Unwanted Parts of Speech Anonymous

Moderator: Thank you for coming to today's Unwanted Parts of Speech Anonymous meeting. I see we have some newcomers in the group, so why don't we start with some old members so the newcomers can see how it works? Addie, why don't you go ahead and share your feelings with the group?

Addie: Honestly, I don't feel really comfortable with that today.

Moderator: Remember, we're all here to support each other. I know you must have some feelings about being "let go" as a wanted part of speech.

Addie: Well, I mean, seriously, am I suppose to bounce around merrily? I feel like all those writers acted really selfishly and uncaringly when they promptly decided I acted too obnoxiously. It hurts, painfully, and I just want to be accepted warmly, you know? So what if I repeatedly add redundancy? Is it so awfully repulsive?

Moderator: That's right. Let it out.

Addie: And, I mean, they could've graciously given me another chance. It's not like I'm nearly as irritably bad as Gerry.

Gerry: Watching his blood pressure, Gerry tries not to punch Addie!

Moderator: Now, now, let's not get violent. Remember our motto...

Gerry: Remembering it, Gerry will still punch Addie's lights out.

Moderator: Gerry, why don't you tell us why Addie's comment upset you?

Gerry: Listing all the reasons, Gerry could be here all day. Pushing all my buttons, Gerry really think there's a heartily good chance that Addie will quickly leave here with a painfully swollen eye.

Addie: Is he really allowed to talk to me so hatefully?

Moderator: Why don't we move on to our newest addition? Perry, is it?

Perry: I'm not sure what I should talk about.

Moderator: Well -- why do you think you're here today?

Perry: It's something I don't have any control of. It's something the writers decided on. When I'm at the end of sentences, well -- I guess I'm not what they wanted to sound like.

Gerry: Trying not to throw a chair at Perry, Gerry really doesn't like talking about the writers.

Addie: He's harshly making fun of me!

Perry: What do they upset you about, Gerry?

Gerry: Getting his coat, Gerry leaves.

Moderator: Gerry! Our session isn't over yet!

Perry: Yeah, it's not yet over! What are you angry for?

Addie: Let him leave so audaciously. Really, it's no wonder the writers unswervingly delete him.

Gerry: Going to Addie's chair, Gerry will hurt him!

Addie: Don't behave so barbarically! I paid decently for this meeting! Put that chair down swiftly!

Perry: Beat him down! Beat him down!

Moderator: I think we should adjourn. Everyone say the motto now. Everyone. Gerry? I don't hear you...

Gerry, Addie, and Perry: "Turning the Other Cheek, We Humbly Move On."

Fantastic Friday!

Fantastic Thing-that-happened-in-the-past-week #1) This music video. Okay, more sad than fantastic, but still.

Thing #2) Umm...oh snap. I just realized I kind of maxed-out all my fantastic things in my "Procrastination" post. Huh. Woopsie. In that case, I will do a news update.

This Just In: Next week I will be doing the second Book Trailer Contest. So stay tuned for another chance to have your novel immortalized in movie clips.

Also: If it ever loads, I made a video for a class project that I'm putting on YouTube. It's a music video of the relationship between Virginia and Wolf from the miniseries "The 10th Kingdom." So periodically check my YouTube side-bar if you're interested.*

My blog has been really boring lately. Sorry about that. When I said my Muse was missing, well -- I wasn't exaggerating.

*Video is up now, though the quality royally sucks. I don't know what happened between the movie maker and YouTube, but something made chunks of the first half all shaky. But if you can press through that, the second half is smooth and lovely.

Procrastination: "The Quest for Inspiration"

That's what I've decided is the true definition of procrastination. And it is true, right? Right.

Procrastination #1) Prepare to waste much time and money here. Greatest t-shirts EVER. And you can create your own, so I ordered a black hooded shirt with a Jolly Roger symbol in white. Best. Purchase. EVER. I have my friend Allie to thank for this awakening.

Procrastination #2) Suzanne Young tagged her friend Christy's blog post about making album covers. I went through the steps but didn't actually create it, as I don't feel particularly photo-shop-ee today. But my band was Louye, my album name was "A Secret that You Don't Know You are Keeping," and my album picture was a psychedelic orange flower. Sweet.

Procrastination #3) Um, chello, but Adam Lambert is soooo not like Edward Cullen, okay, Randy? Geez. I mean, Lambert's skin doesn't even sparkle. Psh. (American Idol references, in case you were wondering.)

Procrastination #4) Funny anecdote from work today: a British guy came in. British. Came into my work. To help you realize the gravity of this event, you must understand that I live in Hicksville, Mideastern USA. Corn, corn, tree, corn, corn, house, corn, corn, crow. So, needless to say, I was giggling like a little girl when this guy talked to me. But one of my coworkers waited on him, and here's the conversation they had:

British Guy: I need football *something that sounds like "shorts"*
Coworker: Okay, we have shorts right over--
BG: Oh no, my accent got you. Football SHIRTS.
Coworker: Oh! Okay, well, we have some here. *leads him to football jerseys, because apparently he was talking about American football*
BG: I don't know any teams. I like the black and gold one. Who is that?
*every Saints fan in America groans*
Coworker: That's the Saints, from New Orleans.
BG: Good, good. Is it expensive? *looks at pricetag* Sh-t no!
Coworker: *laughs*

Moral of the story: British people are just as fascinated with American stuff as we are with their stuff. This guy bought two jerseys for his kids (I'm guessing...they were little jerseys). I knew I sat here in America going "British stuff! British stuff!" in a squeaky voice, but I didn't realize British people sat over there going "American stuff! American stuff!" in a much classier squeaky voice. This experience was eye-opening.

Wanted

Wanted: Muse

Answers To: "Muse," "Inspiration," and "Hey, you."

Description: Normally in a toga sporting a wreath of laurel, Muse has been known to take on more modern forms. Sometimes seen as tall, dark, and handsome, or as a box of Esther Price chocolates.

Last Seen: Near a sequel to Stream Pirate before leaping out a window, sliding past a retelling of a fairy tale, and running through four lanes of oncoming myths.

Time Since Disappearance: At least sixteen YouTube videos.

Reward: A kick-butt story idea.

Muse is considered to be armed and dangerous, seen to possess distracting movies, nagging homework, and shiny objects. If found, approach with caution.

Fantastic Friday!

It's that time of the week again. Yay for not missing Friday this time!

Fantastic Thing-that-happened-in-the-past-week #1) My fancy new blog! It's still taking some getting used to, but I'm satisfied.

Thing #2) New hair! Er, brighter hair. My hair was already a reddish concoction, but this time I went brighter and shorter.

This one just makes me laugh

Me in my fantabulous work shirt

Sneaky...

Thing #3) I got my car back. This is now the second car that has had brake issues in the span of six months, and I'm thoroughly convinced my old car and my new car conspire against me. They sit next to each other on the driveway, and their conversation goes something like this:

Old Car: "Psst, psst. You know, my brake lines corroded last semester. And, like, it would be totally hysterical if you had brake issues too."
New Car: "Totally, man. She speeds*, so it'd be ripe with irony."
Old Car: "Rad man, rad. Do it! Do it!"

*I don't speed. My new car just has a love affair with the speedometer flicking to 70mph.

Thing #4) Okay, this is kind of a bittersweet "fantastic" thing. I started The Dust of 100 Dogs on Sunday. While it is fabulously well-written and had me glued to the page, I really, really, really cannot finish it. I love AS King, and love her writing, and am very sad I cannot do a full review of it, but because of my own weaknesses, I cannot. I don't do well with rape scenes. At all. And halfway through D100D, there is a very explicit scene. At least, explicit to me, and I regrettably have to stop reading. But this should be an odd complement for King -- it was so well written, it disturbed me (as such a scene should).*

Thing #5) I didn't have to wear a coat on Wednesday. Heat wave, baby.

Thing #6) Walmart's Valentine's Day candy + February 15th = 50% off. Chocolate, candy hearts, all for under $5.00. Mmmmm imagination stimulation food. Perhaps Web will stop being so darn illusive and finally commit to an outline? Only more chocolate will tell.

*I didn't mean for this to be a "Warning! Warning! Do Not Read!" disclaimer in anyway, shape, or form. It is a very powerful book, and I still heartily recommend it to those who can handle scenes like that better than I can.

New Layout!

My old template had...issues. I think it developed a slowly-progressing template cancer that finally made it breathe its last a few hours ago. It fought a good fight. But with its death comes new life, in the form of my bright pink and blue bookish blog!

Likey? I likey. Fun. Spunky. Brilliantly bright. Lets hope it doesn't contract whatever my last template contracted...

Golly-Gee, I CAN Finish Something Early: Book Trailer Prize!

I almost didn't believe it myself. But lo and behold, what I thought would take the majority of this week has only taken two days. How did that happen?

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present for your viewing pleasure: a book trailer for the fabulous Jill Wheeler's novel Drawn to You.

I used clips from The Covenant, Princess Diaries, and Flicka. The song is Evanescence's "Everybody's Fool."