A Few of My Favorite Things

My first meme of 2009! Alyssa from On the Writers' Road Less Traveled tagged me in this.

The Rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Write down six things that make you happy
3. Post these rules
4. Tag six others
5. Notify me that you've tagged six others--or that you're not in a happy place right now...


Six things that make me happy:

1. The smell of a freshly opened box of crayons.
2. The look and smell of a new book before it's been opened.
3. Waking up early in the morning to find snow already thick on the ground, and it's still coming down.
4. Reading outside on a warm spring day.
5. Diving straight into a pool for the first swim of the summer.
6. The warm feeling of freshly laundered sheets.

As for tagging people....I don't know if anyone will do this. I hesitate to tag people, but I guess if they don't want to they don't have to. Ha ha.

PJ Hoover
Sheri
Jaye Patrick
Merrilee
Beth
Laura

Do YOU Have a Life?

Supposedly if you’ve seen more than 85 of these films, you have no life. Mark the ones you’ve seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, then put x’s next to the films you’ve seen, and add them up. I tag anyone who wants to play. Have fun.

() Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
() Boondock Saints
(x) Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
(x)Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane
Total: 7

(x) The Princess Bride
(x) Anchorman
(x) Napoleon Dynamite
() Labyrinth
(x) Saw
(x) Saw II
(x) White Noise
() White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 16

(x) Scream
(x) Scream 2
(x) Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
(x) Scary Movie 2
(x) Scary Movie 3
(x) Scary Movie 4
() American Pie
() American Pie 2
() American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 23

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
(x) Resident Evil 1
(x) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
(x) Little Black Book
(x) The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 33

(x) Finding Nemo
() Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
(x) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
(x) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
(x) Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30
(x) I, Robot
(x) Robots
Total so far: 42

(x) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
(x) Universal Soldier
(x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came Polly
() Deep Impact
() KingPin
() Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
(x) Eight Crazy Nights
(x) Joe Dirt
(x) KING KONG
Total so far: 50

() A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
(x) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
(x) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
(x) Dumber & Dumberer
(x) Final Destination
(x) Final Destination 2
(x) Final Destination 3
(x) Halloween
(x) The Ring
(x) The Ring 2
() Surviving X-MAS
(x) Flubber
Total so far: 62

(x) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
() Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
(x) Ghost Ship
() From Hell
(x) Hellboy
(x) Secret Window
() I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 67

(x) The Day After Tomorrow
(x) Child’s Play
() Seed of Chucky
(x) Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You
(x) Just Married
(x) Gothika
(x) Nightmare on Elm Street
() Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
(x) The Grudge
(x) The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 78

(x) Bad Boys
(x) Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
(x) Lucky Number Slevin
() Ocean’s Eleven
() Ocean’s Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremecy
() Lone Star
(x) Bedazzled
(x) Predator I
() Predator II
(x) The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 88

(x) Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
(x) Darkness Falls
(x) Christine
(x) ET
(x) Children of the Corn
(x) My Bosses Daughter
(x) Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
(x) Rush Hour
(x) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 98

() Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x) She’s All That
() Calendar Girls
() Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
() Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
() Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
(x) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 106

(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
(x) Sky High
(x) Jeepers Creepers
(x) Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
(x) The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far: 120

(x) Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street
(x) Old School
(x) The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf’s Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
(x) Boogeyman
(x) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 127

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
() Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
() Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 131

() Basketball
(x) Hostel
() Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
() Highlander
(x) Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
(x) Three
Total so Far: 135

(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(x) Shaun Of the Dead
(x) Willard
Total so far: 139

() High Tension
() Club Dread
(x) Hulk
(x) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
(x) 28 days later
(x) Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 145

(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
(x) Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
(x) Kingdom of Heaven
(x) the Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
(x) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 151

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 157

(x) The Matrix
(x) The Matrix Reloaded
(x) The Matrix Revolutions
(x) Animatrix
(x) Evil Dead
(x) Evil Dead 2
(x) Team America: World Police
(x) Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
(x) Hannibal
Grand Total: 167

So...basically they're saying that my absence of a life or anything resembling it, that not only do I not have a life, the gravitational pull from the black hole that is my non-life is a danger to any innocent passers by. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Magnificent Memorable Movies Meme

I got this from Heather's Blethers, and from S.M.D's blog, The World in the Satin Bag, so I figured...why not? I haven't done a meme in a while.

This is Entertainment Weekly's list of 100 Classic Movies of the past 25 years. Anyone who wants to play, consider yourself tagged! The rules: Bold the movies you've seen, underline or *asterisk* the ones you plan to, strike out the ones you HATE and refuse to watch ever again.

... P.S... for those of you who, like me, didn't know how to strike out something, here's how: <> strike out < / s >

That might save you a Google search.

Here's the list:

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)
3. Titanic (1997)
4. Blue Velvet (1986)
5. Toy Story (1995)
6. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
7. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
9. Die Hard (1988)
10. Moulin Rouge (2001)
11. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
12. The Matrix (1999)
13. Goodfellas (1990)
14. Crumb (1995)
15. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
16. Boogie Nights (1997)
17. Jerry Maguire(1996)
18. Do the Right Thing (1989)
19. Casino Royale (2006)
20. The Lion King (1994)
21. Schindler's List (1993)
22. Rushmore (1998)
23. Memento (2001)
24. A Room With a View (1986)
25. Shrek (2001)
26. Hoop Dreams (1994)
27. Aliens (1986)
28. Wings of Desire (1987)
29. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
30. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
31. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
32. Fight Club (1999)
33. The Breakfast Club (1985)
34. Fargo (1996)
35. The Incredibles (2004)
36. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
37. Pretty Woman (1990)
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
39. The Sixth Sense (1999)
40. Speed (1994)
41. Dazed and Confused (1993)
42. Clueless (1995)
43. Gladiator (2000)
44. The Player (1992)
45. Rain Man (1988)
46. Children of Men (2006)
47. Men in Black (1997)
48. Scarface (1983)
49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
50. The Piano (1993)
51. There Will Be Blood (2007)
52. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988)
53. The Truman Show (1998)
54. Fatal Attraction (1987)
55. Risky Business (1983)
56. The Lives of Others (2006)
57. There’s Something About Mary (1998)
58. Ghostbusters (1984)
59. L.A. Confidential (1997)
60. Scream (1996)
61. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
62. sex, lies and videotape (1989)
63. Big (1988)
64. No Country For Old Men (2007)
65. Dirty Dancing (1987)
66. Natural Born Killers (1994)
67. Donnie Brasco (1997)
68. Witness (1985)
69. All About My Mother (1999)
70. Broadcast News (1987)
71. Unforgiven (1992)
72. Thelma & Louise (1991)
73. Office Space (1999)
74. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
75. Out of Africa (1985)
76. The Departed (2006)
77. Sid and Nancy (1986)
78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
79. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
80. Michael Clayton (2007)
81. Moonstruck (1987)
82. Lost in Translation (2003)
83. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
84. Sideways (2004)
85. The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
86. Y Tu Mamá También (2002)
87. Swingers (1996)
88. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
89. Breaking the Waves (1996)
90. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
91. Back to the Future (1985)
92. Menace II Society (1993)
93. Ed Wood (1994)
94. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
95. In the Mood for Love (2001)
96. Far From Heaven (2002)
97. Glory (1989)
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
99. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
100. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

Huh, I did better than I thought I would. But still, I feel like I let myself down. There's some movies on there I really should see, since they're classics. And I really have to question who made this list. South Park? The Blair Witch Project? I hated the Blair Witch Project, and while I can't say I hated South Park...one of the top 100 movies of the past 25 years? Really? Couldn't that spot have gone to something better...anything better?

Marvelous Meme Magic

Well, there's nothing going on around here, so I thought I'd do this meme that PJ Hoover, over at ROOTS IN MYTH, tagged me with.

The rules are:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).

2. Open the book to page 123.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the next three sentences.

5. Tag five people.

Well, I had two books stacked on top of eachother -- I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert and The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor. I checked both of their pages and decided on The Looking Glass Wars getting the nod, mostly because I liked the three sentences better than the other one.

Here you go:

Anyone could see that she was going to grow into a beautiful woman. It was the thoought that her beauty might gain her entry into ranks of society rarely attained by orphans, which could bode well for Charing Cross, leading to donations from wealthy families on the hunt for unearthly beauties of their own. Whenever Alyss mentioned Wonderland, she was shushed more harshly than she would have been if the wardens hadn't taken an interest in her.

Intrigued? I know I was. It's a really good book, and just because I like books and like to recommend them, I recommend both I Am America (And So Can You!) and The Looking Glass Wars. Both are very good. If you like Colbert's show, I Am America is the same thing -- funny. And the other book puts a new spin on Alice in Wonderland that is very interesting.

As for tagging people, I hate to be a bother to anyone. Anyone who wants to do this meme is free to do so. Link to it in the comments and give us all something to read too, will you?

UPDATED WITH NEWEST NEWS: Actor Heath Ledger has died today. It's really too bad, I liked him. He was funny in 10 Things I Hate About You, and he looked like he was making a kick-ass Joker in the new Batman movie. I know my mom is going to miss him -- she loved his accent.

Moving Madness and a Meme

Whoo, man has it been a week. I've been scrambling around trying to clean the house (especialliy my room which looked like a bomb had been set off in my garbage can) and packing for THE BIG MOVE. It's coming, and I'm terrified. I'll have a room mate, but that doesn't mean that I'll like him or that he'll like me. He could be a royal jackass, or I could have a whole series of horrible misadventures. For a list of things that could go wrong, see this post.

Anyway, so we've been scrambling around like chickens with our heads cut off for the past couple of days and it'll only get worse as we get closer to THE DAY of THE BIG MOVE.

So, because I'm bored and because it looks like fun, I got a meme off of MerylF's blog which I will now do. Instead of doing it about me, I think I'll do it about The Dark Lord Sauron from the Lord of the Rings (before he was turned into a crazy, fiery eye), just because I'm crazy like that.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yes, it just so happens that I'm named after my Great, great, great grandfather The Dark Lord Marian-Stacy...he wasn't Dark Lord for very long.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I always get a little teary eyed during Leo's death scene in Titanic. *sniff*

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
My handwriting is horrible. It's hard for your handwriting to improve when you have people to write your letters and death threats for you. The only time I write is during December when I have to send thank you cards to my grandmother.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Hobbit. If you fry them in a pan with some onions and then put them on a couple of slices of sourdough bread, I swear, you can hear angels sing.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Unfortunately, no. It's hard to go out and find a girl when you're busy taking over Middle Earth...and when you do get to go out, the girls are always afraid of my spikey helmet and black armor. You'd think they'd understand that Dark Lords get have feelings, too.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Of course. I don't know anybody better than me.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Noooo! Not me! I'm always straight with what I'm saying.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes. To tell you the truth, I'm a little afraid I might need them out sometime soon. My dad was 562 when he got his tonsils taken out, and I'll be 562 next fall.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Hell no! I'm terrified of heights and amusement park ride supervisers.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Sauron's Cinnamon Swirls. I ordered my best men to create that for me.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No, I wear metal boots.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Well...I don't like to brag, but take out an entire force of men in one swing of my mace.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Oh, Rocky Road is to die for.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their shoes. If they're not Italian or Dwarvish, they're just not worth wearing.

15. RED OR PINK?
Oooh, that's a tuffie. I like red...it's the color of blood and fire, but I think I'll have to go with pink, because it brings out my eyes.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I care too much. I only maimed a family of Hobbits because they were having a birthday party.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My stuffed teddy bear, Mr. Fluffums. I lost him last week and haven't been able to find him.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO LINK THIS BACK TO YOU?
You mean with a chain, Why would I want someone to chain themselves to me by my laptop.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS (Or Kilt) AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Black leg armor, black leggings, and spaceship underwear.

20. WHAT WAS The LAST THING YOU ATE?
A salad. I'm trying to watch my figure.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The dying screams of the tortured...and a Yani cd.

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Robin's Eggshell Blue. They're so beautiful in the spring!

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Fresh grass, rain, flowers, baking bread, and the rotting remains of my enemies corpses.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My mum. She called to remind me to brush my teeth after my reign of terror.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO LINKED THIS TO YOU?
Again with the linking. Look pal, whips and chains and stuff is okay for some people, I'm just not into it.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Hobbit squashing and golf.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Well...technically I'm bald.

28. EYE COLOR?
Bloodbath red.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Duh, did you think the eye color was natural?

30. FAVORITE FOOD(S)?Hobbit calves, Dwarf tricept, and chocolate moose

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Our orc training video: "Working like an Orc: How not to piss off your boss and die in the first week."

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer. I like warmer (or even hot) weather.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs!

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Chocolate moose

37. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
"Be a Better Leader, Take Charge of that Army of Doom"

38. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Hello Kitty!

39. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
The Shire, Middle Earth, yes, I'm 1/4 Hobbit. I just had a growth spurt, and then a run-in with a mystical, disfiguring gem.

40. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Gandalfs! He's such a riot. And Bilbo if he has time to do this!!!

Tagged!--Eight Random Things

I've been tagged for the eight random things meme by MerylF over at Characterisensation. I've done this meme before, but it's fun, so I'm glad to do it again! So here's the rules:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each participant posts eight random facts about themselves.
3. Tagees should write a blogpost of eight random facts about themselves.
4. At the end of the post, eight more bloggers are tagged (named and shamed).
5. Go to their blog, leave a comment telling them they’re tagged (cut and run).

Now...eight random things...what can I tell...?

1. I didn't always want to be a writer. I've told people that because it's true in part, but writing has been an on again, off again idea since I was in Kindergarten. Other careers I wanted to pursue: movie actor, archeologist, cartoonist, rock band lead singer, and a photographer.

2. The first thing that inspired me to be a writer was the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. It was what got me into scary stories, and a good chunk of my story starts were supposed to be scary stories. In fact, one of my most prized possessions is an autographed book by R.L. Stine. Funnily enough, what I considered to be my first complete story, I also considered it a scary story. I later realized I had written a fantasy long before I knew what it was and long before I actually liked fantasy. See the other eight random things for my history with fantasy.

3. I like to draw. I draw little doodles and cartoons all the time...mostly during class, ha ha. I get bored pretty easily, and drawing those doodles helps me stay awake. I listen and draw at the same time, so I can absorb the info, but I'm actively doing something so I don't fall asleep. Note taking isn't the same.

4. I'm very anal about my books. If I let my friends borrow any of my books, I lecture them about how they should try not to crease the spine, try not to open it too much, try not to bend the pages--not rabbit ears!--and so forth. I nearly destoryed my copy of Dreamcatcher by Stephen King when I was in middle school, and I haven't treated a book like that since then. I want to keep them as new as possible.

5. I love dogs. I have three right now, and when I move out on my own after college I'll probably have more. I have a half dachsund (I have no idea if I spelled that right...) half scottish terrier dog named Socks, I have a full blooded dachsund named Jimi Hendrix, and I have a half miniature doberman pincher, half teacup chihuahua named Ebony.

6. Another random book fact about me: I have to have my series all in one form. If one book is paperback, they all have to be paperback. If one book if hardcover, they all have to be hardcover. My Maximum Ride series is in paperback, so I'll probably wait to buy the third until it's in paperback, my Chronicles of Narnia series is all paperback. My Dark Tower series and my Harry Potter series is mostly hardcover, but a few are paperback, so I plan to buy the offending books in hardcover to fix it.

7. I'm extremely clumsy. Just a few minutes ago, I tried to leave the bathroom, kicked the door as I opened it, fell forward, and shut myself half in and half out of the bathroom with the force of my kick. Then I had to find something to grip so I could regain my balance enough to open the door and pull myself out from between the door and the door frame.

8. My body spray of preference: Old Spice. The smell really has nothing to do with it. In fact, I really can't tell many of the body sprays apart--most of them smell too similar for me to tell. The reason I buy Old Spice is because of the commercials. I'm a huge fan of the Evil Dead movies--stupid as they may be I love to watch them and laugh at them--and since Bruce Campbell, the star of the Evil Dead series is in the Old Spice commericals, it is immediately my new favorite spray.

Okay, reading this, I realize how boring of a person I am. Next time I get tagged I'll probably only be able to come up with three things. Anyway, I don't really know enough people to tag so...TAG! If you read this, you're tagged. Do it if you haven't yet, and make sure to link to it in the comments so we can check it out.

Tied to the Tracks

I was over at Rantings and Ravings of an Insane Writer when I found a link to this: Rosina Lippi is spreading the word about her new release, Tied to the Tracks. The meme looks absolutely fun, and even though there's a prize, I didn't know it when I found the meme. I'd have done it anyway, just because it's fun.

Five Reasons the Best Writers Come From Hogwarts

1. With all the ghosts you always have reliable research.
2. It's the deadliest safest place in England
3. The constantly changing staircases would make visitors finding your writing room rare.
4. Bogarts are perfect for getting scary ideas.
5. If your muse is in a particularly bad mood, you can always find what you need at the Room of Requirement.

Remember to check out Rosina Lippi's new release. And the meme is just plain fun!

Tied to the Tracks by Rosina Lippi. July 3, 2007. ISBN: 0425215326

"[This] is a hilarious, smart, sexy novel with a heart of gold." -- Susan Wiggs

"[Lippi] turns her buoyant creative talents to the romantic comedy genre with an effervescent tale of a trio of offbeat Yankee filmmakers plunked down deep in the heart of Dixie." -- Booklist

Read an excerpt. (Adobe Reader required) Watch the book trailer

You can find Tied to the Tracks at Amazon , Barnes & Nobel, Borders, Powells, or at your local independent bookseller.

This meme has been entered in the Tied to the Tracks contest, originating on Rosina Lippi's Storytelling2 weblog. If you'd like to enter the BUCKS & BOOKS meme contest, get the rules here.

Meme the Second: The iPod (or Mp3) Meme

Here we go! I finally get to do this meme, which looks like it's going to be tons o' fun. I got this meme off of Jean's blog, who got it off of MerylF's blog. Let's do it!

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Put your music player on shuffle.

2. Press forward for each question.

3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn’t make sense. NO CHEATING!


How do you feel today?
There's A Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought Of It - Panic! At the Disco

What’s your outlook on life?
Home - Chris Dawtry

What does your family think of you?
Big Ten Inch Record - Aerosmith

What do your friends think of you?
I Want It All - Queen

What do your exes think of you?
Hum Hallelujiah - Fall Out Boy

How’s your love life?
The Carpal Tunnel of Love - Fall Out Boy (Heh, that's ironic)

How will your love life be in the future?
House of Wolves - My Chemical Romance (Hah, so is that.)

Will you get married?
Dizziful Bliss - Lemon Demon

Were you good at school?
Cold - Crossfade

Will you be successful?
Headstrong - Trapt

What song should they play on your birthday?
Rag Doll - Aerosmith

What song should they play at your graduation?
Pretty Fly For a White-Guy - The Offspring

The Soundtrack of your life?
Sky Is Not Blue - Lemon Demon

You and your best friends are?
Elvis Porn - Lemon Demon

Happy times:
The Only House That's Not On Fire (Yet) - Lemon Demon

Sad times:
You're Pitiful - "Weird Al" Yankovic

Every day:
Grammer Police - Possible Oscar

For tomorrow:
Over My Head (Cable Car) - The Fray

For you:
Savin' Me - Nickelback

What does next year have in store for me?
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Creedance Clearwater Revival

What do I say when life gets too hard?
How You Remind Me - Nickelback

What song will I dance to at my wedding?
Let U Go - Ashley Parker Angel

What do you want as your career?
When Robots Attack - Lemon Demon

Your favorite saying?
Another One Bites the Dust - Queen

How will I die?
Bad Day - Daniel Powter (Somehow, I believe this one.)


That's a bit creepy. Ha ha, I knew it'd be fun. I tag anyone who reads this and wants to.

Returning Alive with a Meme

First of all let me thank you all for your support. It's been rough going but I'm finally caught back up. The only thing I have left to do is a quick project for them and then it's back to a semi-normal schedule. Thank you all again, it's meant a lot.

Oh, and I'm registered for college. No word on dorms, roomates, or anything like that, but I know my schedule.

Okay, I don't have much to post beyond that, so I'm going to do the first of two memes that I've been saving up. I'll do the other tomorrow (maybe) when/if I get my mP3 player. This first one is "Five Things I Want to Write" a meme created by SMD. Here's the post about it.

So here is how it works.
1) Write about the top five writing projects you want to do. Books, short stories, whatever.

2) Post the rules and the link to where you got the Meme from in the first place.

3) Tag people.

Alright, let's get started:

1) I'd like to finish Jivtor. It's the first story I've ever done a lot of worldbuilding on, and I'd like to at least finish it. I'd like to know I can stick to my stories without them fizzling out.

2) I'd like to write my Clairvoyant (Medium, Seer, etc.) story. It was a lot of fun to write, and I got some ideas that make it even better (in my point of view) and adds more to the story--event wise and humor-wise.

3) I'd like to re-try on an old story that's been collecting dust on my harddrive that I have saved as "Drifter." It wasn't really planned out--I had literally no idea what was going to happen--and I quickly learned that I can't do seat of the pants writing. The story was about a man who could leap from one dimension (world) into another at will. Obviously it's harder than it sounds, but beyond that I didn't really have much planned, but it still intrigues me and I'd like finish it someday.

4) I'd like to finish Jerucia. I like that one, and I've been working on it on and off for about 4 years. It's a fun story to write and I'd like to finally put to rest the story that's been kicking around for so long.

5) I'd like to write a sequal or series of sequals to my Medium story. I'm not sure if it would be for adult audiences or teens like the Maximum Ride books, but I'd love to follow the characters after the events of the first novel and see more of their world.

Well, that's all for now. Hope it was interesting. I'll try to do the second Meme tomorrow and get that posted, but it's been a crazy week. On top of all my homework, our toilet broke, and my glasses snapped in half. I'm wearing a pair of too-small, old glasses.

Oh, yeah. Who I'm tagging. I tag misswriter, specifically, and anyone else who reads this and wants to do it.

Seniors Last Day and a Meme

Well, today was the last day for the Seniors. It was quite a day. I took my Mom's digital camera to school and got lots of pictures of all my friends. It really hit me about 4th hour that this is the last time I may see some of them ever. I'm used to seeing the same people day in and day out for the past 13 years, and all of a sudden they won't be there anymore. On the plus side, I think it finally hit my closer friends, too, because they suddenly began freely giving away contact info that I've been trying to get all year.
It's a scary thought going off to college. I'll be leaving everything that I hold dear, everything that I find comfortable. Oh well, enough sentimental junk, time for a meme. I got tagged by PBW so here r tha rulez:
Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
1) I love to make short films. Part of the whole reason that I wanted a Mac laptop was because of the film editing software on it. iLife may not be the best, but it is an exceptionally good software, and it would do what I wanted. I love making music videos, especially for the group Lemon Demon, but if I ever get a video camera I want to turn some of my short stories into short films.
2) I have a habit of watching a movie or listening to songs and memorizing lines and then throwing them into everyday conversations. Most of my conversations consist of:
Someone else: "We had to shoot it, but what can you do?"
Me (singing a line from "This Hyper World" by Lemon Demon): "What can you do? What can you do? What can you do about it?"
3) Up until four years ago, I thought fantasy was for losers, and I avoided it like the plague. I had always seen it on TV, portrayed by the geeky kid in the thick, black framed glasses and the pocket protector, and I wanted to avoid it. What actually got me interested in fantasy? Magic: The Gathering cards. The game was alright, but it was the pictures that really got me interested. So I read The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks and I've been hooked ever since.
4) Some of my favorite comedians of all time aren't from this time. I love the oldies shows like "The Red Skelton Show" and the old Groucho Marx movies. Those guys were the greatest, and I have yet to find anybody who actually matches their degree, at least, in my humble opinion.
5) Like PBW, I often go on walks in the woods and pick up rocks and pebbles that I think look neat, but then forget about them and don't find them again until after the laundry has been done.
6) I don't use chatspeak--u, r, h8, l8r, idk, bff, etc. I refuse to use it. I believe that if I have something to say, it's usually important enough that I write it out. I also believe that the English language is an art. We have so many ways to say something, to not use it is to ignore a great gift.
6 a) I do use the occational "lol", but that's as far as it goes.
7) I love to watch horror movies. I love 'em. And while I like horror movies that mess with your mind better than the gory ones, I like the gory ones too. I can watch people on TV get mauled in all kinds of indescribable ways, but if anyone comes near them with a needle, I will cringe and might run out of the room screaming, because I'm so terrified of needles my mother has to come with me to get me to take a flu shot.
(Spiders will do this, too.)
8) I talk with my hands alot. When I'm actually in a conversation, for some strange reason I feel to the need to demonstrate every person's actions and show every tiny movement. I've hit quite a few people by accident doing this, too.
Okay, that's it. But, I'm breaking the rules like Jean and PBW did. If you want to do this meme, post the rules and the 8 things on your blog if you want to, but don't forget to link it in the comments so we can go check it out.

A Meme...Oh Mama

I had a bad day at work--I'm tired of working, and not getting paid. I get kicked off the clock no matter how fast I work, and I'm getting enough of it. So, to distract myself from the aggrivation of work, I'm doing a meme that I got from Jean's blog. It'll get my mind off of the day, hopefully.
Oh, before I do that, I wrote today, no much, but some, and I really like OpenOffice's word processing program, Writer. It's just like Microsoft Word, and it's a huge improvement over what I was using--Microsoft Works Word Processor. Not only is the layout simple--I had some training with Microsoft Word at school--but it saves files that have the same amount of stuff in a smaller size.
Writing wise, my story is doing good. Falovri has discovered an underground cavern that should lead to some answers...but more questions that anything else. I'd write more now, but I'm too mad to concentrate on the story.
1. What is your occupation? Member of Star Command--Too Infinity, and Beyond!
2. What color are your socks right now? Socks? I don't wear socks. I feel that they only take up more room in my shoes.
3. What are you listening to right now? Let me see...a car chase, a baby crying...the neighbors are being abducted by aliens again...same ole, same ole.
4. What was the last thing that you ate? A cow. See, I swallowed the cow to catch the dog, but I swallowed the dog to catch the cat, but I swallowed the cat to catch the bird, but I swallowed the bird to catch the spider, but I swallowed the spider to catch Wilbur the pig...huh, I wonder how he got in there.
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Can I drive one? Can I drive one?! What's a stick shift?
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Pink.
7. The last person you spoke to on the phone? The last person I spoke to was my other personality Reginald, but I didn't talk to him on the phone...
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? I did not get this sent to me. I volunteered. See, I'm with the government, and we're trying to see if what's really leading to the melting of the polar ice caps isn't Global Warming, but blog meme's. Sssh!
9. What is your favorite drink? Koolaid. But ever since I drank him, he hasn't been very talkative.
10. What is your favorite sport to watch? Sub-planetarian Psychic Blatherball. What? Haven't you heard of it?
11. Ever dyed hair? No, my hair is still alive. We had a close call once around a campfire, but that was ages ago.
12. Pets? A rabid weasel. Little booger bites, though.
13. What was the last movie you watched? Aladdin
14. What do you do to vent anger? Plot against the government, vanquish evil, magical overlords, conquer space aliens in another galaxy, help avenge the ghosts of the past...whatever I feel like doing that day.
15. Favorite toy as a child? My one-armed Captain America action figure.
16. What is your favorite season? The season of love.
17. Hugs or kisses? Neither, I'm not much for chocolate.
18. Cherries or blueberries? So called "experts" would tell you that they're different, but from independent research done from my basement with a science lab I got in a Happy Meal I can tell you with full confidence that all fruit is actually made of cheese--like the moon, the Hamburgler's tie, and my left shoe.
19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? No! I hate those jerks.
20. What is your favorite tv show? The same as Dean Koontz--Dancing with Zombies.
21. If you were to go overseas for a vacation where do you want to go? Planet Glapplesnarb of the Ressecto Quadrant...but that may be considered above seas.
22. Where do you live? In the present...unless I'm time traveling.
23. When was the last time you cried? An hour ago, when I found my pet roley poley dead. Hey! Thanks for reminding me! *sob!*
24. What is on the floor of your closet? 2000 years of forgotten relics, what's on yours?
25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? I thought about sending my blogs out to people, but I couldn't get it to come out of the computer, so I had to mail the whole computer, then I had to buy a new computer everytime I mailed my blog out, and the postage started eating me alive.
26. What did you do last night? The ransom note I'm leaving your folks.
27. Favorite smells? Everybody knows the best part of waking up is Uncle Terry's feet stuck in your face.
28. What inspires you? Inspiration of the inspiring kind.
29. What are you afraid of? Our one true enemy--bears. (I'm with you, Stephen Colbert!)
30. Favorite dog breed? Chihuahua, the closest thing you can get to a rat on acid without going to prison for possetion of an illegal drug.
31. Number of keys on your key ring? 7500...but I also stole these from a janitor.
32. Favorite day of the week? The one that doesn't end in Y.
33. How many states/provinces have you lived in? I once lived in four states at once, but that was when I cracked Einstein's Theory of Reletivity.
34. Favorite holiday? The paid ones.
35. Ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery? I don't drive, I can fly.
36. Ever left the country? Besides my holiday in 12th century Europe, no.
37. Favorite kind of music? The musical kind.

A meme!

Okay, let me explain: I'm doing a meme because 1) everyone that asked PBW a question on her Friday 20 thing got tagged and 2) because I needed something to post, and I'm too tired to type out the entry that I had in mind.

We got slammed over and over and over, and I had to wait on the customers. I usually cook, so I'm exhausted, and next week doesn't look any better. Tomorrow: 6-close. Then I have to work Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: 6-close, and Sunday: 5-close. Add in school, college applications, essays, and Murphey's Law, and you've got a recipe for trouble. All it needs is to have heat applied to it for a few minutes.

Okay, so, no more rambling, it's time for the meme!

Womens Fiction Book Meme (Also for men if you've been roped into it)

Contemporary, Historical, or Paranormal? Paranormal, most definitely. Historical is the equivalent to a faceful of Chloroform.

Hardback, Trade Paperback, or Mass Market Paperback? How do you mean? As a weapon? In a no-holds-barred grudge match between me and my bitter rival (Yosemite Sam) I'd want the Hardback. Or did you mean to read? Oh, well in that case Hardback for collecting and Mass Market Paperback for easy reading.

Heyer or Austen? Sadly, I haven't heard of either, but now I'm going to look into them.

Amazon or Brick and Mortar? I prefer brick and mortar, because I love the feel of walking into a bookstore and seeing all those stacks of books. It's like each story is calling out for my attention. However, I haven't seen a brick and mortar in years, because there are none in my area, so I'm forced to use Amazon.

Barnes & Noble or Borders? I've never been to either. The closest I've come to is Books-a-Million.

Woodiwiss or Lindsay? Sadly, I've never heard of these two, either.

First romance novel you ever remember reading? It was a book called The Goats by Brock Cole. It was about two kids who were stranded on an island in the middle of their lake at camp. Neither are very socially evolved--they're both loners--so they don't understand, and they run away. But as they travel all over the state, they grow closer to eachother as time passes. There are no fiery love scenes, no passionate romance, but you can see what begins to develop after a while. It was very subtle, but still very nice.

Alphabetize by author Alphabetize by title, or random? By author. I alphabetize by the author's last name, like a library, so that I can find what I'm looking for.

Keep, Throw Away, or Sell? I always either give my books away to other people or keep them until they fall to pieces and I have to get a new copy.

Read with dustjacket or remove it? I read it with the dustjacket removed because I like to keep it pretty and preserved. It'll hide any ugliness that might happen to the cover. I put my dustjacket's on a high shelf to keep my dog from chewing them up.

Sookie Stackhouse or Anita Blake? Seriously, I need to read outside my box more often. Or you need to ask better questions. Why not something philosophical like, "How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks? I stop reading when I'm tired if it's late at night. I prefer chapter breaks if I've got lots of luxury time, but my life almost never offers me the chance to end my reading on the ending of a chapter.

It was a dark and stormy night or Once upon a time? I'm more of a "Call me Ishmael." kinda guy.

Crusie or SEP? SEP? The Southwestern Enigmatic Poppyseed-pickers? I thought they were just stories made up to scare the kids, but if they're real, the IRS better watch out. And I don't know who Crusie is, but she might need to start thinking of relocating if she's going up against the SEP.

Buy or Borrow? Buy, unless I can't find it anywhere and I've exhausted all search efforts and called off the crack squad of rare book smelling drug dogs. Then I'll borrow.

Buying choice: Book Reviews, Recommendation, or Browse? A combination of all three. Book reviews can be usefull, but can't be the sole thing you use to decide. Recommendations, especially ones from my friends, are almost always golden, and browsing has allowed me to find some great gems as well. Survey says...all three!

Tidy ending or Cliffhanger? Tidy-ish ending. They don't have to resolve the problem, but it makes me crazy having the story end and then have to wait 6 months to a year just to finish the story.

Morning reading, afternoon reading, or Nighttime reading? Reading. I don't care where, what time, and with whom...unless you're one of those perpetual gum chewer, lip licker, butt scratcher, nose picker, paper rufflers. And then I just beat you into unconciousness and continue on with my business. Anyway, reading. Anytime, anywhere, I love to read.

Series or standalone? That doesn't matter to me. I like both. Talyn was a stand alone, the Heritage of Shannara books are part of a four-part series. I liked them all. I'm not picky.

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard? Most of my favorite books have been heard of, so I dug through and found two books that inspired me to try to write outside the box: Cujo and Harry Potter. Almost nobody has heard of them...oh wait. Wrong titles. I meant: Toy Trouble and The Weird, Weird West by Engles and Barnes. Both are kids books, but are so unique that I was enthralled with them for several weeks.

And I'm tagging anyone who wants to. Just post in the comments if you volunteer. I"m too pooped to name anybody. Maybe I'll change that later...

Fantasies, Ghosts, and Tagged, OH MY!

I've recently had a rush of ideas for the fantasy that I thought I was going to put on stand by. I have so little time to write lately, that I don't know how I'm supposed to work on it, but I can't let these ideas die either. I'll figure something out, but I might just let the other fantasy cool, even though I have more written on it because 1) the characters are not acting like themselves. I missed a beat and now they all seem really off, and I don't know how to fix it, 2) this fantasy--Zhivtor--is a lot more originial (I think) than the first one and seems to have promise, and 3) I'm actually getting ideas for Zhivtor, while the other one has been starting to collect dust more and more often.
On other news, Clairvoyant is coming good. I've decided that the beginning needs reworking, but I'll fix that later. I need to keep writing now. I'm at the critical stage where, if I change one thing, I'll wind up circling the same two or three chapters and peck the story to death, and I really don't want that to happen.
Also, I've been tagged by S. William Shaw, so here are Five Little Known Facts:
1. I once worked at a saddle pad manufacturing plant. My job was to lace together the saddle pads after they had been sewn, give it back to the sewer(sp?) and then take those when they were finished and back them and ship them by UPs.
2. I haven't spoken to my dad in 6 years or more. It's hard to keep track.
3. My favorite band is Lemon Demon
4. I once wanted to start my own at home band called Sporatic. I was gonna do all the music by writing it in the Finale program, then record it using Audacity and then write the lyrics and sing to the music. It proved to be so much work that I gave up in frustration before finishing one song. Audacity was messing with the timing of the singing.
5. I nearly died when I was born, because I was born having an asthma attack, and one of the gasps blew out my left lung. I still have the scar on my chest where they had to stick a tube in me.
Um...I don't know if anybody will get these, or if they've been tagged before if they do get them, but here are the blogs I'm tagging:
Jaye Patrick
Rantings and Ravings of an Insane Writer
Writer's Lair