Wednesday, August 31, 2011

September

Tomorrow is the first of September... it's time to move, time to start school again, and time to prepare for fall. But as I was putting up the September calander in my office (dry erase) I wondered what colors to use. I didn't want to use pure fall colors because September feels more like a time of transition. So I actually googled "September Colors" and I got a range of colors. From blue, red, purple, green, golden orange, maroon.


I found these color templates Pomegranate and Patchouli a fun artsy blog with lots of pictures and fun quotes.

















So even though fall might be coming embrace color still...pleaes people don't just go to browns and blacks now that calander has flipped.


Sorry if I don't post tomorrow I will be moving tomorrow.... can't wait for this experience to be over.
This is my cat from over the weekend making sure I take her too.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Book Quiz

A blog I follow, Writer at Large posted her results to book quiz (click here) its a really simple 4 question quiz. So I was intrigued to tell me what it would say about me...

MY RESULTS...

You tend to have your head in the clouds. You love to be drawn in to a whole other world.

Me: Yes that's true... but shouldn't all writers.

You are a sensitive person. You find it easy to be emotionally effected by books.
Me: Yes... I was crying at the end of The Wild Rose but I cry a lot.

You are a person with a few deep interests. If you're drawn to something, you learn everything about it.

Me: Some what true.

You are a person who loves to acquire possessions. You can't resist a sale, and you own a lot of things.

Me: Some what true for certain things books, movies, and bags.

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Wild Rose

I am happy and sad to say that I have finished the Jennifer Donnelly trilogy of The Finnegan family, the Tea Rose, the Winter Rose and the The Wild Rose. I am happy because I love the writing so much I was waiting for so long for this book to come out but sad because its over and I want to read more about The Finnegan family.I feel the story could go on. Each of the Finnegan children have big families we could see what happens to them. I want to know what happens to Katie, Fiona's daughter.

I don't know how to review these books with out giving away any spoilers.

They are each about 600 pages but they are the fastest 600 pages you will ever read. With all three of them I could not put them down even if some nights that meant staying up till 2 AM to read it.

The first book... The Tea Rose follows the story of Fiona. Goodreads.com says...
"The Tea Rose is a towering old-fashioned story, imbued with a modern sensibility that is fresh, compelling, and perfectly pitched for these times. This sweeping epic follows young Fiona Finnegan's climb from the teeming streets of East London."... there is more but it spoils some of the twist of the story and my favorite thing about these stories and Jennifer Donnelly's writing in general is her twist.








The second book... The Winter Rose though it starts off being about a girl India Sewlyn Jones she gets involved with the Finnegan's clan through some twist. Goodreads.com give a little description of the book with out any spoilers.



I did find a good blog The Sleepless Reader that writes a review of this book. I don't feel I would do these two books justice if I wrote about them as I have not read them in two years and some of the details are hazy and I would hate to give spoilers away, especially since my sister is reading this book right now. But now I want to re-read the first two books so I can remember all the plot twist that got the readers to The Wild Rose.
This book is set in pre-WWI and during WWI. In the book we follow Fiona's youngest brother Seamie's story and the woman that changes his life, Willa Alden. I don't know much about WWI so it was a great story that covers details of the suffragist movement in England to control over the Middle East. An interesting character Lawrence of Arabia even plays a big part in Willa's story. Which I will admit I loved because Peter O'Toole played him in the movie... and I love Peter O'Toole. I will also say at one point in the book I was so worried for Seamie and Willa's love story I had to read the last few pages just to make sure it ends happy... I got so caught up in these character's lives I wanted to prepare myself if was going to end happy or sad.


Okay that's not much about those 3 books but I loved them... that much is true and if you love twist and turns that will keep you up till 2 AM and love late Victorian Era to WWI, and a love stories of passion I recommend these books. These stories have adventure, love, hope and inspiration all in one. Also I can tell Jennifer Donnelly, has a deep love of history and she loves to make sure everything is dead on accurate and the great research she does makes you feel you are in the scene with the characters.


Saturday, August 27, 2011

Since I am going to be busy this weekend packing I wanted to leave you readers with my favorite Cassatt. I try to make up stories about this.

Friday, August 26, 2011

A day of B

I have discovered a new blog A Day of K she has a few post about being an English major and not being able to define what she wants to do with her life at least not in words.

The closest I will ever get to fame
She writes about how she didn't have a name for the career she wanted. And how people would ask her "if she wanted to teach" or "did she want to read professionally" to which she answered no to. She actually wrote to Jodi Picoult and got some inspiring words.

This post got me thinking of two things in my life. When I got started working on my history degree lots of people asked me if I wanted to teach... I said I had no patience to teach. I just loved history. My mom had always told me college was not job training it was life preparation so it didn't matter really what I majored in. My dad had different thoughts on college always wanting me to take business classes, I didn't. I majored in American History with a minor in Women's studies. Where has that gotten me? A continued interest in history, but from the social side not political, also into grad school where I am continuing in history and library science. I also want to write historical fiction... for that I'm going to have to do research which I am fine with... I love research. I am a geek what can I say.

The next thing this post reminded me of when I wrote to my favorite author Jennifer Donnelly (more info on her at bottom of page), gushing over how much I loved the Winter Rose (the 2nd book in her trilogy) the fact that she wrote me back at all was amazing. I told her about my blog and she said she loved it and wished me luck on my writing endeavors. And the quote I have at the top of my page keeps me going some times on my writing.

Ain't no thang - freelancing
First grabbed my attention because of Alexis Bedel... hello, I love Gilmore Girls.

So I started reading this post. She reflects on how she had lunch with her high school English teacher and the teacher telling her how the teacher wanted to write but couldn't make it work.

My mom has always said I was a good writer and when I started this blog and started reviewing movies my Grandpa said I should work for a newspaper writing. I do want to be published one day but for now I just like writing... to make it a career I think would take the joy out of writing for me, at least in the fast pace of print journalism. I like my little blog, my little story, and just enjoying the escapism of writing. I actually want to be an archivist for the pay check but a writer on the side. I am just happy that I have come out of the closet about my writing... and have gotten to share my life with you my lovely readers. I have been happy with all the kind words I have gotten. I love when people tell me they love my blog or that they even read my blog. I love when my mom and a friend told me that my blog inspired them to start their own blog. I have written more about it in my post "I'm a blogger" so I won't bore you again with my gushy details. Even if I never get published I am happy to have this littl nook for my writing.

basically these post told me if you had something to write about write it.

The quote in the picture "Writing is the only thing that when I do it I don't feel I should be doing anything else"- Gloria Steinem.

Ways to Live Creatively



On Friday August 12th I posted this on my blog... saying i found it through FlutterHappy
Then on Monday August 15th I posted the Rules 1-6 and how I did or didn't follow them (included below). And I meant to write more on the rules but life happened and I didn't get back to them until today

1. Make list... I guess I make grocery list, packing list, mental to do list, and reading list (not very creative).

2. Carry a notebook everywhere... Yes I carry 2 one where I write my story and the other one that I write thoughts for my story or this blog. I have carried notebooks with me for a long time because you never know where inspiration will hit.



3. Try Free Writing... sometimes. I don't know if I am very good at it though but when I find a quote I really like sometimes I write about how I feel about the quote or what the quote means to me.


4. Get away from the computer... I wish I could more often but my work requires me to be on the computer all day and this blog also makes me stay on the computer. But for my story time I am away from my computer.

5. Be otherworldly... Yes, sometimes I feel I live too much in the world of my imagination.


6. Quit beating yourself up... I am trying to do that. My dad calls me a "people pleaser"... and I know that's true so I take people's words (criticism more than anything very personally) so I have to give that up if I want to be a writer because not every one is going to like my work and I can't beat myself up over it.

NOW FOR RULE 7-16

7. Take Breaks- This is hard when I am writing creatively esp. when I get like a spark of an idea I just want to keep writing but I know I have to take breaks, go outside and take a walk around the block or hang out with friends.

8. Sing in the shower- I used to do this a lot, when I was living at home I have kind of quieted down when I had roommates.

9. Drink Coffee/Tea- Yeah another reason for my coffee addiction. But I am not sure how this makes me creative minus a jolt of coffee to make me write faster.


10. Know your roots- I am not sure how far I have to go back for this. I know on my mom's side I am 13th generation American with ancestors fighting in the Revolution and the Civil War. My mom has kept me well informed on her side of her family as she loves gen I am from Oklahoma, and sometimes I have stories floating in my head about a country girl. I wrote about when my Grandma was sick that..."As a future archivist and a want to be author. I love that she has kept all her journals and notebooks from when she was younger. She also has kept all her family and our family's photo albums neatly organized. I would love to one day be able to explore her world a little bit more." (for more click here)... I would still like to explore more into that world and know those roots better.

11. Listen to new music- This is a little hard for me to follow because I love the songs on my blackberry and I don't really listen to the radio minus some Saturday mornings when I listen to WERS here in Boston that plays the Best of Broadway from 10-2. (If you like Broadway Musicals but don't live in Boston they stream live through the Internet... click here.) But when I do discover a new song I keep it going on my play list. My music has changed through the year... it's not knew but in January I saw Jersey Boys and love Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and after seeing Footloose I love the 80's music. But I love when people give me new music to listen to. For example one of my best friends recommend I listen to Pomplamoose... and now I love them too.


12. Be Open- Working on this because I know what I love and I am stubborn sometimes to discover new things.


13. Surround Yourself with Creative People-All my friends.One of my best friends is learning how to play the ukulele, and wants to work with stain glass and the desserts she makes are so creative and tasty. A lot of my friends like to paint.


14. Get Feedback- I like hearing what people think of my story. If you want to read it... click here it is based off the plot of Sense and Sensibility but I have changed a few things.


15. Collaborate- This I have hard time doing because I get lost in my own world.


16. Don't Give Up- This I need to have posted on my mirror as a daily reminder.


Okay I promise to write more on these rules later.


This weekend I am going to a friend's baby shower and finish packing up my apartment. Can't wait for this move to behind me.


Thursday, August 25, 2011

Hey guys,

I am pleased to announce that come September I will be sponsoring on two blogs I love.


They will be putting up links to my blog on their blogs and I can't wait for the "unveiling". I already have the links up on the left hand side bar I put them up a few days early because I the end of this month is crazy busy for me with a friend's baby shower, packing up my place, starting classes and oh yeah my move. But go check them out they are fun to read (and they update very frequently).


Thanks,


-Blaire

Footloose the Musical

Last night I went to go see Footloose the Musical at the North Shore Music Theater. The first thing I learned was a majority of the girls I went with (8 total) I was the only person (maybe my friend's mom had seen it) who had seen the original movie. Footloose is an 80's movie classic right up there with Dirty Dancing and going back further Grease. The second thing I learned was even though I love the classic, I should not try to compare the two against each other but to love them both separately.
But let me say there will there will never be another Kevin Bacon...though some have tried. If you don't know what I am talking about for awhile there was talk when the new Footloose (movie) came out Zac Efron would be playing Ren (Click Here). I will also say I love movies turned into musicals... I loved Legally Blonde the Musical. And I liked this musical as well...though it would be awesome to see it with all the production value of a Broadway Musical behind it. The North Shore is a round theater so it has unusual limits.... no drastic set changes, as well as smaller stage but I think how the stage company made the sets, rather it be the church, school, burger joint, or dance hall was great with some imagination. And we had great seats... in a round theater the seats aren't far away they are all close to the stage. But in a round theater you also get some moments where the actors are standing with there backs to you (its unavoidable) but for the most part my friend did a good job picking out the seats where we didn't have the actor's butts shaking in our face as they danced too much.


I found the first act thinking Ren is not that stupid in the movie... and I am not sure if it was the writing, actor, or director. In the film and musical Ren is just trying to adjust to living in a new town with the past of his father having just left him and his mother. But the whole town Beaumont is watching his every move and trying to trap him into trouble (while the girls sing "Some body's Eyes"). I just felt like the usual corniness of musical (that I love) was some taken too far to Ren being a little goofy... not the cool, street-wise man that Kevin Bacon played.
The second act was better for Ren, he got more to the heart and the pain that was Ren. But I would say I missed the whole trapeze dancing that Kevin Bacon (or his really good sump double did). I also missed the Tractor Chicken scene where Ren takes down the bad boy Chuck Cranston. But I loved being able to sing along to the 80's songs I know by heart. And I loved how some of the choreography from the film carried into the movie, like Ren teaching Willard to dance, or the girls with their hands in the hair whipping themselves around looking so flawlessly effortless (if I tried to do that I would like a girl having a seizure).





I think the characters of Rusty and Ariel were done nicely. Ariel was good at pretending to be the good girl for the first 5 minutes but then we get to see her bad girl side. We also learn quicker, than movie, that it was her brother that died and she is trying to get away from that memory and that pain. And Rusty love for Willard even though he is awkward and can't dance is so cute when she sings "Lets hear for the boy." Though I loved the awkward love story of Rusty and Willard it is hard to think of another playing Rusty besides Sarah Jessica Parker. Also Reverend Shaw Moore, was also embraced well with his sense of making sure everyone did what the Lord wanted, but still questioning was right and holding on to the pain of losing a son.



Over all I left the theater feeling happy... and that is the point of a musical to feel happy. But I will admit it was hard for me to take a movie I have seen a million times and not compare the musical against it. So maybe it was better for my group, who hadn't seen the movie to just see the musical, because they could love it for what it is and not compare it to the original. Though 3 of the girls had seen it in London and thought the big production value that musical had was worth it.
We shall see what happens when the new Footloose (not musical) get released come October... I wonder if any one from the original cast will make an appearance. The only person I recognize in the cast is Dennis Quaid playing Reverend Moore. If this is set in the 80's I will have to break out the leg warmers.


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Summer is NOT over

Picture From Style 'n Decor Deals!



At my job our summer intern just told us it was her last day...she has been great this summer, then she said 'it's hard to believe summer is over." To which I said summer is not over till you stop wearing flip flops. For me that might be mid September or if my toes are strong first of October. But some girls said that might be till Thanksgiving... I hope they have strong toes.



I know I live in New England where every one oohs and aaahs over the fall foliage, which I admit is pretty but minus a few things I am not a fall fan only because it brings on winter and besides Christmas and New Years I hate winter... it last too long. So I am holding on to summer.



I was doing a google image search for flip flops. And I got some cute flip flop ideas to keep summer going during the winter.

Throw a beach party in the middle of winter and have everyone change from their snow boots to flip flops when they get there.... I would do this in March because by end of February beginning of March is when my feet hate going into boots that I have shoved them in for nearly 3 months. I would love to have a party where I get to wear flip flops.


For that party I would use these as my coasters... or maybe I would just keep them around my house to remind me summer will come back again.

Okay even writing about how I will get through the winter is sad. I need to write about happiness.

Happy summery roses... to end this post.


Enjoy these times of Summer and keep wearing flip flops


P.S. Can some one tell me what type of rose this is... I have been able to find them googling Summer Rose.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Enjoy a Cup of Jo

Today during some idle time I found this posting about finding your soul mate on a blog I follow, Cup of Jo (click here)...
Remember that episode of Seinfeld when Jerry says that only 5 percent of the population is date-able? Elaine asks, "Then how are the other 95 percent getting together?" Jerry's response? "Alcohol." When I was single, I felt the same way...

It felt like I was meeting lots of people--but no one I really wanted to date. And the guys I did like already had girlfriends (or just weren't interested, sad). My mom kept telling me that I would definitely end up with someone fabulous and that I shouldn't worry so much. She said she was 100% sure and that it was normal to worry but that I didn't need to. But it was easy for her to say--she was already blissfully married! And I was already 28 (which felt old to me at the time!). Plus, New York seemed like the roughest place to date: You're always surrounded by models (seriously, honest-to-goodness perfect-skinned, long-legged, teeny-waisted, 6-foot-tall Ukrainian models), and the guys you meet seem to either be married or a little crazy.




For more click here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My thoughts:

To begin with I actually don't watch Seinfeld all that much but I know my sister loves it so she probably remember it a lot better than I do.

"My mom kept telling me that I would definitely end up with someone fabulous and that I shouldn't worry so much." I feel the author on this one... my mom told me stories of all the boyfriends she had in high school and while I had a few crushes I only had one boyfriend so I often I felt my mom and I were just on different paths. I aslo remember she told me when she got married at 23 "she felt old enough to be married" when I was 23 I felt no where near old enough to be married. I just graduated college and I am still figuring out who I am. I sometimes feel when my friends talk about what they do and what I should do to (like savings, moving, or just dealing with life) that they all got invited to a "how to be an adult meeting" and my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail. (Of course I don't really want to duplicate my mom and dad's marriage since they got divorce). But I do wonder will I ever meet the one. All my married friends tell me thats normal but they can say that they are married.

She talks about how the city you live in might make an impact on the dating scene. I think my city does play a factor. First I grew up in Oklahoma where it is more normal to get married fresh out of college or soon afterwards, so I kind of have that pulling on my heart strings (making me think I should be getting married). But now I live in Boston where most people don't get married till they are in there 30s. Mostly because people here are so focused on their schooling and then their jobs. I feel a lot of people are focused on themselves and try to get everything put together before they think about marriage. If I have to have everything together for marriage... I don't think I will ever get married because I feel I will never have it all together.

She ends the post saying..."What's your relationship status? What are your dating worries? Do you ever worry that you're never going to find your soulmate?"

I am trying not to worry about my dating status. I am trying to remind myself...
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " (Jer. 29:11) and "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). I know and God knows the desires of my heart are to be married and be a mom... but I know it has to be in the Lord's time. Until then I get to enjoy single life where I can do what I want to do when I want.

Read it its a good post.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Best Friends to a Single Girl... (Weekend away part 3)


As I have written lately I have been feeling lonely (click here) and I have loved people who have reached out to me either in person or virtually and I thank you for it. As I have said in previous post I was at my friend's wedding. And while it was fun dancing the night away at the friend's wedding I felt like something was missing. I know what it was... a date but it was great to have friends to dance with and pretend my fist was a microphone and not feel stupid (okay maybe a little stupid). But instead of dwelling on it I am going to focus on the positiveness. My friends, specifically my single friends.

I have a great friend that we can drop by each other's places at random moments and just be there to hang out. I can text her to say hey I am bored or hey "I am getting sick of sitting at home" and she will invite me to make me pancakes. I have another friend that we can go see movies together and talk about silly things like what we saw in People Magazine, or our crushes. And the girl in the picture was a great dance partner. I also have friends who let me cry on their shoulder and even more importantly I have friends who will cry on my shoulder. I love these girls!

Friend's Wedding... (Weekend Away part 1)

From the Car... (Weekend Away Part 2)


Thanks all
-Blaire

From the Car... (Weekend Away Part 2)

As mentioned in part 1 of my weekend away (click here) I had a six hour drive to upstate New York. During these six hours besides taking some naps I flipped through and read articles from the September Vogue that I wrote about my love for on Thursday it is 758 pages and I am sure my cat who is 7 pounds probably weigh the same. There was an article about a woman survived the 9/11 attacks. It was a reflection of how she survived even though she was burnt over 82% of her body. It was very powerful to hear about how she at first struggled to survive for her son then when she found out how many people died in the attack she pushed to survive for all those people.


To read about the way she suffered and had to go through to survive... I hope to never have to go through that but it did remind me of my Sept. 11th experience. I was on the west coast in ninth grade and it was a late day and my mom woke me up. I tried to tell her that it was a late day and I didn't have to get up but she told that the World Center had been attacked and I should come watch, it was history. When I got to her room I looked at the TV and saw only one tower. I asked her what happened... she told me the tower had fallen. I didn't understand. What did she mean fallen. Then we watched the second tower fall and since then we have all experienced the aftermath. Now I didn't live on the east coast so I am not going to pretend what I know what it was like to experience it first hand. I was just a high school student who until then didn't understand how some one could hate Americans so bad they would kill innocent people. I was only a girl during Desert Storm and I didn't even know where Afghanistan was, and Osama Bin Laden was not even a name I knew. I think then I was just trying to understand high school. But my mom understood what was happening. I missed school that day. She was afraid San Francisco would be attacked and she didn't want me out of her sight. She told me my step-dad and her had come up with a plan that if San Francisco was attacked we would load up our SUV drive till we got to our house in the desert and stay there. My step-dad wouldn't be able to come, he worked in television and would have to stay in San Francisco to cover any news that happened. I know my mom has probably looked scared in her life but I don't remember her ever looking scared and brave all at the same moment. To know what had to be done if the worst happened but still not wanting to do it.



San Francisco was not attacked, we did not have to leave and I know my life would be very different had it been... I am glad I don't have to figure how differently it would be.



I know we have a few more weeks till the actual 10 year anniversary of 9/11 but this article made me think about that day. I know more stories will come out and more blog post will be written about this and I look forward to reading them.



Friend's Wedding... (Weekend Away part 1)

Click here



Best Friends to a Single Girl... (Weekend away part 3)



Friend's Wedding... (Weekend Away part 1).

Hello Readers,

First let me say I am sorry I did not post on Friday the internet at work was not working. Then on Saturday I hung out with my friend and we got lunch and sat in the Commons, she read and I worked on my story. Later another my friend of mine spent the night because we were getting up at 4 AM to ready to leave Boston at 5 AM... And I am so not a morning person.
We drove 6 hours to upstate New York. Kueka, NY near Rochester, NY in the Finger Lake area. That was actually interesting because my favorite Young Adult novel A Northern Light takes place in the Finger Lake area. We did this to see our some good friend get married at the Esperanza Mansion.
I love weddings. I know its part of my hopeful romantic ways to cherish these moments when people dedicate their lives to each other and pledge their love and faithfulness to each other. As I said in the post after my sister's wedding "It was kind of like watching the end of the fairy tale but only to know their life will go on and they will spend the rest of their lives together" (click here). And this was just the same. Even the pastor said that in this day contracts are easily broken because people are no longer happy but marriage is more than a contract its a covenant, God made a covenant with people of Israel to protect them and watch over them. It is a life time commitment.

For me it is always cool and wonderful for me to hear vows being taken because I longingly hope to make vows similarly to a man I love. And it reminds me of what I want. I loved when my younger sister promised to love God first and, husband second. My friends promised to put each other's wills before their own. One day I want to say my husband these wonderful things and to "give him control over the remote" and he will promise to give it back to me.

Then after the beautiful ceremony and the great speeches where the bride's sister cried we danced the night away. I am not a good dancer, total white girl, but I love it. I also love my dress, it might sound totally vain but I loved it with its frills that when I danced swished around. It was so much fun! The DJ played everything from Love Shack to Micheal Jackson, from Lady Gaga to Grease songs. I also wish the place was closer to Boston because it was a beautiful place.

More parts to come, but this post I want to be about how wonderful the wedding is.

From the Car... (Weekend Away Part 2)


Best Friends to a Single Girl... (Weekend away part 3)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Brown paper packages tied up with strings... These are a few of my favorite things

I have times I love like Christmas, my birthday, the first time I wear flip flops with out freezing, my first pedicure of the summer, the first Pumpkin spice donut of the fall, and when the September Vogue comes out.
This is one of those days... I have stalked book stores, magazine racks and finally I went into CVS to buy some packing tape and there it was sitting in the center of the magazine rack I saw it the first thing as I came into the store. The SEPTEMBER VOGUE issue. I can't wait to dive into it. I have a road trip this weekend and I plan to take it with me.

I will keep you posted on my findings!

Looking for a fairy tale

I haven't written anything yet and this month I have wanted to write something every day. I was going through the pictures I had collected for this blog (to get inspiration to write something) and I came across this. I like this photo, I found it while trying to google "fairy tales". It is not really how I would think of a fairy tale because I think of stories set long ago with girl wearing long dresses. This picture looks very modern but I can't get away from it. I feel there is a story behind it.

I want to know why she is walking around with umbrella when there is no rain? Why is she is in the woods? Has she run away? What year does she live in? We can't see her face so is she a child or a woman?

The reason why I was googling "fairy tales" was I have a niece, who I say holds the key to my heart. She is 18 months old and I think I have 20 pictures of her around my apartment. This picture is on my phone, I have her picture on my desk and I carry her picture in the locket I wear. So really she is every where in my life and I love her so much. But since she lives in Denver and I live in Boston I wanted to write her a story that she could read and know I am thinking about her. The problem is I was not a big reader growing up, I didn't really like to read until I was in the sixth grade and I loved the story Ella Enchanted. So one day I was googling "fairy tales" to get an idea of how to start a fairy tale or what they should include and I found that picture above.

I am still working on the idea for my story for my niece. I don't want it to be like a typical "Once upon a time" fairy tale but I do want her to right now have her mom read it to her and when she is older for her to read it to herself. I hope I can get it done before her 2nd Christmas.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Lost in Cinema (Part 3)

Last night I went to go see the The Help but I will start off by saying I have never read the book so I wasn't for sure what to expect. I knew it was based in the south and it took place in the Civil Rights movement. I also know from news reports that the movie said the "N" word and how unsettling it was for the news caster. I also knew my sister read the book and liked it and she and I have the same taste in movies so I was intrigued but it was the ads that sold me. The ads also made me believe this movie would be a little bit comedic. It was not. My friend started crying and and I definitely got tears in my eyes. Now don't get me wrong there were some funny moments but I found it very moving.

Before I saw the movie, I thought the Emma Stone character, Skeeter, was from the north and she came down to the south because she couldn't get a job in the north. That is not the case she is from the South but she is different from the other girls around her, she is not focused on getting married and having babies. She wants to be a writer and go to New York. She also seems more aware of the inconsistencies in the life in Jackson, Mississippi but she becomes more aware of the lives around her through writing her book than she ever had been.

When I walked home I updated my Facebook status to tell people that I just saw The Help and thought it was wonderful but maybe they should bring tissues. Two people wrote that the African American Community did not like it because they thought it glossed over the realities of the maids life. I will say this is not the Color Purple by any stretch of the imagination, it also doesn't try to be. Yes there are no rape scenes, but you do learn about the violence that these women faced, and the danger they faced getting there stories published and even talking to a white woman the way they talked. Though it is not a bloody massacre on the screen that's not what the movie is about. I think it was honest and I thought it was good to know even a small detail of the Civil Rights story. Because this I would hope would inspire people to read and learn more about the time period. I know the story is fictional but its based off reality, and that reality is some times a little hard to swallow and though a lot people want to sweep it under the door mat and act like it didn't happen... it did. Talking to my mom, she told me she was raised in a household that had a black maid named Ellie (I hope I got spelling right) and how my Nana made the women of Seminole, Oklahoma upset by paying Ellie a quarter an hour when the other women paid their maids ten cents an hour. I am not saying that its right but it happened and not that long ago and we can't forget it and if people keep writing and making movies about it, it won't be forgotten. However I am not from the African American community so I found a blog review from some one who is click here.

Now back to the movie... The Help is about two maids Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson and their lives with Hilly Holbrook and Elizabeth Leefolt. Hilly is played by Bryce Dallas Howard (who you can tell is related to Ron Howard) she is friends with both Elizabeth and Skeeter but is the leader of the pack and also the a big "B" word if you ask me and I kept wondering in the movie why no one really stood up to her. The maids couldn't because if they did they risked their jobs and their lives but the other girls let her get away with whatever even making one girl Celia Foote a complete out cast. But after the first few minutes of the film Skeeter wises up to the reality of the world around her and tries to help the maids out by getting their stories out. When she is pitching it to her editor she says "Margaret Mitchell, glamorized the role of the Mammy but no one ever asked the Mammy how she felt" and that's what she does.Aibileen played by Viola Davis is the good maid following orders and helping raise the girl of the Leefolt family. But she is the first maid to really speak up for the maids. She hears a sermon about Moses, when he tells the Lord he can't go to Pharaoh because he is not a good speaker, and the pastor says courage is about knowing what is right and doing what it takes to make it true (sorry I may have gotten the quote wrong) but that is what inspires Aibileen to tell Skeeter the truth. Then Minny, the comedic relief of the movie gets inspired to tell Skeeter her story. And through actions of the movie, I don't want to give it away, other maids speak up.

One small interesting glimpse in the movie that I liked, to show off that Skeeter was different then the other girls was that they scan down to her typing and as they do you see her bookshelf and it has Mark Twain and To Kill a Mockingbird on it.

I hope this movie gets a few Oscar nominations, especially in costuming because this movie brought the 60s back to life and each costume seemed to fit the character.

These are my thoughts on the movie but go and see it for yourself. My friend who I went to go see the movie with wrote a posting on it as well click here to read Random Acts of Babble.


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Lonely Club... Table for One

Dear lovely readers,

Can I be vulnerable for this post?(If you want a more ligh hearted post click here.) Some of you guys are family or close friends and others of you are strangers who I only know because of this blogging world... but you guys share your lives through stories of vacations, pictures from wedding showers, or pics of your kids I don't have that to share all I have is my heart. (Okay that sounded really emo...maybe I should die my hair black and listen to punk music.)

These last few weeks I have felt very lonely, actually to be completely honest I have felt alone for most of this year. But these few weeks is has bubbled over and I can't hide it any more. Well, I can't hide it as well as I thought.

Have you ever felt alone and there were groups of people around?

That's how I feel, I have lots of friends but I still feel alone. I think (and maybe my thinking is not accurate) most of my friends are transitioning to new phases in life, getting married, being married, having kids, or just preparing for new and better things. I feel stuck, stuck in my sameness. Even though I am going to grad school, which should be cool and exciting chapter in my life it doesn't feel new and exciting. I feel that nothing in my life can really change till I am done with school, and I may not be done for another two to three years. Until then I am left in this feeling of not knowing what to do with my life.

I am also moving from my apartment I have lived in for three years, the last year by myself. It has become home to me, and it has felt very lonely packing it up by myself. I don't even like to pack for a trip by myself and that is for a weeks time, packing up my life has just been odd. Having my apartment full of boxes, and last night it felt weird packing up the last of my books. You book lovers will understand that books are like dear friends and putting them away just feels odd. If my future roommate is reading this please know I am SO looking forward to being your roommate and decorating our new place, I am just going through a mix of excited and sad feelings all at once.

Also these last few weeks I have felt like I am a low priority in my dad's life. I won't go into all the details of my dad and my relationship even though for the most part it is great now, just with our history I feel I easily slip into times when I doubt it. This is one of those moments. We have a time we talk every week and the last few weeks we haven't been able to talk at our usual time. He has been late, because of other things going on. I don't want to blame my family but I have felt left out because I am the only one of my siblings who isn't married or doesn't have a kid. That alone has made me feel very lonely and kind of lost, and asking what am I doing with my life?

I can't wait to be back in school when these feelings get swept under the rug because I am too busy to feel anything but hecticness (that's not a word but it should be). Come on September 2nd.

Thanks for reading my little pity party,
-Blaire

Monday, August 15, 2011

Creative Rules (Rules 1-6)

Inspired by my post on Friday about 33 ways to stay creative posted originally by FlutterHappy. I wanted to explore the rules I follow...

1. Make list... I guess I make grocery list, packing list, mental to do list, and reading list (not very creative).



2. Carry a notebook everywhere... Yes I carry 2 one where I write my story and the other one that I write thoughts for my story or this blog. I have carried notebooks with me for a long time because you never know where inspiration will hit.



3. Try Free Writing... sometimes. I don't know if I am very good at it though but when I find a quote I really like sometimes I write about how I feel about the quote or what the quote means to me.



4. Get away from the computer... I wish I could more often but my work requires me to be on the computer all day and this blog also makes me stay on the computer. But for my story time I am away from my computer.



5. Be otherworldly... I am not sure what this meant entirely so I looked it up make sure I understood it clearly. Dictionary.com says...
oth·er·world·ly   –adjective
of, pertaining to, or devoted to another world, as the world of imagination or the world to come.



Yes, sometimes I feel I live too much in the world of my imagination.



6. Quit beating yourself up... I am trying to do that. My dad calls me a "people pleaser"... and I know that's true so I take people's words (criticism more than anything very personally) so I have to give that up if I want to be a writer because not every one is going to like my work and I can't beat myself up over it.




More rules to come.


Sunday, August 14, 2011

Thrill of Hope

Today I was just playing around my computer.... and I found this old story of mine.
I had the working title The Thrill of Hope based from a Christmas Song I love. This is the first page of what I wrote... but have written 44 pages according to Microsoft Word. Maybe one day I will get back to this story, though I will have to change some names as I repeat some of them in the Sisters of Pine Haven (funny how you fall in love with names).

The End
It is funny how we picture our lives are going to be when we grow up. As children we see ourselves falling in love, getting married, having children and during all these dreams we see smiles on our faces as if in life we will always be happy. I pictured Kelby and I sitting in a little flat, with a fire roaring, he would be sitting in a chair and I would be by his knee. I never pictured my life like this.

My dearest,
I have ordered us a simple state room on the Northern Star Liner it leaves from Liverpool on Monday. We will sail to New York as man and wife and no one can stop us. I promise. Meet me at the Euston station for the 6:15 train to Liverpool. I will be waiting to take you into my arms and away from all things long ago.
All my Love,
K.J


I had never imagined I would be engaged to one man nearly twenty years my elder and being forced to run away with the man I loved. I had also never imagined love would cause so many nervous knots to form under my belly button.
It had been a week since I had heard from Kelby but the plan was in motion I could feel it. I looked the letter once again then folded it up and slipped it into my white cotton glove. For the last week in August I felt a slight chill or maybe I just shivered from the excitement. Either way I had to act confident and brave of I was ever going to pull this off.
“Name?” the ticket master asked.
“Fiona James,” I was happy to say without hesitation.
“Well Mrs. James,” he said noticing the little tin ring with a piece of glass in it. This was the ring that had replaced Lord Welford’s gold band with the large ruby. “Here is your ticket.”
“Thank you,” I said softly blushing at the fact he called me Mrs. James.
I looked down and read.
August 25, 1919
Euston to Liverpool
I took a deep breath. It was all beginning.

To read more click here

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Story Saturday

ETHAN FOSTER (PART 1)... PREVIEW



Grandma Danford had no statement to come back to the stranger. She simply cleared her throat and moved on to find out about Nicholas’ education. Grandma Danford had an opinion on all subjects brought up and she freely spoke them as the whole family knew they were indebted to her someway or another. Though Grandma Danford hardly spoke to Ethan, which could be seen as rude to not be gracious to a guest but Grandma Danford was at a loss when some one spoke out. But Emmy did find out that Ethan was from a prominent family in Sussex with a large estate there.Julia said it was such a it was such a shame that he was such a dull because he was very rich. If he had more of personality she would see him as a much better friend to Nicholas.


“Out of all the friends Nick has I find him the least interesting, I do not wish mother insisted for Nick to bring him. Last week he read us some of the the tales of King Arthur and never so much had I wanted Lancelot dead as I did that night. Though I suspect mother has long wanted us to marry, I guess that is why mother insisted on him.”


“So you do not like him?” Emmy asked her shyly.


“Heavens no, English men are so dreary and irksome.”


“He didn’t seem so at tea today.”


“Emmy, he hardly said five words,” Julia laughed at her cousin’s foolish swooning. “I wouldn’t

recommend you falling for him either, you are nearly eight years younger than him and I know you read novels but in real life men of wealthy families do not make unfortunate matches.”

“Thank you cousin for your warning and if my mind was going that way your warning would be wise but it wasn’t, you can have him.”


“Yes cousin,” Julia gave Emmy a smile a smile as if she didn’t believe her.


Emmy wouldn’t admit it to anyone but secretly and suddenly she did have a crush on Ethan. He had a gentle smile and was very sweet to everyone. He also didn’t treat any of the Cromwells poorly because they weren’t in the same rank as he was. And this kind behavior would attract any girl to him. But she soon saw the dreary ways Julia spoke of and though he was sweet she also saw they had little in comm with each other. He had no interest in adventure in seeing anything beyond his nose, he even described the hills of Italy ordinary. How could any one describe the hills of Italy as boring or not want to see the Serengeti Plans, she thought.


“In my foolishness, I have dreamt of my first love so long it is no one wonder I lost my head over Ethan,” Emmy wrote in her journal. She realized Julia had changed and she could not share her secret crush to her. “I have had so many almost love. There was Peter but he pushed me in the creek on the fourth of July, when I was nine. Then there was Andrew, Marcus, Robert, and Finley of course they were just sporadic loves it was Patrick Cooper that was my true love and he hardly noticed me. And while I waited patiently for him I had crushes on another Marcus, a John and a William. But William paid more attention to his pet frogs than girls. And while I had all these almost loves, I dreamed of having my own love it was no wonder I took to Ethan who was kind and noticed the way my eyes shined when he read some Keats. But besides Keats Ethan shows a lack of passion I would need. He would actually be perfect for Laurel.”


For more of the story click here
For Ethan Foster (Part 2) click here