My bedroom walls are completely bare... and I'm tired of it.
A few weeks ago I saw the following video. It is by my favorite vlogger (yes, I have started watching them), and her screen name is RandomPanser (Tradechat). She's hilarious, geeky, and of courserandom. Anyway, this video is showing the decorating of the wall in her video room (it's now the background for all her videos now). What I specifically like about this video (and haven't seen in other design videos) is how she overlapped so many images and placed them at angles, like a collage.
I concluded a few nights ago that I wanted to attempt this on my bare walls. So, I decided I wanted...
A geek wall!!
All my geekiness will be revealed with pictures and posters of favorite TV shows, movies, bands, lyrics, etc. Call me crazy, but I'm tired of bare walls and I really want to do something fun for a change. I used to have posters hung up years ago, but when I took them down, I never replaced them. Part of me has been hesitant because I'm not quite sure what to use to stick the posters up. I've used the blue (or white) sticky-tack that comes in small squares which you can shape like silly putty and didn't like the result. When I finally took my posters down, the walls were not marked, but the back of my posters had a greasy spot on them (and they were even the high quality laminated posters!). So, I'm thinking of trying the command poster strips. I don't think they would leave a greasy mark on the poster, would they?
Let me know if you have any ideas! Thanks!
PS: Some of the posters on my wall will include the following, not to mention lyrics will be spread throughout:
Didn't know I was a MLP fan, did you? =P It's amazing, by the way...
This is just a sampling, of course! YAY for geekiness! ^-^
As I was writing my last book review, it dawned on me how many books are being released this fall that I can't wait to read! This list continues to grow! Most of these books are out in September (nearly a new book every week).
Title: Tiger's Destiny Author: Colleen Houck Series: Tiger's Curse Number in Series: #4 out of 5 Release Date: September 4, 2012
I cannot WAIT to read this book!!! The Tiger's Curse series is stunning and it'll be interesting to see what the movie turns out to be like! But I have enjoyed the journey with Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan very much and I look forward to this book with great anticipation. I'm hoping to re-read the other three before its release to get everything fresh again.
On a side note, Colleen Houck has announced that this is the book that will break the curse, but there is still one more book left (Tiger's Dream). Makes me wonder what that book will be about!
I am so happy I was able to meet Colleen and have my books autographed! I have a feeling life will become very busy for her (especially after the movie's release) and she might not be able to do as much touring.
Title: After Hello Author: Lisa Mangum Series: N/A Number in Series: N/A
Release Date: September 12, 2012
Lisa is my favorite author! She wrote the Hourglass Door trilogy, which is stunning! I have also met her in person (being a local author) and she is way nice and personable.
I look forward to this new adventure about Sara and Sam! Here's the description available:
What if the first day of your relationship was the only day you had?
Seventeen-year-old Sara is a seeker. She’s always on the lookout for
the perfect moment to capture with her ever-present, point-and-shoot
camera, especially on her first trip to New York City.
Sam is a
finder. He has a knack for finding what other people can’t—a
first-edition book or the last two tickets to a sold-out Broadway show. In New York, there is always something interesting to find.
When Sam and Sara’s paths cross, neither one of them is prepared for
what they will find out about each other—and about themselves when they
form an unlikely partnership in search of a seemingly elusive work of
art. They have one day to find the impossible. Fate brought their
talents together, but what happens when time runs out? Will love be able
to overcome fate? This new novel from award-winning author Lisa Mangum
explores what happens after hello.
Title: Entice Author: Jessica Shirvington Series: The Violet Eden Chapters Number in Series: #2
Release Date: September 18, 2012
A continuation of the book I just reviewed, Embrace. I suspect I will read it... just to know what happens.
Title: Casual Vacancy Author: J. K. Rowling Series: N/A Number in Series: N/A
Release Date: September 27, 2012
How can I pass up the amazing talent of J. K. Rowling? The story sounds interesting, though definitely different. We'll see how this turns out!
When Barry Fairbrother dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.
Seemingly an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an
ancient abbey, what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.
Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at
war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is
not what it first seems.
And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes
the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph
in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected
revelations?
Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.
Title: Finale Author: Becca Fitzpatrick Series: Hush, Hush Saga Number in Series: #4 out of 4 Release Date: October 23, 2012
The final book of the Hush, Hush saga! This has been a crazy emotional ride for me. Hush, Hush was the first angel book I picked up three years ago! One of the biggest things I love (and hate) about Becca's writing is the incredible cliff-hangers she leaves with every book. I just about died with the cliff-hanger of book two, Crescendo. I couldn't wait to read the next one! And now, the stakes are even higher seeing as Nora has just become the leader of a Nephilim army and has to make decisions that will lead to a war between Nephilim, Archangels, and Fallen Angels. Yep, it's going to be quite the ride!
Title: Inheritance Author: Christopher Paolini Series: Inheritance Cycle Number in Series: #4 out of 4 Release Date: October 23, 2012
Yes, it is the paperback version. But this is because the other books I own from this series are also in paperback, and me being my OCD self, have to have them matching. I look forward to reading this final book (as I have not read it before). I'm excited to see how everything ends for Eragon, Saphira, and Murtagh.
All in all, this fall will be quite busy! Not only do I have several new books to read, but I will also be busy with school. I suppose it's a good thing I'm trying to save my money this summer... for I will not have much of a paycheck come September...
Well, when you haven't done it for a while, it can be.
You see, back in May I was able to write in my series nearly every day. I was writing long-hand mind you (filling two college-ruled notebooks in the process), but I was able to write every single day. However, as finals for that semester drew near and the homework load increased, my time was focused more on school. Once I survived that, I dove right into my next semester (having only a weekend for a break). For reasons I am still unaware of, my writing simply stopped. I wanted to write, but I simply couldn't. When I would sit down with pen and paper, nothing came to mind. This is not to say that I wasn't thinking about my story, heavens no! I live in my story. But I struggled.
Then I became sick.
And when one is sick, one doesn't feel like doing much of anything at all...
So I've been watching British comedies and reading...
However, I was not writing. I haven't written anything creative the entire month of June.
Now that it is July (holy cow!!) I suddenly find myself with inspiration and a desire to write again. This may be in part due to my vivid dream last night (I was apparently a knife thrower and there was a major war going on my grandparents' backyard! Crazy, I tell you...). However, the knife throwing reminded me of my character Jade--who happens to be amazingly skilled at lethal tactics. =D
Anyway, I decided to sit down and try to write. Pulling out my little Netbook "Pakki," I started up Wordpad...
...And stared at the blinking cursor.
Don't you hate that?
Picking a random scene in my head from my story (one I had not considered even writing, but thought it would be fun to experiment with Jade's point of view), I began to write.
It was awful.
Terrible.
So I deleted it and started again.
This time, the words came a bit easier though still plenty awkward. They didn't flow right... they didn't feel right.
But I pushed through.
And--like with anything else in life--after persevering for a little while, things started to become a little easier. The dialogue seemed to flow of its own accord. The scenery became more vivid in my mind, allowing for more detail to be allotted.
After a while, I had a scene written. A scene that I may be able to use in my series.
One of the greatest blessings I have received from reading the Inheritance Cycle is that of the value of POVs, especially in third person. Originally, I was thinking of doing a limited third person POV for my story (allowing the reader to experience the story with the character; the mystery of events pulling them in, like with Harry Potter). But now, having written several scenes from other characters POVs, I'm thinking I might branch out and take a broader approach to my writing. I think it will make for a more entertaining adventure.
Not to mention the fact that I thoroughly enjoy writing from my villain's point of view! (Not that there will be a lot of scenes from their point of view--if any--but they will certainly be fun to write!)
So, here is my goal: Write a little bit every day this week. It doesn't even have to be on my Destroyer Series, but just write something.
We will see how I am doing by the week's end!
Hopefully I can learn a bit more discipline and perseverance than I currently have... and this is one step to reaching that goal.
You see, after years of being popular, I finally got around to reading the Harry Potter series from start to finish. In middle school I remember reading "Sorcerer's Stone" and "Chamber of Secrets" for an English class. I later read "Prisoner of Azkaban" but never any of the others.
As the movies came out, I found myself thoroughly enjoying them. I was 13 when the first movie was released and I found myself enjoying the movies, however I was not crazy about them.
Well, the years went on and 2007 rolled around.
I was working the midnight release of the seventh and final book ("Deathly Hallows") and thoroughly enjoyed the event. It was absolute craziness in our small store, but such an amazing night--definitely one of the highlights of all the years I have worked at the Bookstore. After the customers left, I went outside to wait for my dad (who happened to be closing the store). In my waiting, I chose to start reading the seventh book.
Keep in mind, I had only just seen movie five and not read book six.
Yes, I was quite confused upon reading the first page and a half and quickly realized my error. The following week I was reading book six and it was a whirlwind of an experience, a lot of which I still had no idea about (seeing as it had been so long since I had read any of the others, and I never did read book five).
However, despite having finished book six, I didn't get around to reading book seven.
The years continued on, and movie Seven Part One was released.
I didn't go see it. Life was busy and I wasn't exactly super crazy about the movies like everyone else seemed to be. Yes, I enjoyed them, they just weren't my favorite.
The movie was released in November.
I went to see it in February.
Boy, was I ever glad I waited!! The movie had me enthralled, and the cliff-hanger just about killed me. I was so grateful I only had to wait 5 months to see the next movie while others had to wait 8!
When midnight release tickets went on sale for Part Two, I rushed out and purchased mine. There were reasons I wanted to be among the first to see the ending. One: the cliff-hanger nearly killed me!! But more importantly, two: I viewed going to the premiere as being a chance of a lifetime. Here, I had grown up with Harry Potter and being able to see the conclusion--how it all ended--without having read the book, sounded amazing. You see, I'm a very visual person, and I chose to go see the movie prior to reading the book so the midnight premiere would be a surprise. Truly, as I sat to wait in line at 5:30 pm that evening, I couldn't even begin to imagine what was in store.
I was also going into it rather partial.
Not having been a "huge" fan, it would be interesting to see how it all ended--to see if it would live up to the high expectations so many around me had built up in my mind, and blow me away with some kind of twist, pulling everything together in the end.
I was not disappointed.
After seeing the final movie, I was blown away at the skill and pure genious that is J.K. Rowling. She was able to create this amazing world and this absolutely incredible story... and still was able to tie everything together in the end. The humongous twist in the plot I had not anticipated. Had I suspected some things? Yes. Did they play out the way I had imagined? Not in the slightest! I had ideas, but in no way was I prepared for what I was watching as I sat in the darkness of that theater at 1:30 in the morning.
As the lights went on, people were crying...
The end of an era had arrived.
The books had ended in 2007...
The movies had reached their end in 2011...
Knowing it was over, people were gripped with happiness, as well as a sadness that filled their heart at the realization that it was over.
I did not fully understand this...
Not until tonight.
Not until after I had read all seven books cover to cover, and watched all eight movies again.
Tonight I feel those same stirrings that the audience had on the night of the premiere. Overall, I feel a sense of peace, a sense of completeness after having finished the series. At the same time, there is also a yearning, a desire for more; similar in ways to when a loved one passes: You have enjoyed the good times you had with them, but now that they're gone, you continue yearning for more.
But the great thing about books and movies: They can always been read or watched again, and again, and again.
In the words of Sirius Black, "The ones that love us never truly leave us."
The same goes for books and movies, in my opinion.
So, to commemorate this special day, I have decided to browse YouTube and find a tribute video for Harry Potter. This first video is one that gave me chills, especially at 3:15. It's not perfect, and it has flaws, but it makes the video unique in its own way and I feel it conveys the "epic-ness" that is Harry Potter.
This next video, I simply found hilarious and perfectly goes through the story that is Harry Potter. It's very unique and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
And this video is the same audio from the video above, but timed beautifully to the actual movie footage. So great!
And last but not least, is my own video in which I made last year. It was one of the last videos I ever edited--having given up the hobby shortly thereafter...
So, although the Harry Potter series has become a huge part of my life a littler later than for most, I am still extremely grateful to have been a part of this era. I will have the opportunity to tell my children that I grew up with Harry Potter and that the actors who played in the movies are only one year younger than I am (then again, that does attest to my age, doesn't it?)
Even though this is the end of an era for me... It will continue to live on in the pages, in the movies, and in--especially--in my heart. In the words of J.K. Rowling herself:
"The stories we love best do live in us forever, so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."
Today we had a massive book sale at work (yay for working at a bookstore!) and I purchased the following books for only $1 each!!! Talk about a killer deal!
Book Haul 2/22/2012
As you can tell, I purchased a lot of classics. I don't read classics very often, and so I haven't collected them. But who can turn down a steal of a deal?
Starting at the top:
"Heartfire" by Orson Scott Card
I mainly purchased it because it sounded interesting and it's Orson Scott Card! I'll be honest, I didn't realize that it was book 5 in a series until I got home... oh well! It will still be interesting, I am sure!
"The Count of Monte Cristo" byAlexandre Dumas
I absolutely love the movie and I have heard the book is better. I look forward to reading this one!
"First Meetings In Ender's Universe" by Orson Scott Card
Purchased this one because it belongs with Ender's Game. (Even though I still need to read that book--it's on my reading list for this year!).
"The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch
I have watched his lecture videos and I thoroughly enjoyed them! Talk about inspiring! I have been meaning to buy the book for quite some time now... I guess waiting for things you want really does pay off in the end, doesn't it? ^-^
"The Secret: The Power" by Rhonda Byrne
This is an addition to the acclaimed The Secret, which I have not read. However, I do plan to purchase The Secret and I look forward to reading both of these books. (The Secret was no included on this $1 sale. Trust me, I asked!)
"Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton Finally!! A mythology book that I can get my head around! I have been wanting a good ancient Greek mythology book for some time now (years in fact) that tells the stories of heroes like Hercules and many other classics! Way excited about this find!
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain
What a great classic! How can you not include this one in your collection?
"The Prince and the Pauper" by Mark Twain
Another must-have classic.
"Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-smith
I've heard good things about this book, despite not being a huge zombie fan.
"The Call of the Wild" by Jack London
Yay for wolves!! Excited to read this classic!
"White Fang" by Jack London
I remember vaguely having to read this book for an English class back in junior high, but I don't recall hardly anything about it. Another classic I will enjoy reading!
"The Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens
I have never read this book, nor do I know much about the story (hence the reason I purchased it now). But you can never go wrong with Dickens!
"The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Another classic I have never read, but I enjoy Sherlock! So this should be interesting!
"The Odyssey" by Homer
Started reading this and found it piqued my interests. Again, another very well known classic I have never had the chance to read.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare
Yet another classic. I've heard this is one of Shakespeare's works that is quite humorous.
"Complete Sonnets" by William Shakespeare
Beautiful. Poems are wonderful things... (And did I mention, I have Alan Rickman reading sonnets??? I will definitely be listening to him while reading along now!!)
"Four Great Tragedies" by William Shakespeare
This includes: Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and Romeo and Juliet. What collection is complete without these timeless classics?
"Lovelock" by Orson Scott Card and Kathryn H. Kidd
This book simply looked interesting. Kind of reminded me of Rise of the Planet of the Apes for some reason... But I am sure they are quite different. ^-^
Obviously there are other classics I did not buy, mainly because we sold out of them (I was a little late getting first dibs). But I am content with what I bought, and to tell you the truth, I probably wouldn't have purchased some of these if they hadn't been so cheap! But ONE DOLLAR?! Of course I can spend that...
You can view the complete list (from above) here.
Or you can also view my complete library (which I continue to update).
There are few things in life that smell as good as a new book...
Or, in my case, a new game.
And by "game" I mean board game.
Yes, I went shopping this weekend (for my birthday) and absolutely loved it! Friday was spent at a [board] game store, Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Toys 'R' Us, Deseret Book, and a party store!
This is what I ended up with:
Birthday 2012
So, as you can see, I obviously prefer getting things over clothing and such. ^-^
It boils down to 3 games (2 full games, 1 expansion), 2 CDs (both Kelly Clarkson), and 3 books...
Yeah, I spoiled myself... But we all deserve at least 1 day out of 365 to spoil ourselves! Yesterday just happened to be my day!
The Harry Potter Clue was actually cheaper to buy from Toys 'R' Us than from Amazon (because of shipping) so I had to pick it up. (Can you blame me?) I've since opened it and analyzed the contents and how to play, and it looks awesome!!! It is the game of Clue, but with some serious twists and turns! I can't wait to play this game!
Agricola is a game I have heard a lot of good reviews about. My dad offered to buy me either this game or Dominion and I opted for this game. Granted, I have never played this game and I honestly don't know anyone personally who has, but it has great reviews and was listed on the "often bought with" recommendations from Amazon on other games I own and love. After pulling everything out of the box and looking over the pieces and rules, I'm stoked!! Those people over in Europe can make really good games!! I only have two complaints about this game: 1) The box is not nearly sturdy enough to hold all the heavy pieces (my box already has a slight bend to it, causing a crease in the back image), and 2) I hate the blocks and round pieces meant to represent everything from sheep to bricks (they are simply different colors). Are you kidding? Luckily, Mayday Games specializes in making game pieces and I plan to order some from them (they have cute sheep and food, not to mention a waycute farmer set!!). Unfortunately, the big combined sets on this site are only available for preorder, and I have no idea when I'd be able to get the (I assume the big sets are cheaper than trying to buy them individually). Can't wait to get these ordered so I can do away with the cubes and round tokens and thus fixing my complaint problem. This will make the game excellent in my opinion.
Moving on...
The last game I purchased was actually an expansion pack for Smallworld. It's the Cursed expansion, which will spice things up a bit with the main game. I look forward to implementing this expansion!
The two Kelly Clarkson CDs ("All I Ever Wanted" & "Stronger") I have been meaning to get for quite some time. I saw those at a really good price (one of which was the same price as a used copy, which I couldn't figure out because they are the same CD!). Also, the advantage to getting new music is adding to my writing playlist for my Destroyer Series. The song, "Save You" will be added to the playlist. =D
Lastly, for the books... (Not that I need more books to read this year... have you seen my current list of books I want to read this year already??)
"Ranger's Apprentice" has been screaming at me for quite some time. When a book does that, it often means I need to read it because I will like it. The reviews on Amazon were raving about it, so I decided to get the first book and try it.
"Of Grace & Chocolate" is an LDS fiction novel about a girl named Jillian, who lives alone and has her life in perfect order--the only messy part of her life involves a novel she is writing and chocolate. Her life gets turned upside down when a guy pulls a joke on her (by taking a few critical things of hers) and her long-lost sister arrives on her doorstep holding a baby. Her sister stays the night but disappears in the morning, leaving the baby. Now, Jillian's world will never be the same... This book appealed to me because I instantly related to the main character in certain ways, and the story seemed rather amusing.
The last book is entitled, "Unearthly". Now, first of all, can I just say that this cover looks amazing? I love the artwork and the font is great! As I read the back of the book, I went... Wait a minute! This sounds a LOT like my Destroyer Series!! The story did sound interesting, but I think I bought it more to compare it to my own story than anything else. I'm a little nervous, because if this story is too similar to mine (which I pray it is not), there's no way I would get Destroyer Series ever published because the publisher will know the story has already been told. *face plant* Here's the summary from the back of the book:
"When Clara Gardner learns she's part angel, her entire life changes. She now has a purpose, a specific task she was put on this earth to accomplish, except she doesn't know what it is. Her visions of a raging forest fire and a mysterious boy lead her to a new high school in a new town but provide no clear instruction. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make--between the boy in her vision and the boy in her life, between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil... When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?"
- Cynthia Hand, "Unearthly"
So, with that, let me tell you a few similarities I see between the "Unearthly" story and my own (keep in mind, I have not yet read "Unearthly" but I am simply sharing my first impressions):
Both stories involve a young girl realizing she's an angel
Leah (my character) has her powers awoken within her, for she is chosen instead of having been sent to Earth for a specific purpose. But she also has to come to the realization she is an "angel" and she does have a purpose.
Both stories involve a fire
However, Leah's fire is a village burning, not a forest. But it's a fire nonetheless... one which makes Leah realize exactly what she is and the power she is capable of--power which she does not want.
Both books deal with facing the main character's "Destiny"
This is a big deal with Leah, especially in the third (and final) book of my series. She is constantly questioning her destiny and if it really is something she can choose or if it is per-determined for her.
The phrase: "As [enter character name] tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she
encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to
make..."
This could be easily applied to my own story as well. Leah is literally thrown into a world she does not understand and as new characters are brought into the picture, there will be critical decisions that need to be made.
There appears to be a love triangle
This is not new to the YA genre (especially since Twilight entered the scene), so I can't hold this against the author in any way... but my story also has a love triangle, and if that boy that Clara sees in her visions is a demon or can shape-shift into a wolf... I might just cry...
So really, I guess the series will be different enough (I hope) that it won't cause problems. I am a bit interested to see how this story evolves and turns out. Unfortunately, I will have a little critique in the back of my head constantly comparing this book to my own, but I will try to control it... =D
Until I get around to reading my books, I plan to play my games and keep listening to my new CDs! This birthday has been amazing and I am truly grateful. After all, this last year has not been an easy one, and there has been a lot of growth that has occurred. I am truly very blessed to be in this life.
And nothing smells better than new books and new games... <3
What would you do if you came face to face with a dragon in your real life?
They are often large, incredibly difficult to defeat, breathe fire, and cause all kinds of chaos.
Have you seen one? Are you currently facing one at this very moment?
Well the truth of the matter is, you probably have already faced at least one dragon in your life. And the best part? You have defeated it.
Now I'm talking about the fluffy pink dragons from Dragon Tales or even the big ugly ones in Harry Potter.
No, I am talking about those all-too difficult challenges we face in this mortal existence.
Lately I have been awoken to the many changes that have taken place in my life over the last year. Combined with new stress, these changes have felt overwhelming. In general, we as human beings do not like change, especially a lot of change all at once. For me, this last year has been a tremendous stage of growth in my own life, and an awful lot of change. However, at the end of the year, the change didn't stop. If anything, it became worse. Compounded with getting back to school (with all the homework that it brings), with drastic changes to my work environment and home life, I started to panic last night.
And then I realized something.
For me, the personal "dragon" I am facing right now is learning to deal with the changes that are coming. This Dragon of Change was pressing down hard last night, and I felt like a trapped knight trying to desperately fight for freedom, but with little success at piercing this dragon's tough scales.
There were two choices that I could make:
One: Run away and hide from this dragon, praying it never finds me again.
or
Two: Stand and fight with all my might, mind, and strength.
Sure, running away and never having to face the problem would be easy, but would it be the right thing to do? I certainly wouldn't be counted among the "heroes" of my story if I ran away like a coward. It was a wise old wizard that once said,
"Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy."
[Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie, 2005]
And so, running away would not be the best option.
As I finally stood my ground, facing the dragon, I quickly became overwhelmed with its size and power over my life.
It was then that I realized one thing...
I am a knight, preparing to face this incredible dragon. And I am scared. Scared at what this dragon may do to me and my life now that I have decided to fight.
But unlike so many other fairytales, I do not fight alone.
I have at least three other knights on my side, helping me to conquer this dragon. Sometimes I forget they are even there, though they are always present.
Those three amazing knights in shining armor are my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. They will always be by my side, helping me fight every evil, nasty dragon that comes my way. They will travel with me along these many journeys, and will aid me whenever I become downhearted, sick, or simply need company. For sometimes, these journeys seem incredibly lonely.
Together, we can conquer any dragon that comes my way. I can face any opposition because of the strength and power of my fellow comrades.
Dragons can take on many different forms in this life. They can be big or small, completely engulfing or simply taunting. They can leave a trail of destruction, with many signs of defeat and hopelessness posted along the way. But when you see a dragon, realize that it can be taken down. First aim for perhaps a claw (just one claw) and then attack another claw once the first has been overcome. Slowly you can conquer your dragon by taking him down a piece at a time. It reminds me of the old addage:
"How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time."
This is the exact same concept. You can defeat any dragon in your life. And you have already done this in your own life, I am sure of it! Even if it was just a small dragon, you have overcome the opposition in one form or another, and you can do it again by destroying it a piece at a time; whether it's addiction, the loss of a loved one, change, stress, choice, anxiety, depression, anything... you can defeat it!
And with the help of your fellow knights, you will not be alone in your conquest.
You know one thing I hate? Being in the middle of reading a good book and you end up buying new books that you want to read now.
You know one thing I love? Being in the middle of reading a good book and you end up buying new books that you want to read now.
Do you want to know why I have such a love-hate relationship with this?
It's simple really. I hate reading a book only to decide I need new books, so I run out and buy more books, only to realize that now I have to finish the one I'm currently reading before I can read the other books. This works for and against me; it helps me read the current book faster, while it also makes me want to simply put it aside and start the new books.
But, alas, I am in the very middle of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. For those who do not know, that book is one of the largest (if not the largest) Harry Potter book there is. Being such, I don't want to simply put it aside and start reading a different book because then I would have to start over when I do decide to go back to it (yes, I do have OCD tendencies when it comes to reading books).
So, now that I have a couple new books, I am going to continue reading Harry Potter until I'm finished. At which point, I may take a break from Harry and his friends, and read something fresh. Then I will return to the Potter Saga and finish the series.
That is the plan.
Now, you may be wondering what these "new books" are that I purchased? They are...
"Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater YA Paranormal Romance 390 pages
The Cold. Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why. The Heat. Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace... until now.
The Shiver. For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human--and Grace must fight to keep him--even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.
Alright, I have heard mixed reviews about this book. I was
originally intrigued by it while watching some YouTube videos and it was
mentioned casually. It peeked my interest and I haven't been able to
get it out of my mind since (always a sign to me that I need to read the
book). Many on goodreads.com have argued that it should have been called "Twilight: Team Jacob Version" because people think anything
involving wolves goes back to Jacob Black (as with anything involving
vampires goes back to Edward Cullen). Granted, Stephanie Meyer did
break a new path when it came to paranormal romance in the young adult
genre, and opened up a whole new can of worms with the vampire phase,
but she wasn't the first one to do it, and therefore all books should
not be judged with an eye for Twilight. Alright, now that I'm done ranting, let me continue...
Perhaps I am partial to this book because it reminds me of my Destroyer Series and I'm hoping that the reviewers are incorrect in their comments (for beauty is all within the eyes of the beholder, correct?).
The other book is:
"Gone" by Michael Grant YA Supernatural Sci-Fi Thriller 558 pages
In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE. Everyone except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not a single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Gone, too, are the phones, internet, and television. There is no way to get help.
Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents--unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers--that grow stronger by the day.
It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen and war is imminent.
The first in a breathtaking saga about teens battling each other and their darkest selves, GONE is a page-turning thriller that will make you look at the world in a whole new way.
This series sounds interesting because I'm all for children ruling the world and it will be fun to see exactly what the author means by mutating animals and the dangerous powers that the teens are gaining. Makes me think of the Left Behind series mixed with X-men. This should be interesting!
So, now I need to finish Harry Potter and then I can read something new! Oh, the many, many books I want to read this year... and if you don't believe me, check out my Books 2 Read page! It's loaded with the things I want to read!
I recently returned from a dog-sitting trip for my aunt. She went out of town (back to the East Coast) and has two very large Golden Doodles which needed caring for. Since I've tended for her before, obviously I was the first choice, and I wasn't about to complain!
It was a nice week and a half of laying around the house, playing video games (YAY Little Big Planet!) and watching movies. I was able to do some cleaning (which helped take my mind off of things and stave off the boredom).
Arriving home yesterday, I had planned to crash and then today I would be productively doing chores and unpacking. Ha! That didn't happen. I've wasted too many hours on the computer. Last night I was up until 2 AM not even realizing it!! And tonight... well, it's not quite midnight yet...
Either way, tomorrow will be a more productive day! I need to DO something! Not having much to do for two weeks really makes it difficult to get back into the rhythm of life. Like today, I found myself easily bored--hence the reason I resorted to the computer to watch videos on YouTube. Sure there are things that need to be done (like studying my lesson I need to teach in Church on Sunday, or the chores that need finishing), but I feel unmotivated to do them. You know how when you're so inactive for so long that you lack any sort of drive to do anything? Well, that's where I'm at. That's why I need to hit the gym in the morning, or do something. That will then give me the energy to come home and tackle some of my chores.
I would like to say, however, I have not spent all day on the computer. Dad and I went over to our County Fair which is going on this weekend. It's weird how it's never quite as fun as when you were a child. The rides don't appear as "epic" or the colors and shops don't hold much appeal. I did enjoy the 4-H items and the art displays! We have some serious talent here! I'm amazed at the talent children have in and about this world. It's incredible!
I haven't been to the fair in 3 years. And as we were wandering towards the animal shelters, I remember some of the reasons why.
First of all, the last two years have been really difficult on our family and therefore, we didn't have the time to even think about when the fair was, let alone actually attend it.
Second, in 2008 (the last time I would have gone) I went with some dear friends of mine and we had a blast! However, those friendships have fallen apart and I rarely talk to "the guys" anymore, which makes me a bit sad. Obviously, there's a series of events that occur when I walked into the fair tonight: I thought of my old friends, then I remember how each one simply fell apart/away, and then I recall the bad fight I had with one of them this last summer which caused our friendship to be nearly completely severed. So, it's like a trail from good to awful.
On top of that, in 2005 I had been dating a boy and his family would raise rabbits that they would then attempt to sell at the fair. He was there most of the day for the entire weekend. I have distinct memories of going to the fair and seeing him and his mother by the barn doors with a small cage of rabbits on the floor. Funny thing is, I haven't seen him since 2006. But the thought of possibly running into him tonight sent ice into my stomach. I know it's lame and I should simply grow up. But the thoughts of seeing him again just give me chills. Randomly, I ran into a picture of him on FaceBook a couple months ago... I nearly died when I saw his face. Yes, he's changed and aged (more than he should have), but his face still remains the same... and my heart stopped. It was like staring at the scariest person on the face of this Earth... and I had dated him. *shiver*
I don't know why, after 5 years I can't control my emotions when it comes to the thoughts of him... or for any of my exes for that matter. I have one friend who is an exception to that rule, but my first two boyfriends in particular are the ones I have the hardest time with. (The one I spoke about above was my first boyfriend.) Granted, the odds of me seeing either of those two guys is like 1 in 100,000. No joke. Cody, as far as I know, still lives in the valley (I assume). Chris, on the other hand, is from 100 miles away and I doubt I'll ever see him again (despite his attempt to friend me on FaceBook--now that was a rough day). It's weird, despite Cody living in this same valley, we have never once crossed paths... yet I've run into the girl he left me for several times. Explain that! In fact, the day she approached me (the first time I saw her since graduating and all the drama) she apologized to me about what she did nearly 3 years previous. I remember standing in the store thinking it was all a dream and that I couldn't possibly be awake and talking to her. But, it was indeed real.
Then, my dad ran into Cody in a store. At first, he didn't recognize the boy. But as soon as it hit, my dad was ready to kill him. I suppose that was a good thing, I haven't really decided yet. That was about a year ago. But I have yet to see him. The only thing I've seen of him was his profile picture on FaceBook--which was enough to scare me to death!
I've decided that if I ever do see him again, and he sees me, I'll simply act like an "old friend" and ask what he's up to in life (partly to be polite and partly because I'm a masochist and want to know). Can you blame me? The last I heard (3 years ago) was that he was living with a crazy girlfriend who threatened to kill him if he ever left her (and she meant it too!)... then again, I don't know if I could trust those words, looking back on it now... This only adds to the curiosity!
I'm sorry, looking me, rambling on about exes and memories... Oh boy... I really need to go to bed. Perhaps I shall read some Harry Potter and the world will be a much brighter place!! ^-^
Let's see if Google takes this video down... lol! I had a blast making this video and I have a friend who loved it, so I thought I'd share it with you!! I heard the song for the first time this last week and made this video because it went so well with Harry Potter!! This is a trailer re-hash in that I simply used footage from the three trailers for Deathly Hallows (the combined Part 1 and Part 2 trailer, as well as the two released for Part 2). Enjoy!!!
NEW VIDEO!!! (And Google actually uploaded it this time!!)
"Epic Story"
[SPOILER WARNING!!]
So, I found some HP7-2 footage on YouTube and ripped it! I'm so excited!!! This was a video I threw together because I LOVE Severus Snape so much and his story was truly epic when I saw it!!!
*READ ON IF YOU DON'T MIND SPOILERS FOR THE MOVIE!!!!!*
