Subtextual

Avatar review

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:18:03 GMT

Yesterday afternoon I went and saw "Avatar" 3D at the semi-local Imax theatre. I will admit to looking forward to it, not as rabidly as some perhaps but I did purchase my ticket on Monday.

I can't get it out of my head. It's all I've been thinking about all morning.

The premise is cliche: tired, broken warrior goes to new land, identifies with them, and fights the oppressive force he used to be part of. Stockholm syndrome, anyone?

I've read a few reviews that likened it to "Dances With Wolves" in space. Very apt, actually.

The storyline is nothing we haven't seen before - the entire plotline, it's practically a trope.

And yet...

I can't get it out of my head.

------

I'm a sucker for worldbuilding. jpsorrow said in his review that it was too much, to which I call BS. I don't know where to start, so let's begin with the much touted visuals: they were stunning. The well-realized world was completely alien and breathtakingly beautiful. James Cameron's love for the deep is apparent: he borrowed from the ocean-life of earth for inspiration, but his imagination gave us so much more. I don't care what you think of the director, it's impossible to deny he's a remarkable storyteller.

But there is so much more than pretty in this film. I fell in love with the philosophies too: it wasn't so much the "earth mother" theme as the world as a character . So, so beautiful in so many ways.

Best of all? The action never. Let. Up. The lead was always being chased, hunted, wrestled with, etc - it was always actiony even in the quiet moments. And humor, usually in snide off-comments or small motions.

Best part? 3D. Took a bit to get used to but very, very effective especially in the world shots.

I'm going to see it again today. I recommend everyone see it in the theatre once, regardless of format (it translates well in 2D too).

ETA: So I didn't, IMO, get my point across well enough.

I SO TOTALLY HEART "AVATAR"!!!!!

Yeah, that's better. ;-)

A day in the life

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:51:51 GMT

Today, at 3:25pm, I'm going to see AVATAR 3D at the Imax theatres. My ticket has been in my wallet since Monday. I've been looking forward to this a while now so it's just a few more hours.

Finally, after almost a year off, I worked out last night. I'd tried earlier this year to go to the gym but even 3 months post surgery it hurt too much. I have no such problems now however, other than I'm once again a wuss. Hopefully that won't last long. I also had a workout partner, something which in the past wasn't for me but worked out (no pun intended) splendidly for me yesterday Here's to the hope it will continue to do so.

Work, darn their hides, still refuses to tell us if we're working next Saturday (we do get Friday the 25th off at least). I could play hooky and the entire place would be shut down (I have a very singular job here) but I'd get written up. Even so, I harbor that option as I do Not want to work next Saturday.

Still haven't written a word, despite having the files open at work and my journal with me. I'm beginning to despair.

Otherwise, I'm in a surprisingly chipper mood. Whether that's a fluke, the goals I've made taking a load off my shoulders, enough sleep or the working out, it's a welcome relief from the melancholy.

****HUGS**** to all!

Those elusive goals (or, wishy-washy headslap)

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:27:12 GMT

Another post from my cellular, currently my main source for the interwebs. Not all that fancy but it has a browser and works in the middle of a concrete building - this is enough for me. :)

Thanks to those who commented back to my last post, I still need to reply but I appreciated it. I've been feeling introspective lately, thinking a lot about my past and my future. I guess I could lay the blame at m_stiefvater's feet for her hard-hitting post last week about New Years resolutions and goals. It hit home for me (really hard) that I've been coasting through my life, riding the "bus" with a dream but no goal. Now granted, it's been a great life - I've had some experiences people only dream of - but so many of those have been random chance. Some of the things I've dreamed of - becoming an author, saving the world (aka, getting my RN) - haven't been realized because they're just that: dreams. Oh sure I've made a few steps towards reaching them - a couple WIPs with 25k+ words, a class here and there - but I'm lightyears from being any closer than I was 3 years ago. That's a tough pill to swallow.

It's amazing sometimes how I've lived with myself for 30 years now, yet still keep learning new things about me. I thought I was content with flitting through life like a carefree gypsy: now I'm not so sure. Oh, I don't want to give it up - I'm too independent to be content in one rut for the rest of my life - but wouldn't it be great if my flitting had a purpose? If I had a skill that I could share with the world at large, one that could help them out in some fashion? Perhaps stories that take people from those cares that bind them with my words on paper (or an e-reader, what a world we live in no?); perhaps to hold their hand at a hospital bedside to let them know they're not alone. That's how I see writing and nursing: not so much a calling, but my way of giving something productive to the world. Right now I feel like a lump - aside from a Bachelors degree I have few useful skills (alright I do have a few skills but they're so across the board as to be useless at any one thing - I mean, a welding fiddler? Yeeeeah...).

So I plan to this year, for the first time, to make goals for the new year. NOT New Year's Resolutions - I can't think of them like that and be serious. I know of a couple already that are doable, but I'm sure my list will grow. I also intend to post them everywhere I can, both online and in real life, so I'm constantly reminded of what I want out of life. It'll take some work - I sometimes shy away or stick my head in the ground when I'm stressed - and I'm going to have to get dedicated. Some will be easier than others but all are going to take me the entire year to do. Which is good - maybe I can finally teach myself some discipline. Only I can do that now.

Introspective

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:09:57 GMT

I'm standing here at work, throat hurting because of The Cold That Will Not Die, wanting to go back to bed, contemplating finances, New Year's resolutions, and my own limitations. It comes on me sometimes that I still have a lot of maturing left to do - some of my habits are really juvenile, like how spendy I am with money, my inability to achieve goals (or lack of making any of substance), the lack of regard I give certain things in my life (housework, car maintenance), etc. I'm not depressed, I'm merely stating out loud (so to speak) things I want to work on. My flisters are such amazing people - I see all they've conquered, how they plan out their goals (and achieve them), they don't allow themselves to stray from what they love but, if they do, they don't give up.

Strength like that is nurtured, not automatic. It's a lifelong struggle against not just temptation but laziness.

I'm probably a little late for a true Thanksgiving post, but I'm thankful for those on my LJ flist who are brave enough to post their trials and trivails, who try to help those of us in the trenches. I, we, really appreciate it.

Amused, oh SO amused

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:40:20 GMT

difrancis saw it first but I *had* to share "A Regency Romance in 2 Minutes". Sure it's on FF.Net but don't judge it too harshly. ;-P

Seriously folks. This *slays* me (and is perhaps not so shockingly accurate).

Old stories crop up at the oddest times....

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:11:16 GMT

I've been trying to think about plot and storyline for mt steampunk, but my mind keeps going back to an earlier MG fantasy WIP. This one at least had a plot and a twist ending I really liked, but as usual bogged down a bit in the middle. I had 35k done on that one, as opposed to 25k on the steampunk.

Why is my brain cycling to it? Because it has a plot. Because it has a predetermined ending, with a twist. Exactly what I need (or feel the need for) in my current story.

....now to just figure out where I wrote down my notes. I know my characters mostly, just not how all of them interconnect which is essential.

But an ending. A plot. That is a great start.

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:25:11 GMT

This morning I check my Inbox and find what looks like ALL the replies to comments/entries I received yesterday, minus any snowflake etc notifications. Three cheers for LJ!!

(now please don't do that again, kthxbai)

My issues with the sickies is thankfully lessening by the day, although I'd like for it to disappear altogether. Apparently I take for granted being able to breath without whistling through my nose or lungs. Maybe it can become my very own stupid human trick 3think positive right?).

My writing still hasn't commenced despite my desire to continue. That pesky plotlessness is still harshing my vibe. And I'm lazy. Yeah, go me and my crazy willpower. *sigh*

I let my LJ membership expire so I've lost access to several (most) of my (most interesting) icons, yet at least one of the leftovers does a very good job of describing my current state of mind. Nice pick of the dregs LJ. ;-p

Seems I'm not alone

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:16:21 GMT

I finally changed my LJ email settings over to the email I actually use nowadays. Did NOTHING else (was very careful of that).

Last night I received several LJ notifications of Friends' virtual gifts. Puzzling, as I'd never gotten those before, but I was too sick to care. Fast forward to this morning, whereupon I turn my phone on and it dissolves into a writhing mass of LJ notifications, none of which I care about (ie, all virtual gift notifications, no messages about post/comment replies), which cause my phone to go into fits not once but three times, shutting itself down from information overload.

Yeah, my phones a little old. Still tho...

Looking through my flist I see I was not alone. This helps a bit, yet still a bit miffed.

And in other news, I'm an idiot. The interested parties will know what I mean. *sigh*

ETA: Just received *another* LJ virtual gift notification, after turning that function off. Seems they're still trickling inn *sigh*.

ETA2: Make that 7 new emails. ¡¡Ay chihuahua!!

Arg. Blarg. Repeat.

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:51:43 GMT

So it finally hit home this morning that my steampunk, which I adore, has no pplot. It has events which are leading to a culmination of.....what. Something. Maybe something great, maybe something lousy.

I need to start with a plot first instead of immediately finding characters to fall in love with because I now have a story that I love that may end up becoming a 300k word flop.

....or, maybe I'll figure out the plot after writing those 300k words and have that much more experience writing. Always a silver lining right? :) Now to just get back into the habit of writing regularly. *sigh*

---

In unrelated news, I may have royally screwed the pooch on something. Here's to hoping I'm merely forgetful and not, well, I'm hoping for just forgetful....

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:44:04 GMT

I hope everyone out in LJ-land had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Mine was spent at 3 parties - family, more family, and the bf's family - and by the end I had a lead ball planted firmly in my belly. Today is feeling a bit better, but only a bit.

This morning I opened up the WIP I'd abandoned a few months back because I'd come up with a block and was a bit disappointed with myself: I had ended in the middle of a cool actiony part, *well* before the blocked end of my synopsis! I'm glad I kept my notebook - everything up to That Point is recorded, including the awesomeness that is the scene I stopped at.

I'm not sure what possessed me to end there especially since I had at least another chapter to go. Must have had an attack of drama, it's my only excuse.

At least it's a mistake I can correct easily. I actually relish the opportunity now. :-D

(Knee) Jerks and the monsters they hate

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:04:30 GMT

riyirowe has what I consider a good opinion on the annoying knee jerk reactions some people have about books/stories like Twilight/New Moon and Harry Potter, particularly pertaining to Christian viewpoints. The post he's writing about is something my family and their friends would probably send out, and his thoughts on the subject echo mine.

Being raised in a Christian household, it's hard to live up to some family standards. For example, I'd bring fantasy novels home that had monsters on the covers and my parents (being good little Aquarians) would give me guilt trips over them. I've stopped showing all but my tamest stories to my mother despite her protests, since she always wishes I wrote more Biblical stories not such horrible things (admittedly some of my stuff has a darker slant).

People who give kneejerk reactions to monsters, saying the characters are inherently evil just because their literary predessors were, is missing out completely on the redemptive storylines this rich background can create.

.... ..... Meh. Go read the article. He says it much better than me. :-)

In other news, since my home compy is missing its power chords I brought my thumb drive and story notebook to work with me in the hopes of rekindling the writing bug. Just need to find the Butt-In-Chair time first...

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:36:14 GMT

I realized this morning that I miss my steampunk WIP. It isn't so much that I miss writing, but I miss seeing what my characters are up to (I guess, in this case, that's one and the same). I picked up Scott Westerfeld's LEVIATHAN and sat down to read it ( I've been waiting so long for it!) but I can't seem to get past the 2nd page. I miss *my* characters, *my* steampunk world - it's almost an ache right now, if that makes any sense.

Went to the midnight showing of New Moon this morning. As ambivalent as I am about the books, I loved Loved LOVED that film!! Everyone seemed much more into their roles, the lovey-dovey was thankfully toned down, and.... okay fine, yes, Taylor Lautner as jailbait wolfboy was HAWT. Yes, I will be seeing it again. I could lay blame for my wanting to pick up writing again on that movie - there were some parts (Jacob begging, Bella standing up while scared to the Volturi, begging Jacob not to draw that line or make her choose) that begged to be written, expanded upon, incorporated somehow into another story. Don't know if they will be but it got me all fired up.

I've been lax in posting here, partly because I got out of the habit but mostly because I stopped writing, and it felt weird to post to a blog about an "eclectic-writer" when I'm not. Suffice to say, I hope all is well with everyone reading this and hopefully I can get back into the habit sooner than later. :-)

Too long gone

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:09:11 GMT

It's weird, I do things in spurts. I'll be gung-ho about one thing, then move on to something else. First it was writing, now it's motorcycles. Thing is, I never lose the love for the previous thing (I count learnig fiddle, Swedish, and fire poi among those as well). Still, it's hard for me sometimes to get on LJ and document these things, since I'm never sure if anyone wants to hear about my adventures in Random.

I just got done with my first motorbike roadtrip. 9 days on the road - ambitious for a newbie. Had fun, stayed safe - no writing was done on my books, although I did take lots of pictures and do a ride report.

Nanowrimo is coming up in less than 2 days, which brings me back. I'm not participating this year, but I want to encourage those of you who are. Good luck with everything folks, can't wait to see the word counts!

When it rains, it pours

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:43:57 GMT

First California is getting wildfires galore. We should be used to this right? Then I check CNN and see Hurricane Jimena is moving towards Baja California, also towards LA.

I can't help but wonder when the last time Pacific coast of the US had a hurricane hit. Hard to believe they're up to the J's in the Pacific's cyclone season.

Since getting my motorcycle back I've been wanting to make up lost time, but work isn't giving me enough time for any real trips. Next weekend however I'll be at least getting a 2-day weekend so I intend to go jetting around. :-D

.....great, now another hurricane is weighing on my mind. It's not enough that my parents are both down in New Orleans during peak hurricane season, now I have to watch out for my SoCal friends and family...

Completely random post

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:55:37 GMT

moschus posted an interesting entry today on the "art of the start". Anyway, she mentions a book by David Allen, Getting Things Done, that helps teach you how to prioritize the needs in your life.

"So if you've got ten things on your mind -- buy cat food, buy a new house, pick up the kids, resolve that fight with your spouse, go to Paris, etcetera -- you've already overloaded it with stuff it feels it needs to concentrate on all at once. Turns out it really sucks at this. When left to its own devices, the mind weighs everything equally, so that buy cat food is just as important as write compelling and socially relevant novel (and no doubt it is, to the cat). You want to work on that love scene, but your mind keeps turning back to Purina Chow, because it's worried that you will forget, and Snowflake will promptly starve to death or take to the streets and join a roving cat gang or something.

When you rely solely on your mind to remind you of these things, your mind takes that responsibility very, very seriously. And if you treat it as a bucket to fill with all those thoughts of tasks that need doing, the mind flits from one thing to the next, trying to remember, remember, remember."

I need that book. Must...find. Any help would be appreciated.

This would be the end of my post except now for the random part: anyone ever heard of Write or Die? I found it in the aforementioned post's comment section - it's a cool little site that motivates you to write how you want through negative reinforcement. I'm sure if they could shock you through your keyboard they'd try. ;) I just completed over 500 words of drivel (steam of consciousness stuff) that I was thinking of posting here but will spare you the ~~torture~~ temptation of ~~gouging your eyes out~~ reading. I find it amusing how the prods you to write, but then again I'm easily amused. ;)

Now must get back to work. *wavies*
(yes, for some odd reason I'm currently very bouncy. Go figure....)

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:42:11 GMT

I had an epiphany this weekend while having a Hayao Miyazaki marathon: for my steampunk storyline I plotted to a certain point and couldn't figure out the plot beyond that, but I didn't actually *write* to that point. Yeah, doesn't seem like much but I'm more than a little annoyed with myself, as the act of writing is what motivates me to discover what comes next.

The last month or so has been busy and eventful for me, mostly good things. It's amazing how being away from a computer for a while and getting past the withdrawal symptoms (and there are some) can make it so it's almost difficult to get back online. Hopefully I'm back, and writing, and blogging, and keeping up with you fine folks.

In other random news: I hate it when I do my math wrong. *sigh*

Funnies I had to share

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:57:56 GMT

The kind of wedding march I'd LOVE to be part of:

And only because it's wedding themed and with my sister's wedding in less than 2 weeks I'm in that mode, I give you: Thriller Wedding. (ETA: Whoops, double posted the same vid! Fixed now)

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:20:31 GMT

Been a long week, nice but exhausting. No writing done but I'm going to get back into that this week.

Have a few things I need to work on with RL. Some things were kind of shown to me this week that, well, made me think.

Tomorrow I start work again after a week vacation - it's going to be tough going back. Anyway, I hope you guys are all having a great week and had a fantastic holiday weekend. *hugs*

Farrah Fawcett passes away

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:58:12 GMT

Farrah Fawcett dies of cancer.

:-(

Probably not the most productive thing to do and yet...

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:52:50 GMT

There is no defense: I was perusing the files on my little thumb drive to keep from writing. However, in my search for a different story idea I'd come up with a long time ago and wanted to add to (which I can't find, arg, will have to check the ext. HD and hope I didn't erase it when I reformatted my computer), I came across my story from a year or two ago. I'd managed to forget a lot of the backstory I'd woven in and it's once again perked my interest. (This is one I have about 30k written of so far but it had been meandering so much I'd given it up and moved on with Life. I'd also read somewhere that people being whisked to another land was overdone in the genre and *cough* there may possibly, just a teensy bit, be some of that going on here...)

Whatever, now to pick a scene in my current/main WIP and add to it. The one good thing about writing out of order: you can pick and choose which part you feel in the mood for at any particular moment. ;-)

ETA: Okay so the day wasn't a total loss. I managed to get over 1k words between 2-3 scenes. Everything's spread out so no clue how much my total is so far but I'll compile it all together this weekend for a "grand" total. A little here, a little there - odd but it keeps me writing.

sigh

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:47:46 GMT

So far, today has been a bust. I've been having a lot of these lately, where I get home and take a long friggin' nap and thereby take up my entire afternoon with the blissful release of sleep. Now I just spent almost an hour catching up with my flist and am now determined to do some writing.

As soon as I get something to eat. And food for my dog. And wow, my kitchen is a mess, maybe I should clean it up. And scrub the toilet, polish the floors, do my laundry, box up books for library donation, organized my DVD/video game pile, put up the pictures...

*sigh*

Or just eat and write. Yup, sounds good to me.
(procrastination, thy name is "Sarah")

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:17:41 GMT

I doubt I'm the only one who's creeped out by Edward Cullen, although after watching the Buffy/Edward Youtube vid circling the flists I have to say the creep factor (based heavily on the EGADS!ness of Robert Pattinson so NOT being pretty) has gone up several notches.

However, I loved this article a girl on Facebook just posted: Ten Ways Twilight Has Ruined A Generation of High School Girlfriends. LOLing here folks, too true!

Ebook reader recs?

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:43:11 GMT

Yesterday, while not by any means a bust, was a no-write day. Spent the entire afternoon with the boyo and his family as they helped me comb out some of my dreadlocks. They were expecting it to be easy - guess I showed them. *sigh* Still have a little under half of my head to do, hopefully it'll get done sooner than later. I want my hair back, dangit! Already looking up good conditioners to fix my damaged hair but don't want to make any appointments with hairdressers yet as it's not done and I don't know when it will be.

Question for anyone out there who love gadgets as much as I do: what's a good ebook reader? For the last week or so I've been seriously considering getting a Kindle; I'm not sure I can spring for $400 but it can be a goal (along with a new Macbook, paying down my bills, an iPod Touch or iPhone, etc - yeah...) for the future. I'm worried though if I get a Kindle I'll come across the same problem I have with my iPod in that I have a ton of files that aren't universal. Annoyance much? Still, they're a lot smaller and easier to pack than a bunch of books, and, well, I love gadgets.

Any ideas? I know NADA about the ereader business (or the epublishing biz) but would love to see if it's for me (by spending money out my @ss, yeah I know). :)

Epic, epic FAIL!!!

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:46:36 GMT

via dragonmyst:

On Friday, Pennsylvania Senator John Eichelberger, who is sponsoring a bill to ban same-sex marriage in the state, held a radio debate with Senator Daylin Leach, who is sponsoring a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. In the interview, Eichelberger said there's no reason to allow gay couples to marry and said that they're not being punished. In fact, he lauds the fact that gay couples are allowed to exist.

Huh? No wait, I mean

HUH!?

Dear God in heaven what the EVERLOVING FUCK is up with those words? *can barely type from angry shaking* I mean, GOD WHAT THE FUCK!

... ... ... Fuck! I don't know what to say to stupidity like that!!!

RIP Neda Soltan

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:57:24 GMT

*sad sigh* RIP Neda Soltan, the world will not forget.