"Reason For Love"

Before I share with you this amazing song, I simply want to say that I LOVE David Hodges (the real one, not the other one that has the same name but a VERY different music-style).  At some point in the future I would like to do a blog entry dedicated to this amazing man.  The talent he has for writing music and lyrics, as well as harmonizing everything together simply blows my mind.  In the words of a recent YT comment I saw (which made me laugh):

"@[edited] What?! A genius!
Don't let me laugh!
He's a God!"

I look forward to that dedicatory blogpost.  Until then, here is a snippet of the amazing gift he possesses:

"Reason For Love"

   David Hodges

Lyrics:

Sitting here, in the dark

I don't know what went wrong

But it's over now

Wish I could be, where you are

But some things should never be said out loud

Come save me

Unbreak me

'Cause I just can't forget you

Take me so far away from this place 

Where my heart can breathe

Somewhere I can believe again

Give me something that time can't erase

'Cause losing you has taken too much

Tell me there's a reason for love

I see myself walking away

There's a piece of my heart that's still holding on

 People say, "Let it go."

Believing is easier said than done...

Take me so far away from this place 

Where my heart can breathe

Somewhere I can believe again

Give me something that time can't erase

'Cause losing you has taken too much

Tell me there's a reason for love

Tell me there's a reason for love...

Tell me there's a reason for love...

Each memory still haunts me

'Cause  I just can't forget you

I can't forget you!!

Take me so far away from this place 

Where my heart can breathe

Somewhere I can believe again

Give me something that time can't erase

'Cause losing you has taken too much
'Cause losing you has taken too much

Tell me there's a reason for love

On Writing

For the past several days, I have basically been home bound due to sickness. What exactly I have been sick with remains a mystery to me. However, being home all day, I have had some time on my hands. Sure, I could have done homework, but who honestly feels up to doing homework when all you want to do is watch the Big Bang Theory or read Brisingr?

Well, having spent a lot of time sleeping (hooray for naps and vivid dreams!), I found myself rather restless. I will admit that it would have been a good opportunity to at least start on my homework, but I chose to do something a bit more creative and which piqued my interests a bit more.

I watched videos on YouTube!!

What a great way to waste your life...

Not only did I watch hilarious animal videos, but I also was drawn to videos of Christopher Paolini. Since I've been reading his books, obviously he's been on my mind. And to be honest, I hadn't really seen any videos of him... Until the other day. Now, it doesn't matter if you love or hate his books, but you have to admit that he's one good public speaker for his age. Having taken a public speaking course in the Spring--learning how to speak in front of an audience--I was genuinely impressed by how he's able to command and maintain your attention. I watched several videos of book premiere's/signings and I've seen a handful of interviews; so can I just say, I have a serious crush on the guy? I mean, he's the perfect age and he doesn't live very far from me! (Who would have thought?). Not to mention how "down to earth" he seems. Dang smart, but down to earth.

You have to love those "celebrity" crushes, right? The kind you know would never work out in a million years, and you'll be lucky to even see the person (let alone actually meet them) in this lifetime! But, this is a vain wish of mine for the future. Perhaps one day will shall cross paths... But I kind of doubt that... Then again, where is my faith?! (LOL!) =P

Anyway, amongst all the interviews and all the fan-based questions he answered, the main repeated question was: "What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?" or "What has been the most difficult part of writing this series."

In answers to both questions, he tackled something that I have heard numerous authors say (including two of my favorites: Lisa Mangum and Colleen Houck). This is a problem I know that I struggle with terribly...
The answer to the questions?

Write.Every.Day.

Over and over again I have heard that those three words are the key to reaching success and being a good writer.

This is not something I have been very good at in the past. I tend to be a procrastinator, and therefore lack the self-control to get things completed. However--I will admit--when I was writing nearly everyday, I did feel more productive and had an overall sense of "well being".

Writing is one of my cures for life. If I'm struggling with a problem in my life, I write about it. If I'm happy and excited, I write about it. If I have a crazy idea for a story pop into my head, I write about it. I have come to realize that if I don't write about it then the idea/inspiration will slip away and I'll be left wondering what that crazy thought was all about in the first place. Also, if I don't write everyday (if I miss a day) my inspiration slowly slips away. I think this is why Paolini (as well as many others) really emphasize this point; if you don't write, you lose your motivation to write. This is certainly true in my case.

So lately I have been re-asking myself, "Why do I write?"

I originally thought it was because I had a story I wanted to tell and characters I wanted to share with the world. But if this was truly the case, why have I not made more progress on my stories?

Why do I write?

Is it an attempt to escape? Run far away from my current situation--whatever that situation may be?

Perhaps it is like what Paolini has said, "Writing is a way that you explain the world to yourself."

Or like I mentioned earlier, do I simply write to "cure" my life?

I will continue to ask myself this question as well as try to write at least something once a day. I think I will feel better emotionally (and creatively). Besides, who knows what may develop!

In the words of one of the heroes in my life who I greatly admire:

"I was made for more than this."

Inheritance & the Doctor

On May 28th I started reading a new book series. For years I had heard good things and the final book in the series was released last November. Well, being the last-to-get-into-anything-epic, I finally decided to start reading it.

I had purchased the first book for only $1.50 at the DI. It didn't take long for me to get lost in the mystical world of Alagaësia, with its beautiful landscape and vast array of characters. These characters told stories of when Dragon Riders once ruled the skies, the destruction and rise of the tyrannical Gallbatorix, the secretive Varden who opposed the new order, the magical elves of far away lands, and the dwarves who kept to themselves in the Beor Mountains.

Yes, this series is the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini.

I will admit, I finished the first book, Eragon, and was surprised by how different it was from the movie. I now know the main reason the movie flopped at the box office: It didn't follow the original story close enough. The book is SOOO much better!!! I easily became mesmerized by the story--especially when Murtagh entered. I will admit right now, he is my favorite character so far. I fell in love with him in the movie, and even more so in the book. I'm very excited to see where this journey will take him (I'm also scared in a lot of ways--NO SPOILERS PLEASE!!!)

Can you blame me?????





Anyways, I started reading Eldest (the second book) last week and I'm hopeful of finishing it tonight or tomorrow. I will admit, I struggled through the beginning of this book. For the first 120 pages or so, as Eragon is in the land of the dwarves, Paolini goes into incredible detail (not only just the physical, but all the history, etc.) and it almost overwhelms the senses (at least it did mine). On top of that, the story flips back and forth between Eragon's POV and his cousin Roran--who was left behind to essentially protect the village that Eragon fled in his haste to escape the Ra'zac. This is a new technique that was not used in the first book. For the most part, Paolini uses a limited third person POV... But it has expanded as the series continues. Paolini also has a habit of switching POVs at very critical moments, or "cliff hangers" if you will, and it reaches its intended effect: Drive the reader crazy and makes us keep reading!!

Needless to say, the book has grown on me and I am thoroughly enjoying it now. The amount of detail in this world that Paolini has created is simply amazing, and the way he entwines the history of the world into the story--revealing bits of it at a time--is simply awe-inspiring.

Now, obviously this post isn't JUST about the series; for I haven't finished it yet, therefore I cannot give my full review. Oh no. There is a reason for all this background detail...

I happened to glance at the end of Brisingr at the acknowledgements and I read the following statement (though it made no sense to me with regards to the story as of yet):

"Also, for those who understood the reference to a "lonely god" when Eragon and Arya are sitting around the campfire, my only excuse is that the Doctor can travel everywhere, even alternate realities. Hey, I'm a fan too!"

LOL!!!! How GREAT is that??? I never would have guessed Paolini--this AMAZING storyteller who is so incredibly young for a Bestselling author--was a Doctor Who fan!!! I suppose it is everywhere these days...

And I'm just fine with that.

To-See Movies This Summer (Year)

Hollywood's success with movies each year is symbolic of a roller-coaster: high points and low points.  I feel the last few years have been "low points" with very few movies really piquing my interest.  But now they seem to be on the rise--if not at their peak--once again.

This summer marks some incredible movie releases which are sure to be blockbuster hits (unless they flunk at the box office, but seeing as they are "major" movies, they will really have to mess up badly).

I feel a great need to start a list of these epic movies, since trying to keep release dates straight is starting to overwhelm my brain.  The following are a list of movies I plan to see this summer (right around the release date if at all possible):

First of all, I should say, I just barely saw Avengers this last weekend.  I know, I know.  It has been out a while, but with school going on I honestly didn't have the time or the energy (see previous post).

Now, for the rest of the summer:

Currently in theaters
Men In Black 3
Snow White and the Huntsman
(**I have heard mixed reviews on this movie, and I might wait until it gets to the "cheap" theater, but I do want to see it just for the fact that it does have mixed reviews, and perhaps it is better than I realize.)

June 8th
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

June 22nd
Disney / Pixar's Brave

July 3rd
The Amazing Spider-man
(**I originally was NOT going to see this movie--thinking it was nothing more than a re-telling of the original, but thanks to a friend, I quickly realized that was NOT true.  This looks GREAT!)

July 13th
Ice Age: Continental Drift 

July 20th
The Dark Knight Rises


So, my summer (and a good chunk of my paycheck) will be spent watching movies it sounds like.  WAHOO!  What a great way to spend a summer: Reading and watching movies! =D

Now, I might as well tell you what I am looking forward to later in the year:

September 28th
Hotel Transylvania
(**This has the potential to be really funny or terrible.  We shall see.)

November 2nd
Wreck-It Ralph
(**This just looks plain funny!  Bowser is in a Disney movie!!  YAY for movies with Nintendo characters!)
 
November 16th
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
(**BEFORE YOU JUDGE ME, the ONLY reason I'm seeing this is because I want to know how they end it.  Part 1 left me feeling HORRIBLE and I NEVER plan to see that awful movie ever again.  It was HORRIBLE!  But now that I know the worst of it is over, seeing the conclusion of the series will be interesting... though I won't be going to see this until December... let the "Twihards" get their fill first.)

November 21st
Life of Pi
(**No rating is out yet, but this would be an interesting movie to see!  I didn't know they were making this book into a movie!)
 Rise of the Guardians
(YAY for a Santa with tatoos and an Easter Bunny that has egg bombs!  This will simply be a funny, different movie.  Something that I have not seen done before.)

December 14th
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
(SOOOOOOO excited!!!!  I probably should read the book first...)
Les Miserables
(**This is going to be GOOD!!)


So, I don't know about you, but it seems that Hollywood is coming out of a slump!