My Music Favorites

Music is a large part of my life as many of you well know.  So, I thought it would be interesting to share with you the songs that have, over the years, worked themselves onto my "I can listen to these songs on repeat so much that other people get annoyed with them" Playlist.  The list follows as such (in no particular order):

1) The Ballad of Mona Lisa-- Panic At the Disco
Ballad of Mona Lisa on YouTube

2) Always -- Panic At the Disco
Always (Live) on YouTube

3) Animal Love II -- Charlene Kaye
Animal Love II on YouTube

4) Holiday Club --Jim and the Povolos
Holiday Club (live) on YouTube

5) We Found Love-- a cover by TalkFine
TalkFine cover on YouTube

6) Man of Constant Sorrow-- George Watsky ft. Dylan Saunders
George Watsky on YouTube

 7)Nothing Brings Me Down -- Emiliana Torrini
Nothing Brings Me Down on YouTube

8) Feeling Good -- Michael Buble
Mr Buble on YouTube

9) Heartstopper -- Emiliana Torrini
Heartstopper on YouTube

10) Viva la Vida -- Coldplay
Coldplay on YouTube

11) Guns and Horses -- Ellie Goulding
Guns and Horses on YouTube

12) Speechless -- Lady Gaga
Speechless on YouTube

13) Oscar Wilde -- Company of Thieves
Company of Thieves on YouTube

14) Soul Swimming -- Beecake
Soul Swimming (live) on YouTube

15) Praying for Sunny Days -- Hyper Static Union
Praying for Sunny Days on YouTube

16) Birds -- Kate Nash
Birds by Kate Nash on YouTube

17) Friends and Lovers -- Beecake
Beecake on YouTube

18) Gummy Bear Hundrednaire -- George Watsky
Watsky! (on YouTube)

19) Won't Back Down -- Hudson Taylor
Hudson Taylor on YouTube

20) I Was -- Team Starkid
Clark and Joe Walker on YouTube

21) Sidekick -- Team Starkid
Joey Richter killing it! on YouTube

Here's where I will stop for many reasons.  For one, the list goes on for quite a bit further.  For another, I feel like any more will just dampen the point of how music means a lot to me.  Ask my brother, I sing all the time and especially in the car (no matter who is riding with me).  I can't help it.  I play piano, guitar, and I play bass clarinet and . . . well, I just love music. 

Some of the groups/singers I really like a lot are Ellie Goulding, Panic at the Disco, Team Starkid, Hudson Taylor,  Coldplay, Mumford and Sons, Charlene Kaye, and George Watksy.  Pretty much all of their songs are some of my favorites.  I've just chosen some of my favorite-favorite for the list.

It is my belief that any song can be the most beautiful song if sung at the right tempo by the right people.  Some people can just transform music into a beautiful masterpiece and when you find a song that speaks to you that, that is magic. 












mellifluous

Haven't slept yet . . .Still counts as January

Hello!

Well, as the new year is heating up (not meteorogically per se) we've had some dull and boring at work but also some excitement (and drama . . . to be expected of course). 

The exciting bit is that once again I've been spontaneous.   But wait, there's more!! This time I've persuaded, not one, but TWO other people to be spontaneous with me!!! And all because of Team Starkid (again).  They are putting on a comedy show at the UP Comedy Club in Chicago every Sunday in February and we're going to see them!!!!  I'm, of course, only a little excited.  You know, the whole traveling thing and going to see Starkid and maybe catching up with a few old friends and staying in a very swanky hotel!  I mean, not too much to be excited for at all. 

I've been feeling pretty stuck (geographically) and I can't wait to go travelling again!

So, I've now seen The Hobbit in theatres four times (not ashamed in the least) and I finally went to go see Les Mis.  It was soooooo good! I can't believe I waited so long to go see it!  It was just phenomenal.  I better be seeing Oscars Oscars EVERYWHERE! Some other movies I've seen lately include: Silver Linings Playbook (which I liked) and Gangster Squad (which I also liked a lot).  Still on the list: Django, Hansel & Gretel, Mama, Zero Dark Thirty, Lincoln (still), and Jack Reacher . . . just to name a few. 

I've started re-reading the Harry Potter series again.  It seems to be the thing I do at the beginning of the year.  (I sense a tradition beginning to happen.)  This year, reading them has been more difficult.  I don't know if it's because I've really begun to identify myself as a writer, or if I'm just paying more attention to detail but, J. K. Rowling's genius keeps smacking me in the face! She's such a phenomenal storyteller and it's just astounding.  Little plot details keep jumping out at me and names that she drops in the first few books become extremely important characters in her later books . . . . oh my gosh, she's amazing.  I mean, I already knew all this, but its still amazing.

I've now applied to a couple Grad School's and I have a few left.  The list includes:
Murray State University (applied)
Antioch University (applied)
University of East Anglia (applied)

and
University of Glasgow
and a few others that have rolling admission that I haven't quited decided on yet. Sorry to be mysterious. 

Well, there's my very random, very nearly still January blog!  Hope you enjoy!










Fanatacism

As the Year Goes . . . Went

It's almost 2013.  And a few things have happened this past year.  So, prepare yourself for a bit of an overview and a potential preview for the new year.


January-- 2012 began like all year's begin (in January) and I was looking hopeful for the future.  I was near the end of an endless typing campaign and it was all very exciting!  I began to learn how to jump on horseback and I also started improving as a rider overall.  It was great getting back into the saddle seriously and hopefully I can get that momentum going again when the weather changes for the better. 

February-- Finished typing that monster rounding out the word count at 71,978.  Pretty impressive, except that after a load of editing I wiped out some of that word count and added a bit.  Right now at this very moment that story is sitting pretty at 74,047.  So yeah, it got longer.  But, I'm still editing it so we'll see what happens.  I did a lot of editing in February.  Good deal!

March-- A lot happened in March.  What a good month.  We had beautiful weather and I did a lot of jumping and riding.  I spent a night out on St. Patrick's Day which was fun!  I took a little vacation to visit my Gram and I painted a LOT!  To everyone's surprise I painted the walls pink, but it wasn't my room now was it?  I went to visit my friends at Western and I had a good time.  March was fun. 

April-- This month was a bit interesting.  Coming off of vacation it was hard to transition back into work and all the stress that brings.  People don't realize that retail can, in fact, be very stressful, but it can.  April was when I really began to think that maybe I should apply for Grad School.  I've taken that to heart (even if I've sort of changed my mind already, I'm still applying.) 

May-- My birthday was good! Funny things happened and we all had a good time I think.  I got a new camera and I've been taking lots of pictures.  One thing that has happened this year is that I've become closer again with some friends that I've not hung out with as much for a while.  It's been really nice and fun and I'm extremely glad that we've gotten the opportunity to become as close as we used to be all over again! 

June-- I do have to say that not much of anything happened in June.

July-- In one word: Impulsive.  I had a very impulsive July.  But, it was probably one of the best things for me.  I've decided I need to be more impulsive because otherwise I just end up being a bum.  I sit around and do nothing, essentially.  I like being impulsive because I then do things that I would actually like to do.  I decided to go to LeakyCon in Chicago.  I went to the midnight premire of Dark Knight Rises.  Impulsive is good.  Also, Fireworks were fun with Mom and my brother and popcorn!  Then there was also the wedding I went to which was great!! I got to dress up and catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a while.

August -- This was probably one of the best August's I've had in . . . well, perhaps ever.  I went to LeakyCon in Chicago and had the time of my life.  It was busy, it was wonderful, it was incredibly surreal, and it was very liberating (oddly enough).  In a way, it allowed me to be more of me than usual.  In another way it was nice knowing that there are people out there who are a bit stranger than I am, if you know what I mean.  I decided I'm a nice little mellow mixture of epic fandom extrordinaire.  I also learned that I like being me.  Oh, and I got to meet Evanna Lynch and get some StarKid Autographs as well as watching AVPSY in 3D (aka real life)!!!!  Also in August was my best friend's bachelorette party.  We went bowling and had lots of fun.

Photo Courtesy of Bobbie M. Bell

September-- This September I watched my best friend get married.  It was a nice ceremony and a lot of emotions were everywhere (as you might expect at a wedding).  I had to wear pink and listen to everyone say how nice I looked in pink.  I was just happy that the dress fit because I had to go on a two week diet to fit into that dress!! I hopefully will never have to diet again becasue it was awful.  After the wedding was all over and the newlyweds off to their honeymoon, my Dad and I flew out to Arizona to visit my Aunt and to drive home one of the trucks.  What a fun roadtrip!!! My dad and I were able to do a lot of catching up that we'd missed out on for a while due to both of our busy schedules.  Beautiful country we live in, guys!!!


October-- In October I began my Picture Blog.  I have really enjoyed doing it even if I haven't been the most consistent with it.  A few really interesting stories have stemmed from the pictures I've chosen and I think that it is just a good way to stay creative.  Here's the link just in case you haven't been by to visit and puruse through it yet: http://stories-about-pictures.blogspot.com/  Also, I attended a Disney charater birthday Party! I met a lot of new people and had an absolute blast!! It was a throwback to the England fancy dress party days.  Oh man, what a brilliant party.

November-- This month was epic.  It was stressful, it was rewarding, it was a race, and it was hell in a day.  The stress came from Grad School applications and writing my brains out.  It was rewarding because I was enjoying my brains out.  It was a race because I had to write 50,000 words in 30 days for NaNoWriMo. And, it was hell in a day because I worked a 15 hour shift on Black Friday.  Enough said.  I am proud and happy to say that I managed 50,070 words in 30 days.  I am extremely proud that I managed to churn out 11,000 words in a 17 hour stretch right at the end and finished in time to upload it to the website to be counted and then got to chill out and refresh before going to work that afternoon.  Accomplishing that goal was truly wonderful.

December-- As this is my December blog, I guess this is where the updates will be.  I'm getting closer and closer to my first Grad School application deadline.  My final list of schools to apply to is as follows:
          --Murray St. University
          --University of Iowa
          --Antioch University
          --Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
          --University of East Anglia
          --University of Missouri
          --University of Glasgow
Wish me luck in this very competitive program!!!  Like I've said before, if I don't get in, I won't be truly heartbroken because I've got my backup plans! And, I think I'm leaning more towards Plan C now.  But, I'm going to try my best anyways.   Shifting gears, my dad and I went to the midnight premire of the Hobbit (which I loved) and I have now been to see it three times (don't judge).  I went with friends to see Skyfall (explosive!) and Life of Pi (which in my humble opinion is not really a children's movie).  My aunt (the one we visited in AZ) came to visit for Christmas and it was a nice addition to our family christmas.  Also, because of how it all played out, I got a nice little three day weekend for Christmas which seems a bit rare.  (Psst: Newsflash/Spoilers.  The world didn't end.  Sorry to disappoint).

Recap for the books I managed to read this year in the order I read them:
--The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
--Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
-- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
--The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
--The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
--The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
--The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
--Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People who Cook by Anthony Bourdain
--My Life as a Russian Novel: A Memoir by Emmanuel Carrere
--Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
--The Fecund's Melancholy Daughter by Brent Hayward
--The Petting Zoo by Jim Carroll
--Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon by Melissa Anelli
--I Love a Broad Margin to My Life by Maxine Hong Kingston
--All These Things I've Done by Garielle Zevin
--Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
--The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
--The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I've discovered so many great things this year.  I've learned that writing is more than just a hobby of mine, its a passion.  I've learned that some things in life will be tough and I've got to keep my head up and just roll with the punches.  I've learned that people change and they are quite right to.  I've learned that not all people change toward the better and that perhaps with time they might realize where they have gone and they may try to change that.  (But, I'm not holding my breath).  I've learned that things can make me miserable and that even though I don't like it I can still trudge through it and find light in the murk.  I've learned I can be boring and unhealthy and I don't like it.

So, I'm going to change some of that in 2013.  Some people find the new year and resolutions to be ridiculous prospects, but I'm not them, am I?  I feel like its a good springboard for new choices and freedoms that can be given.  Why not?  It's as good a place as any to begin from.  So, as this year advances, I would like to be healthy.  By this I mean, eat better, excersize a bit more frequently, write as much as possible for the good of my soul.  Overall, I want to be a healthier, happier, body, mind, and soul. 

In 2013 I want to make some progress in my life. Whether it is through Plan A, Plan Middle, or Plan C.  I don't care.  I want to do something with my life and all three options put that thought forward.  I cannot continue to work retail for more that one reason.  Hell, for more than two reasons. 

In 2013 I want to catch up on bills and spend less and save a whole lot more.  There are many things I wish to do with my life and I can't do them if I'm in debt and have no money saved.

I'm going to LeakyCon again! I am so excited.  It's the end of June and its in Portland, OR.  I've never been to Oregon and I'm excited.  Not to mention I'm not going all by myself this year which will make the financial aspect a bit better for me.  I'm taking my mum with me and I'm sure she'll spend her time floating in a pool and being all relaxed and stuff, adult drink in hand.  I'm really just looking forward to that a lot. 

I'm just looking forward to another year being me.  I'm unsure what 2013 will bring for me but it will be exciting to find out and, of course, I will be glad to share it with all of you!  Here's to 2013!!











Celebration

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This year I did it! I wrote 50070 words in 30 days.  I loved every second of it even though it was at times frustrating.  But, now that I've accomplished this goal, I'm going to go to bed! Happy December! :D

(P.S. The story isn't done yet, but the word count was accomplished.  Now to finish the story!)












Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Slumberous

Hello Again November

As you are all aware (at least by this point I hope you are aware) it is November.  A simple statement to be sure, but in some circles it packs quite the punch.  I happen to be in two of the circles it seems to matter to.

First off, yes.  It means Thanksgiving but it also means Black Friday. (Dun, dun, duuuuuuuuuuuuuun). So that means the midnight shift of DEATH and a celebratory party that we, in the retail world, have survived (even if that means we survived enough to soldier through the Saturday after the Day of Death). So, besides the Day of Death, other exciting things happen in November, believe it or not.

This year, I am participating in (drum roll please!) No Shave November. JUST KIDDING!!!!!

Okay, for real this time. (Clears throat.)

This year, I am participating yet again in NaNoWriMo.  For those of you wondering why I'm spending my time writing a novel that has the possibility of never seeing daylight, here is the link of where my time, energy, and money are going.  NANOWRIMO LINK!!!!!!! (FOLLOW MEEEEEEEE!!!!!) With it now being halfway through the month, I am at 22,704 words on a goal of 50,000.  That means only 27,296 words to go!! (YAY!!!!!! :D) So far so good.  I really like this novel and I am feeling good about getting to the word count.  I am starting to wonder, however, if this novel is going to be like the last one.  My last novel word count was a little about 74,000 words.  This one might end up being a bit more than 50,000 as well, but I'm not worried!  For all of you who care, here's the plot synopsis (Which may or may not actually be what the story ends up being about) and an excerpt from the tale I am currently jotting from brain to pen to paper to computer. (<-- Behold my writing process; isn't it glamorous?!)
Synopsis:
Webby Watson and Ben Stratly are college professors who are recruited for a mission to the Surface in hopes that their research team will discover a way to get the human race back out into the open after nearly a century below-ground. Along the way there is a lot of danger and adventure, and hopefully they can come up with a solution to their impending doom before all of the lights go out and the entire human race is destroyed.


Excerpt:
Webby Watson wasn’t the most normal of girls. She didn’t have any friends and she liked it that way. Friends were for insecure people who were uncomfortable being alone with themselves. The best person to talk to, in her opinion, was herself. Not that she ever talked back, but maybe that was the point.

Webby wasn’t really her name. It was Georgia Elizabeth Watson. She had never particularly liked her name, so she decided to change it. When she was eight, Webby’s mother made her join the swim team for the youths to try to force her daughter to socialize; Mrs. Watson was a very worrisome woman. It made her nervous that her only daughter didn’t want to spend time with other little girls her own age.

Georgia was very competitive as a child. She was also a very talented swimmer. She had been tall and thin for an eight year old and that made her very fast. It also helped that she could analyze which movements enhanced her speed and which movements she should minimize to increase her speed. Because of her almost inhuman swimming abilities, some of the children began calling her “Webby” behind her back pretending that she had webbed feet like a frog and that’s what made her so fast.

One day, when they called her “Webby” to her face to try to hurt her feelings, they were surprised. Her reaction had been the farthest from what they had been expecting. Instead of getting upset, Georgia smiled and said, “Webby? Hm. Webby. I like it.” Then she had turned and left with her mother to go home for the day. The other children didn’t know how to respond.

On the walk home, Webby, as she now referred to herself, told her mother her new name. Her mother was a bit taken aback, but pleased that the other children had liked her little Georgia well enough to give her a nickname. Maybe her plan was going to work after all.

(End of Excerpt)

It's a fun, new idea that I'm running with and I've been enjoying the time I get to write it (except for the day that I didn't feel well.  that wasn't fun at all).  I think I would like to novel for the rest of my life and pretend its noveling month forever.  That sounds ideal.

(P.S.  I've been having good fun with all these parenthesis for this blog.  I might use them more often in the future . . . if I remember).
















Rannygazoo

Film As Inspiration

I believe films can carry a message more than just entertainment or moral values.  Movies have the power to inspire, to spark an interest.  Movies can be a form of learning (and I'm not talking about the boring Biology films from 7th Grade).  What I'm talking about is how a movie can inspire a person to want to learn more about something or to go out and do something.

A good example could be Dan Brown's book DaVinci Code.  How many people wanted to know if any of it was true?  Or, if it was based in some tangible event?  That novel might have inspired someone to do more research and learn about conspiricy theories and such.

National Treasure with Nicholas Cage and Diane Kruger inspired me.  The DVD actually came with a little book on American history.  I loved that little book.  The movie itself sparks an interest in American history.  Other movies that have the potential to have the same effect could include: 
-Pearl Harbor
-Hidalgo
-We Were Soldiers
-The Patriot
-Elizabeth
Really, the list could go on and on. 

But what I'm really getting at is inspiration from these movies could come from unexpected places.  Most recently I watched the movie Julie&Julia starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.  That movie hit me on two topics.  It makes me want to cook more and better and try new things.  It also makes me (miss) and want to go traveling again; to live in a place not quite my own but tlive there and make it my own.

Have you ever been inspired to do something or learn something?  New places of potential inspiration have spread wider than ever before.  DIY sites and articles and books, celebrity figures, Pintrest, artists, blogs, vlogs, and the internet in general generate many means to an end.  It is a host of information even if it is also a large waster of time more times than not.

What was the last movie or videa that inspired you??















Papilionaceous

An Early Blog

 

Don't die of shock, now.  I realize it's only been October for about a week, but here's a blog post! WOOOO! You're welcome!


So, a couple things (as usual).  We'll break it down into categories today.

TELEVISION
I'm not a huge tv person.  Well, I'm not very good at watching it on tv when it's being watched by everyone else on tv.  I watch a lot of Netflix and Hulu and stuff like that.  It's not that I don't like watching tv on tv, but I forget what day it is, or I have to work late or something.  Mainly I just forget.  But, I have been doing really well following two new shows on actual television. The first is Revolution.  Basically, since this show is on Mondays, if I miss it it's my own fault.  I have Mondays off and it would just be stupid to miss this show.  I really like the premis of the show and I'm interested to see what's going to happen.  I also like the characters and it's a nice mix of not knowing what the hell is going on and can't wait to find out.

The next show that I've been doing well with is Elementary.  I wasn't sure if I was going to like this show or not because as far as I know, this is the first female Watson I've seen.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  The two main characters have a good chemistry (which is required for Holmes and Watson) and the story lines are pretty good.  I think the show has good potential to keep it up and running (fingers crossed). 

A show that I like but have never seen past the blind auditions is The Voice.  I like the concept and I like the talent and the judges, but twice now I've seen the blind auditions and then have no idea how the rest of the show goes.  Don't ask why but I just forget and then have no idea or reason to watch if I don't have connections with the contestants or anything.  Maybe one of these times I'll actually be able to remember to watch it and I'll love it.

GRAD SCHOOL
I'm applying to Grad Schools currently.  Quite widespread I might add.  I'm looking at a lot of places due to the very competitive nature of the degree I want to get in for: Creative Writing.  I'm applying to six schools in the U.S. and two in the UK.  I'm hoping against all hope that I can get in for next fall and see what happens from there.  I've also got a mysterious Plan B, but I'll not divulge that information until Plan A . . . well you know.

I'm very stressed out about Grad School as one ought to be, but at the same time I feel a little bit more stressed that perhaps is necessary.  I've had some set backs, emotionally I guess, and I just feel kind of defeated before the real battle has even begun.  But, now I'm feeling a tiny bit better because one of my Professors is awesome and willing to work with me a little on my applications and all that entails.  That is really helping and making me feel a little better.  Please keep your fingers and toes crossed, knock on a tree and send many many prayers that all my hard work can come together and send me in the direction of Grad School.

WRITING
I've started yet another blog (if you didn't know).  I don't think I've mentioned it on here yet.  So now I have for certain.  It's a weekly blog meant to keep my creative mind active . . . well more active.  Okay, active while the other creative part of my brain edits something else.  I can write short little stories, inspired by pictures, to keep my brain entertained while some of my longer writing projects are on hold for a while. (The pause button being due to mass effort on the Grad School front).  I'm creating a new story for every Monday (hopefully) and I've only missed one so far because I was kind of traveling and I was tired.  Oops.  I have three stories out right now and I'd love feedback on them.  So, head over and check it out and leave me a comment on what you think. Here's the link:  http://stories-about-pictures.blogspot.com/

THE WEDDING

Photo Courtesy of Bobbie Bell

I had a lot of fun at my best friend's wedding (I fit in my dress and could breathe!!!!) I did a lot of dancing at the reception and it was really just a fun time.  My biggest complaint was that I had to wear a pink dress, but I suppose I'll let it slide because the bride is basically my sister (in fact she is my Seester) and it was her day and not mine.
I ended my diet the morning of the wedding by celebrating with a Venti White Chocolate Mocha with Whip Cream on the way to pick up the Bride to go to the Church.  I actually spent the night at her house and then left and went back to get her.  Coffee was really important.  Though I was so excited I probably didn't really need the coffee anyways.






VACATION
The following morning after the wedding, my dad and I flew out to Arizona! It was a great trip!! We got to visit with my Aunt for a few days and then my dad and I had some proper catch up time that we probably haven't had in three years.  We've both been busy. 
We drove back a little truck he had out there and for the most part it was a smooth trip.  We stayed in Albuquerque, NM and then in Witchita, KS and then in Hannibal, MO because we wimped out and didn't want to pull another 9 hour plus day.  It's exhausting.  We only added about another half of a day to the trip by doing that and we got to stay in a great hotel.
We stopped at a few coffee shops that weren't Starbucks and I thoroughly enjoyed them as much as I like Starbucks.  One was in Albuquerque and one was in Hannibal.  We used my GPS on my phone to find these places.  That leads me to another point.  We named my GPS! It's a female voice and we just felt the need to have a name for her to refer to her as.  For some odd reason, we settled on Patty. It was really funny.
I love it out West.  All the deserts and mountains.  The drive back was beautiful and we had the good fortune to find good radio stations the whole way back.  Except for a stretch in Kansas where there were, I think, eight Christian radio stations most of which were talk radio and gospel.  Not very good roadtrip music.  Just going to throw that out there.  However, the best radio station we had lasted for ages and was out of Albuquerque.  So I'd just like to say thank you Albuquerque for having good morning show hosts and a far reaching station of awesome.

Well, I think that's it for this blog installment.  There's more to come, I'm sure.

















Vacancy