Monday, December 29, 2008

Some random notes, from life to pop culture...

I'm too lazy to write out a complete journal entry. So, here's a list of thoughts:

-Fallout 3
is a pretty awesome game.

-I really hate those those celebrity magazine shows (The Insider, Showbiz Tonight, etc.).

-Family Guy has worn its welcome.

-I haven't read a single thing since last week.

-I'm undecided whether to read New Moon or not.

-Not sure what or when to start writing again.

Nothing much else to say, so good-bye... for now.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

I can has last.fm?

Yes, Crazy Lady Writer, you can:

my last.fm

No, I'm not a huge Fleetwood Mac fan... *is sarcastic*

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Happy Holidays!

Whatever the celebration or holiday that you're partaking, may it be full of cheer and the love of family and friends.

~

My sister and I went out to the mall yesterday. It was quite busy, but as she and I discussed later, we hadn't seen the crowds at their worst. Go failing economy!

I managed to snag a copy of Fallout 3. I know what I'm doing for the rest of the afternoon!

I leave you, basking in the holidays...

-Lindsey

Monday, December 22, 2008

I'm thinking...

of reading New Moon.

What the hell am I doing to myself?

Goal completed!

As of tonight, I completed my "read 56 books in a year" goal! Book #56 was Neil Gaiman's Coraline, which was a wonderful little read.

I didn't think I could do it, but this proves otherwise. I'll continue until I lower my book back-log, which was the original reason I set up such a lofty goal.

~

Today, my family and I took a road trip out to a camping area we used to frequent. Nothing much had changed. When we stopped at a little antique store in the nearby town, I found a few books: old paperback versions of Deliverance by James Dickey and I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan.

Stopping there also keeps a life-long theory of mine afloat: go to any small town (by the coast is better), stop at a bookstore or local antique shop, and take note that about 90% of all the books sold there are used copies of romance novels. I know the reason why this is the case, but it never fails to entertain me.

At the local theater there (yes, this tiny town had a functioning theater), two films were playing: The Day the Earth Stood Still and Twilight. *Screams at the last one and runs for the hills*

~

Oh man, I think I'm a secret Iron Maiden fan. Already, I proved I was a secret Rush fan earlier when I bought Moving Pictures for Rock Band 2 DLC.

~

I leave you, thrilled about the future.

-Lindsey


P.S.: Nice going, WB. Taking down yer video channels and all that business. You fail.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Update on the grades

I got effing Bs. In my two English classes. Well, if anything, it was like two years ago: I got depression, I got Bs in all my classes.

Eh, it's better than failing, but... it's the perfectionist in me. I know I can do better. I resolve, as of today, to kick ass and take names the next time around.

/whiny rant thing.

And woah, work today was fun. People were coming from nowhere. We were still busy even as I left for the night. But, that's the Christmas rush for ya.

I leave you, watching The Shining. Most excellent...

-Lindsey

Thursday, December 18, 2008

News, both random and good...

First off, my Mustang arrived! Here she is! *see below image*



Isn't she gorgeous? Plays wonderfully too. I named her "Zimbra", after the Talking Heads song.

If I practice guitar for one whole month, unfaltering to that, I'll purchase an amp. For now, she sounds like a twangy acoustic.

~

I'm ONE book away from my goal to finish reading 56 books by the end of the year. Yea!!

~

No grades back yet. My thinking is they'll be posted tomorrow.

Nothing much else. I leave you listening to "Only You" from the Silent Hill 1 game soundtrack...

-Lindsey

Monday, December 15, 2008

Books from my early teenhood...

Good Lord, preparing (well, not really) for this final has made me do some random things. Like, look back at the reading habits of my childhood. Specifically, the time between the ages of 11-14.

Exhibit A: The Nancy Drew Files

Where do I begin with this? First off, my first major eBay victory came from winning the first 88 (!). These, to me at the time, were as good as mysteries got. That was until I read James Patterson (who now I dislike with a passion). Looking back, Nancy Drew is a huge-ass Mary Sue and the situations are sometimes silly. And let's not even start with the PC games that came out in the early '00's (I played the first five).

Exhibit B: The Best Friends Series

I read one of these a long time ago, a borrow from my local library. I got hooked and rushed to the nearest BookStop (remember those, kids?) and got nearly the whole set. And you bet I read all those cover to cover! To my astonishment, this was a Christian series, and it wasn't overt! In fact, they were quite good. Alas, I no longer own any of them. I wish I did, would love to read them again to see if they aged well...

Exhibit C: The Sierra Jensen Series

I had a very close friend when I was a preteen that was hooked on this and the Christy Miller series. Of course, she recommended them to me and I read the Jensen ones. They weren't bad, as I recall. I rolled my eyes at the Christian business, but it wasn't overt. Since I work mostly in the children's section at my bookstore, I run across these a lot. I am tempted to buy them and give them another try.

~

While typing this entry, I was listening to Brian Eno and David Byrne's "I Feel My Stuff". Kinda funny, considering the irony.

~

I'm also making plans to cease buying books at the beginning of the new year, until I finish reading all the ones I already own. Before I do this, I would love to get a hold of all the Harry Potters.

Until next time...

Just an obligatory update...

Well, tomorrow is my solitary final and the official start of my winter vacation. So far, things are going well.

I've been working my butt off, making money. Apparently, I also got a 50-cent raise. Most excellent.

I've been reading and writing (more of the former, truthfully). I hope to finish all the books I have listed as my current reads soon.

Nothing much else to say for now. I leave you, thinking about Eugene O'Neill's "Beyond the Horizon"...

-Lindsey

P.S.: I got my sister New Moon and she read it. She plans to read the rest of the series. What have I done?! :O

Oh yeah, and harking back to this entry, I have purchased the Lehane novel.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

I finally saw "The Dark Knight"!

After months of trying to go to theaters and failing to do so, and with its release on DVD... I finally saw the most-talked about movie in ages.

Personal verdict: very good, but people please... calm down. The fanatical devotion is a little much.

My feelings could be better summed by this Bum Review.

I leave you, listening to "Happier" by Guster (kinda ironic, given the situation...)

-Lindsey

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Only updating for ze meme...

So, my sis tagged me with a meme. I had a hard time with the last one, though. Alright, here we go...

(BTW sis, I'm so using your Youtube-linking-the-song idea!)

Seven Songs:

1. "De-Luxe" by Lush
I blame Rock Band 2 for this. God, the guitars in this song are hypnotic. I'm going to learn how to play it when I get my guitar (and I practice the basics). The lyrics make no sense, but the vocals are lovely.

2. "Road to Nowhere" by Talking Heads
This songs has different meanings, but I adopted an optimistic take, it becoming the unofficial theme to my new year. The video itself is quirky, but do see it.

3. "Satellite" by Guster
My favorite Guster song. This is nearly perfect: the guitars, vocals, lyrics. It's also the unofficial theme song to yet another story idea: a novel with some magic realism business. I haven't seen the whole video yet, but it looks pretty cool.

4. "Through Being Cool" by Devo
Rock Band 2 also is "blamed" for this. The song is funny, and catchy too. Whenever I get worried about people in general, this song helps me feel better.

5. "Things Fall Apart" by Jerry Harrison
Ah, no YouTube clip. So, use iTunes or whatever music program you use to listen to this one. This song is, like the last two, part of a soundtrack I made for a novel I'm working on. The lyrics kinda fit with the situations going on. I also love how he sings.

6. "Karma Police" by Radiohead
When I was going through my writing crisis, this song and "How to Disappear Completely" were my soundtrack. Later on, "Karma Police" became part of the soundtrack to a novel I'm working on. Great vocals.

7. "The Last to Know" by Celine Dion (*waits until laughter dies down*)
I've been working on my main novel project and this song plays often while I'm working on emotional scenes. Ms. Dion always provides with those kinds of songs. (Side note: Good Lord, how many videos does she have?!)

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Has it been a year already?!

It had just hit me that I've been running "Musings of A Crazy Lady Writer" for one year today. Wow, it's been a long and crazy ride. There's still more road to travel. I love having the option to post on here, besides keeping a RL journal (i.e. "paper journal"). 46 posts?! I never would've imagined having that many in the span of time.

I've gone through the whiny stage that writers seem to go through earlier this year and I've come into my own later on (at least, I hope so). I survived my first semester as a senior.

I look forward to many years posting here, especially now since my sister is joining in on the fun.

I leave you, thinking about stuff to do for next year...

-Lindsey

Hey, sis!

I'm having a devil of a time deciding which book I want. There are three choices:

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz
The Given Day by Dennis Lehane

I'm letting myself get one of these before year's end. Which one would you recommend?

Looking forward to your choice...

Thursday, December 4, 2008

I got back into RL journaling...

thanks to my very good friend. She bought me a quill pen for my birthday. I wrote an actual entry with it. She is awesome.

Thanks, as always, you're a wonderful person and a cherished friend. (You know who you are... ;D)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

*insert title here*

My life (up to now) in a bullet list:
  • I haven't written in my paper journal in a while. That's it, man. I'm switching to a different one.
  • I ordered my Fender Mustang. It should be here in a week. *happy dance*
  • My Editing homework is my final. o_O
  • I've eaten at Chick-fil-A for the last three days. Yet, not tired of their awesome chicken sandwiches...
  • May or may not change my avatar.
  • New Moon is sold out all over my city. Holy hell... teh fangirlz!
  • I can't seem to finish La Reine Margot. Better not become another Serpent and the Rainbow...
  • I have no school until my second final... two weeks from now.
  • I hate working retail during the holidays.
Blah, blah... :P

-Lindsey

Saturday, November 29, 2008

It's time I told the truth...

This post inspired the following entry.

I haven't really been honest about something. So, here it goes.

I hate the Twilight series. I had read the first book and thought of it as boring, unimpressive, peopled with unrelatable and flat characters, and fraught with lost opportunities. I have zero interest in reading the other books for the same reasons. I think the series' success is unjustified. The vampires sparkle. I watched the film online... and it wasn't even funny, it was just awful.

I mentioned to my manager the other day that I saw the movie. She asked me an interesting question: "if you didn't like the book, why did you see the movie?" I told her because I wanted to laugh at it. Now, it makes me realize that I should've left well alone. Moved on after reading the first book, instead of jumping onto the hatred bandwagon.

Look, there are better things to read and see. But, it's not my place to be so damn judgmental on people's choice of entertainment. If Twilight and the rest of the series tickles them pink, let them have it. I have my things and I'm pretty damn happy.

If you read the post I linked, you'll read that there are whispers of Edward and Bella's relationship being... well, unhealthy. I don't know what to really say about that. I just hope when girls read the books, they don't take what's been said and done as dating advice.

If reading this book has taught me anything, it was to make my characters stronger. Aren't books (even bad ones) supposed to teach writers how to write?

I do extend an apology to my very good friend, who is also a big Twilight fan. I'm sorry that I hadn't been really honest.

I leave you, listening to Talking Heads' "Road to Nowhere"...

-Lindsey

Thursday, November 27, 2008

I call it. *see below*

I probably said it already in my last posts, but anyway... Happy Thanksgiving!

Yeah, I call it. I can't finish La Reine Margot in time. But hey, I got very far. Chapter 42 of 66. My sis will likely succeed with Jane Eyre. Go sis!

My next post will be a book review. I leave you, listening to Fleetwood Mac's "Isn't It Midnight"...

-Lindsey

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

LOLwhut?

What is this f***ery?!



When I told my mom about this, she said, "Are they [Hollywood] running out of ideas?"

Apparently, this movie is coming out NEXT YEAR. Uhm... missing the point there, dudes who are responsible for this.

And plus, WTF on The Shining trailer music. I was expecting elevators gushing blood to appear any minute!

Hollywood needs to stay the hell away from stuff like this. Many cultures believe something big is gonna happen on December 21st, 2012. And somebody thought it would make a great action movie... God help us. *headdesk until forehead draws blood*

/random rant

It's mah birthday!

*dances the happy dance*

It was a good one too. My mom baked me a cake and then my family and I went out to a restaurant.

My sister, who is awesome, bought me a few nice things: Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon (CD), Rush's Moving Pictures (CD), The Complete Persepolis (book), and Dead Until Dark (book). Thanks, sis!

While we were shopping, she bought a copy of Twilight. She's going to give it a try. Poor thing... but it will be funny as hell XD She'll likely finish it in less time than I did (it took me five months).

I changed my icon, yet again. It's of Talking Heads' Jerry Harrison. I have a crush on him. Man, I have a weird taste in men XD (but hell, I have a thing for guys with curly hair...)


Happy Thanksgiving, folks!

-Lindsey

P.S.: Expect yet another post in three... two... one... now, check above this one ^

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Somewhat obligatory update

O, hai!

New icon: The Summit by Michael Parkes

Way
behind on La Reine Margot. Wouldn't be surprised if I don't finish it before November 30th. Also reading Their Eyes Were Watching God for class. So many books!

I also bought The Secret History. Ya know, the book people say is better than Special Topics In Calamity Physics? Lord help me, I was in a masochistic mood. Wait until I read American Psycho... :/

Also got new glasses. I look awesome.

Yea, my birthday's in three days! Can't wait to go out and eat with my family and eat homemade cake.

Okay, enough from me. I leave you, jamming out to the Police's "Contact"...

-Lindsey

Could someone please...

give Katy Perry a copy of the DSM-IV? 'Cause, apparently she needs to be schooled on what bipolar disorder is.

Dang it. Now that stupid song is stuck in my head. XP I'm playing Goldfrapp as loud as possible, but it's not working. Oh wait... it is. Thank Jesus for electronica.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Oh noes! D:

It seems my favorite Silent Hill forum is down. Hope things are okay. I love that site, the people are classy and super-friendly.

I also completely forgot about my blog on Gamespot, which was mostly for gaming. I think I'll start talking about that here. Nothing against GS, but it makes things easier for me. *looks at games* Holy smokes, I have Max Payne 2! I forgot about that one! I also have Mirror's Edge and other games. I also plan on buying the latest Tomb Raider and Fallout 3. And all those untouched PS2 games. I got a busy holiday ahead of me!

Wow, uhm... there's, I guess, no more to say for the moment. So, I leave you, thinking about books...

Regards,
Lindsey

Monday, November 17, 2008

List of favorites: literary edition!

Okay, I had it. Those text boxes with my favorite writers and poets need to go. They're cluttering up my page and stuff. Instead, I will devote this entire post to nothing but favorites. For now, I'll stick to literary topics.

Favorite Writers:
Madeleine L'Engle
Richard Matheson
Charlotte Brontë
Ray Bradbury
Flannery O'Conner
Dean Koontz
Shirley Jackson
Thomas Harris
Edith Wharton
Stephen King
Kate Chopin

Favorite Poets:
Robert Frost
Walt Whitman
William Blake
Anne Bradstreet

Favorite Books (top ten):

1. A House Like A Lotus by Madeleine L'Engle
2. What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson
3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
4. Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
5. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
6. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
7. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
8. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston LeRoux
9. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
10. Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor

Favorite Genres:
Psychological suspense/thriller
Psychological horror
Gothic
Amateur detective mystery
Character studies (but the characters must be interesting, dammit!)

Favorite Literary Criticism Tools:
Comparative (I once used this method to prove how Toni Morrison's Beloved was also a supernatural horror novel)
Reader-Response (I think they don't empathize this enough in practicing literary thinking)
Biographical (and they say writers don't use any bit of themselves in their work... pffffff!)
Psychological (what were they really thinking?! XD)

Favorite Characters (ever!):
Jane Eyre (from the eponymous book)
Polly O'Keefe (from A House Like A Lotus)
Margaret Lea (from Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale)
Will Graham (from Red Dragon)

Uhm, I can't think of any more categories. So, I leave you, listening to Matthew Sweet's "Divine Intervention"...

Regards,
Lindsey

P.S.: The strange smell mystery has been solved. It's wood burning in people's fireplaces. Huh, never would've made that conclusion.

And hey, what do y'all think of the icon? It's of my gal, Tina Weymouth. She rocks a serious bass.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

I guess there is such a thing...

I started on a new paper journal and I just don't like how it works at all. It has inserts of artistic-looking author quotes. The quotes I dig, but it's the lined paper. Some pages have the lines spaced out to accompany only about ten lines a page! I'm thinking I'm going to fill this one up real quick. Yet, it is discouraging. Man, I hate it when that happens.

I should be honest, I got real behind on La Reine Margot. I'm throwing back and forth the idea of calling it. On top of that, I'm reading Eugene O'Neill's plays and the spoken vernacular is driving me insane. The only time I would understand a word is if I see the play acted out. I may come across as politically-incorrect (i.e. "speak proper American English, dammit!"), but trust me, I'm not. What I really mean is it bothers me because I have great difficulty picturing how the dialogue is spoken. Of course, I could read it aloud. I should try that.

Okay, I'm not sure which avatar I want up. I have one I made myself. The picture is of a sign from Beaumaris Castle in Wales. I looked at it and thought "potential icon!" I immediately thought of Homer Simpson's immortal words and thus, you have the current icon.

It may switch back to Waterstone's Miranda or venture to Parkes' The Summit. Or Talking Heads' Jerry Harrison or Tina Weymouth. Or something else... ?

I leave you, wondering if it's my computer that's been making a funny smell... 0_O;

Regards,
Lindsey

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Mark my words...

...Paramore's "Decode" will become a downloadable track for Rock Band and/or Guitar Hero: World Tour.

Just you wait, y'all. I sense it. With the Twilight film coming soon and the possible marketing ploys MTV might pull...

Addendum: not into the whole Twilight noise or Paramore at all... this is just a random thought.

Icon update!

My sister made me a lovely icon from the Waterhouse painting of Miranda from Shakespeare's The Tempest.

I'm also fooling around with layouts. Hope to find one that works.

I leave you, listening to Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies", slowly approaching its 666th listen. Aaah!

Regards,
Lindsey

Friday, November 14, 2008

A smattering of thoughts...

The first thing y'all might take notice of is that my icon had changed. My sister made it for me after I told her about my favorite line from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Ya gotta love British humor.

Life is going well. I finished up my counseling. I was surprised it ended in about two months. I was thinking it would take longer. I also registered for classes next semester. Two are serious lit classes. Here's to it working this time... well, it will work or I'll be damned.

After asking around, I found some places that might sell a vintage Fender Mustang. My heart's been set on one since I played Rock Band 2 (one of the guitars you can buy for your avatar is a 1965 Mustang). I colored it to look like the one David Byrne had (dark red with a pearl guard).
This guy at a guitar store near my house told me that Mustangs regained popularity because Kurt Cobain used one. I was somewhat aware that Cobain used one, but not of the popularity thing. Go fig, me still being unaware of trends. Plus, since it's a small guitar, it works out because of my current space issue.

Still reading La Reine Margot. About three days' worth of reading behind. It's a hard read, but I'm still enjoying it.

I bought Mirror's Edge recently. So far, it's a pretty good game, but there are timed parts. Dammit. I also canceled my preorder of Tomb Raider: Underworld due to monetary constraints and the fact that I have zero interest in it. I downloaded the demo. It sure looks nice and it's nice to see that Lara still controls badly. Ha!

A little-known fact about myself: I grew up on country music. I got into rock on my own (well, sort of). We're talking Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis and Nanci Griffith. My parents were into rock: my mom loved Fleetwood Mac and my dad loved Genesis, CCR, the Moody Blues, Phil Collins, Dan Fogelberg, and Fleetwood Mac.
Yet they never bothered to really expose me to all that. Sure, my mom had issues with Madonna (especially during the Like A Prayer era), but otherwise, there wasn't anything that would warp my little mind. Over the years, I still gravitate to some of the older country (especially Nanci Griffith). Yet, most country music now is just horrible. It's trying way too hard to be rock.

I got into rock music when I was about eleven. A friend of my mom's gave me an extra copy of Fleetwood Mac's The Dance. I listened to it while we were staying with her in L.A. Obviously, fond memories were had. Later, I started borrowing my dad's Genesis and Phil Collins CDs. At the same time, my dad went through a Celine Dion phase that lasted until mid-2004. Obviously, even if we tried, my sister and I couldn't escape repeated plays of Let's Talk About Love. While all my friends were swooning over Backstreet Boys and Ricky Martin, I was jamming through my pre-teens to CCR's "Bad Moon Rising" and Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way".
Throughout my teens, I was exposed to Steely Dan, Prince, the Eagles, Tom Petty, et all. By then, I was a fairly hardcore Fleetwood Mac. When I turned 19, I rediscovered Genesis. Hardcore with them until about nine months ago when I sort-of rediscovered Talking Heads. The abridged version is that I bought Speaking in Tongues at a mall while visiting a friend of my dad's (what's with me discovering potential musical loves while on vacation?) and only got into "Burning Down the House". Fast-track to five years later, I buy some of their songs on iTunes and got hooked, bought their Best of and... well, the rest is history.

Whoa, time to resurrect the tag "hey a long post", which I wanted to read like this: "Hey! A long post!" but the tag system isn't very kind to punctuation.

Nothing else for now. I leave you, listening to the Nostalgic Critic's review on Tom & Jerry: The Movie. Hilarious...

Regards,
Lindsey

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The votes are in...

Sen. Barack Obama is our newest president. *tries very hard not to freak out from excitement*

Check out the news here.

We witnessed history being made, ladies and gents. Way to go, everyone. Voters rock!

Congratulations, Senator!

I leave you, excited about the upcoming inauguration...

Regards,
Lindsey

Election Day!

Well, today's the big day. I already voted early, so to avoid the madness that is today's long voting lines. I'm looking forward to what the night holds, yet I am worried... for the obvious reasons.

I also am unsure on what to do for next semester. I'm debating whether to change majors, put up and shut up or do the semi-unthinkable: skip the semester. I'll know for sure tomorrow. Let's just say I believe the latter is about as likely to happen as hell freezing over.

As for NaNoReMo, I had a late start. I just got past Chapter 4 in La Reine Margot. I got crazy busy, but just so y'all know... it's a damn good read. Lots of intrigue and suspense.

As for hobbies, here are a few new ideas:
drawing (I did used to be a cartoonist)
studying literature on the side

I leave you, wondering who will be our next President...

Regards,
Lindsey

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Very well, young one... I accept yer meme!

My sis tagged me with a meme. We couldn't find who came up with it originally, but if someone knows, let us know and we'll give proper credit.

Book Meme:

1. One book that changed your life
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. What can I say, Taoism is cool. This book made it easier to understand. And it has a beloved childhood icon!

2. One book that you've read more than once
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. *happy time!*

3. One book you'd want on a desert island
A House Like A Lotus by Madeleine L'Engle. I could read that book over and over and never tired of it.

4. One book that made you laugh
Same as my sis: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Second place would be The Age of Innocence. Upper-class snips have never been funnier!

5. One book that made you cry
The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum. I cried because it disturbed me greatly that I wanted to see how far the violence was going to go. I'll tell you what, it went TOO FAR!!
(sorry for the shout)

6. One book you wish you had written
What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson. Before you give me that funny look, sis... I'm mostly jealous of the romantic ideas.

7. One book you wish had never been written
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessel. Any book that makes me temporarily hate reading should be sent to the Dante's Hell of books.

8. One book you are currently reading
The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn. A nice read, but I think I predicted the ending.

9. One book you've been meaning to read
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence.

10. Now tag five people.
Uh, no.

I leave you, wondering when the Special Topics fans will come and attack me...

Regards,
Lindsey

P.S.: Sis...



A bitchin' time.

Maybe next time?

I don't think I'll be doing NaNoWriMo this year. For some reason, I don't like the idea of posting the story up for the word count. Whatever I was planning to write, is private (mostly due to the fact that it might be embarrassing). It's only to see if I could even achieve this goal and I rather not share the story with other people. Especially if it isn't finished...

Instead, NaNoReMo. Again. Why the heck not? I had a blast last year with Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White.

Credit goes to Matthew for the initial idea and Leila for reminding me of it.

Anyways, I'm doing it on my own. Their choices are tempting, though. For my choice... it's going to be La Reine Margot by Alexandre Dumas. Whee, French lit!

~

My sis is back at Blogger and the link to it is updated. Check it out!

~

As for any writing goals, I'll concentrate on a longtime story idea that recently resurfaced. It's about the teenage children of two original characters of mine. I have no clue if it's going to be a novel or a long short story. My writing senses say... novel. And they are usually right.

I leave you, rocking out to Radiohead's "Airbag". Hell yes, OK Computer... there's something worth all its noise.

Regards,
Lindsey

P.S. "noise" is Lindsey-speak for "hype". Just so you know...

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Time flies when you're worried as hell...

Yeah, it's been ages since I've written. Things in my life have been giving me the run-around. Yet, I've been reading a lot of books, mainly ones I've been borrowing from the library. I have a little stack I need to finish soon.

For the rest of this year, I may not do any larger goals other than just to get my life back on my track, read a lot and write a lot. I've been doing all of these things. Yea, :D

~
I also bought my first entirely digital album: The Red and the Black by Jerry Harrison. It was a good album, I recommend it. It's different... in a good way.

Wow, I'm on my way to becoming a music critic with my terse, detailed reviews. :P
~

I don't know what to do with my writing for now, but I'm glad as heck to be back. Yea, rhyming!

I have nothing else to say. I leave you, listening to "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai...

Regards,
Lindsey

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Gaaah, the pain...

I swear, I've been popping pills ever since I got my wisdom teeth pulled. First, there were the two painkillers (one had codeine in it!) and the antibiotic. The painkiller with the codeine made me have some weird-ass dreams and I would pass out and take one-hour naps. I have since stopped taking them and gone back to the ibuprofen initially prescribed for my sciatic nerve pain, which works better IMHO. Several days after finishing my antibiotic, I got a head cold. So here I am, popping cold meds and nursing a nasty headache that came from the headbanging I would do when I cough, XD.

On the teeth front, they're healing beautifully. I got a syringe at my post-op visit and cleaning the holes got easier. I've gotten back to eating regular foods, but I've been avoiding sodas. I'm sticking to water, tea and anything else but soda. It's been two weeks since then. No more caffeine dependency for me!

~

I finished reading Richard Matheson's Somewhere In Time a while back. It was okay, started off good but slowed a bit in the middle and got better at the third-quarter. I would recommend it, but please... just read What Dreams May Come. It's infinitely better.

I recently went to the library near my house and borrowed a few books. One was Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus, which was the basis for the best Disney film ever: The Great Mouse Detective. I liked the book, it was really cute.

Another is Kenneth J. Harvey's The Town that Forgot How to Breathe. I haven't finished reading that, and I may not get to. I can't get into it. Gah, I hate it when that happens.

I'm having a similar issue with "Mrs. Dalloway". Man, I have so many books and only eighteen of them really appeal to me! No more buying books on a whim, that's for sure.

~

So, Silent Hill: Homecoming finally came out. I finished it in a week and here's my verdict: I liked it. I thought it was going to be the worst thing ever, but I was wrong... sort of. I think the crew that made this game can totally pull off another title, but they need to stop referencing the damn movie. Please guys, we Silent Hill fans only ask for originality! Heck, ask us for ideas. We're bursting with them!

~

I'm also happy to report that I finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life: stick with my current degree plan and keep soldiering on. Alas, regrets of dropping the Fiction class have risen. Oh well. At least I got in, :D.

~

Man, I don't think tarot card reading is going to be a new hobby. I like it, but it hasn't stuck with me. I should give it a few more weeks, and then decide whether or not to give up and move onto something else.

I got a tarot card reading from someone at this new-age store my sister likes. For twenty-five bucks, I got told this (all this is to the best of my memory):

-I'm afraid of myself (duh)
-I have five pieces ready to be published (wuh? Which five? This has perplexed me since that day)
-I'll dabble into every form of writing (you know, I have planned to)
-I'll be famous (o_O!)

And I thought my silly daydreams of being a famous writer were just... well, silly! I almost died of laughter in my chair.

~

Ah, grand schemes. One I have is to do NaNoWriMo. Make up a whole new idea and do that. Lord knows I have enough time...

Another is submit some poetry to my university's literary magazine. They're taking pieces for next semester. Maybe I could get in. Who knows? I have to try.

No more. But trust me, I'll think of some...

~

I just listened to Brian Eno and David Byrne's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. Go get this album! It is amazing. So cool that I can't think of a rational, unbiased thing to say other than... damn!

Already, one song has inspired a poem.

~

I've been working on and off on my writing. But no quitting here. I'm back in the game, everyone. Let's celebrate by living. Oh, and voting in this year's fine election. So don't forget to vote!

Wow, I need to shut up now. Long post is getting longer. I leave you, nursing a headache yet smiling all the way through it... until a pang hits and I clench my teeth.

Regards,
Lindsey

Saturday, September 27, 2008

I have no voice, but I do have words...

It's been almost twenty-four hours since I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed. One had to be dug out (since it never surfaced, like the other three), so go fig that its former location hurts the most. I got to keep them and they are all intact (one is a bit chipped), it's weird how such things can cause so much grief later on in life.

I'm trying not to talk as much so the holes can heal up and I don't form those horrible dry sockets. Thank God for words... and head/hand gestures.

~

So, I decided for the better, to drop the Sci-Fi class. The paper, among other things, was preventing the class from being worthwhile. But I did try the paper, but I guess I may need to go back to Basic Essay-Writing 101. Not that makes me feel bad or anything, but it never hurts to take a refresher course.

Addendum: I did say the last time that it wasn't an option, yet I forgot to mention that I had considered it when I dropped the Fiction class. I just didn't do it at the time.

~

I got the tarot cards! I also found a lovely little bag to keep them in. It's green and looks Irish with a trisket stitched in gold. For some odd reason, I don't fear the cards. They actually feel positive and approachable! I guess it irradiates the happiness that I have for them. I do random readings, but nothing serious.

I'm a Christian (Unitarian influenced by Taoism), a fairly open-minded one. I was raised believing tarot cards were evil and etc. But I honestly don't think tarot cards are evil at all. I get nothing like that from my cards, let alone any decks in general. Yet, tarot cards will not replace God and prayer. No, not at all! I love God too much, :D .

I credit Aeclectic Tarot (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/) for their articles and card interpretations, especially all the different spreads. They schooled me good. Thanks y'all!

~

I had an idea running around in my head for a while. It's time I put the sucker on paper. Wish me luck!

I leave you, listening to Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now"? Lemme switch it... ah, "Satellite" by Guster! Yet another indie band I support!

Regards,
Lindsey

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Am I still a writer?

I heard back from a longtime friend and telling her about what's been going on in my life since we last spoke had got me thinking about the future of my writing. I haven't touched it since late August, that's when all the issues have come to a head.

I now arrive at a big hurdle: writing a paper for my Sci-Fi class. I could up and quit the class, but that's not an option. This is the chance to pull myself up and try again. Put all my mad skillz to the test. My reward: a lovely deck of tarot cards. Of course, I must get it finished before my surgery, so I can recover from it without much stress.

I guess the title is the big question I've been asking myself for a while. I still call myself one. It is a part of me, yet no longer the dominating force. Guess it's wait and see.

Yea, two days until the first day of fall!

I leave you, rocking out to Squeeze's "Cool for Cats" (in my head)...

Regards,
Lindsey

Friday, September 12, 2008

Man, I need to update more often...

Wow, I had to drop an English class. That is unheard of... for me. But, it is for the best that I take a step back and look over my life as it is right now. I've never been this self-aware before, which is both exhilarating and infuriating.


~


Because of my stress, and other things likely, I'm now ill! I can't have this, not when my surgery is two weeks away! I hope it goes away soon...


~


As for school reading, I'm eager to begin The Great Gatsby. Also, my editing textbook... which reads like any textbook: boring and methodical. But hey, an AP style open-book quiz is this Monday! XP


~


Going to the counselor has revealed that pretty much everything my parents and my sister have been telling me for years... is valid. Well, looks like I should've listened to everyone, huh? :P


I don't know if I still want to be a writer, or even pursue my current degree plan. But, I'll have to ride out this semester and see what happens.


Special thanks go out to my family and my friends for being supportive and loving, and a salute to my counselor for helping me get back on my feet.


~


Recently, I found a poster promoting Fear of Music by Talking Heads. I should be getting it soon! :D


It's my reward for going to counseling.


~


I leave you, rocking out to nothing... well, maybe to the sound of my AC, if I can detect a rhythm.


Regards,

Lindsey


P.S.: I'm having font issues. It'll be fixed the next time around...

Monday, September 1, 2008

What the heck I've been up to these days...

The Labor Day weekend is coming to a quick end, alas. I didn't really get to enjoy it very much.

~

When school began, the stress of my writing issues (along with other fun quarterlife crisis issues) came to a head. I managed to get myself together, but yeah... this anxiety is too much to keep fighting alone. So, I made an appointment with a counselor on campus. I feel better already.

Despite my anxiety, my classes are going to be a blast. I'm getting to hang out with tons of familiar faces (including some very close friends), read some goods books and of course... talk to some cool professors. They're all intelligent, well-read and experienced people. So, at least, all is good on that front.

~

After years of wanting, I finally got VH-1 Classic. The channel had an '80's video marathon, so I tried my best to keep up with it and watch some of my favorite artists. I had to bypass Genesis due to work, but I got to see:

Lindsey Buckingham: "Go Insane" and "Holiday Road" (!)
Fleetwood Mac: "Hold Me", "Little Lies" and "Seven Wonders" (!)
Billy Joel: "Pressure"
Squeeze: "Hourglass"
Talking Heads: "And She Was" and "Once in A Lifetime"

Their Talking Heads video choices were good, yet lacking one major video... no "Burning Down the House"! WTH?!

And yes, after years of accepting the fact I would never see it on TV, I finally saw "Little Lies". Man, my happiness reached a limit I didn't think existed. The video is so much more... green than seeing it on YouTube.

~

Current school reading: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton and a sci-fi anthology edited by Ursula K. Le Guin.

~

Thank God and everyone else in Heaven for the citizens of New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast. They all got out before Gustav hit. Looks like things aren't going to be as bad as predicted: see here.

That's, of course, fantastic news.

~

There's nothing much else to say for the time being. So I leave you, rocking out to the ending of the Mavericks's "What A Crying Shame"...

Regards,
Lindsey

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The night before...

Classes at my university start tomorrow and I'm psyching myself up for it. It's exciting, yet I'm nervous. I just want things this semester to go right this time.

Not much reading, but I will do that later on this evening.

~

I finished reading The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan. Go get this book! It's funny, insightful and comforting. Ms. Tan is a wonderful essayist and reading this book makes me want to read her other books. Now that is how a good writer works.

Good writers make you want to read more books and enjoy their other works, not make you hate reading for months... like a certain book I tried reading a year ago that I refuse to name... :P

~

I know in my last post I said I was going to have a separate entry regarding... something. Sorry, I did have it up but I took it down. Nothing serious, I just thought it didn't add to my blog. To make up for it, I'm going to post the last of the fun facts about myself.

Fun Facts, the Conclusion:

-My favorite musical is The Phantom of the Opera.

-Besides Editors, I also "indie endorse" Vienna Teng. Good God, this woman is amazing!

-My favorite Silent Hill game is a tie between the first and the second one. But if I had to choose one, I would go with the first one.

-My favorite recent teen book is Jay Asher's Th1rten R3asons Why. I have a feeling that I'll be adding John Green's books on this list soon.

-One day, I would love to own a teal Fender Stratocaster.

-My favorite season is autumn, the one I was born in!

-I can read long-winded Victorian novels, but not long-winded modern novels. WTH?

~

That is it for now. I leave you, rocking out to thoughts on possible to-do lists.

Regards,
Lindsey

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Some thoughts...

I would like to throw a thought out into the world and see what happens.

Recently, I've been dealing with writing issues, for example: I think my ideas aren't original and that I have nothing new to say. I thought about it last night and I'm pretty sure that writing isn't going to be a full-time career for me. To be honest, I never saw myself having a huge body of work, something to the extent of Stephen King or Dean Koontz.

Am I being too harsh on myself? Perhaps. Do I have something to contribute, like everyone else? Who knows...

God, I hate having this quarterlife crisis...

Keep in mind I didn't say I was giving up being a writer. I'm still pondering what to do. Like I said, I hate being indecisive about my career. Hell, about my life for that matter!

But, I have to take it one day at a time. I have to keep reminding myself of that.

~

I'm going to make a second post regarding another topic later on tonight. I split the posts just to make it easier to read...

~

I leave you, rocking (?) to Celine Dion's "Immortality". To those who cringe, yeah I know, but I love this song. It's sweet, plus the Bee Gees sing in it!

Regards,
Lindsey

Saturday, August 16, 2008

OMG, I'm writing!

Okay, sarcasm in the title. But, I have to confess: chatspeak is funny. I chuckle at the silly acronyms and other slang. How far have we come in this day and age...

Well, as the title implies... I'm working on a short story of mine that's been hanging out and doing nothing for about eight months. I have plans to turn this mofo into a novella (or novel, God help me). I have an idea where I want this thing to go, but I have to keep at it. Lord knows that persistence is the... however the saying goes.

~

Because I'm bored, I'm going to list more fun facts about myself:

-My favorite comic book superhero is Batman. Next is Spiderman.

-Who was my favorite band before Talking Heads? Before Fleetwood Mac?
It was Genesis. For this, I thank my father and his letting me borrow his battered copy of Invisible Touch.

-On supporting indie bands, I officially "endorse" Editors. They rock. Go and buy their CDs, dammit!

-I want to read Watchmen so badly.

-A Wrinkle in Time and The Bluest Eye are among some of the titles that I read in one day.

-My favorite Shakespeare play is The Tempest.

-I have a character that I named after the late Warner Bros. animator Chuck Jones. This was back when I wanted to be an animator.

-I saw these movies multiple times in theaters: Titanic (3), Chicago (2) and Silent Hill (2).

-My favorite Saturday morning cartoon when I was a teen was Science Court. Does anyone remember this show?

-I have seen Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, The Police and Lindsey Buckingham live. Which was the best concert?
Lindsey Buckingham. He played "Holiday Road". 'Nuff said...

-My opinion on Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell: silly and histrionic. Speaking of unpopular music opinions... I really don't like Rumours.

-Despite my opinion on Bat Out of Hell, I do like "You Took the Words Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)".

-I know I'm hating a book when I think "if the apocalypse occurred right now, would I care if all the characters died?" and my response is a tactless "hell no".

Seriously, last one...
-I used to do a killer Ace Ventura impression.

~

Okay, enough of wasting space...? I'm reading, writing and living life. How about you all? How are you all doing? Hope it's well on your side of things.

I leave you, rocking out to the thought that I finally possess a copy of Jerry Harrison's Casual Gods.

Regards,
Lindsey

Monday, August 11, 2008

An... update, I guess?

My little sis, who made my new icon, has a blog. She's watching the entire X-Files series (she has all the DVDs) and writing her own opinions on each episode. A play-by-play, if you will.

Personally, I like the series. I'm not into the MSR (Mulder/Scully romance) thing as much as she is. I do love Skinner though.

In regards to her comment on her recent post... hey sis, how am I better than you at this? *scratches head*

~

Oh, yeah! I did it, I got to my halfway goal. Twenty-eight books to go!

~

Some Fun Facts About Myself:

-My moniker "Crazy Lady Writer" was inspired from the song "Lady Writer" by Dire Straits. It's from their Communique album. I threw in the "crazy" part for no reason whatsoever. Such is my life...

-My writing space's decorations include a postcard of Stephen King, my late grandfather's coal miner statue, a coffee cup full of pens and highlighters, a little shelf of writing books and tons of notebooks.

-I usually listen to an "era-appropriate" album when writing. E.g.: when I was working on a piece about a wannabe rock critic in 1982, I listened to Remain in Light.

-I am an English major concentrating on both creative and professional writing.

-My first foray into gaming was playing Area 51 at a restaurant.

-I have listened to Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies" more than a thousand times (this is not an exaggeration...!)

-My life motto: have fun and do lots of things, just don't forget to live.

-I spend more money on books and CDs than most women my age do...

~

Yeah, nothing else really. I'm writing stuff (well, more planning), but it's better than nothing. Much like I said last time.

I leave you, rocking out to Talking Heads' "Crosseyed and Painless"...

Regards,
Lindsey

P.S.: Sis, I tag ya! Next time you post, write some fun facts about yourself! Oh, and much <3 for the icon!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Housekeeping and a random video game discussion...

I decided to remove a few of the layout pages, to decrease the clutter-ey look my page was getting. Now, it looks much better. Onto business, and pointless stuff...

-I am one book away to the halfway point of my reading goal. Yea me!

-School starts soon. I have all but three of the books I need. Man, I'm going to be reading a lot this semester. Can you say burn-out?

-It's official: Fleetwood Mac is not my favorite band anymore. Possible contenders to replace them are Genesis, Steely Dan or Talking Heads. Time only can tell who will take Fleetwood Mac's place...

-I wrote thirteen new poems over the summer, one may turn into a song. Yea! I wrote something!


Now, to the random video game discussion. I would love to see either Fear of Music or Remain in Light by Talking Heads as full-length downloadable albums for "Rock Band".

I'm for Fear of Music (besides the obvious fact that the album is a sonic masterpiece) because nothing would be more fun than to sing "I Zimbra". That would throw people for a loop, though... XD.

Well, nothing much else to say here. I leave you, rocking out to Talking Heads' "The Great Curve", from their live album The Name of This Band is Talking Heads.

Regards,
Lindsey

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Please ignore the last posting date...

Wow! What happened? I was going to keep up with this thing but, yeah... I should probably go ahead and confess what's been going on these days.

You see, I've reached a point in my writing where I'm unsure where to go next. I keep thinking all my ideas are either from other sources (TV shows, movies, books, songs) or just plain terrible. I find myself afraid to write. Sure, I dabble on and off with some random things. I guess this point was going to be reached one way or another. I'm just glad I found out about all this before the new semester started.
Anyhoo, I'm only writing for pleasure right now. I'll let y'all know when I figure all this s*** out.

Layout Update: I'll now add a new little box-thingy. I'll dub thee "Band/Singer I'm Into Right Now (with Bonus Song)". Check it for the inaugural choices!

I'm twenty-five books into my goal to read fifty-six books before my birthday. Alright, three more until I reach my summer goal to get halfway!

I've also been writing poetry, mainly villanelles about Ireland. God, I miss Dublin. *sighs sadly while looking out window*

I leave you, rocking out to Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime"...

Regards,
Lindsey

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Minor update

Nothing really much to note today. I'm about seven-thousand words into my newest novel project. I'll update as I go here.

I leave you rocking out to Talking Heads' "Houses in Motion"... in my head.

Regards,
Lindsey

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Holy crap, it's been a while!

Hi, to those who read this... I've returned from a long hiatus. I've been busy, working on finals (and actually doing well, I made a B in my second Latin semester).

Some good news: I got accepted into the advanced fiction class at my school, so I'm stoked about that. I also went on an overseas trip, which was tons of fun. I went to the British Isles and came back in love with Ireland and Kilkenny beer.

I'm also going to start on a novel idea I had in my head for a while, just to see if I can finish it before the new semester starts. Cross your fingers!

I've been reading quite a bit. I'm currently reading Through the Looking-Glass. I read Alice a few days ago and found it to be the strangest read in recent memory. Over my trip, I read The Joy Luck Club and Wise Blood. For the record, I enjoyed the latter more. Joy Luck Club was terribly depressing.

Anyhoo, this was just a brief update. I hope to keep up with this more. I leave you, rocking out to thoughts about the Democratic race. Damn, it needs to end now. At this point, I just want someone to win it and then kick some ass in November.

Regards,
Lindsey

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Just checking up.

Okay, can't you tell that I just caught up with the times and actually finished playing "Portal"? Great game, by the way. It's available on the Xbox 360 in "The Orange Box" and now on the PC by itself. If you have time and money (and the system to play it, of course) get it. It's worth it for the humor alone.

Lately, I have read Madeleine L'Engle's Walking on Water, Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men, and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. The latter I had finished after months of reading it.

I've been introduced to the interesting concept known as flash fiction and I'm writing one to turn into class eventually. It's okay, I may keep going at it to see where it takes me.

In the meantime, I haven't written anything else. I may try my hand at something tonight.

I rock out to thoughts about how my flash fiction story is going to end. Until next time...

Regards,
Lindsey

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Look children, here's an idiot! *is pointing to self*

Welcome back to yet another episode of "What the Hell Was I So Upset About?" Enough of the joking, let's get down to business.

As I said in my last entry, I was worried that a bunch of ideas I had come up with were not original and possibly from other sources. Well, I did some fact-checking and sure enough... I had come up with the ideas long before (well, at least for the one idea that mattered. The others... I'm just gonna change 'em.).
Sure, I may have to make some changes, but it has gotten me thinking about how I react to things. Of course, it's all a work-in-progress. After all, I still am a young person with many years ahead of me. I'm not kicking myself too hard for acting the way I did. I just got to calm the hell down first and then begin my long-term mulling.

~

Joyous news to cap off the end of my unnecessary worry: I got a Waterman pen! I don't have a picture readily available, but imagine a nice-looking (and expensive... *mumbles*) blue pen that has a lovely dark aqua ink. That's my Georgie! I name my things... c'mon, I'm not insane!

I have plans to use Georgie to keep a journal and maybe begin writing longhand in nicer journals. Now, I'm off to go improve my handwriting!

I leave you all, rocking out to... nothing. Wow, that's a new one. Hopefully, in the future, it would either be music or random thoughts. Until then... bye!

Regards,
Lindsey

Thursday, March 13, 2008

A book to share with you all... and an actual update

Just last night, I just finished reading Richard Matheson's What Dreams May Come.

I... loved... this... book!

If you haven't read it, drop whatever you're doing and go get it. If you seen the movie, the book is so much better (this time, I actually mean that).

The essential story is wonderful, but all the mechanical things (i.e. the afterlife business, etc.) are so rich yet not over my head. Do read this with an open mind, since it does cover the afterlife and not necessarily a monoreligious one.

I'm officially a Matheson fan. I now have Hell House and Somewhere In Time (Bid Time Return) left to read.

Anyhoo, if you would like more information, go here to read up on it and maybe... order it.

Happy reading!


P.S.: I also recommend Earthbound. Very good story too!

~

Lately, I'm having a huge problem. I don't know if it's stress that mantifests into random worries or whatever, but...

Here's the thing: I write stories and I would later look back and see that either certain elements or subplots or characters or other little things seem to trace back to something I've either read a long time ago or I'm just familiar with the plot. Most of the time, it's uninentional. It's beginning to really get under my skin.

People tell me that "it's natural, don't worry", "go change it a bit", but I still am so paranoid about it. I guess I worry about being original too much. I mean, you can only go so far with originality. What do you think, y'all? Any tips, advice? Virtual slaps upside the head? Lord knows I need the latter... :P (Note: I only use emoticons as a semi-joke. Even so, I like the :P one. Don't panic, I'm not acknowledging they are the wave of new language.)

I leave you all, rocking out to those worrisome thoughts I discussed about. Well, rocking to them wouldn't be right. Maybe... mulling over.


Regards,
Lindsey

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I'm still alive, y'all!

It's been a long time (cue Boston song) since I last wrote. Well, what's been going on with my life?

Well, this: I learned that I have no perception of time anymore. I am currently suffering the equivalent of teenage-driver depth-perception. Therefore, my timing on things is teh suck. (By the way, I use chat-speak just because it's funny. I really don't think it's the future of language, so no flaming...)

Anyhoo, I also failed my goal on reading 29 short stories in 29 days. It became a chore on the 11th day. By the 24th day, I gave up. Yet, I now love H.P. Lovecraft, so some good came out of it!

No updates on my writing really, just working on random short stories for my class. School's going okay, but I'm getting the message (stop sucking on quizzes!)

Sorry that this isn't a true update, I'll try to keep this up more often.

Until next time, I rock to thoughts about Greek mythology.

Regards,
Lindsey

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Writers have the power, dammit!

As you all know, the WGA strike is coming to an end. It's not about the shows, it's the hope that writers get what they earned.

Check out the news and updates here at United Hollywood. The article where I first heard the news: at Yahoo!

~

A Note to the WGA writers:

I only hope that you all are getting what you rightfully earned. You guys worked very hard and made some sacrifices. But, it's people like you that's going to make it easier for the next generation. Thank you so much for standing up for your rights and fighting the good fight. Bless you and happy writing!

~

Regards,
Lindsey

Friday, February 1, 2008

Random update time!

Well, it's the beginning of the new month and I decided on yet another random goal:

29 Short Stories in 29 Days.

All though this lovely month (depending on where you're living), I will read one short story a day. I had made a list of them and I just scratch off the one I wanted to read for that day.

The prize? More inspiration and techniques stored in the membrane, I guess...

Today's short story (or novella) was George Eliot's "The Lifted Veil". I guess I expected too much from this, because it didn't satisfy my secret love for morbid Gothic stuff. I didn't really connect with any of the characters (then again, relating to a clairvoyant is pretty hard for someone as incredibly boring as myself). It moved along at a reasonable pace, overall, a good read.

I don't know if it's me, but sometimes I have a hard time deciphering sentence structures in Victorian literature. I can understand what they're conveying about half of the time, maybe even three-fourths if I'm really into it. Yet, I had a devil of a time with "Veil". Then again, I did read this while I was riding on the bus and I was still waking up.

Nonetheless, I have my moments. As for writing, nothing special going on. Just going along.

That's about it from here, I leave you rocking to nothing, yet thinking about Demeter myths (for a class I'm taking).

Regards,
Lindsey

Friday, January 25, 2008

Book Backlog-Shedding Time!

I have made a goal to stop buying new books to read (recreational ones) until I cut down on my backlog. I've made a list, it's too huge to show here... it's about in the 100-plus range here. So, I'm going to try two goals:

Read 21 books before my birthday. Y'know, when it's my birthday, I can go buy more books! (Kidding, just want to see if I can do it)

Do this NaNoReMo thing again.
I got the idea from the delightful blogger of Bookshelves of Doom, who got the idea from defective yeti. Here, read defective yeti's entry about NaNoReMo and learn how you can do it! (Special thanks to Leila [Bookshelves of Doom] and Matthew [defective yeti] at their respected blogs for this wonderful idea)

~

I did NaNoReMo last year and read Wilkie Collins' "The Woman in White", which I started on November 5th and finished on the 27th. Keep in mind, the novel was looonng. Victorian, lots-o-description, big novel. Despite that, it was great.

Until then, I leave you (yet again) listening to Steve Miller Band.

Regards,
Lindsey

For once, thank God for growing pains...

I've been thinking about things for the last few days, and I realized the reason I haven't gotten anything published is because all I do is sit around and dream about it. I'm waiting for that opportunity, yet it won't come. I need to create it. So, I will start writing and pursuing every chance and opportunity thrown at me.

As for my writing, it hasn't suffered. I have written a few little short stories, one is a horror and one is a suspense. So, yea! The novel though has fallen through the cracks and now I have to rescue it. *Rescues it* Now, time to write it...

School's going very well. I'm learning to keep my head on straight and study as much as I can. I have my first quizzes coming up, so I'm going to do the best I can.

Enough of the life stuff. For now, at least.

~

I just finished reading Shirley Jackson's short story collection. Wow, there were some treasures in there!

For once, I read a short story collection and understood how to end a story. You see, I know how to do it for novels and novellas, but the ending is why I had hang-ups about writing short stories. Now, thanks to Ms. Jackson... I know how and the answer is obvious: only you, the writer, can tell. And that is my exact approach for endings in novels. Talk about an "Oh, duh!" moment.

I leave you for now, jamming out to Steve Miller Band's excellent "Jet Airliner".

Regards,
Lindsey

Monday, January 21, 2008

Holy crap, school!

Well, the title is the reason why I've been inactive on the blog these days. I haven't been reading as much as I should (recreational-wise). Oh well, I guess I just have to go with the flow on this one.

Anyway, I stopped reading O'Conner's "The Violent Bear It Away" because I'm not getting into it and I decided to wait and give it a second chance.

Nothing much else to say. So, see y'all... whenever something awesome comes up.

Regards,
Lindsey

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

2008: a new year, a new start

I've been told that this year is going to be a year of new beginnings. The number 8 also bears some resemblance to the infinity symbol. So, best of luck to everyone!

~

Anyway, onto the reading list updates. I finished Shirley Jackson's "We've Always Lived in the Castle" and I gave up on Chuck Palahniuk's "Choke".

The first book was a bizarre read, but worth it. It was suspenseful. Yet, I prefer "The Haunting of Hill House".

Now for the latter... I've been only reading the book to see what the fuss was all about with this author. I respect him, he sounds like a cool guy. But, I just can't read his books. As a writer, there is an unspoken law to never bad-mouth a fellow writer. So, the buck stops here.

I'm now reading a collection of works by Ms. Jackson and "The House of Breath" by William Goyen. I did a research paper on him back in class last year and gained an interest in his work.

~

As for my writing... I've been working on various parts for my novel. So far, it's a bit scatterbrained and some things may not even make the final cut, but it's good to have the gears greased and going on with it.

~

I leave you, rocking out to Death Cab for Cutie's "Why Do You Want to Live Here".

Regards,
Lindsey