Post Turkey Introspection

This is a slightly odd post but I felt like writing a bit post Turkeyday and well what else it your own personal blog for :) So Thanksgiving has officially passed...leftovers are spilling out of the fridge. Christmas lights are popping up every where. People look forward to the natural high of endorphin induced shopping. And a cold front has dropped into my neck of the woods. So why am I am I not sensing that "holly jolly" feeling?

I sense a complicated answer and so not to bore you with the myriad of ideas I'll keep it minimal. I think I've been bitten by the "adult" bug. The wonder of this season has been eclipsed by the immediates of life: job, bills, house, car...etc. I think many of you may agree that "life" lacks the quiet we all desperately try to grasp, especially during a holiday. But how are we suppose to do that in a day in age where speed is king and we have to rush to get anything done. If it's not instant it's too slow. Tell me how are we suppose to think, enjoy, feel at the speed of light?

So as the end of 2009 seems to move at warp speed, I'm going to try and step back. I'm not going to let December push me into another year. Instead I hope this next month will be a baseline for months to come. It will be a measuring drumstick that will serve to remind me that life is short and no matter what holiday approaches, the fact that I get to enjoy another holiday is blessing enough.

The effects of a New Moon...for the lovers and the haters

This weekend I stepped back into my youth. I surrounded myself with teens giggling and oooing over a world which momentarily takes captive their minds and most assuredly their hormones. I also sat among ladies twice as old as I, also dabbling in the same state of euphoria as the 14 year old sitting next to them. Now let me ask you...what could bring so many women (and some guys) to this place of unrelenting anticipation?

It's simple - New Moon.

Yes of course I'm referring to the movie spin off from the Twilight Saga Series by Stephenie Meyer. Which by the way I enjoy. Yes I said it...the Twilight Saga is my dirty pleasure.

Warning civilized rant to follow :)
For those of you who feel obliged to express your negative reaction to the books and movies...by all means do so. It's a free country enjoy your moment of solidarity. And now I will do the same but with a request for the strident haters. For those of you adimently opposed to anything "Twilight," that's cool, but please do me a favor. Try and compare apples to apples and not apples to wine or wine to french fries. It seems the hype which circles Twilight has become target practice for those opinioned enough to shoot at it. Really if it's so sub par then why even waste your time?

I think anyone who claims to enjoy the series either in lit or video form (or both), if they were being truthful, would admit the series is an indulgence. Nothing more or less. And who doesn't allow themselves to indulge every once in a while. Everyone's tastes are different- thank goodness. So like it or hate it, but haters however you distasteful you find this series keep in mind its a YA (young adult) series written for fun and obviously geared to teenage girls (aka idealistic-imaginary-hormone-driven-adolescents)(which if you're not a gal I can understand how this storyline might offer a biological disadvantage to its enjoyment).

O.k. now onto the movie for the Twi-lovers. I am declaring my bias up front, and I am happy to say I'm not a paid critique because I don't think I ever want to analyze a movie at that level...I think it can strip the fun from it like trying to edit a book vs. just reading it for pleasure. In my perspective it yields two very different experiences.

So her's my take on NEW MOON- the movie:
Enjoyment level - 10
Accuracy to book - 8.5 (I realize allowances must be made, but it was dead close)
Character portrayal - 8 (and may I add I'm most impressed with Taylor Lautner's take on Jacob- its perfect in my mind - he gets a 10 (thus his own character plug above- plus it looks cool)(also I spoke to someone who feels the development is weaker strictly based on watching the movie- which I could lend to agree on IF you haven't read the book first)
Special effects - 9.5 (compared to the first they were just plain fun)
Musical Score - 9
Satisfaction level - 10
And finally will I see it again - YES

I'll admit this blog was more a "get it out of my system" post - sorry for the length. But considering my how weekend was submerged in Twilight's cult following, I needed to post something with Stephanie and her works in mind. Thanks Stephenie.

To conclude, in relation to my writing addiction, like Stephenie, I write for me with the purpose of ENTERTAINMENT- a get away. If a day comes I also find a fan following for my characters and their fantastical lives I would be thrilled if it reached even a percent of Twilight's success. The glory will never been mine, that's not something I can claim for myself nor want to, but I can enjoy the thrill of seeing an audience connect to my work as much as it connects to me.

Amazing "Football" Hero

Leave it to the British...very awesome!

Welcome Abby's blog pet...

In keeping with me (and since my husband is making me wait to get a real pet- love you babe!) I've resorted to a lesser version of real to squelch my desire for a pet. This actually works out better for you as a reader because now you can interact with the little creature friend I've added to my blog...yes I know, I can feel your excitement through the screen.

Anyway, my blogger patrons the new addition...(trumpets sound)...is a little tree frog who's faithful to anyone with a working mouse and especially enjoys those who have a tendency to left click alot...give it a try and you'll see why. Yum!

I will announce this little guy's name shortly...let me know your ideas either as a comment or if you are so privileged as to be my friend on facebook ;) you can message me there too!

***UPDATE: After several great suggestions for my new blog pet, a name has been chosen. Drum roll please......Frodo the Frog. I felt it only necessary to chose a lit. name seeing that my blog is primarily focused on my writing adventures. Thanks to all who participated. Now be kind and feed Frodo some flies.

Fall's Essence

Is there a time of year when your body experiences a natural high due to the weather? For me this feeling happens when it rains- LOVE the rain- and when the steamy summer days transition to the crisp fall air. I love the fall!

And for this reason, I've realized why my mind dove head first into the invigorating waters of writing at the slightest hint of fall's arrival. The cooler weather has kick started my drive to sit in my cozy chair and think up plot lines and character actions. I think after breathing in the sultry summer air of Texas for however many months, my mind felt like it was running on fumes, sucking every last particle of creative energy from the heat waves burning them up.

Ahh, but now, finally, the cooler weather is pushing out the heat and filling the air once again with its creative fall essence. Can't you smell it? Can you feel it soaking into your pores? I can! Wow, come to think it was this time two years ago when the first creative juices began to flow for my first book, and now I am working on book two!

There is just something enticing about the fall- it's natural association to picking up a great book and getting lost in its pages as your body nestles into a blue snuggie (yes our household owns two of the fleece-armed blanket marketing wonders) and sipping on some hot chocolate with the sound of a fire imitating the rice crispy cereal sound- Snap-Crackle-Pop- in the background. Oh my, if my mind could salivate it would.

So I challenge you to enjoy the change of season. Take in the wonder which is the essence of fall and dive into something that excites the creative part of your soul.

Oh and let me know what season's essence does this for you and why? Who knows I may apply it to one of my characters...