Updated!

Picture of the Day:

A sloth bear! Look at the tongue!

Quote of the Day: 

"Thank God for all I've missed, 'cause it led me here to this." 

-Darius Rucker

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and today I just want to make sure that I wish everyone a safe holiday! I know I am not updating this nearly enough, though I am hard-pressed to find time or content to put up. But today, I think I can throw something together.

Page count update for Legacy Of Elysia: 180! =] I am getting somewhere!

And, because I haven't let you guys see any more of my soundtrack, I am updating with one of those today! Here it is: Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson (weird mix, I know), singing "Don't You Wanna Stay".




I think that this is a great song to channel two lovers. Especially like Thea and Octavian, my two mains for the Legacy of Elysia series. Still, in book one, nothing this steamy actually happens. (They aren't married, after all. ;] ) Nonetheless, it came out not too long ago, and instantly, I thought of them--and actually set to work on Chapter 11 again! It was a nice change of pace, to be able to write anything. Not sure it is any good, but hey! That's what editing is for!
Another song that I would like to share is more for Thea than anything else. 
 

"If You're Reading This" by Tim McGraw

Now, this is more about what she fears. Octavian is a soldier, and the biggest fear she has is that he leaves for war and doesn't come home again. This song, therefore, is something she would hate to hear herself, and I think that by listening to this, I am better able to understand her. 
Be warned, this song makes me cry every time. 
Oh, and Octavian would probably completely do something this sweet for Thea should he happen to go off to war and know he isn't coming home. Just saying.
Happy Wednesday! 
Have a fantastic Thanksgiving!

This

Picture of the Day: 

My little sister and I in the car in 1991,

Quote of the Day: 

"Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse kind of suffering." 

-Paulo Coelho

I feel like my entire life I have been doing things that aren't worth my effort. School means nothing, and it has pretty much consumed my entire life so far. I don't go out and do things that are loads of fun with friends, and the friends I have are more of the people that I will talk to on occasion when we happen to be in the same place together. So far, Friday and Saturday nights mean sitting at home with my dog in the dark, maybe wasting time watching a movie. That's it. Nothing special. 

I keep praying that everything will change, and that someday I will look forward to the long days I have ahead--but so far, nothing has gotten better.

Today, I have a song for you. It is one of my new favorites and it is off of Darius Rucker's new album Charleston, SC 1966. It is called "This", and literally seems to take everything I am yearning for and feeling and put it to lyrics and song, only it is told from the perspective of someone who has reached the other side. 

Someday, I want to get there, too.

This - Darius Rucker

Sometimes I just want to get an easy answer. Like when is it time to walk away from what you want, and understand God is saying "No" and not "Not now"?

Deathly Hallows -- The End is Here

Picture of the Day: 

Sundaes my friend Lauren and I made!

Quote of the Day: 

"A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom."

-Robert Frost

So today, at midnight, I am being taken to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One. In light of the fact that this signals the beginning of the end, I would like to show my true horror, and the horror of the furry animals everywhere.

"HARRY POTTER IS OVER?"

Inception Animals - watch more funny videos

Okay. So I am not consumed with horror over the fact the movie series is ending soon. After all, I am looking forward to the Hobbit that comes out in 2012! Now, when the Lord of the Rings series ends completely, including the Hobbit, I may cry. Until then, my friends! Have a magical day.

I offer this blessing, in honor of the Boy Who Lived:

I pray that Voldemort leaves you alone, that your friends are magical and that 

the spiders don't force you to tap dance.

I am Quote Girl!

Picture of the Day:

Baby joey at Busch Gardens! 

Quote of the Day: 

"You know what else everybody likes? Parfaits! Have you ever said to someone, 'Hey, let's get a parfait." and they say 'No, I don't like no parfaits!'? Parfaits are delicious!" 

-Donkey, Shrek

So this weekend at my sister's family birthday party I was dubbed the "Quote Girl" of the family. Pretty much, if it is useless and has no real meaning in life...I remember it. Like a steel-trap hunter, I catch the goodness of quotes and carry them forever. Today, I am going to put up some of my favorites to throw around in conversation. 

"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to." 

-Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings

"You already told me which way the boat went!"

"I did? Oh, no. See, I suffer from short term memory loss. It runs in my family, or....at least....I think it does....where are they?.....Can I help you?" 

-Marlin and Dory, Finding Nemo

"Don't make me smack you in front of all these people."

-Agent Derek Morgan, Criminal Minds

"The spiders! They want me to tap dance. I don't want to tap dance." 

"You tell those spiders, Ron."

"Yeah...yeah, I'll tell them."

-Ron and Harry, Harry Potter

"Thanks for nothing, you useless reptile." 

-Hiccup, How to Train Your Dragon

"It's gonna be biblical."

-Clyde, Law Abiding Citizen

"I get motion sickness."

"Lady, we're not moving yet."

"It's really the idea of motion that sickens me." 

-Alex Rover and taxi driver, Nim's Island

 "That's Scamper, one of my most successful inventions. I made him immortal; which is a kind of a hassle for him since he doesn't want to live."

"Will nothing end this vicious cycle?"

"I also made him talk, which is a hassle for me since he never shuts up." 

-Igor and Scamper, Igor

"Choose your last words carefully, Telmarine!"

"You're a mouse!"

"I was hoping for something a little more original." 

-Reepicheep and Caspian, Prince Caspian

"I do not love the sword for its brightness, the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend." 

-Faramir, The Lord of the Rings

Well--read and enjoy! I will probably do another quote page later with new ones. These just came up off the top of my head. This is Quote Girl, signing out!

Writer's Block vs. Author - Round 1

Picture of the Day: 

This is the house my cousin got married at. It is in Louisiana! 

Quote of the Day: 

"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go."

- E. L. Doctorow

I haven't updated in a while, and I am sorry about that. It seems that finding any inspiration for anything is becoming increasingly hard, and sparing the time and motivation to work on this blog is becoming a rare occurrence. Once school is out, I am sure it will not be so slow (or at least that is what I am praying for). 

I have not done much of anything by way of writing, save for come up with a few new ideas for some stories that need to be fleshed out and worked with. Still, nothing has actually happened in penning it to paper; my writer's block has never been so bad before! 

I dug out all of my old stuff for my Legacy of Elysia series and re-read it, and tried my hardest to just put down a nice sentence, though could not do so. I am very discouraged--it has been over two and a half months since I have been able to work on that particular story, and it is the one that is going the best so far. 

Or, at least I hope it is! 

Lately, I have been worried about my style--and this was solidified as I reread the stuff I had already worked out and written. My greatest fear is that I turn out writing like Stephanie Meyer! If you don't know who she is, she wrote Twilight and there is nothing that I hate more than those books. The writing style sounds childish and plain, and her story line is bad, too. But I think this is an entry for another day. 

(If you disagree, I would like you to watch "Alex reads Twilight" on youtube. (If you can stand some mild language, this kid tells it like it is--and makes you laugh as he does so.) I will embed his Chapter One reading at the bottom of this entry.)

Anyway, what I am wanting desperately is for someone to read my work. I have given it to countless people and never get it back. I know people are busy, and I am not saying that reading my novel should be a priority. But I want help! And I am sick and tired of not being able to get any real feedback. I should have been a creative writing major--then people would be helping me out!

Basically: I am frustrated. I want so badly to keep writing, and I feel like it could get better if someone could tell me what I needed to fix in what I already have. I loathe my chapters ten and eleven--but I cannot figure out why. So I figure if someone can look at my stuff and then get back to me on what they think, maybe I will have some new spark of idea that could lead to inspiration. 

I'm desperate, people. I want to finish my work and not be defeated by writer's block. Sadly, at this point I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Everything is pretty much mapped out for this novel, too! I don't know what is wrong with me. 

Anyway, I am done ranting for now. Please take a look at "Alex reads Twilight". Ignore the language--it is hysterical.

Maybe my next post will be about why I dislike this series.

Love is the Movement!

Picture of the Day: 

Cinderella's Castle at Disney World!

Quote of the Day: 

"A baby is born with a need to be loved -- and never outgrows it."

-Frank Howard Clark

I don't know how many of my readers have personally dealt with suicidal thoughts or depression. It is my sincerest hope that none should have to suffer in such a way. I know what it is like to wake up in the morning, go to bed at night and wish that every moment you closed your eyes was the last time you would have to deal with everything around you. I know what it is like to feel that thoughts of suicide and death are normal, but more than this, that they are cherished. 

Today, my dear reader, is the day of the To Write Love on Her Arms movement.

As you go about your business today, whether it be school, work or otherwise, keep within your thoughts and prayers those who have succumbed to hopelessness and ended their lives prematurely. Suicide is, unfortunately, a real problem, and too many girls deal with it every year. 

And all because they forget that they are loved.

For some, it is too late. For others, we may just be in time. 

Today is about prevention and awareness.

Today, tell people that you love them. It is that simple, and that hard. In our day to day lives it is so easy to forget to tell people how much they are loved. Speak up today and maybe, just maybe, you could save somebody's life. 

Don't forget that you are loved either, on this special day.

You. Are. Loved.

In honor of this movement, I want to dedicate one of my favorite songs to all the girls out there (and the boys, too). 

Suicide is real, but so is love. 

Be strong.

Groban Revisited -- And A Transformer Owl

Picture of the Day: 

Cupcakes I made for the Super Bowl Party last year.

Quote of the Day:

"A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be."
-Douglas Pagels

On a list of things that make my heart melt, Josh Groban is somewhere at the top--if not the top. There is something about a guy that sings Italian that is absolutely liquifying to listen to. For those of you that do not know, he is actually coming out with a new album this month! So, on the road to my soundtrack, we shall take a step off to examine Josh Groban -- again.

My Confession - Josh Groban

All right -- this is not a great quality, but this is the song I wanted to share that skyrocketed to my inspiration list.

Yes, I am also aware that this is in English and not Italian. He sings in many different languages, thank you.

What people don't know is that he is also a comedian. That's right, ladies. He not only sings like an angel, but he can make you laugh! (He may be the first man-package I have come across!!) Don't believe me? How can the man that sings all those romantic songs be funny too? I will prove it.

He sat down to do an interview...with himself. The first one wasn't as good as the second one, so I am going to post the second one. They're short! Take a look at this!!

Josh Groban Table Talk- Part 2! - watch more funny videos

Maybe my sense of humor is really off--but I thought this was hysterical- especially since it counters everything I would have thought Josh Groban would have been. I pictured someone sexy, sleek, mysterious and romantic. Apparently not!!

As a side note--there is no way this man stays single forever. He's too amazing.

Okay. So there is also this that I stumbled across. I think Vampire Owl is pretty amazing, so I am sharing. Happy viewing! 

Transformer Owl - watch more funny videos