In which I talk about some things...

I'm drinking diet coke from a mug emblazoned with the word 'coffee' over and over again while listening to Songbird being sung by Naya Rivera. Yeah, I'm a bit of a Gleek but it's the music. Prior to this song I have been listening to the Warblers. There is something about the rawness in their voices that makes the music good. I'm a huge Fleetwood Mac fan and a Stevie Nicks fan as well so I was thrilled to hear their amazing music being introduced to a new generation of fans.

None of this is dreadfully important though. I just thought I would mention it because I find it funny when I drink liquids other than coffee from the mug emblazoned with coffee.

What is important, however, is the fact that I have sent my manuscript off to the publishers as an unsolicited manuscript in the hopes that they might like it. This is something that I have been threatening to do for such a long time but I haven't had the nerve. I've had people cajoling me for the last several months to do this but in my mind it wasn't quite good enough so I poked and prodded it here and there.

I know that people always say that you are your own worst critic but I am a little afraid of how difficult it is to make writing a full time career. I know that it is difficult but isn't everything worth doing difficult? That's the saying, right? Still, writing is one of the few things that I am extremely passionate about. I majored in English and History at uni and even managed to get into a creative writing course while there. But you know what they say about a BA in English... Still, there is something about the way that words can form together to make amazing stories, adventures and magic.

Although I am erring on the side of caution I am treating this as my first foray into the real world of writing. I just can't be one of those who goes on and on about how I want to be an author and not do anything about it. And, even if the publisher chooses not to publish my novel there are hundreds of other publishers out there and I have been looking into getting an agent.

Basically, aside from the amusement of cola in a coffee mug, this post has been about me attempting to be a grown up. Since that has been the case I am not going to watch either ThunderCats, Doug, X Men or some other cartoon to stop the whole growing up process.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

My Top Five Disney Films (Animated) and kidney stones...?

If you are starting to think that I am somewhat jinxed or cursed or just really unlucky I don't blame you but I'm just going to stay as optimistic as possible. The reason I say this as because I am currently trying to flush out a kidney stone - doesn't that sound sexy. What this basically means is I am trying to drink as much water as possible while hoping it doesn't get any worse otherwise I'm in for a trip to the hospital. (Which would make it the third trip in the space of 18 months.)

Enough of my moaning though. I've got a steady supply of water and other liquids and I want to hit this list. I'm a huge Disney fan and I have been for a long time. There is something magical about Disney that makes me smile and makes me want to draw. One of my dreams came true last year when I finally got to Disneyland in California where I regressed in age to about five.* I could seriously live there and be quite happy. This leads me to my top five (animated) Disney films.

Aladdin
"Riffraff! Street rat! Scoundrel! Take that!" I loved the story from a young age and Robin Williams turn as Genie was pure comedic brilliance. And Iago was annoying and funny. I just loved this movie and, let's be honest, who doesn't dream about escaping the life they have for something new and different. Every character in this film wants that with the exceptions of Rajah and the Sultan.





The Black Cauldron
This was one of Disney's darker films that I remember scaring me a little as a child. (No where near as much as Alice In Wonderland scared me when I was younger**) Based on Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain it had some lovely scenes and the visual art in this film, although darker, was still quite beautiful. I'd recommend reading the books as well.

Treasure Planet
It's a space western. Actually it's a futuristic version of Treasure Island. And I really loved it. Jim has always been a character that I liked - always wishing for something more and pushing at all the boundaries available. Plus, who wouldn't want to give solar surfing a try.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
If anything deserves to be in a top five list it has to be Snow White. The ultimate classic Disney film and a pure work of art. Plus it has Dopey and he has always been a secret favourite of mine. He is adorable. And we cannot forget the evil Queen in this film. She is terrifying and brilliant.

Tangled
This is my new favourite Disney film for two reasons: Rapunzel and Flynn. I saw it twice in the theatre, once in California and the other time here in New Zealand and I am just waiting for it to come out of DVD here. (Though I might have to buy it online.) It is beautiful, funny, witty and just amazing. The art alone is stunning. Then the character development is spot on. The chemistry between Flynn and Rapunzel is classic. I could really go on and on about this film but you have to just go and see it to understand.

And, because it's Disney and I can't narrow it down here are some honorable mentions: Beauty and the Beast, The Sword in the Stone, The Rescuers, The Emperor's New Groove, Lilo and Stitch...ah crap I'm about to list so many more...I'm guessing you get the drift.

Anyway, enjoy. I'm off to drink a lot of water. Until tomorrow, take care and watch some Disney!

*I'm not kidding. I put my hair up in high ponytails and jumped around the park. I was worse than a child on a sugar high. I had also had a wee bit of caffeine which could explain it?
**I now have a strange obsession with all forms of Alice In Wonderland and would definitely recommend the Disney version and the Syfy mini series for two unique looks at Carroll's world.

Why daylight saving sucks (and evil earworms) - Day 3 BEdA

So, daylight savings has officially started in New Zealand so we have, kinda, gained an hour sleep in. While to many this may sound wonderful and lovely to me it just signals the fact that it is getting closer to the middle of the year and that my brain will take a week to figure out what the heck is going on. Once I get used to it I'll be fine but at the moment it sucks. It feels later than it is and I have yet to go around and fix all the clocks. And that extra hour makes me feel groggy as ever so as I begin to write this I am brewing up some strong coffee to aid in my waking up process.

This leads to my list of five for today. Well, I could do it on why daylight saving irks me so but I thought I would make it about something as equally annoying...peppy pop songs that get stuck in your head or evil earworms as I like to call them.*

Hold It Against Me - Britney Spears
I have nothing against Miss Spears...in fact I don't really care about her but this bloody song just annoys me. I blame the gym that I go to. We were doing a kettle bell class and this was one of the songs and, for some stupid reason, it got stuck in my head but only two lines from the chorus. These two lines have nearly been on constant replay in my head for the last few days and it is so frustrating because I don't think it is a good song.

What the Hell - Avril Lavigne
I'm sorry but this song...do I really need to explain? Sure I was young when 'Complicated' came out. I know all about angst blah blah blah but this song. That chorus has just gotten stuck in my head and, to me, it annoys me to no end. The thing is, I liken this song to a movie trailer. All the best bits are in the chorus. I guess because it is so peppy.

Baby - Justin Bieber**
It's the damn chorus. And the fact that this is manufactured pop. Once again, nothing against the boy but really..."baby baby baby oh" Plus my five year old niece is in love with him which freaks me out more than anyone could ever know.

(Baby) I Like It - Enrique Iglesias
I have never actually heard this song in its entirety mainly because the chorus puts me off in about 2.5 seconds flat. I know that other people like it but to me it is kind of a chorus only song. In fact I think every song on this list is a chorus only song.

Your Love is My Drug - Ke$ha (Or any song by her)
Put aside the fact that all her songs are so auto-tuned you can't tell if it is real singing or not these songs, especially 'Tik Tok' and all have the same kind of 'melody' (and I use that term lightly). So, does this need an explanation?

There are thousands of other songs that I could have added to this list and I'm sure there are ones on this list that you like. I'm not saying that they are bad, per se, but that they become annoying quite quickly and the radios play them until they are so firmly entrenched in our poor little brains that we might end up going crazy.

Also, these are what I like to call chorus songs. The only part that is memorable to me is the chorus and that is the part that becomes trapped in your brain.

On a side note - 'Friday' by Rebecca Black isn't on this list cause it isn't a song...really...and that song is already getting enough flack from the rest of the world. I just feel sorry for the poor kid since she wanted to sing so badly that she sang anyold song plonked into her lap.

Anyway, tomorrow will bring a more positive list. I promise. For now I'm going to listen to some classic rock to get these songs out of my head. Zeppelin anyone?



*Not to be confused with either the Ceti Eel or Khan Worm from Star Trek and Supernatural respectively.
** You can replaced this with nearly any of his songs I assume, I just don't know that many of them. Honestly.

Things that make life great...

I'm the first to admit that I can get stressed pretty easily. I don't know if I am wired that way or what but I often find myself running around like a headless chook (chicken for those who don't know) and snapping at people when it gets really bad. Then the sarcasm monster that resides within me will jump out and take control of my mouth with normally negative results. Then my writing is affected, which means that my characters will echo my mood - all in all it is not a pretty sight.

However, this morning as I sat drinking my coffee (which I'm not supposed to have but I must have it...it is my lifeblood...) my niece came in and we started looking at music on youtube. The niece is five so her musical tastes can be, ah, somewhat fixed in the realm of Disney* or Miley-Hannah-Cyrus-Montana but this morning I played Popular from Wicked and she loved it.

So, there I was, coffee in one hand, laptop slowly burning away in my lap and said niece curled up next to me, telling me to be quiet as she listened. (I happen to love Popular and have a tendency to sing along.)
And I felt happy. Not that I am depressed but I do get occasional bouts of loneliness living out here in the middle of nowhere. This got me to thinking about things that make life great and I thought I would share some ideas with you and see if you have any that I may have missed.

One - the first sip of coffee on a relaxing morning (especially good if this is a Sunday morning and you don't have anywhere to be.)

Two - Colouring in with my niece - even though she says that I am no longer allowed to colour in. At least she didn't tell me I was too old to colour in like she did with Grams.

Three - Walking along the beach and feeling your feet sink into the sand - which leads to one running into the water and squealing with delight at the sudden shock of cold.

Four - Dancing around the lounge to a great tune and not caring that you don't look like those professional types on TV.

Five - that hour just after midnight when you realise that you should be in bed but you don't care and you want to stay up as late and you want.

Six - Listening to your favourite song at top volume while doing the vacuuming.**

Seven - Eating an ice block on a hot afternoon and not caring that it is dripping down your hands. (Same for ice cream but I don't eat too much of that!)

Eight - TV show marathons...Battlestar Galactica, Bones, X Files etc. There is something about sitting down, not caring about anything but the next episode. And, when they are on DVD you don't have to care about the ads!

Nine - The smell and feel of a new book or reading the next book in a series. There is something about books that just makes me happy. Going into a bookstore really makes my day! Even if I don't buy anything!

Ten - Going into a pet store and seeing all the animals - though this can be sad since you can't take away any of the animals...

Anyway, there is a quick list of ten and I hope that you enjoy some of them as much as I do. Also, if you have any ideas feel free to let me know. I always like finding new things to do and enjoy!

Before I go, though, I will leave you with a video that hopefully makes you smile or at least jump up and down in geeker joy!

*Not that there is anything wrong with that - I mean, who doesn't love a Disney sing-along...don't even try to deny that you don't know the lyrics to at least one Disney song!
**This is also good for losing those extra kgs...