Green Rider ...countdown to Blackveil

9:00 AM
It's 9 AM...been up since 6:30...though in my defense, I was up to make Boyfriend breakfast before he went off to work.  Just finished Book 1: Green Rider.  For some reason I had the brilliant idea to read the books in reverse order.  Its been about 3-4 years since book 3 came out, so I wanted to re-read all of them again.  Originally, I was going to read them in chronological order, but my parents had just left after a long Christmas visit, Boyfriend was on a trip, and work wasn't going well, so I was impatient and Book 1 wasn't holding my attention on the 5th read, so I decided to skip to Book 3: High King's Tomb. About half way through, I realized I didn't remember Book 2: First Rider's Call as well as I thought, so I read that next, then finished up with Book 1.  As crazy as it sounds, I'm really glad I read it this way.  It made the character development, inter-character relationships, and plot twists more interesting and deeper some how.  For Book 5 though, I'll probably read in the correct order - and make a map and full character log!  How is there no map for a book where the main character is constantly traveling across the country!?

There is already a review up on Amazon for Blackveil. I'm hoping the person is either a critic and got an advanced copy or went to a 24 hour store at midnight - because reading 720 pages in an hour or two would just be insane.  He/She gave it a 5 star review and said they couldn't put it down.  Lots of plot twists, character interactions/development...can't wait.  Here are my predictions:
SPOILERS (if you haven't read books 1-3)!

1. The telescope scene from Book 1, where Kari sees an older Zachary begging her to not take a dangerous mission because he needs her will occur at the beginning of this book.  The previous vision of facing Immerez occurred in Book 3, so it only makes sense that this vision is next.  True, it's only been about three or four years tops since Kari first met Zachary and "future Zachary" is supposed to be older looking with worry lines and such, but look how much crap has happened in the four years! He was supposed to be already slightly aged by the end of the first book.  Kristen never gives exact ages, but Kari should be about 21/22 and that makes Zachary mid to late 30s...it could be time
2. The whole Kari/Zachary/Estora triangle will come closer to a head.  Obviously it will not be resolved, this is definitely not the last book in the series.  If Estora doesn't have SOME clue of what is going on, she's an idiot and shouldn't be Queen anyway.  I have a feeling Lord Coutre will give Estora the option to get out of the engagement due to her kidnapping, but this might be wishful thinking.
3. Amilton will reappear. He *might* volunteer to go on the suicide mission to Blackveil, what with his new "responsibilities" from the ring of power....not sure
4. Alton gets less annoying...ok this is just a wish...SO SICK of his plot thread...though I enjoy Merdigrim's dialog immensely, and at least one of my favorite Green Riders is stationed at the wall now!
5. Kari has a much needed discussion with her Father

My Hopes:

• Mapstone has an open conversation with Zachary and/or Kari about their relationship instead of just lying to both of them and sabotaging the relationship.  Geesh, have some faith in them!  They both know it probably can't happen (though I'm in denial!) and both put the country's security and well being before their own.  Stop making them more miserable!
• Stevric and Mapstone...advance...their relationship....maybe if Mapstone gets some romance she won't be such a hater...yup I said it...hater.
• Estora maintains a backbone.
• More training with Drent before the crazy mission begins. 
• More Fastion!  I love that guy!  Maybe Zachary will send him with Kari.  If I was sending a bunch of my best people (including the woman I loved) into an evil enchanted forest that's been walled up for a thousand years with some elves I don't really trust, who better to send with them than a bad-ass Weapon!  especially since 1 weapon is equal to like 6 regular soldiers...less people to send to their deaths right!

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Well... UPS says its still on the truck to be delivered...guess I'll get some real work done while I wait...then start the trips to the mailbox right before lunch...this is worse than a 5 year old waiting for Santa to come...

1:00 PM
Still no book...I checked 50 minutes ago...getting ready to check again...next time I think I'll just drive to the store...though when I ordered it I didn't think I'd be home today....Seriously though about going out and buying it and then returning the Amazon copy to the store...but that seemed wrong

3:00 PM
Still no book...I've checked 3 times.  The first time I took the dog and he tried to get in a fight...this last time I met a couple neighbors also checking for the mail, they all said the mail usually comes between 11 and 12...why does the universe hate me???  Got a meeting at 6...better pick up the Redbull because it is going to be a late night now.  At least there is still only ONE review on Amazon so its not taunting me as much that other people are reading it and I'm not.

3:04 PM
....just realized the book is coming UPS not USPS....so its not coming to the mailbox...at the community center...that I've walked to 3 times...its coming to my house...sometime between now and 6 pm....FML
I really hope the don't do extended hours around V-day like they do around Christmas....

5:00 PM
REALLY!? still not here... I jump to the window with every car sound...Hopefully Boyfriend gets home before I have to leave for the meeting so that I can ask him to wait to go out until AFTER the package gets here, don't want it outside...Even if it comes in the next five minutes I'm going to wait until after I make Chicken Picaitta for Boyfriend...don't want to get too deeply into the book and burn dinner...