Pictures.

Icons, Avatars I have created.

Try as I might the light and the dark screwed me up and I gave up. XD

.30 Day Blog Challenge: Day Thirteen. - Oops.

Missed a day, but I had a emergency - I was too sick to do much of anything yesterday. Today = somewhat better.

This one had me confuzzled.  A fiction book? One that you've read recently? One that you intensely hate? One that you secretly enjoy? What about a fiction book?

Well, anyway, I've decided to choose the first thing that comes to mind, which is... Mortal Instruments series! Oooh, good choice, brain.

Mmmmm. Jace.

Lucky Clary.

Oh, Sebass...

Out in 2011.

I love this series.  One of the main arguments I have with my roommate at least once a week (she hates books (-gasps- I KNOW)) is that, on her side, every plot has been done, every story has been retold so many times it's boring/not worth reading.  I, on the other hand, beg to differ. A lot.  My take on it is that its like a burger.

Yes, you heard me, a burger.

You got the two buns on the outside, and that's all fine and dandy, but who ever ate a hamburger without the 'ham'burger? (Heh, see what I did there? oh yeah...) It's plain. It's boring.  But then you get to put whatever you want in the middle.  You can have some lettuce, someone might choose onions or tomato, where as you may prefer bacon, or cheese, or hey? Why not both? Everyone's ideal of the 'perfect' sandwich is different, just like everyone's take on a story is different.  We are not born to think the exact same way.  No story is exactly the same.  When you think about it, all of our stories are the same.  They have a beginning, and they have an end.  Someone's alive at the beginning (the protagonist, hopefully) and someone's alive at the end (even if its not the protagonist.... still...)  It's not the basic 'plot' of the story that's supposed to intrigue the reader.  It's all the filling and goodies and twists and magic that's *within* the plot.

That said, I actually have never read a book quite like the Mortal Instruments series. Never. Ever. Not that I can think of.  To look at it from my roommate's perspective, well, yes, there have been books that is about the fight against good and evil (in different forms, of course, just read any single book with a bad guy and a good guy.)

Anyway... where was I going with this?  Thing is, Cassandra Clare throws in some delicious yet torturous twists and turns in this entire series.  I can't even tell you ANYTHING because it will probably either not make sense to you or give something away, and I just cannot say anything or else I might melt/squeal/do the conga in turns.

So please, please, pretty please, check it out.  It's brilliant writing, brilliant everything. Thank you, Cassandra Clare, for writing this amazing piece of work.  Can't wait for the next one!

.30 Day Blog Challenge: Day Twelve: Don't cry.

.Again, another 'Whatever Tickles Your Fancy' Post.  Instead of writing anything, because I'm sick, instead of singing anything, because I have a sore throat (that's beginning to look a lot like Bronchitissss, every time I cough....) I will do something that will probably seem unusual.

Now, I used to be a crybaby.  I cried at all sorts of things. But now it seems I only cry when I watch movies that people are crying in them,  (If it's good acting, but then again, I cried in the Last Song...Bahahah! No, wait, that was because some things in that movie hit close to home.) if I get hurt (I have a very low tolerance for pain.), or if I'm reading a book and something happens to a nice character [dies] and everyone else is bawling their eyes out (sometimes) Or anything family related. If its unhappy/sad/makes me angry.  Yeah, when I'm really, super, uber angry I start crying.  Okay, so I still am a crybaby. -shrugs-  It's part of my charm.

Anyway.  I am going to share a paragraph or so from a book with you.  From out of my favourite chapter, from out of one of my favourite books.  The movie hardly does this part justice. The chapter is called All Alone.

It was easy to promise self-abnegation when self was wrapt up in another, and heart and soul were purified by a sweet example; but when the helpful voice was silent, the daily lesson over, the beloved presence gone, and nothing remained but loneliness and grief, then Jo found her promise very hard to keep.  How could she 'comfort father and mother,' when her own heart ached with a ceaseless longing for her sister; how  could she 'make the house  cheerful,' when all its light, and warmth, and beauty, seemed to have deserted it when Beth left the old home for the new; and where, in all the world, could she 'find some useful happy work to do,' that would take the place of the loving service which has been its own reward?...........

But someone did come to help her, though Jo did not recognize her good angels at once, because they wore familiar shapes, and used the simple spells best fitted to poor humanity.  Often she started up at night, thinking Beth had called her; and when the sight of the little empty bed made her cry with the bitter cry of an unsubmissive sorrow, "Oh, Beth! come back! come back!" she did not stretch out her yearning arms in vain; for, as quick to hear her sobbing as she had been to hear her sister's faintest whisper, her mother came to comfort her.  Not with words only, but the patient tenderness that soothes by a touch, tears that were mute reminders of a greater grief than Jo's, and broken whispers, more eloquent than prayers, because hopeful resignation went hand-in-hand with natural sorrow.  Sacred moments! when heart talked to heart in the silence of the night, turning affliction to a blessing, which chastened grief and strengthened love.  Feeling this, Jo's burden seemed a little easier to bear, duty grew sweeter, and life looked more endurable, seen from the safe shelter of her mothers arms. 

So yeah.  I hope you like it! Can you tell me what book its from? XD

.30 Day Blog Challenge: Day Eleven - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

.So.  It has been a huge debate with myself (I tend to do that a lot...) and... well, I will show you two pictures. hehehehe. Blame Squeaky. Can't have her outdoing me, eh? XD

Well, the first one is the newest. but yeah. one with short hair... one with longer hair. XD

.30 Day Blog Challenge Day 8 & 9 & 10 - To My Shame, I Did Not.

Hello, fellow bloggers.

Because Squeaky cheated a bit, so should I. hehehhe.

After giving it a ton of thought, I'd have to say I can't find a picture that I hate or mourn over without looking intensely hard. Do you think I keep those on my computer? I THINK NOT.  So this photo is one that I've taken! And beneath that one is a picture of me more than 10 years ago. -cringes and runs and hides-

Our fooseball table covered in 'snow' and our little Christmas tree instead of getting a large one.

 

 

 

 

I'm the one giving the massage.
(YEH, I think mum made us wear dresses then...)

.30 Day Challenge: Day Seven - HFPFA, is that even real?

A picture that makes me happy.  Definitely this one.  No names. No nothing. But... my goodness, isn't he adorable?

.30 Day Challenge: Day Six - A Martian wielding a rubber noodle in a pot.

.Well, technically today's one is 'Whatever Tickles Your Fancy'.  So I've decided upon two things.  To either write a short story based on a prompt (which we would call a oneshot in the fanfic world) or a poem that are based one one prompt.  I still haven't chosen which one, so we'll just have to see with what ends up escaping from me.

The prompt: (Thanks be to Mar) An alien from Mars finds refuge in a flower pot because he's so small.

This jar of red, brown and clay
Is just for me to find my way
Its uses are amongst the best
With peace enough for me to rest

I  watch the earthlings all around
With flurry, colour, light and sound
They are oblivious to my plan
I'll catch them unaware if I can


For beneath this jar of clay and earth
My home, in all its mighty worth
Will see me rise to heights unknown
And use the earthlings for my throne


Till then, hide I must in this flower pot
For of this earth, indeed I am not
A Martian, still in this earthen fort
Must bide some time till I'm not so short.

Well, there you have it! I ran it by Mar and she said she loved it.  Which is great! <3 Love you! And I shall linkest thee. and Squeaky.

.30 Day Challenge: Day Five - The Good Stuff Is In The Details.

Favourite quote!

This is going to be rather interesting.

I'd have to say.

Favourite fictional quote :

Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight.
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more
When he bears his teeth, winter meets its death
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.

 Which also goes with:

Safe? Safe? ....Of course he isn't safe.  But he is good.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies:

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.

The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.  - Norman Vincent

.30 Day Challenge: Day Four - Exceeding Expectations.

Favourite book.

Favourite book?

In the words of my sister-in-bloggery Squeaky,

"...i'm sorry, what?

...'scuse me whilst i go ask someone which their favourite child is...."

Right, well, see, I have the same problem.  Too many books, not enough paper. Way, way, way, too many fantastic authors and stories to choose from.

In the interest of being honest, I cannot say what my favourite book is.  If I had, though, to choose a book at the top of my head, I would say immediately, without doubt, the book series that I am re-reading right now for what feels like the thousandth time. And it never gets old.

I'm reading Thorn In My Heart, Fair Is The Rose, Whence Came The Prince, and Grace In Thine Eyes. All by Liz Curtis Higgs.  And may I just add, I love her name.

Oh, Tamora Pierce is brills too.

.30 Day Challenge: Day Three - Well, this is further than I have ever gone before.

I have a few different tv shows per genre, I think, because I like a great deal of variety.

Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Stargate: SG-1
Buffy
DOCTOR WHO
TORCHWOOD
MERLIN

Action
ALIAS

Crime Drama
BONES
Midsommer Murders
Rosemary and Thyme

Sitcom
FRIENDS 

And any other shows I may enjoy are just... second rate.

Now over to Squeaky's blog to see what's happening... -trots over-

.30 Day Challenge: Day Two: Sooophieeee! Soophieeeee!

I have a few favourite movies having spent quite a while thinking about that list that I had written a few weeks ago.

As you may have guessed, I am a fan of relatively older movies, and am a person of irregular tastes.  But I like it that way, so if you have an issue with that, go talk to Squeaky. (Who, I am happy to report, called me sister-in-bloggery, which at first just made me go "Did she just call me a blogger? Does this mean I blog on a regular basis? Holy crap! The end is nigh!" Now it makes me go, "If the end is nigh, why aren't pigs flying and why do I have to sit through these terribly horrific Westerns?" You do not know the meaning of horror until you have to sit through a Western.  Maybe this is just me being biased.  Is there a category of least favourite movies? Because Westerns would be on the top of the list.  Or the bottom, depending on which is worse.)

But I digress. Oooh, that's a good word. so is nigh. -adds to the Squeaky-drabble list-

So, let me think... movies.  I love musicals, if I haven't mentioned it before.  Singing just makes everything more enjoyable for me.  Which is probably one of the reasons I like to sing.

Movies....  click on the titles for a little youtube trailer! Warning: This list is going to be incredibly old school.

Meet Me In St. Louis - will probably be the most corniest, random musical that will always ever be amongst my favourite list.

Little Women: - one movie that I wasn't too disappointed in comparing it to the books.  All of the right characters end up together and all the parts are played pretty much perfectly.

North and South - One of the only movies I will watch 4 hours in a row without stopping (or falling asleep).  It is also the only movie that has ever made me squeal like a little girl whenever I watch it.  And I mean, whenever I watch it.  And you can't go wrong with Richard Armitage (who I had the hugest crush on. And maybe still do... >.>) Mind you, the final scene... pwoaaarrrr.

Finally...

Wives and Daughters - The book, and the movie, are AMAZING. Usually I don't find domestics fascinating enough to watch 6 or 8 hours of it, but holy crap! This was brilliant! And I didn't feel dumb writing it.  Although perhaps, indulging a little because the dude from Foyle's War was in it. Hmm...

.30 Day Blog Challenge: Day One - Favourite Song (retake)

So I'm cool, and blah blah blah.

I think I may have a favourite song on my list at the moment:

The Call by Regina Spektor.

Check out Squeaky challenge! <3