Just around the river bend…I look once more… May 31, 2007

A few random things:

1. Legally Blonde: The Musical…was on The View today. I think it’s cringe worthy, but the talent up on that stage is incredible. Laura Bell Bundy playes Elle Woods, and the lyrics she sings are horrendous, but her voice is lovely. Such a shame, me thinks. The characters are very much derived from the film, down to the haircut, which is a little creepy, but I can understand why they did it. And Bruiser’s there, and apparently he talks to the girls. Sketch.

2. Disney…Debra Messing, Judy Davis, and Anika Noni Rose were also on The View today to promote The Starter Wife, a new mini series. It turns out that Anika Noni Rose is going to be the first black Disney Princess! :cue applause: All I can say is, it’s about time! Congrats to her and Disney and all the little girls out there who will benefit from seeing the diversity of the Princesses and finally having a Princess who is like them! Now if maybe we could see a Princess that was not so busty…I think I could relate to that…

3. I’m watching an old Scoobie Doo movie–Scoobie Doo on Zombie Island. Laugh if you want, but Scoobie Doo = quality (cartoon) entertainment. It’s certainly a hell of a lot better than a lot of the crap that my brother currently watches. My personal favorite is Scoobie Doo and the Witch’s Ghost. It had great music, or so I recall. Very catchy

Oh, and we’ve been going out for more than 4 months and this is longest that I’ve gone without seeing the boy. That would be eight days…. sadness.

I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream… May 30, 2007

This is what I did today:

- Woke up three times before extracting myself from my window seat at 12:06 pm
- Consumed lunch of elbow noodles. Put out burners twice in the process of cooking said noodles. Once putting the pot on the burner (the water splashed…) and once stirring it overzealously. Oops.
- Procrastinated by reading The Twenty (see link in last post!) and was delighted to see comments on my last post! (nudge nudge, hint hint)
- Went off to paint pottery. I’m painting a vase because there were no lovely looking bowls to paint. Maybe I’ll poster a picture after it is fired. Maybe. If you’re lucky.
- Returned home and read more of The Twenty, fully realizing what a delightful story it is. Wanted to slap Snape for being stupid. Wanted to cheer for Hermione for kicking bum.
- Wondered if flies have been buzzing since the beginning of time or if it is a recent development.
- Ate deliciously, if overly juicy, chicken fajitas care of mama.
- Watched HGTV while considering how long would be appropriate to procrastinate
- Decided I’d procrastinated long enough and started answering emails. That took an hour and a half.
- Decided that I’d done enough work for the night.

Now, I’m watching Sex and the City. Good times And I teased the boy about his sleeping habits…good fun.

Give ‘em the old razzle dazzle–razzle dazzle ‘em May 29, 2007

It’s story time! Here are my favorite HP fanfics! A bunch of these I just have bookmarked and I don’t really remember what they’re about or what warnings I should post with them. A lot of them have sexual/explicit content, so this is your warning.

Heart Over Mind, by Regann–It’s a romance between Hermione and Snape (get your groaning over now because I like the pairing, so THERE). Warnings on violence, and I don’t think it’s completed. Hermione has a bizarre reaction to a love potion…
*–Note: 5/29: Heart Over Mind is completed, so go read it! Thanks for the comment, Regann!

Second Chance, by Captain Traemel–based on the Marriage Law Challenge, which I adore if it’s done well. Hermione and Snape pairing. Harry beats Voldemort, Ministry of Magic passes a marriage law, and Snape and Hermione are engaged…

A Walking Shadow, by Ariadne AWS–I remember this one! Snape and Hermione, Snape is an outlaw, Hermione discovers him at Grimmauld Place. They work together to make everything right, with a bit of romance thrown in. And somebody tames Sirius’ mother…

Of Debts and Debt Collection, by TimeTurnerForRent–Snape and Hermione

The Twenty, by Leyna Rountree–Snape and Hermione. There is sex, at the end particularly. It’s a great Hermione story, kind of disturbing because the idea is based on protection given by loss of virginity–immaculate loss of virginity. Fantastic concept, and Hermione is a really strong character.

When a Lioness Fights, by Kayly Silverstorm–Snape and Hermione (surprise surprise). Fabulous story, presents a very different (BUT STRONG!) Hermione. Hermione becomes a death eater (oooh). There is violence and blood and gore, etc. Very strong emotional relationship between Snape and Hermione. It does get physical, but it’s not all about sex, you know?

The Student In Question, by Jan. McNeville–Hysterical story. Snape and Hermione, plus some original characters and absolute ridiculousness on the part of the author. There’s sex, intrigue, kidnapping, Draco-dissing, pregnant crazy woman, Aurors from America, werewolves…you name it, here it is! Hysterical and action packed, I think. And there are sequels! Two, I think.

The Summoning, by Bambu– Has some Ron and Hermione which fades into Snape and Hermione. Fabulous story, unfortunatly a work in progress. I finished through chapter 39 today and I love it love it love it and want to read more. There’s everything in it–Harry Potter realm magic, Arthurian legend, Nimue, druidic magic and ritual… yum. A strong Hermione, a stupid Sirius and Harry. And a usually smart Ron, for once.

There’s more, a few more marriage laws, etc… but I share them later!

loves love loves

Where has the time all gone to? Haven’t done half the things we want to…Oh well…We’ll catch up some other time… May 29, 2007

So, I’m watching On The Lot, one of the newer reality shows on Fox, and here are my musings:

1. Spaced Out–aliens barfing on police officer. Okay. It was funny. I admit it. I mean, drunk aliens, kind of cackling, then barfing (okay, gross, but still chuckle worthy)…ha. Ha ha.

2. I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s creeping me out. If I was watching it in a theatre, I would so be out of there. Wack Alley Cab. That’s what it’s called. WEIRD. Carrie Fisher looks confuzzled. She’s rather diplomatic too. It kind of reminded me of Mulholland Drive. And I hated that movie. Weirdness.

3.”Sometimes you go far out and you find out that nobody’s out there with you”–Garry Marshall, totally being added to my favorite peoples list. That was in response to Wack Alley Cab, in case you didn’t make the connection.

4. Commerical time! Oh It’s Jennifer Love getting angsty because her bra straps keep falling down. Hanes. Donkey! and McD’s! I hate McDonalds. Laser levels = bad idea. “Oh you fixed my spine!” (Yahoo Answers). Yell’s–ooh, I mean Hell’s Kitchen ad. Autotrader ad. Cars. Blah. Boring. Millionaire’s Club = Yacht Christening –> Ascots. Ah. New York Lottery. Of course! People running. I so don’t understnad this add. It’s a computer phone like thing. What can it be? Oh! Silly string! On escalators! And Security. Ahh.. Sidekick. Rightttt. Another car ad. :yawn: Zoom Zoom! Mazda _____ whatever. I like zoom zoom though. News commercial. I saw a Mazda outside of a Staples and it had a Zoom Zoom logo! Fox ad (HOUSE!) Somebody died. Oh! She came back to life. It’s just like that fanfic I was reading where Sirius comes back to life. Annnnd back to the show!

5. Bus # 1. It’s about peeing, care of a stay at home mom who decided that the thing that was missing from her life was film making. Depends! She’s gotta pee and she really can’t wait. Uh oh… Don’t sit next to that one, folks. Ooooh yuck. She peed in the coffee cup and the old lady chucked it out the window. And I think it a hit a runner, but I can’t be sure. Carrie Fisher is disappointed… We’ve got barf and urine, folks. What’s next? Don’t answer that… On a side note, I hate wedge pumps. Is that even possible? Dressy wedge shoes. Especially with ankle straps.

6. Next –> Marty Martin (whooo what a name!) = The Big Bad Heist: Green tint. Shotgun mentioned. Oceans 11 esque trailor. 3 million dollars…crimelord…ninjas! 24 of them! Asian driver (SCARY!). Dramatic voice over. Looks kinda like a car commercial. Not a movie I want to see, personally… Reminds me of The Matrix crossed with Ocean’s 11 and…something else…The Italian Job? Yeah. The Italian Job. He made a preview instead of a film, which was the assignment. Oh, and it was supposed to be a comedy. Huh. No barfing or peeing though, as Garry Marshall says.

7. Commerical Time!!! Verizon wireless, the one with the mom in the taco costume. Note, when mom is in taco costume, don’t say “hola”. Bad form, man. Men playing basketball. Deodorant? Nooo, Coppertone Sport Sunblock! Car payment…cell phone…black leather…drama, tension…Citi banking. Sinus pressure. Head like ballon, whoosh–Sudafed PE! Dancing people. Colorful background. Ipod headphones. Ipod. Ipod+ Itunes. APPLE! KFC (or is it?). I like mashed potato. But I think the layering thing they are doing it frickin WEIRD. Yuck. Sickening. Direct TV, telling me to stay focused for the next 30 seconds. Telling my lies (tell me lies tell me lies tell me sweet little lies…) about HDTV. :sigh: You just can’t win, can you? FOX dramas…a sober detective, prob. recovering alcoholic. Man in yellow sweatshirt. Accuses detective of craziness. Probably fairly accurate. Creepy old lady. New Amsterdam–AND…(after the storm)–take a wild guess? We’ve got cops, a landmark new series, not the same place, a chase, guns, sirens, a bridge, water, redemption, one breath at a time, K-VILLE. Um. Not what I thought, but whatevs.

8. Annnddd we’re back! oooh Stunts! Lucky Penny, about a guy who finds a lucky penny. Imagine that. And fell down a manhole. Oops. Oh god. Plaid shorts. That’s where he went wrong. He also got hit by a bus. Fell onto the pavement, still has the penny, a piano is going to fall on his head. Ouch. There’s the penny. Awww…and some old lady picked it up. “oooh, luck penny!” Actually pretty cute. Stunts were kind of…lameish. But the old lady was totally cute. Carrie Fisher liked it. Garry liked it. “Funny and charming, which is very hard to do.” He missed his daughter’s first birthday! OMG that is so sad!

9. This is going to be a loooong post if I keep doing this. Right? Right.

10. This one is no pushover. Oh, I like her. She’s kind of spunky. And she has kinda weird kinda cool hair. To Screw in a Light Bulb: light flickers. man in plaid robe climbs on step stool and hits the lamp. The room is filled with people. I’m bored. Maggots mentioned, pirate speaks. Fight erupts. Clown dances. Man tries to eat cereal. Woman in bathrobe screws in lightbulb–tada! “Geez Bob, it’s just a freakin light bulb!” Carrie Fisher doesn’t get it completely. “Good attempt. Unhhh.” Poor concept from the man in the middle. Garry says that it’s hard to make a metaphor funny.

11. GIRL POWER!

12. BREAK–Cars! It’s Ford, doing there history thing. Mustang to Fusion. I like the mustang. I like horses. Yup. That’s it. Bold Moves, baby. Oooh! People kissing! Lipton White Iced Tea – sometimes the lightest touch creates the biggest sensation, or something like that. Flower market! I like flowers! People with hoses and green aprons! A Cashier. Visa card. Circles of flowers and rainboots. And SOD! Sod rocks my world. Ooooh somebody wrote a check, and the happy music ends. I totally understand that feeling. Dude, the flowers wilted. Take a hint. Visa check card, baby. Life takes it. Somebody wants to rule the world and he must circle it. Ten times. He works because he’s driven. To close the deal. Monster.com. Personally, I don’t like Monster.com, but that’s just me. Oh, McDonalds! Noo, I don’t believe those stories. Go away, golden arches. AFLAC! With the goat! Naaaah. Naaaaah. Naaaaaaaah. Ask about it at work. More on the lot, Next! All new episodes of…the one about beating the 5th grader. GO FIFTH GRADERS!! Back to the show…

13. It’s Mateen from Cali, orig. from South Bronx. Yeah, man. He’s from Wallstreet, baby, but he gave it up for film making. It’s Soft….”You be soft”, “man, whatever, yo”. Man with stocking on head. Tan stocking. And they all run after him. And he takes her purse. Ha. I laughed out loud. He stuck up his grandma. Ha. That was funny. Carrie says it’s a success! So does the man in the middle (DJ Caruso, fyi). And Garry…says…that it was very good and he’s from the Bronx too and says that the guys weren’t scary. But he did a great job.

14. It’s 9:00.

15. Claudia’s turn. She’s from Italy and has crazy hair and an accent and a tooth hanging from her neck. And she is a self-proclaimed artist. It’s Blind Date: polka dot clutch, I think she is doing the voice over. Maybe. Polka dot dress. Woman left alone at the bar. She goes to bathroom. There is a man in the ladies room and she goes to the boys room. Eww. Farting noises. Foul. She meets her date in the bathroom and he gives her flowers. Eww. Carrie doesn’t look pleased. “Maybe comedy isn’t your thing” aww. She’s trying to be nice. Middle man thinks she chickened out with the fart joke. Garry thinks she is an artist and comedy is tricky and the movie was well made. “But it makes you want to wash your hands” (“anyone have a handy wipe?” A handy wipe for Garry? Anyone?). Her style reflects her personality. And the camera just scanned her body, from the feet up. Weirdness.

16. It’s the country boy from Kentucky. He’s got an accent! Aww. The south doesn’t mess around–his film is called “Getta Room”. It’s about a nerdy type guy. I’m ready, are you? Yup, that man is a nerddd. He’s not with a girl yet. But there are couples alll around. He just told an old couple to get a room. And was thrown out of the theatre. And hit by a car. and now he’s going to heaven. And the angel hugged the gatekeeper and he yelled getta room and he poufed away, presumably to hadessss. (Think Bring It On). Carrie Fisher got mentally challenged instead of nerdy…she doesn’t know how to react, she was so offended. Uhoh. He says its not that bad…he’s just a nerd. Middle man saw him as special needs–cheap and exploitative. Wait. Carrie is sitting in the middle but she talks first! WEIRD. Garry says he went pitch dark (humor). Direction of the actor wasn’t great, actor was between nerd and retarded. Uhoh. PC card played. Agh. But PinC is good as long as its in area that brings laughter…

17. Break time and I’m tired…so, tralaaa! I’m off.

Love love love to you all.

Spectacular, spectacular! May 26, 2007

I hope somebody is amused by my post titles.

Anyway, hangPROUD is LIVE!!!! So, go check out the website!

www.hangproud.com

And register! Sign up and become a PROUDgirl! Even if you’re a boy!

I know things now, many valuable things… May 26, 2007

So, here are the things I’ve learned this week, among other things. Ready?

1. When you get blisters, stop walking.
2. When you have blisters, don’t allow dog to step on feet.
3. Pouting does not work on my mother (anymore).
4. The local library is closed today… Still trying to find out if it is closed because it is Saturday or because it is Memorial Day Weekend.
5. My mother’s career ambitions change frequently.
6. When my mother wears my shoes, they will probably be returned wet.
7. Trying to cross over two lanes of traffic to make an exit on a highway is a bad idea. Especially if you’re driving a tractor trailer.
8. N.J. has a knack for poor governors. Although they do get to live in a nice house. Called Drumthwacket.
9. There is vodka in my freezer.
10. Nobody wants to go to the movies with me. Or out to dinner, except, we’re going out to dinner anyway. I’m still not sure how that worked out, but I’m pretty pleased about it.
11. I don’t think I want to major in theatre anymore.
12. I probably couldn’t do anything in literary management for a theatre unless I had an MFA, because that’s what I’m competing with. And that is so not going to happen.
13. I think I write fairly well.
14. Classics is frickin’ interesting! Bring it on, baby!
15. Writing has been the only real constant in my life, besides my parents. And Snuggy. And security.
16. Guys don’t think about getting married and having kids. They think about jobs. Girls, on the other hand, dream of their wedding day from kindergarten, on.
17. Some people really need to pay more attention in English class.
18. I am terrified to write horror stories because the only time I am inspired to write them is at night, when my imagination goes into overdrive. But either way, I think about horrid things and I can’t go to sleep, so really, I should write them and sell them and make a fortune, and then exist on sleeping pills (JOKING! Ha. Ha ha.)
19. My father is very hypocritical.
20. Pecan Pinwheels are yummy!

Seriously–I haven’t had a Pecan Pinwheel in ages, and I just got them at the grocery and they are yum-o yummy and they aren’t really bad for you. They used to seem a lot bigger though. Ah well, the times they are a’changin’.

Bewitched, bothered, and bewildered…am I May 23, 2007

Alright, so, I’m reading this post on AW’s “Writing Novels” forum (link on the left! great resource!) regarding the necessity of a “main plot.” There seems to be a rift between the writers who prefer character-driven stories and those who prefer plot-driven stories. I think the central problem here is that people are operating on different ideas of what a plot does and how it works in a novel. I’m not really sure how this happened, exactly, because to me it’s quite clear. A plot is the action of the story, basically, right? It’s what the characters do. I can’t come up with a book that doesn’t have a plot, because the characters have to do something, don’t they?

You would think so, but there are all of these arguments regarding the concept of the characters driving the story. That’s all well and good, but at the end of the day, something is happening, and that something is a plot. It doesn’t matter who is driving it, if it just happens to the characters or if the characters go out and actively pursue something on their own accord. Either way, something is happening.

I for one can’t imagine how a novel would work without a plot. I mean, what is going on? Nothing? Just page after page of words describing a setting, a characer…and that’s it? No action? I can’t see that being very marketable, and I’m not sure how you even begin a novel without having some sort of action in mind.

:shrugs:

Just my point of view, but if you have one, I’d love to read it.

A hangPROUD Update! May 23, 2007

So, great day in the city. Carla is absolutely on my favorite persons list. And I get to go back to my HS position (ish) of editor-in-chief, so I have almost full editorial control (ish), which makes me exceedingly happy. Brittany wins! yes yes YES! Right now, we’ve got between 3 and 6 girls writing, which means anywhere from 6 to 24 articles for me to edit each week, which means that we should have quite a backlog of articles by summer’s end, which is good for hangPROUD. I also have been told to start asking people (nicely, of course) if they would like to contribute articles, ideas, etc. All writers are given full credit for their articles, and as of now, we do need articles–fresh blood, new opinions. We are not as of now accepting anything with a political or explicit vibe, but we do have a lovely long list of article ideas, and you can always go beyond what I have. If you’re interested or want more information, leave a comment or email me!

-Britt.

In the still…of the niiiiiight… May 22, 2007

Multitasking is a beautiful thing. Not only am I indulging in some quality Dirty Dancing watching (great great great movie, in my opinion), but I’m also getting some work done. :nods: Really truly.

Here’s the count: 3 articles finished; 1 on tanning, 1 on PMS, 1 on the skinny mirror; 1 is in need of tweaking (skinny girls); and 4 others are works in progress! Woot!

Some items of note:
1. Yoda looks good on HD TV
2. Question: Which name is better, Frances or Baby?
3. Garden books can multiply exponentially. Fun pictures, though.

and just remember: Nobody puts Baby in a corner.

Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin’… May 22, 2007

Okay, so I’m not quite working nine to five. More like one o’clock in the pm to…whenever I feel I’ve done enough, thank you very much. And I’m not really making a living, given that I’m interning for, um, no moneys. But anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. What am I talking about, you ask? Why, hangPROUD, of course!

What is hangPROUD? Why, it’s the soon to be launched (keeping our fingers crossed!) website directed towards women’s issues with a focus on self esteem problems. What can you find there? Merchandise (including yummy flip flops, I’m told), stories from women, young and old alike, and lots of deliciously candid articles written by women from all sorts of backgrounds (including moi!), among other things. It’s good fun, good information, and good stories–okay, great stories. It’s all about being proud of who you are, so join the fun (once I say go, of course !

/advert

That was for all of those darling people in my life who have no idea what I am doing this summer. In case you didn’t get the hint, that was it. Look up there. (This is me, pointing. Up there.) It should be live soon, and yours truly will most likely be (for the most part) in charge of the articles/stories portion of the site, so I’m quite excited about that. Tomorrow, I go into the city for a solo meeting, plus a lunch date with the boy, and then it should be full steam ahead, hangPROUD, ho!

Here’s the current article count: 3 finished; 1 on tanning, 1 on PMS/IMS (look it up!), 1 on skinny people.