Book Review: Love is a Mix-tape

Love is a Mix-tape doesn't read like a book, it really feels more like i'm sitting at the kitchen table and Rob is telling me the story of his late-wife. We had to pause a few time so I got get some tea or cry but we got through it.

The only thing I didn't like was that there are parts where It really does feel like he's rambling on. but given the circumstances with the topic and how they are presented, it's slide able. It really hits you hard that in the blink of an eye something that you hold special over all things can simple be taken away. Just like that, no goodbyes.

I really enjoyed that he wrote down on the front of each chapter actual mix-tape lists. I am slightly possessed to make copies and listen to what he himself had. But that's for another day.

I gave it a 4 out of 5!

slap in the face or kick in the butt?

I had fun at the luau between being a sneaky (not really) camera ninja to answering peoples questions about cameras. But the whole event as a whole left me with quite a personal problem.

1. I wasn't prepared (didn't have business cards and it rained for the first half..rain got on my lens and I didn't realize that some of the pictures where blurred in the right hand corner BAH)

2. A friend asked me and she wanted to pay me but I always feel really awkward about pricing things like that... talked with another friend about it but I can't help it. I'm in the process of making a site with a price list but I didn't go by that at all.

3. I'm getting better at talking and having conversations but every now and again I don't know how to end them and I end up just kind of giving an awkward laugh and walking off. yeah... smooth.

4. I have absolutely no confidence in my own work.

So those are things that I am dealing with right now and trying to figure out. But anything you get out of an experience is good in my book! Oh and I haven't asked if I can post some of the pictures yet, i'll see about that.

P.s. Book review tomorrow!!

Aloha....yeah i'm dorky that way.

So I have been asked or hired I suppose by a friend to take pictures during her Hawaiian themed party. So I will be at that until later tonight! I don't know if I will post pictures of it since I'm taking them for her and she's paying... if she gives permission I will post a few but no promises!


Also my mother and I went spontaneously shopping after lunch because I originally asked if I could borrow her jean jacket but it was too heavy (it's 98 degrees here and humid). So we went in search of one to call my own! And found an awesome deal on a full length jacket(for some reason the half cut jackets that stop just a wee bit past your boobs are in style...I hate them)and it's light enough to wear tonight but heavy enough I could wear it during early fall. I will post pictures later!! I also got 3 other items but more on that another time!

I picked up a book on mythology the other day and have been buried in it. I love Greek mythology and learning new things about it I didn't know is just awesome to me! I'm only 3 chapters in and it has 20... SO MUCH TO LEARN!! and so many names i'm having trouble pronouncing..

Well the battery for my camera are fully charged I must leave you now! I hope you all have an interesting night may it be out with friends or at home watching a random show. Huggles!!

Movie Review: The Lovely Bones

It has certainly taken me a while to review this movie mainly because I needed to be rational! I will be completely honest with you and say I cried from the beginning to the end. Two hours of straight crying like someone had killed my pet hamster...if i had one. My nose was raw, not a pretty sight. Why did I cry so much? I think because I knew she was going to die, not a big secret, and I was screaming "kiss him please if you love him don't hold back KISS HIM, YOUR GOING TO DIE MOFO KISS HIM!!!!" Then when she did die everything after that was incredibly heart retching.

But enough of my crying session here is a break down!!

Good Points: beautiful store line, graphically gorgeous, and I think it looked historically accurate (i.e. clothes, slang words, and mannerisms)

Bad Points: they did not really follow the book on some points. In the field they find an elbow but in the movie they make it her hat. The mother also has an affair but they left that out. They leave out that they find a coke bottle with the killer and Susie's prints on it. Linking the man to the crime. The book goes into more detail about her killing. She was raped, murdered, and then dismembered. In the movie you don't find that out at all. Only that he killed her.

I also didn't really like the way she died. You think she got away because she "wished" she got away...but she didn't. So that can be confusing if you don't know the story line.

Many people gave the movie horrid reviews, along the lines of how could someone make murder seem dream like....well psychologically some people will repress horrid acts and replace them with other things. Also she's dead and in the "in-between" let the girl dream what she wants....geez people!!

I gave this movie two reviews. If you don't ever hope to read the book I give it a 4.5 out of 5. If you have read the book, I give it a 3.5 out of 5.

Letter Lover

I am behind on my mailing! I am trying to get things mailed and find smaller boxes so it won't cost as much. I am going to mail something today and hopefully more later this week! So if you are looking for something from me it will be mailed soon i promise!

Sometimes things pop up and we have to turn our attention to that and take care of it and all the fun things get pushed to the side, yes mailing letters is fun, for a later day.


Also if you really love receiving random postcards I would suggest you sign up with postcrossing. You mail a postcard and someone will send you one. It's something to look forward to other than bills!

Tune Tuesday

Jackson C. Frank is an old spirit. My mental image of him is something of a wheat plant covered in snow. Jack's life was full of hurdles to over come and even survive...

"When Jackson Frank was 11, a furnace exploded at his school, sending a ball of flames down corridors until it ended up in Frank's music classroom in the Cleveland Hill Elementary School in Cheektowaga, New York. The fire killed fifteen of his fellow students and hospitalized him for seven months. It was during his time in the hospital that he was first introduced to playing music, when a teacher, Charlie Castelli, brought in an acoustic guitar to keep Frank occupied during his recovery. When he was 21, he was awarded an insurance check of $100,000 for his injuries, giving him enough to "catch a boat to England."

He died in 1999 of pneumonia and all though he did not receive the fame he wanted his songs have lived on. For those who don't know Nick Drake, counting crows, and Daft Punk re-did some of his songs or incorporated him in their lyrics. My heart swells when I hear his song "Milk & Honey". You can listen to the song below and I hope you enjoy it.



Lyrics...

old and silver is the autumn
Soft and tender are her skies
Yes and no are the answers
Written in my true love's eyes

Autumn's leaving and winter's coming
I think that I'll be moving along
I've got to leave her and find another
I've got to sing my heart's true song

Round and round the burning circle
All the seasons: one, two, and three
Autumn comes and then the winter
Spring is born and wanders free

Gold and silver burn my autumns
All too soon they'd fade and die
And then, oh there are no others
Milk and honey were their lies

Words Full Of Color

A very lovely blogger, Holly, writes a list every so often about what in her life has brought a smile to her face or made her glow on the inside. I also feel happy and warm after reading them and I don't know this has been a wonderful week and I wanted to write the things that made me feel higher than a kite.

spontaneous fireworks

splattering paint with a dear friend

singing off key to my favorite songs

cleaning out my closet

listening to my grandmother and mother tell stories of the past

My boyfriend and my dad having a dude-day

getting postcards from afar strangers

marking off to-do's from my list

spending an hour talking about nothing but music with a friend


Sorry I have been neglectful of this page recently I have been really, I don't know. But i'll be back and blog till my keys fall off my keyboard. I love you all and I hope you all had a great weekend!

13. Paint a large artwork

I marked another item off my 21 before 21 list yesterday. A dear friend of mine came over and we had such a blast! We had been planning for a short while about doing some dart-balloon art. It is really simple and we actually hope to do it again, it was so much fun. And in case this sounds like something you would want to do, below is a break down of what I had to use. But I will throw my 2 cents in here, I bought 2 packs of one dollar darts. They were soft points obviously. It took us a little more than an hour to pop 12 balloons because they would bounce off! In the long run WE had a fun time just trying to pop them, but if you were going to do it on a larger scale I would advise a sharper popping tool!! Also don't hope to have all the darts when you're finished,I bought 6, only have 1 1/2 left hahaha!


I was able to do the whole project for $20.44
6 darts
15 balloons
4 paint colors
3 canvas boards
and for free I got a huge tarp from a family member for the floor and tape that I found laying around the house.


If you want to see more photos from yesterday CLICK HERE!

Tune Tuesday

OOOH snap! I almost missed Tune Tuesday due to being a e-comic reader-addict! Any who This weeks spot light goes to someone who has been around for a while and I somehow never heard him until recently. Damien Jurado started in Washington back around 1995...again how did i miss him? That's 15 years people! I am currently hitting repeat to hear *Sheets*. The melody is so airy but the lyrics are so sad. sniffle. Go HERE to see tour dates




Lyrics...

Is he still coming around like an injured bird needing a nest?
A place to rest his head in a song you'll regret
Lord knows I don't want to compete
But I still sleep in the very sheets he's been in

Swallow him whole like a pill that makes you choke and stills your soul
You have the nerve to look me in the eyes and lie
Send him back
I'll share the trap that you have me in

Is he still coming around like an injured bird needing a nest?
A place to rest his head in a song you'll regret
Still you take him
Lord knows I don't want to compete
But I still sleep in the very sheets he's been in

Swallow him whole like a pill that makes you choke and stills your soul
You have the nerve to look me in the eyes and lie
Send him back
I'll share the trap that you have me in

blink and miss the link!

I found a new e-comic! I have fallen in love with the art. It's so beautiful I am going to buy it soon...when i can get some extra cash. If you too want to buy it go HERE it's not that much, if you just want to read it online go HERE and see the marvelousness!! He also has a website HERE!


During my junior year of high school I didn't eat take out for the whole year. I did go to restaurants but if they could give you food in 10 minutes or less I didn't go. I think I'm going to do that again!! I'm tired of feeling like someone replaced my blood with jell-o.


AND I finished number 8 on my 21 before 21 list. I played a game of poker with my dad late one night when we were bored. I had never played before so he had to explain what the "hands" mean like a royal flush. I LOST! So much for beginners luck! psh. He won with 4 kings! sigh... but I had fun and after I lost we ended up just playing 21 and slap jack until midnight.

Oh and either Wednesday or Thursday DEPENDING ON WHEN MY FRIEND GETS BACK I will get to mark off another item off my list. Paint an art work! I'll post pictures later this week.


P.s. I hope every single one of you are working towards your dreams. What ever they may be. Don't worry what anyone else thinks! Just do what will make you happy. I love you all so much, hugs!

"My faerie tale has a thunderstorm in it…"

I can see tiny orbs of green being smashed by the weight of tears (falling from the sky)
I can see my river of moss sucked away by black wholes of liquid
flashes of heat burn my eyes (reverberations threaten to stop my heart)


My faerie tale has a thunderstorm in it...(and I want it to stop)


-me

Tune Tuesday

The Joy Formidable originated in North Wales and relocated to London. They also used to be under the band name of "Sidecar kisses" but split up for a short time, coming back together under the new name. I would like to describe them as a hundreds of golden leaves caught in a tornado; beautiful, fragile, but not quiet. My favorite sound so far is one of their newest ones "Cradle". The music video is also very interesting which you can watch below!




Lyrics...
I can see he says what he means
I can't say what he means when he says that
I'll pretend a pretty pretend
When all I wanna see is the end of this

I can see he says what he means
We'll deal him sticks and stones and apologies
I wish
Oh, I wish it was through

Scrape the skies
Get up off your knees
Just lift the marks
And new-found releases
I'll pretend a pretty pretend
When all I wanna see is the end of this

I wish
I wish
I wish the cobwebs would cover me
Cover me
Cover me

My vicious tongue
Cradles just one
My vicious tongue
Cradles just one

Who... Me?

Well I had a lovely lady remind me that I am terribly behind with my 21 before 21 list. I have only done 4 out of the 21. Truthfully some are proving harder than most. Like number 1: go on a road trip without the parents. Well I just happen to live around the states that require you to be 21 to legally rent a hotel room. SOOOO i'm not sure what i'm exactly going to do. I'm going next year with some friends to a convention but it's after my birthday. DARN IT!!

I guess I could sleep in my car but I don't know. Have to really research this more! Also acquiring a job has been difficult. I have put in some resumes but haven't heard anything.

I am NEXT WEEK going to do number 13: paint an art work!! I'm keeping it a surprise but I'm supposed to do it with my friend...if she gets back when we originally planned.

Here is the list if you have NO idea what i'm talking about!

ten fingers and a belly button

I've been reading a lot lately about what people WANT to be, don't want to be, what they want people to think they are or not...the list goes on. I'm no exception to that either. I get aggravated when that question pops up "Describe yourself with one word" because some of us can't be simplified down to one word. To even ask the question would be an insult to everything they have done in up until now.

I need to break away and do things by my self but i'm afraid. Afraid i'll get hurt, won't succeed, or open a door that I can't close again or close a door I can't open. Some people live in places that demand they be independent others live in places that demand the opposite. You aren't an individual you are one part of a whole and breaking away only leads to destruction. At least that's the idea. I guess I envy the people that live in big cities because they get lost in the ocean of their society and get to see the wonders it holds. But when you live in a small town you don't get lost. Everyone knows and if you step one foot out of norm they will use force to pull you back in.

time is such a funny thing... so are umbrellas. "My dad hates umbrellas, said Deeba, swinging her own. When it rains he always says the same thing. 'I do not believe the presence of moisture in the air is sufficient reason to overturn society's usual sensible taboo against wielding spiked clubs at eye level." quoted from Un Lun Dun. I haven't used an umbrella since.


I think we need to think differently ... instead of a picture is worth a thousand words.....a person is worth a TRILLION!!


UUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!! I want to go to one of those places where you can pay to smash stuff. that sounds SOOOOOOO good right now. There is some satisfaction in destruction!!


I have got a little ahead of my self people please forgive me and let me catch up with everything... I'm not leaving or anything but I do need to cross some things off a list. And it might take some time...but I will do it.

Faerie Tale Facts...the original fiction

The Little Mermaid was a Danish tale written in 1837. The original tale is nothing like the tale of the red headed perky girl we know as Ariel. The Mermaid, didn't have a name, she at the age of 15 swam up to the surface, in the process witnessed a ship wreck. She saved this beautiful man by taking him to shore. She hid while waiting for someone to find him. A young girl from a monastery found him. The prince never knowing the mermaid saved him thought the girl did. The Mermaid wanted so much to be with him she went to the sea witch for help. She gave her a potion. In exchange for her legs which would have a stabbing pain every time she walked...she would loose her tongue. But not only did she loose her tongue if the prince did not marry her, the morning after she would turn into sea foam and die. She drank the potion and danced for the prince but alas it was not to be. The prince married the girl from the monastery to whom he thought saved him. The mermaids sisters cut all their beautiful hair off in exchange for a dagger, if the mermaid stabbed the prince before sunrise she wouldn't die but turn back into a mermaid. She took the dagger but couldn't go through with it. She died that morning and turned into sea foam.


Sleeping Beauty was a French tale from 1867 which originally translated to "The beauty in the sleeping wood" Yet again she did not have a name. Disney took the name Aurora from her daughter L'aurore. For the most part Disney got the story right...until the prince showed up. He raped her in her sleep and she gave birth to 2 children. Her chamber maid let the child suck on her finger which pulled out the splinter from the wheel. She awoke obviously distraught but the prince came back and kept his family a secret from his mother. But once he took power as the king he brought them home to his kingdom. His mother was FURIOUS and demanded the cook kill them and serve for dinner. The cook being a kind hearted person did not and served her lamb and pig instead. She found out but so did her son so she jumped into a pit of snakes.... yeah

A few more tid-bits: her hair was not blonde it was brunette. Intelligence-wit was not one of the original gifts from the fairies.


Cinderella was a French story from 1634. The original story did not have pumpkins, glass slippers, or a fairy godmother. Some say that in the second installation the slippers were supposed to be fur but the English translated it wrong, into glass and it just stuck. In the first story Cinderella would visit her mothers grave where a tree grew. It gave her three wishes, same as the ones she got from the godmother, She has to leave the ball and leaves the slipper behind. The prince goes around and gets to her house. Her step sisters try cutting off their heels and toes to get their feet into the shoes. Birds from the wishing tree try to peck out their eyes and warn the prince. He goes back to the house and Cinderella finally gets to try the slipper which fits. Disney later added mice to the story.

In the original tell the step sisters turn into blind beggars but in the second version Cinderella lets them marry some dukes or rich men.


Beauty an the beast is another French tale from 1756. Belle was her name. In the original story the prince was not a prick. The tale that Villanureva writes that the prince's father dies when he is young. His mother had to wage war with other kingdoms and left him in the hands of a fairy. The fairy tried to seduce when he becomes an adult. When he refuses her she turns him into a beast. Belle is an offspring of a king and fairy. The evil fairy tried to kill belle and become the wife of the king. The king gave belle in secret to a merchant. When she went to the castle where the beast lived, in place of the merchant, her magic filled the castle. the rest of the story, told by Disney is right. Except they left out a ring that if belle turned three times would bring her instantly back to the beast.

The beast has many forms from different stories in some he's a boar, ram, fairy like creature, or the one we know from Disney.


Snow White was a German tale written back in 1812. In the origional story the dwarfs didn't have names. it wasn't until a broadway play in 1912 that the 7 dwarfs got names, but it's not the ones you know. They were blick, flick, glick, snick, plick, whick, and quee. In the original snow white was put in a glass coffin and a prince happened by wanted to take the coffin home with him. while they were moving the casket back to this kingdom they hit a bump and the apple was dislodge...they married.. but I wonder what exactly he was going to do if that apple never dislodge,maybe he would have pulled the same thing the prince did from sleeping beauty.

it is suggested that the story might be based off a princess Margareta von waldeck but no one is sure.

Tune Tuesday

You know those funny songs you listen too when you are in this incredible mood. Gogol Bordello is a Gypsy punk band from the lower east side of New York. They travel all around the world and you can go HERE for upcoming concerts. Gogol Bordello isn't the main singers name, that's Eugene Hutz, it's the bands name derived from a Russian writer and Bordello which means gentleman's club. Eugene was born in Ukraine and sometimes is a DJ. My favorite song is "Wonderlust king" the video is below!!




Lyrics...

Back in the day yo as we learned
A man was not considered to be
Considered to be fully grown
Has he not gona beyond the hills
Has he not crossed the 7 seas
Yeah, 7 seas at least!

Now all them jokers kept around
Just like the scarecrows in hometown
Yeah, scarecrows in hometown
From screen to screen they're travelin'
But I'm a wonderlust king

I stay on the run
Let me out
Let me be gone
In the world's beat up road sign
I saw new history of time...
New history of time!!!

Through Siberian woods
Breaking up their neck

Chinese moving in building discoteques

Homemade sex toys and whatnot
Yeah, and why not?
Well at least it's something different
From what they got in every other airport

Ja ne evrei, no koje-chto pohozge
sovrat ne dast ni Yura ni Seryozga!
Simple because I'm not a total gadjo
Da ja shut, ja tziratch, nu tak stozge?

I traveled the world
Looking for understanding
Of the times that we live in
Hunting and gathering first hand information
Challenging definitions of sin

I traveled the world
Looking for lovers
Of the ultimate beauty
But never settled in
I'm Wonderlust King!

And presidents
And billionaires
And generals
They'll never know
What I have owned!
What I have owned...
I'm a wonderlust king!

Blogger of the Month - June

June is here! Woot! Kat from Angel Lust has been crowned Blogger of the Month. She always has meaningful posts about her life and what she is over coming/what she strives to be. Kat is a creator; of art, textiles, cards, cupcakes, and music (*cough post more* cough you're really good* cough*). Hope you will pop over and check out her blog!


How or why did you start blogging?
I started blogging just over a year ago after following a few fantastic blogs for a while. I decided that I wanted to have a go too, but didn’t think I’d be good enough so I kept it completely secret. After a few months I started a new blog that I actually wanted people to read.

In what way has blogging helped you?
Blogging has helped me survive my last year at college and has given me someone to talk to when it feels like there is no one else. If I have something I really want to say, or am just feeling down, I know that if I blog about it someone, somewhere, might read it and that makes me feel better, getting lovely comments is just a bonus!

What advice would you give to bloggers just starting out?
Not to stop writing! I always find so many interesting blogs that people have started, and after a few months they just stop writing.

Have you ever met any of your blogger friends in person?
No, but I would love to! I’d also like to meet more blogger friend’s online as it’s a wonderful way to get to know people I wouldn’t normally get a chance to.

What are your favorite websites to visit everyday?
Tumblr! I am an absolute tumblr addict at the moment. Also weheartit, facebook, formspring, Last.fm, occasionally lookbook, live journal and twitter too (I really am a member of EVERY social networking site!) but tumblr gets most of my love.

Can you list some of your favorite tunes to listen to?
It’s so difficult to pick favourites! I’d say my favourite bands/singers at the moment are Tegan & Sara, Hole, Amanda Palmer, Yeah Yeah yeahs and Lady Gaga. Generally I mainly listen to female fronted bands, but it’s so hard to choose!

Is there something you’re really looking forward to?
Yes, turning eighteen! I’ve been obsessing about it for the past year and I’m getting so excited that it’s only two months away. Now I need to actually decide what I’m going to do to celebrate.

If your style had a name what would it be?
Oh, I’m not sure! I like to wear lots of pretty dresses and lace contrasted with leather jackets and doc martens, so maybe like… pretty punk? Although that sounds rubbish, maybe someone else could name it?

Besides blogging what are some other passions of yours?
My main passion would have to be art, textiles and generally crafty things. Creating things can be so relaxing (when it’s not college work) and I plan to start making my own clothes as soon as I have the time to. I’ve also started to really enjoy baking cakes, I think it’s seeing people enjoy something I’ve made that makes me really happy.

Favorite quote to live by?
“You’ll see the world, you’ll knock them dead, and all the thick books that you’ve read will count for nothing in the end”- Amanda Palmer
I know a lot of people with disagree with this, but I love the fact it makes me feel like there is life beyond college and everything I am experiencing right now, it makes me excited for the future and I like to remember it from time to time.

Bonus: Would you rather have an abundance of disco balls or hundreds of glow sticks?
Last year at a music festival I had a lot of glow sticks and me and my boyfriend were just chucking them out into the crowd, it was really cool because we kept seeing our glow sticks getting passed right to the front of the crowd. Glow sticks would be easier to share with people (getting a disco ball thrown at you wouldn’t be any fun), although disco balls ARE shiny… tough decision! Can I have both please? I’ll throw a party and you can all come :)