Category Archives: Just for Fun

Friday Five~ My All Time Favorite Disney Villains

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Yes! I have to do this. Currently, a couple of friends of mine and even my sister happen to be in Disneyland. I’m jealous. One hundred percent green with envy. So of course I immediately started thinking about all the Disney movies I’ve watched over the years and what wonderful villains they had. I know the Princesses reign supreme  in the hearts of many, however the Princesses wouldn’t be where they are now if it weren’t for characters like those on my top five…

1. The Queen of Hearts(AKA: The Red Queen) ~Say what you like about her… and likely it will be a retort of ‘Off with your head’.

2. Maleficent ~ Pure evil and all powerful sorceress, need I say more?

3. Hades ~ Come on now, how can one have a list of villains and not include the Greek God of the Underworld? Well maybe you can, but I can’t.

4. Chernabog ~ You catch a glimpse of this villain in Fantasia, but he is also a key player in the Kingdom Keepers series. A list without a demon isn’t much of a list at all now is it?

5. Ursula ~ The Sea Witch is quite an adversary. Who would want to go up against a witch with eight arms? Even worse…tentacles. *Shiver*

There are many amazing villains in the Disney franchise, and trust me when I say narrowing it down to five was a wee bit difficult, however, these are some of the tried and true that have been around for a while and I find they rank quite high on the mean scale. Besides, this is my list. Who were some of your favorite Disney villains?

Friday Five ~ Things I’m Dying to Try

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You know how some people have a bucket list? Others have a wish list or a ‘things to do someday’ list? I never really thought I fell into that category. Maybe because the ‘non-list’ is in my head and broken up into categories and in some circumstances…subcategories. So as I realized I do in fact have a list, of sorts, I figured I’d share. So here goes:

1. Shoot a variety of different guns to get a feel for them. I am a firm believer that you can research and interview people to get an idea of how something works, but in essence, you really can’t describe what it feels like until you experience it yourself. Having a father who appreciates and respects guns, I know he will be behind me on this adventure.

2. This kind of feeds into the first one… I’d like to shoot a bow and arrow. Oooh and a crossbow while I’m at it. Luckily, we have a shooting park here where I may be able to do just that (along with indulging in the first item on my list).

3. Ride in a race car. I’m not gutsy enough to want to get behind the wheel. Having control of that much horsepower and a license to drive fast could be dangerous. Or I could chicken out. Of course, riding in the race car is still a big step for me because I get nervous when my sister drives. Again, in luck. Richard Petty Driving Experience here at the local racetrack.

4. Ride a horse. I was lucky enough to ride a horse once in my life. I was young. The horse didn’t listen to me and I wasn’t smarter than the horse. Haven’t been on one since. I know some friends that might be able to make this happen for me, though it would require some travel on my part. What? An excuse to travel and take something off the list?  A win-win scenario in my book.

5. Learn martial arts. Totally do-able I know, but where to fit it into my already crowded schedule? I think it is safe to say, this can be achieved if I can just work out the details and the schedule.

So there you have it. A short list of some things I’d like to do in my lifetime. What is on your short list? Anyone learning to fly?

The Name Game

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I play this game with every manuscript. There is a lot of thought that goes into the names of not only the characters (which most of my friends who’ve ever helped me brainstorm a story can attest that I spend a lot of time doing this), but also into names that are used in world building.

For example, in my soon to be released story Blood & Moonlight, I wanted it to have a Celtic foundation of sorts. So when it came time to name the key players I scoured baby name books to find Gaelic and Celtic names that would suit my characters. However it went a step further than that for me. In the book there is a wolf pack. That means there has to be a hierarchy. Using names for the positions within the pack proved a little challenging, but once I settled on names, they just clicked.

Let us examine the name Cadeyrn, which I use for the pack leader in my hierarchy. When I was researching, I came across this name, which is an ancient Celtic name with Welsh roots. It means battle king, which I found befitting of a leader of shapeshifters.

I for one, find names to be incredibly important. Then again, I’m fascinated by names. How much thought do you give to a name as a writer? As a reader, once you are into the story, do names that are out of the ordinary throw you are build the world and pull you in?

Friday Five ~ Movies

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I love movies. Unfortunately, I don’t get to go to the theater often to see them. However there are some that make my list for what I’m looking forward to seeing.

1. The Raven~ This is definitely at the top my list for many reasons. For one I love Poe, second John Cusak has always been among my favorite actors.

2. Resident Evil 5 Retribution~ Another list topper because Alice is a serious zombie slaying, butt kicking chick! I love strong female leads and the Resident Evil series is one of my favorites. (Yes I own all the previous on DVD and will likely have a marathon before going to see this in the theaters)

3. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter~ Never read the book. Want too and now I want to see the movie. Vampire killing president? All over that one.

4. The Avengers~ Yes, I’m a mom of boys, but that is not the only reason I want to see this movie. I love a movie filled with super heroes. Hell I love a movie filled with explosions. So there you have it.

5. Snow White and the Huntsman ~ Okay, I’m not a fan of Kristen Stewart and perhaps that is the fault of Twilight. However, this movie seriously looks kick ass. And Charlize as the queen? Awesome.

There you have it. That is my Friday Five. What are you looking forward to seeing? Something that is not on my list? Do tell…

If You’ve Got Goals….Flaunt ‘em

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And boy do I have goals. Loads of them. They might take an entire day to list out. (I might be over exaggerating here, but run with it). I have long-term dreams that I hope to achieve and short-term ones. Usually I don’t have the patience to see them through, but they are still there, nibbling at my brain like little goal zombies. I decided to share them. So here goes…

  1. Be a bestselling author. (I see this can be short or long-term depending on how well my stories are received, whether I am putting out a quality story, and if I’m being productive enough to keep the stories coming)
  2. Do something silly everyday. (Definitely short-term. Remember when you were a kid and you would laugh about nothing at all? Or you would dance around the house in your underwear like you were Madonna or Tom Cruise in Risky Business sliding across the floor? That kind of silliness, I think keeps the stresses of the world from consuming us whole)
  3. See my Moonlight Trilogy come to fruition. (To be honest, I have to say long-term on this one, but it is definitely an in progress goal. First book is gearing up for release. Second book has been started, and the idea for the third is in the back of my mind)
  4. Be more active in causes. (In progress and can be achieved short-term, but should be long-term as well. One way or another we should show support for the things we believe in. Either through participating in a walk or sleep in, or donating our time. I’m kicking this off with the Komen Race for the Cure, only in my case I’m Sleeping in for the Cure – hey I’m a mom who is typically an early riser and so are the zombie twins)
  5. Try to be a better blogger. (Short and long-term. Ah yes…this one has been an ongoing struggle and you’ve watched me. You’ve endured the pain and suffering. I hope to ease that. But I want to blog to blog, not out of obligation or because I have a ‘theme’ day schedule that must be adhered to. My space…my rules right? Right! Therefore, you never know what I may blog about. I do love interviews though. I surely will do more of those)
  6. Enjoy everyday. (No one is promised a forever and happily ever after is what you make of it..so make it good. I’m going to say this is another that falls into both short and long-term)

Actually, as I review this list which only scratches the surface of what I aim to achieve in life, there are many goals that can easily fall into both short-term and long-term. I say this because some can be achieved on a short-term, but should be ongoing. Goals that might need to be revisited to gauge your progress or to take stock of where you may be falling short. The thing is to have the goals to begin with and make yourself accountable to them. I’m off to start mine…what are some of your goals?

Friday Five ~ Random Gaelic Sayings

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Today I was trying to look up something. Came across a saying that was appropriate at the time. How accurate they are, I cannot say. I am not a master of the Gaelic language no matter how infatuated I am with it. So, here are the sayings.

1. Is binn béal ina thost – ‘Silence is golden’ or ‘It’s sweet, a mouth in its silence’ (I found this most fitting when the office roar of the office was suddenly a light murmur. Not quite silence, but as close as I could hope for with the hundreds of people on the floor)

2. Is minic a gheibhean beal oscailt diog dunta! – ‘An open mouth often catches a closed fist’

3. Is é buille an phinn an buille is fealltaí. – ‘The pen’s blow is the most treacherous.’ (The pen is mightier than the sword.)

4. Is minic cuma aingeal ar an Diabhal féin. – ‘There’s often the look of an angel on the devil himself.’

5. An té nach bhfuil láidir, ní foláir dó bheith glic.-  ‘He who is not strong must be clever.’

There you have it. My five random Gaelic sayings. Now if only I could speak the language I would be in heaven. It is a very fascinating language. Enjoy your Friday. Sláinte!

 

 

 

Monday Kickoff!

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So here we are…Monday. Ugh. Is there anything worse than a Monday? Sunday night perhaps when you are lying in bed, thinking about how you wish it was Saturday night so you had one more day of the weekend.

Well lets see if we can’t get this week off to a good start shall we? I am celebrating the re-launch of my website. Isn’t it lovely? I think what better way to start a celebration than to give away a prize right? (Not to mention the fact that it would make Monday a cheery happy day too.) So today I will do a drawing for a $10 gift certificate to either Barnes and Noble or Amazon. Winners choice! All you have to do to win? Comment here on the blog to be entered into the drawing! I will choose the big winner at 6pm PST. Get busy commenting and have a great Monday!

 

FF~ What I Love About the Holidays

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This blog is about to get crazy over the next week and a half or so as the Holidays near and some free online short stories are made available to you. And honestly, as this time of year is crazy for many of us, I find it even more so with the Zombie Twins having their birthday so close to Christmas (practically a week before). Anyhow, lets discuss my Friday Five… holiday style!

  1. Christmas Movies! I’m a sucker for Holiday movies, and here are a few must sees in order for the Holiday to be complete: N.L.’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, White Christmas, and Polar Express
  2. The Holidays mean yummy Starbuck’s coffee perfect to feed my addiction! A White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha or Caramel Brulee Latte usually do the trick for me.
  3. Family & Traditions! Need I say more? There is a traditional Christmas Eve Open House that was started when my father was a little boy and he carries on that tradition today. Loads of work, yet oh so worth it.
  4. Holiday Baking. Need I say more? There is nothing like putting together little baskets of homemade treats and giving them out to your friends. It has a way of spreading a little Holiday Cheer!
  5. The excitement the Zombie Twins and all the other children have when the magic of Christmas is in the air. It is infectious even on our worst days.

May you be infected with the joy and magic of the Holidays!

A Zombie Love Song?

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Yes one does exist. I know – you had no idea right? Me neither. A friend of mine was helping me brainstorm and he says, what about a zombie love story? To which I reply, there is nothing sexy or romantic about body parts falling off at inopportune moments. Plus, I could’ve sworn I’d heard of a zombie love story. So I did what anyone would do. I googled it. To my amazement, quite a few things came up, but the one thing that I didn’t expect were the zombie song videos that popped for youtube. Being the curious being I am, of course I clicked on the link which led me to videos of a zombified Taylor Swift wannabe which was kind of funny and this little video which gave me plenty o laughs….

 

Yep, there you go. Zombie video of the week. And yes, I did actually think of something to write. Just one more thing of many to throw on my writing to do list. Happy Thursday everyone!