The Book That Ruined My Life

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book, Catching Fire, Katniss, life, literature, Mentoring, Mockingjay, Peeta, reading, Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games, Tutoring

Okay, maybe I’m being a little overdramatic but when you have shed blood, sweat and tears over a series for a few years and have grown with the characters as I have, you earn the right to say that. So, The Hunger Games Trilogy (most recently Mockinjay) ruined my life. And most certainly these last couple of days. See, I have these need to consume the books I like that goes beyond just casual reading. I DEVOUR every word, every sentence, until I am in the book itself. And let me tell you something (oh and SPOILER ALERT, by the way. Just so you know.) I was in the streets of the capitol. I was in the districts, I was in that BARRICADE WHEN PRIM DIED. And I too, like Katniss became a fire mutt. We grieved together and felt despair together and we felt bloodthirsty when we killed Coin, because that was the right thing to do. The final thing. Not only have I been consumed by the book but there are many things that are suffering as a result of this horrible (I mean amazing, really) novel. I have not once studied for the Chemistry test I have in two weeks, I have not done the amount of First Inkling work that I should be doing, and most importantly I have not slept. I have been up reading this book. Now, at this point you must be thinking well, if she has spent all this time reading, why didn’t she finish in a day? Because! Because, I read and consume at such a rate that I absorb everything and take it in which basically means that I’m very slow at reading, sort of. I did read the last one hundred and fifty pages in less than six hours, which I deem as an accomplishment thank you very much. Plus, I’m exaggerating a bit. I wasn’t able to read as much as I wanted to these last few days and was not feeling very motivated the first quarter of the book. But then like one Katniss’ arrows I soared through it. (how do you like that crappy metaphor? Or is it simile? At this point I’m too tired to think about it.) And I finished it and was left to the utter destruction, like the ruins of District 12. It devastated me. Even if the ending was slightly uplifting (YAY! PEETA AND KATNISS BABIES!) I still felt like there was this world-weary weight that Katniss had on her shoulders that was so much different than the epilogue in Harry Potter. (GASP, YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT THE HUNGER GAMES AND HARRY POTTER IN THE SAME SENTENCE. And of course, here goes the discussion? Which is better? Duh, neither. They are different. But that is a whole ‘nother blog, honey, and I am not equipped to dealing with that at the moment.) By the way, can you tell that I’ve had like 20 cups of soda? The better it is to deal with the anguish this book has left me in. So, back to that. Katniss was just left behind. By her mother, Gale, and Peeta was the only one who stayed. I do like the reality of the Peeta V. Gale debate. That because it was basically Gale’s idea that killed Prim, Katniss could never really choose him and then the idea that they were too alike, too much fire. Peeta was the calming force she needed. Lovely.

The whole book was utterly fantastic. I wish, as usual, that there was more sane Peeta later. More caring Peeta, where we the readers realize he’s not buckets o’ crazy. But he kind of just fades out of that and then suddenly tries to stop Katniss from killing herself. I don’t know, it just didn’t work for me. But oh well. I did enjoy it though. Definitely, one of the top books that I’ve read which enters me into the beginning of a rant that will probably be a whole different blog so here we go:

YA FICTION CAN BE GOOD FICTION. REPEAT AFTER ME: YA FICTION CAN BE GOOD FICTION. IT CAN BE GOOD LITERATURE. NOT ALL, BUT SOME. Like freaking Harry Potter, and the Hunger Games, and If I Stay, Before I Fall, Paper Towns, etc. etc. It’s possible. One does not have to write for the ages of 32 and older to write good fiction or literature or whatever. Because I have just read a story that I believe to be EPIC in every way shape and form and it’s so damn good that someone should really try to debate that with me now. It can’t be done. It’s awesome, and that’s that.

Collins has done what masterminds can only do. She has created a universe that is believable, and terrifying. It’s not out of the realm of possiblity and she makes some HUGE statements about society in the books that I am too tired to find but they go along the lines of calling the people in the past (us) morons for using up the world so that the future has nothing. Oh yeah, and bombing the hell out of each other and developing weapons that blow humanity off the map and force them to battle it out in the shape of the Hunger Games. She also creates characters we can relate too. Katniss volunteers for a death mission for her sister, Peeta has a crush on a girl, love is death with these two, you know the drill. But we like them. Haymitch has some many issues we lose count, Gale has a grudge but is the bad boy. They are archetypal in a way and so present that we eat them up and become them, as I did. We root for them, cry for them (and with them) and fight alongside them. All this wouldn’t be possible if Collins wasn’t skilled.

Her language is terse, her descriptions to the point but we have all the information we need to consume the story and to like it. Katniss is real in her observations. She only reports what she sees and feels and her language isn’t above what a seventeen, slighty educated teenager from a poor District would know. And that is what helps make it all believable.

As for the other characters, God. Who cannot resist Finnick? He’s so endearing, so smart, so awesome, with a soul and a love so deep that we are tying knots ourselves over Annie. And Boggs, who became my favorite character. He’s the father figure, the only one besides maybe Cinna and Haymitch who knew anything about what he was talking about and was actually genuine. And he died too! Who was more sincere than Prim? Died trying to save children, her age, maybe older from the bombings of the district that was supposed to be her refuge.

What a story, what storytelling. What a game. Yes, a game. The novels, like the games they depict, were deeply psychological, suspenseful, and horrible. Yet you were engrossed, as you were standing out in the square in your district watching the tributes fight for their lives. We love that, don’t we? Stories of survival? And maybe that’s why Katniss (Harry too) is such a powerful character. She’s a survivor. Maybe our own lives aren’t faced with looming Hunger Games and battles to the death but something a little more mundane but just as frightening. Katniss can do it, and play out the role, so why can’t we? Don’t they say, act it if you don’t know how to go on? Fake it till you make it? Katniss did, didn’t she? So we can too. This is why these types of books, EPIC books with strong messages that are obvious and some not so obvious are so important to young readers and even older ones. I’m nineteen, and I will be twenty in two weeks and this book spoke to me more than some of the classics I’ve read. So what does that tell you? That our zeitgeist has become dystopians and heroines and battles? Maybe? But aren’t was all fighting something more so now than ever? Each other, illness, financial problems, home problems, self-esteem issues, the list goes on. So to have a heroine who shows the reality of facing such issues and makes it through, can be extremely important in development. And of course, finding a good book to read may be the most important thing a child, young person, or adult may do. A good book opens up so much in life. It leads to other good books, other opportunities, knowledge and culture. It helps you also, to survive in a way. My week was hectic enough, did I need to read this book and stay up to the wee hours of the morning to finish it and write a blog about it? No, but I did. Because it affected me greatly and helped me get through the week. I woke up in the morning knowing I had to find out what happened to Katniss, the other victors, her friends and family. Who ended the war? Who survived?

There’s a military saying, “Embrace the suck”. When things well, suck, I do just that. And sometimes you need something to help you along your way. I try to go the healthiest option although sometimes I turn to chocolate, but I find a good book, writing, or TV show helps. Because I’m trying to become more well read and trying to read every book I can, I turned to reading. It helped. I did indeed embrace something.

So, what I guess I’m saying is that this book did not ruin my life. It seemed maybe that way as a joke. But no, in fact it did not. It helped, greatly. I furthered my goal of reading a book a week (I sort of changed that to a book in a week and a few days but eventually I’ll fix it.) and I got through a busy week. I am glad I spent my time with the characters. It had been setting on my bookshelf since it came out and since I have the horrible habit of starting books I know I will love and never finishing them, I knew I had to read it eventually, I just didn’t want to let it go.

I’m advocating here for people to find the books that ruined their lives (not really of course, but you get my gist). Get reading. Even if it’s not a classic, find something that will help. I tell the girls I tutor all the time. Find a book that interests you and the reading, enjoying reading, vocabulary, and comprehension will all come. I know this from experience. So, go for it. Read the Hunger Games trilogy if you want. It comes, highly recommended. It will probably ruin your life. You won’t sleep, do your school work and may eat nothing but bread and water, which is what was regulated to the tributes during the Games if they were lucky. But just remember one thing:

The Odds Will Always Be In Your Favor.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close-or the trailer that made me cry.

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9/11, book, city, coming soon, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, father, film, johnathan safran foer, life, media, movie, new york city, novel, oskar schell, reading, september, son, tragedy, trailer, watching, writing

You know you’re feeling emotional when you tear up at a movie trailer. Especially if you get goosebumps at the song playing and have to swallow down the swelling in your throat. You know the feeling, of course. Your eyes burn and you hug yourself a little tighter because it’s a freaking movie for crying out loud. But add Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, New York City, a father-son story, death, and 9/11 in one movie and you’ve reduced me to a ball of mush. Mainly, because I’ve also read the book and know the intricacies of the plot all of which alone produce goosebumps. This movie will be epic. I know it will be epic. In my opinion the novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Johnathan Safran Foer was one of the best books I’ve ever read. Not only did it combine something tragic and current into a story that wasn’t played out or too fictional, but it did it in an interesting, thought-provoking way. I live in New York and I remember 9/11 despite being half my life ago. And this was one of the best representations of the grief, confusion, and tragedy that occurred on that day and the days to follow. Also, the novel touches upon other things. Being a young brilliant boy, for instance, and how to communicate with people and feel, despite not always being on the same level. In fact, the whole novel is about communication. I hope that is one of the things that comes across well in the film. Oskar Schell was an awesome, funny, young person and I cannot wait to see how is portrayed. You can get a bit of the incredibly moving nature of ELAC from the trailer but trust me there is more. The book was perfect, and I don’t say that about many books. If there is one book/movie adaption that you read and watch please let it be this one.

In which I whine about my writing….

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advice, author, book, characters, class, critic, editors, goal, life, love, manuscript, novel, novelist, passion, profession, professor, published, publishing, reading, school, story, writer, writing

Because First Inkling comes out in a few weeks, I’ve been running around doing a million things at once and trying to keep my sanity intact. So far, I think I’m doing an okay job of it but, because I’m me, I found something else to focus on. My writing. I get in these ruts every once in a while where I have this amazing moment of inspiration and I’m all gung-ho to start writing again and then I start reading what I’ve just written and I’m quite disappointed. If I can’t impress myself, then how in the hell am I supposed to impress readers, agents, and publishers? Of course the only person besides me who has seen my writing is my mother and she is extremely bias in the department of giving opinions. I’m the type that doesn’t want to show anyone anything until it’s perfected and I love it. All of it. Not some piece of dialogue or small passage but every bit of it. And do you know how hard that is?

I really don’t know how any writer does it. How they can get past their biggest critics is beyond me. After returning to my writing after a few weeks of looking at it, I get so down. It wasn’t the creative genius I thought it was. Crap. But then I feel no will to go on. I sit stagnant, ready to hop on tumblr or facebook to try to fight my depressed state. Of course, it’s easy for me to dream and think about the characters and what they do. All of it is in my head but I can’t seem to write it out. It’s horrible. I feel it all right there before me, but no way of expressing myself. Will more practice and reading help me? I hope so. Because I’ve been working on this novel for three years and I am not planning on giving up on it. I will finish it and it will live up to my standards. It has too.

And also, I plan on showing it to my professor soon. He told me to prepare ten pages because he’s heard me talk about this 100,000 work manuscript but I’ve never showed him anything. So yeah, I’ve got to figure all this out soon.

Suggestions?

The Quest to Become More Well Read

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books, editing, editor, goals, library, life, literary journals, literature, magazines, Nabokov, poem, publishing, reading, work, writing

Well, as always, in the midst of my busy, crazy life I have to go ahead and choose something else to take on. It’s as if I can’t handle being even the littlest bit relaxed. You know? A workaholic I most certainly am. So, after a very inspirational and helpful conversation with my professor/faculty editor for First Inkling I was left with two new goals.

1. Clean up ten pages of novel for him to see.                                                               2. Read more and read widely to become more well read.

The two goals, of course, coincided. The more I read, the better my writing would become and my ability to edit well and converse with just about anyone. Who cares if the subject is the new Malcolm Gladwell book, or Nabokov or that article in the New Yorker, I would be able to jump from conversation to conversation with efficiency and confidence. And having goals is important to me, especially this one. Because I could see the success and this future well-read, well-versed intelligent me. She was confident, professional and just around the corner.

So to get to her, I knew what I had to do. I finished the book I was reading, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and moved quickly to find something else. Of course, trying to pick up Mrs. Dalloway after Perks probably wasn’t the best thing to do, especially at a boring grey day at work. So, I had a set back and was left bookless and with my goal feeling as far away as ever. But with a little help, I returned to the goal and picked up Pale Fire because the library didn’t have Lolita. And now, because my work for the night has finished, I will being the poem and commentary. Hoping to emerge from it with a little bit more understanding of great writing.

Is there any books you can recommend, oh lovely followers of mine, that will help me in my goal? Any goal that you want to talk about, because making goals seem more real by discussion and imagery, can probably help make them come true. So they say. Off to read I go.

TV Tuesday- Gossip Girl, Nikita, Sherlock OH MY

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ACTING, blogging, Bones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, busy, Gossip Girl, life, media, Movies, reading, school, Shane West, SHERLOCK, supernatural, Tuesday, TV, tv shows, TV Tuesday, watching

Hi all! I haven’t blogged for a few days and I apologize! I missed Magazine Monday 😦 but I will make up for it with a terrific TV Tuesday (How do you like that alliteration? Top notch stuff!) I apologize for disappearing. All manner of things kept me from blogging including a glitch with my pictures on my blog, which you might have noticed, a Chemistry test, First Inkling work, tutoring and my new favorite TV shows. However, the latter allows me to write a kickass TV Tuesday. 

I talked about how quickly I can get hooked on a TV show, right? And that there is probably nothing I won’t get hooked on. Seriously. I swore I would never watch the girly girl Gossip Girl or Nikita (the show that stole Supernatural’s beloved Thursday time slot) and here I am blogging about them. I probably won’t watch Glee though. I really don’t like Glee. But that’s a whole ‘nother can of worms.

Anyway…

So I just said to myself recently: Self, you should watch more TV shows. And Self replied: You idiot, you already watch about seventeen of them. And I said: No not really. And Self said: Oh yeah? Count them. And so I did:

1. Supernatural

2. Bones

3. Castle

4. NCIS

5. The Middle

6. Modern Family

7. Fringe

8. White Collar

9. Suits

10. Covert Affairs

11. Doctor Who

12. Being Human

13. Misfits

14. Friday Night Lights

15. Firefly

16. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

17. Angel

So in all honesty, some of those are cancelled and I don’t really watch them anymore but still. It’s a lot. And I figured I needed a few more. I also have been wanting to watch Gossip Girl for a while. I love shows about New York City and even more I just like having a guilty pleasure. So I got the first season. Then I decided to watch Nikita because one it looks kickass and similar to Covert Affairs and I saw a lot of things lately on Tumblr about Shane West and I missed him. Shane West plays Michael in Nikita, by the way. And so I watched it and SHOW WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE. It’s like Buffy and Covert Affairs combined. Epic. Seriously. And Shane West? Whew. Amazing. I would just watch the show for him. So I got over my misconception that the show was going to suck and it was unworthy because it took my boys’ time slot on Thursdays.

This happens a lot. I think that shows are going to suck and then I get hooked. Example: Fringe. Who wants to watch a weird show that’s like the X-Files except weirder with a crazy old guy, his son and an FBI Agent? Plus, it was on at the same time as Supernatural so….yeah. You get the point.

What other shows will I look down on only to watch later? I honestly cannot say. I also refuse to watch the Vampire Diaries. I thought I might like it and started watching it but sadly, no dice. It’s still annoying.

No offense of course. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

So yes, I was wrong about Nikita and Gossip Girl but Sherlock? I went into that one knowing I would love every minute of it. Benedict Cumberbatch (hee, awesome name) and Martin Freeman have great chemistry. And let it be known that British actors are awesome! I love love love this show. The storytelling, the setting, the acting. All so so good. It’s only three episodes though. MOFFAT, WHY? Apparently it’s coming back in November which makes me oh so excited. If you haven’t watched Sherlock. DO IT. It’s a modern day mystery of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. It’s about equal to the movie that just came out but different of course. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law have their own way with their characters that is perfect for the Victorian setting they are in. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman bring their own style to this modern Sherlock and the London he sleuths in. (Was that proper? I’m too tired to tell. Sleuth is a noun, correct?)

Okay, so maybe this isn’t a kickass TV Tuesday but I still have Shakespeare reading to do and I want to watch NCIS tonight so I’m going to cut this short. Try to give a show you’ve put off a chance. You never know, it might surprise you.

 

Things To Live For Thursday

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baking, blog, cookies, cooking, Dessert, excited, food, happy, holiday shapes, life, lists, love, optimism, pillsbury, things to live for, thursday, writing

The Things To Live For list is different for everyone. For some it is materialistic, for others, it is more made up of ideals and feelings. There’s no right or wrong, just the lists existence. Like a It Gets Better for the world, the Things To Live for is a priority typing, favoritizing, experimental list making idea where you make yourself think of Things To Live For. And when shit happens, because let’s be real it always does, you have this list to fall back on. Or at least, I have the list to fall back on. You all can do whatever you want. Think of it as a greatest hits list if you want. Like that feeling you get when you are searching through your favorite book and you find a particular line or scene that excites you and just makes you happy. That’s what this list is for. To make you happy. Or I hope.

In no particular order of course.

1. Pillsbury Holiday Shape Cookies

Oh God, I love these freaking things. They remind me of cold nights, wearing footy pajamas and watching some Christmas movie. They are freaking delicious. They are hard sugar cookies until you get to the center which is usually some symbol of the holiday. Currently I am eating the Back To School cookies with the orange buses on them. These things are so delicious that I think there are only about ten left on the plate. I’ve seriously eaten most of them. I have no self control when it comes to most desserts but these things? Are lethal to whatever bit of control I have left. I just went from feeling horrible about my day and feeling useless to dancing around the kitchen with a glass of milk in one hand. this cookie in the other and my new favorite song on the laptop. When I have these cookies, life is good. After spending most of the week worrying about my weight and then ignoring that in favor of the cookies, well, I know they must be something special. Like ridiculously special.

I’m only going to post one today because the cookies are so good they stand alone.

Favorite Things of The Week #2

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animals, books, box sets, DVD, elephants, favorites, gryffindor, Harry Potter, internet, items, JK Rowling, media, pillow pets, pottermore, ravenclaw, reading, shoes, shopping, shows, slytherin, Sperry, supernatural, Television, things, topsiders, website, wednesday, writing

So Wednesdays are my toss up day. I don’t have a plan on what I will talk about, it will mostly be random. I thought for this week I would do another favorite things because this week I have a lot of favorite things.

1. POTTERMORE.

Can we discuss how I have to go buy Ravenclaw items now? I’m officially in Ravenclaw. I took the quiz and did it TRUTHFULLY and I was placed in Ravenclaw. This made me feel weird because I always thought I would be in Gryffindor, although recently I thought I might be placed in Slytherin. I am starting to warm up to it though. In my welcome letter I read something that stuck out to me. Ravenclaws are known for marching to the beat of their own drum and I think that fits me very well. Pottermore has left me feeling squishy and warm inside. I walked down Diagon Alley and bought my wand and Tawny Owl, I walked through the entrance to Hogwarts and sat on the stool to be sorted. This is such a great experience. I really am loving all these little bits of information that JK Rowling has shared with us. I can’t wait until everyone joins and we can all discuss it together. However, I am very happy I was one of the first ones in.

 

My face when I logged into Pottermore for the first time.

2. Pillow Pets!

When I was away abroad this summer my friend took with her a duck pillow pet. It looked so comfy and I warmed up to the idea of having one. Now Trivia Fact #5 about moi, I have a Teddy that I’ve had since birth and not many things comfort me like this Teddy besides a small little golden dog and a few Roo stuffed animals. Trivia Fact #6 I absolutely adore ROO! Anyway, I wasn’t sure how well I would adjust to a pillow pet but I decided if I found the right one that would be okay. I thought I might like the Owl pillow pet because there was no Elephant Pillow pets (Trivia Fact #6 I love elephants, besides Beluga whales they are my favorite animals). But then I was in the mall with my mom and I found one! And I got an elephant pillow pet and he’s so comfortable I love him. I’m laying on him now as I type!

3. Supernatural Season Six!

I got Supernatural season six today! Remember how I said I was going to get it yesterday but I couldn’t? I got it today! And it came with a shirt! A grey shirt that has the Supernatural logo. Very awesome. I now have four shirts I can wear while watching the Boys (Supernatural LA Convention, Dean= Love shirt, this shirt, and my Impala logo shirt). I cannot wait to watch it because now I really am in the mood. I’m sensing a marathon this weekend after work? Maybe.

4. Sperry shoes.

Over the summer, as I’ve said recently, I’ve noticed a lot of different things about fashion. One thing I noticed was different types of shoes. Sperry shoes to be exact. When I was taking the horrible Bio summer class, one girl wore her Sperry’s all the time. They looked so comfortable and really went with everything she wore. I put it down on the list of things I must buy and last week I bought them. I’ve worn them twice this week and they are so comfortable. They’re light too so my feet don’t get too hot in them either as it’s been grossly humid here lately.

5. TV show Premieres!

I have only watched two premieres New Girl and Ringer but I am extremely excited for the rest of the premieres coming up. I love to see what new stuff my favorite actors will try next and if it is anything like their old work (type casting?). Ringer was really great and I love how it started us off. SMG still has it and I really liked her portrayal of the two. I love Henry, my new favorite guy on TV, and cannot wait to see what this show has for us.

 

So, that was really short but I am exhausted. I have a busy day tomorrow with First Inkling meetings and my acting class but I’ll try to get my Thursday post in.

TV Tuesday-My Dilemma and Fandom Story

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Angel, Being Human, Bones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Castle, David Boreanaz, fall, Fandom, Fanfiction, Firefly, Fringe, Harry Potter, Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Joss Whedon, Leverage, media, Misfits, OTP, premieres, Ringer, Sarah Michelle Gellar, season, show, suits, Television, Tuesday, TV, TV Tuesday, watching, White Collar

As promised I am continuing my new daily posts with new categories. Yesterday was Magazine Monday, today is TV Tuesday. On Tuesdays I plan on reviewing, gushing, squeeing and discussing a TV show. Perhaps multiple TV shows. Tonight, however, I will discuss my dilemma. A dilemma that was partially taken care of but it is a dilemma nonetheless.

You see, once there was a young girl. The young girl was into Harry Potter BIG TIME but didn’t watch much TV. Until she got strep and had to stay a week home from school and encountered a little TV show called Buffy The Vampire Slayer. You could say that this opened the young girl’s eyes to a whole new world of fandom. Besides Charmed, she had never read a fanfic before or gazed upon a fan art drawing. By the time the week was over, the young girl was ready to sharpen stakes and join the Scooby Gang. Why hadn’t she known about this glorious show before? And GASP, to her horror, the show was almost over! So she demanded that her parents buy her all six seasons-the seventh season wasn’t over with yet-and she spent a good portion of her time finishing the series. She read fanfiction in the meantime and participated in heated debates over which OTP was better (BANGEL FOREVER). She even annoyed her friends with rewatching episodes and singing along to Once More With Feeling. And then of course she got into Angel, even if she was pissed at him for leaving and she spent a good part of middle school in love with the whole thing.

And then Buffy ended, she was caught up and she had seen every episode at least a thousand times. The actors had moved on. David Boreanaz had joined a new show called Bones as Angel ended and it’s precious time slot was taken over by a stupid show about two brothers. Who would want to watch that? The young girl certainly didn’t. Even though her Mom tried to tell her it was good and some of the Buffy/Angel alum were guest starring. Who cared? She wasn’t looking for another show to watch. She definitely could care less about the guy who had blood falling on his head and then saw the blonde girl on fire. Even if the brother did look hot.

This defiance of this new show lasted a few weeks. Bored, one night, she budged and turned on an episode that Amy Acker starred in. Between then and a few episodes later, she was hooked. It might have been the good looking cast, the music, or the fact that Denny from Grey’s Anatomy, another show she had begrudgingly stared to watch, played the brother’s dad that sparked her interest. But like the week with Buffy, it didn’t take long for the young girl to be hooked.

Five-years-later and the young girl’s in her senior year of high school. She is a fangirl, squeeing for every episode. Her one true love is Jensen Ackles and the world revolves around the Winchester Boys. She’s got everyone she knows watching it and writes fanfic to show it. She has all of the boxed sets and they sit like trophies on her bookshelf. NOTHING will keep them apart.

A year later, she’s in college. They have moved her precious boys to Friday nights, bastards, and season six has started. The college work load is tough. Add to the fact that she finally read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Because she couldn’t finish it, finishing means it’s over!) and the distracting epic fanfiction from the Harry Potter fandom and she’s has a bit of a conundrum. And so she misses one episode and then another and another until it’s just too much and she can’t keep up. By that time she’s in love with Harry, Ron, Hermione and the whole bunch of them and becomes really into British TV shows. Series like Misfits and Being Human find their way into her computer and then Doctor Who and somewhere along the way the boys get pushed back. She’ll catch up later but for now, she’s trying new things. She tries to ignore the guilt as the sixth season ends and she hasn’t heard much about it other than on Tumblr even if some of the episodes look really good.

Presently, it’s the start of the young girl’s second year of college. Season seven of Supernatural starts in less than two weeks but the DVDs come out today. Ringer also starts, with Sarah Michelle Gellar, the actress in the show that started it all. She faces an epic dilemma-go buy the DVDs like she has every year and start watching the series she has missed? Or watch Ringer and try to reclaim that giddy feeling she had with the badass heroine on Buffy? Or should she forget about all that and go play on Pottermore, because her welcome email finally came in? Ah the woes of a fangirl.

And so, you know my fandom story. It’s much more complicated and detailed than that but I did start out with Charmed and Buffy, moved to Angel, found Supernatural, moved back to Harry Potter, which you could argue I began with in the first place and now have found a host of other brillant things. Fringe, Doctor Who, Misfits, Being Human, Bones, Castle, Firefly, Leverage, White Collar, Suits, Covert Affairs.. And now that Ringer starts I am ready to open my heart again to a new show. I am very excited and I hope it holds my interest. I really like shows with siblings because family has always been an important thing to me and to watch it all play out on TV is always really awesome. The relationship that Sam and Dean is one of the reasons that the show is so great to me and why I love it.

I can’t review Ringer because it comes on in less than forty-five minutes and I haven’t seen it yet. I can say that I melted at the adorableness of a tweet that David Boreanaz (Angel, Bones) said about Ringer and wished Sarah Michelle Gellar good luck. They were my one true pairing, guys. I am also excited that Kristoffer Paloha from Life UnExpected, a favorite show of mine that didn’t make it, will be in Ringer. I loved him on LUX and look forward to him on this show.

I also cannot review anything from the Supernatural season six DVD because I was unable to get it. I had to tutor and then had some business to take care of with First Inkling and wasn’t able to run to Best Buy. I was looking forward to it too because every year it’s become a ritual to get the DVDs and every year Best Buy gives a special gift with them. This year it was a shirt! Maybe they’ll be available tomorrow.

So what is your fandom story? Has this new season put you in a dilemma? Do you share in my love for TV or these particular TV shows?

I know I’m excited about the new season even if there’s so much to watch! I am looking forward to Ringer, NCIS, Supernatural (even if I haven’t finished the previous season yet), Bones, Castle, Misfits, Being Human, and there’s probably so much more that I can’t keep track of.

Happy watching!

Magazine Monday- First Inkling Magazine

Tags

ACP, agents, award, books, class, CMA, college, contact, contest, creative, deadline, editing, editor, Elle, entertainment, EW, graphic shorts, international, internship, journals, life, literary journals, Literary magazines, literature, magazine monday, magazines, media, monday, novels, opportunity, Orlando, Pacemaker, plays, poems, prize, professional, publication, publishers, publishing, reading, school, short stories, student, submission, travel, TV Guide, Vogue, website, writing

Because my Chem lab professor let us out early and I don’t feel like studying at the moment I decided to launch my new idea for blog posts. For a few days of the week, I have decided to dedicate blog posts to certain things. It makes blogging easier for me and maybe easier for you to read. It also gives me something to focus on and I like things I can focus on. So for Mondays, I have decided to try to review, discuss or try something I saw in a magazine. This means recipes, outfits, hair, and eeek maybe make up? The magazines I can choose can be Elle, Vogue, TV Guide, EW, EveryDay With Rachel Ray, Everyday Food or any other magazine that I choose. Now say try because hopefully I will be able to do this. I want to and I hope that is enough motivation but sometimes, as you all know life can get in the way.

Anyway, here it goes. The first Magazine Monday.

This Magazine Monday might be a little different from what I might do in the next ones. I have wanted to talk about First Inkling for a while and I think now is my chance. It’s a magazine and so it falls under the category and it also gives me time to figure out what next monday might be. Yeah, so I’m unprepared for my first real idea. Sort of. First Inkling is important and this gives me the opportunity to talk about it. Killing two birds with one stone, see?

Ready?

First Inkling is an international online and print literary magazine dedicated to publishing the best student writing in the world. We are seeking to print the next greats while they are in college in the English language. I am a Senior Associate Editor, which is a really cool title and also allows me to have a lot of responsibilities for the magazine. I enjoy it a lot. But I’ll get to my part later.

First Inkling offers many opportunities to student writers. Not only will our magazine be read internationally by creative writing students and professors but it is very likely, actually it will be read by agents, publishers and editors and other professionals in the literary and writing field.

Our magazine’s inaugural issue comes at the end of October. We have been working extremely hard to find the best writers and have read hundreds of submissions of short stories, poems, graphic shorts and even some plays. We are also offering an award-The Sam Draper Award for Literary Excellence to best piece of writing we see. The award is $1000 and there is a $250 prize for runner up as well.

Just because the deadline is in October doesn’t mean we have stopped looking at submissions. All of our editors are hard at work reading and discussing pieces, trying to discover the next Stephen King, JK Rowling, Johnathan Franzen etc. while they are still a student.

It’s a great project and one of it’s kind. We are actually going to the CMA conference in Orlando at the end of October, right when we come out, to meet with other magazines and publications. We, including me, had worked hard as well to book talented professional speakers from literary magazines in the United States. Not only do we read other work and try to find accomplished student writers, but we interact with accomplished writers who have had the experience already and are willing to speak at conferences. Additionally, many of our editors have spoken to editors and writers and have gotten them to join us on our advisory board. It is made up of talented and brilliant people who are able to aid us in our endeavor.

If this sounds at all interesting to you, let me know. We are still excepting submissions and if you think that you have a piece that is fit for our publication, comment with your email and I will get back to ASAP. Our deadline is October 1 so you have a little bit of time. Feel free to ask me questions or check out our website firstinkling.com

So that explains a lot of what I do. It’s my internship at school but you don’t have to attend my college to become an editor. We have satellite editors from all over and it’s great to hear their opinions on pieces or share their experiences in writing and editing. I really do love my job and I am extremely excited for when it comes out.

So now when you hear me discuss, you know what I mean. So yay, that’s my first Magazine Monday.

Things I Have My Eye On

Tags

beautiful, beauty, clothes, etsy, girls, Harry Potter, items, jewelry, life, lists, Louis Vuitton, lovely, pocket watches, pretty, shopping, things, tiffany, want

I have a bit of a list obsession, especially when I want to keep track of the things I want. And remember when I said that if I put my mind to something, I usually get it? So if I make a list of the things I want it helps me focus on them and figure out how/when/where I will get them. Plus, it makes me feel good.

1. Pocket watch necklace

I’ve wanted a pocket watch necklace since my trip abroad. I think they look great with any number of things (dresses, tanks, boho shirts, dressy shirts) and add to this whole new style of lace, leather, and almost steampunk/victorian-y that I’ve been really loving lately.

Via GeluguAccessories from Etsy.

This has a key and an owl. Trivia Fact #3 I absolutely love keys.

 

Via ragtrader on Etsy

The birds facing downward and the antique look make this pocket watch especially beautiful.

Via GlazedBlackCherry

I think this one may be my favorite. Until I saw:

 

Via GeluguAccessories

This one is my favorite and I believe I will get this one. However, my mind changes so quickly and easy so who knows.

2. Tiffany Bow Earrings and Necklace

Aren’t they so elegant and classy?

3. Long Necklaces

I’ve seen them around a lot lately and the thing about me is sometimes I don’t really know how much I like something until I see how other people wear it. I guess you can say that sometimes I am a bit stunted in fashion and I lack imagination when I look at things. I always have to ask my mom, friends or whoever I’m with: “But do I wear it with?” To which the reply almost always is: “Anything!” But I have and will continue to get better in this sense. Therefore, until I saw what people were wearing these necklaces with, casual and dressy, did I begin to realize that I could make it work and actually liked it and wanted it.

Via ZoeLoveJewlery

Via MoonlightShimmer

 

4. Louis Vuitton Speedy

 

 

5. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs

My love for Harry Potter knows no bounds. Therefore I MUST have this shirt.

Via evietees

This list will likely grow and grow. But I will get these and hopefully soon. What’s on your list of thing you have your eye on? Anything you like here too?