19541,Monocacy Station,19542,Morgantown,19543,Mount Aetna,19544,New Berlinville,19545,Oley,19547,Pine Forge,19548,Rehrersburg,19550,Robesonia,19551,Shartlesville,19554,Shoemakersville,19555,Strausstown,19559,

Temple,19560,Topton,19562,Virginville,19564,Wernersville,19565,Womelsdorf,19567,Reading,19601,

Reading,19602,Reading,19603,Reading,19604,Reading,19605,Reading,19606,Reading,19607,Reading,

19608,Reading,19609,Reading,19610,Reading,19611,Reading,19612,Reading,19640

Serving all of Bucks County, PA 

Phone:  610-489-0859

http://www.bythezip.com/Companies/1000011784.htm

Serving all of Montgomery County, PA 

Phone:  610-489-0859

Check their website: http://www.bythezip.com/Companies/1000011781.htm

Cleaning & Janitorial Services,Commercial Services,Contractors,Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning,Commercial Building Remodel, Renovation & Repair,Fire/Smoke/Water Damage Restoration & Repair,Air Ducts/HVAC Cleaning - Smoke & Soot,Antique Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Antique Restoration - Water Damage,Artwork Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Artwork Restoration - Water Damage,Books Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Books Restoration - Water Damage,Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning,Carpets & Upholstery Cleaning - Fire & Smoke Damage,Carpets & Upholstery Cleaning - Water Damage,Ceilings & Walls Cleaning - Fire & Smoke Damage,Ceilings & Walls Cleaning - Water Damage,China/Crystal Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,China/Crystal Restoration - Water Damage,Collectibles Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Collectibles Restoration - Water Damage,Commercial Cleaning,Commercial Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration,Commercial Flooding/Water Damage Restoration,Crime / Accident Scene Clean Up,Delicate Materials Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Delicate Materials Restoration - Water Damage,Deodorizing & Odor Removal,Document Drying & Reclamation - Water Damage,Document Restoration - Fire & Smoke,Drapes & Blinds Cleaning - Fire & Smoke Damage,Drapes & Blinds Cleaning - Water Damage,Electronics Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Electronics Restoration - Water Damage,Emergency Board Up - Fire/Water Damage,Emergency Power Generation,Emergency Service,Fire, Smoke & Soot Damage Restoration,Fire. Smoke & Soot Clean Up,Flooding Clean Up,Furniture/ Home Contents Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Furniture/ Home Contents Restoration - Water Damage,Hard Drive/Computer Data Recovery,Heirloom Restoration - Fire & Smoke Damage,Heirloom Restoration - Water Damage,Home Demolition Contractor - Selective/Partial,Hot Water Cleaning,Insurance Work & Billing,Mildew Removal,Move Out/Pack Out Restoration Services,No-Residue Cleaning,Non-Toxic,Safety Barriers,Sanitizing,Smoke & Soot Clean Up,Spot & Stain Removal,Steam Cleaning,Structural Cleaning - Fire, Smoke & Soot,Structural Cleaning - Water & Flooding,Structural Repair - Fire/Water Damage Restoration,Truck Mounted System,Water Damage Restoration,Water Extraction & Removal - Carpet,Water Extraction & Removal - Furniture & Contents,Water Extraction - Emergency Service,East Greenville,PA,18041,Green Lane,18054,Palm,18070,Pennsburg,18073,Perkiomenville,18074,Red Hill,18076,Sumneytown,18084,Colmar,18915,Earlington,18918,Franconia,18924,Montgomeryville,18936,Salford,18957,Salfordville,18958,Souderton,18964,Telford,18969,Tylersport,18971,Woxall,18979,Abington,19001,Ambler,19002,Ardmore,19003,Bala Cynwyd,19004,Huntingdon Valley,19006,Bryn Athyn,19009,Cheltenham,19012,Dresher,19025,Elkins Park,19027,Flourtown,19031,Fort Washington,19034,Gladwyne,19035,Glenside,19038,Hatboro,19040,Haverford,19041,Horsham,19044,Jenkintown,19046,Merion Station,19066,Narberth,19072,Oreland,19075,Willow Grove,19090,Wyncote,19095,Wynnewood,19096,West Chester,19381,Norristown,19401,Norristown,19403,Norristown,19404,Bridgeport,19405,King of Prussia,19406,Audubon,19407,Eagleville,19408,Fairview Village,19409,Eagleville,19415,Arcola,19420,Blue Bell,19422,Cedars,19423,Blue Bell,19424,Collegeville,19426,Conshohocken,19428,Conshohocken,19429,Creamery,19430,Frederick,19435,Gwynedd,19436,Gwynedd Valley,19437,Harleysville,19438,Hatfield,19440,Harleysville,19441,Kulpsville,19443,Lafayette Hill,19444,Lansdale,19446,Lederach,19450,Mainland,19451,Mont Clare,19453,North Wales,19454,North Wales,19455,Oaks,19456,Plymouth Meeting,19462,Pottstown,19464,Royersford,19468,Sassamansville,19472,Schwenksville,19473,Skippack,19474,Spring House,19477,Spring Mount,19478,Valley Forge,19483,Valley Forge,19484,Valley Forge,19485,West Point,19486,Worcester,19490,Zieglerville,19492,Gilbertsville,19525

You can find their coupons directly at:

http://www.bythezip.com/coupons/1000010438.htm

Jane & David Robey - Owners / Operators

1041 West Bridge Street
Suite 105
Phoenixville, PA 19460

Phone:  610-933-9290 Fax:      610-933-9798

1900 Conrad Street
Wilmington, DE 19805

Phone:  302-658-7511

Check their website: http://www.bythezip.com/Companies/1000011793.htm

For more information, visit http://www.yourvirtualmainstreet.biz/2008/04/donovans-locksmith-in-wilmington-de/

I called Morvent's One Hour Heating & Air Conditiong Contractor to fix my furnace recently and they are awesome.  Within 30 minutes of my call, they had a technician at my door.  He was professional, courteous and clearly knew what he was doing.  He was able to fix my system in about 20 minutes with parts he had on his truck.  I will never call anyone else for all my heating and air conditioning needs.

I found Morven't One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning on http://www.bythezip.com.  You can find Morvent's One Hour Air's company info and coupons at http://www.bythezip.com/companies/1000010343.htm.  Check it out!

Morvent's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning offers you heating/HVAC, air conditioning, cooling , furnaces, heat pumps sales & service & repairs. They have fully trained technicians  and on time service is their guarentee. Call today for all your heating and air conditioning needs.

They and many other local businesses like theirs can be found at www.bythezip.com
They can be found directly at http://bythezip.com/Companies/1000011343.htm

१) पहली सेवा रक्तदान से संबंधित है। रक्तदान से संबंधित एक वेबसाइट है www.indianblooddonors.com | अगर आप रक्तदान के इच्छुक हैं तो यहाँ पंजीकरण करवा लीजिये। आपको बस अपना रक्तग्रुप, नाम एवं जरूरत पडने पर पहुँचे जा सकने वाले फोन नम्बर की सूचना देनी होगी। साथ ही आप जिस शहर में हैं वहाँ के सारे रक्तबैंकों की सूची में आपके घर के पास वाले रक्तबैंक चुनने की सुविधा रहेगी।

जब कहीं संबंधित रक्त ग्रुप की जरूरत पडती है, तो इस वेबसाइट को सूचित किया जा सकता है। वेबसाइट उस शहर में मौजूद संबंधित ग्रुप के समस्त लोगों को, SMS करती है, और किस अस्पताल में जरूरत है ये भी बताती है। अगर आप उस समय उपलब्ध हैं तो जवाब दीजिये और रक्तदान कीजिये।

मुझे पिछले एक साल में २ SMS आये हैं। एक बार मैं जा नही सका। दूसरी बार गया था..और यकीन मानिये, बहुत अच्छा लगा। हालांकि रक्तदान को लेकर कई कैम्प लगते रहते हैं..लेकिन एन जरूरत के वक्त आपका खून किसी के काम आये, इससे सुखद अनुभूति और कुछ नही हो सकती।

अतः कहीं खून के जरूरत हो अथवा आप देना चाहें...ये सेवा काफी काम की है।

२) दूसरी सेवा भी स्वास्थ्य संबंधी है। पूरे आंध्रप्रदेश में अगर आप कहीं भी दुर्घटना, आग आदि जैसी आपातकालीन स्थिति से दो-चार हों तो किसी भी मोबाइल या लैण्ड्लाइन से १०८ (108) डायल कीजिये। ये आंध्रप्रदेश सरकार और सत्यम फाउंडेशन की सम्मिलित सेवा है। इनके पास पूर राज्य भर में करीब ४०० एम्बुलेन्स हैं। जैसे ही आप १०८ पर फोन करते हैं, आपकी काल इनके काल सेन्टर को पहुँचती है (१-२ रिंग में काल अटेन्ड की जाती है)। आप दुर्घटना स्थल का पता बताइये और ये सूचना उस स्थान के निकटतम मौजूद एम्बुलेन्स को पहुँचा दी जाती है। सभी एम्बुलेंस में GPS लगा हुआ है...सो किस समय कौन सा वाहन कहाँ है ये जानकारी काल सेन्टर पर मौजूद होती है।

मैने जब पिछले दिनों एक सडक दुर्घटना को देखकर फोन लगाया तो तुरंत जवाब आया.."हाँ सर उस स्थल के जानकारी हमें मिल चुकी है और निकटतम एम्बुलेन्स रवाना हो चुकी है। २-३ किलोमीटर आगे गये थे तो देखा "१०८" की गड्डी तेज रफ्तार से उसी और बढ रही थी।

इस सेवा के बारे में ज्यादा जानकारी यहाँ प्राप्त कर सकते हैं।