Writing Stats Monday

I just sent my first query of the New Year!

Photo Sunday
Bike Trail

The bike trail near our home. And possibly a quail?

Links Saturday
Lonely Natalie

Most my friends know I love Natalie Tran's CommunityChannel on YouTube. If you haven't seen it, she's this hilarious Australian-Asian chick.* Because there's going to be a huge difference between But recently she started making travel videos for Lonely Planet that I've been enjoying as well. Recently she visited Miami! OMG, she's in the US! If only she weren't on the East Coast...

* On a side note, I suppose most people would think it should be Asian-Australian, but I think it really ought to go in the order of the place you've spent most your life. There's a big difference, for instance, between an Asian person born and raised in America (like myself) to one who's just moved there. I don't think this means anyone's rights should be curtailed, just acknowledged that people's situations make them different. Keeping that in mind, Natalie is definitely Australian-Asian as she grew up in Australia and acquired Australian mannerisms and accents which now come more naturally to her than would her Asian heritage.

Review Friday
Rampant

Summary

Astrid is mostly concerned with fitting in, going to prom, and keeping her unicorn crazy mother from ruining her life until the impossible happens: a unicorn almost kills her boyfriend, and Astrid discovers a reemergence of these dangerous beasts means she must return to her ancestral roots as a unicorn hunter.

Overview

It's certainly a fast-paced book which is both dark and funny. Despite the subject matter of unicorns in modern times, I felt it was balanced enough with science and realistic character interaction to suspend our disbelief.

I have been hesitant to read the sequel: Ascendant, but not because I'm not curious what happens. It's mostly that the dark tone of the books take a certain mood for me to be able to read and I'm not personally in that mood.

7/10 stars * * * * * * * --A fast exciting read,, though I wish they had gone more into the themes introduced like medical ethics and whether it's right to kill the unicorns for trying to survive.

Book Club (Spoilers)

I thought Astrid's interest in the medical possibilities of the remedy, Phil's thoughts on how unicorns work as a species, and the pharmecutical company's involvement to be the most grounding elements of the story.

I also just liked the romance between Astrid and Giovanni. It was a well-done, feel-good, girl-power romance. Girl power in the sense that the romance didn't define Astrid, even when she wanted to renounce everything for it, the author does a good job of making many other aspects of Astrid's life more important.

However, it did bother me that, as smart as Astrid was, she didn't figure out that her ex-boyfriend didn't run away. She told creepy pharmaceuticals guy who he was and that he was the last one to have the remedy. If they didn't kidnap him and cut him open, then they did something even worse. Plus, how could anyone trust a pharmaceutical company with the possibility of finding a cure for all illnesses?

Info Thursday
Chancery

I am currently listening to Charles Dickens' Bleak House on audio book. The story is all about the Chancery Courts of England. I didn't know what these courts did, so I decided to look it up and according to Wikipedia it would seem they: "had jurisdiction over all matters of equity, including trusts, land law, the administration of the estates of lunatics and the guardianship of infants." Dickens critisizes their slow bureaucracy and he wasn't the only one as it seems the court was reforming even as he wrote Bleak House.

Wildcard Wednesday
Photos!

Okay, sorry my Last Wish story got derailed again. I didn't have time to finish the section because I was too bust thrifting with friends. I'm sure you're all disappointed. But look, I got these awesome red leather boots! But other than a Mord-Sith costume, I can't think what to do with them... Bonus points if you know what a Mord-Sith is. Hint: It is NOT from Star Wars.

Diary Tuesday Club
Jane Austen Book Club

I'm really excited that I found a group of friends interested in starting a Jane Austen Book Club! I didn't think I'd ever find enough interested people. It's also awesome because if you've read the book The Jane Austen Book Club or seen the movie, then you know it takes place in the Sacramento area where I am currently located. Now, if only we could get Hugh Dancy to join our book club...

Writing Stats Monday

Fantasy Novel Edit -- Cutting words at a breakneck snail's pace!
Last Time: 206,499 words
This Time: 206,109 words
I nixed: 390 words

I've been really busy with job hunting stuff, so even that small amount is only because I spied an unnecessary section earlier this week that I was going to fix but decided was easier just to delete altogether.

Photo Sunday

My former college's coffeehouse and the poem it's named for.

Jabberwocky

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Links Saturday
Hank Games

Hank Green of the vlogbrothers has made a channel where he plays video games and makes ammusing comments to them. As amusing comments during game play are half of the reason I enjoy video games in the first place, I really enjoy this. Plus, I've always been interested in the Assassin's Creed series, and he's mostly played the newest one of those. Above is my favorite of his videos and here's the link to the channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/hankgames?blend=2&ob=1

Review Friday
The King's Speech

Trailer



Overview

Great as both a historical and character drama. I think it was brilliantly acted, particularly by Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Geoffrey Rush. Not only did I believe they were these characters but I cared about what happened to them. Firth excels at being simultaneously unfriendly but lovable. Carter is regal and somehow even gives the air of the Queen Mum. Her dress and make-up is spot on. Whereas no amount of make-up or costuming will make Firth look like George VI. But his acting was excellent, so it doesn't matter. Rush is the perfect addition for both fun and seriousness.

8/10 stars. * * * * * * * * A thoroughly enjoyable and well-made film.

Info Thursday
How To Put On a Kimono / Yukata

I have yukata (a cotton kimono meant for summer), and I couldn't remember how to tie the obi or which side went over which (left over right--though, I did recall if I got it wrong, it symbolized death). So I looked up the following how-tos for the next time I want to wear it.

Text How-To:
http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/fashion/how_to_wear_yukata.html
http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/fashion/butterfly_obi.html

Video How-To:

Diary Tuesday
Thoughts and Yet Another Break

While shelf reading at the library today I came across a book of fairy tale poems that could be read both forwards and backwards in a book called Mirror, Mirror. While reading the one about Rumplestiltskin I realized that it is a story about names, but none of the characters, other than Rumplestiltskin, ever give their names.

I would also like to say that I'll be out pretty much all day tomorrow and will be staying at a friend's house, so there will once again be no Wednesday blog. I hope no one's on the edge of their seats to hear the next installment of my realistic fiction story, Last Wish. If even one person says they are, I'll post it instead of Info Thursday.

Writing Stats Monday (on Tuesday)

Last time: 210,579 words
This time: 206,499 words
I cut 4,080 words.

Photo Sunday
Which of These Things Didn't Belong?

I used a digital editing program to erase two things from this picture. Can you guess what they were? You can ask me or the answer can be found in my Facebook photos.

Kato is The Awesome AND He Raps!

Okay, normally I don't like rap but if anyone can make it awesome, it's Kato. The actor who play's Kato--Jay Chou--is actually a Chinese musician and here's his song that was at the end of the Green Hornet's credits.

Review Friday
The Green Hornet

Trailer



Overview

Kato is awesome.

I loved this movie based on that alone and you should too.

Spoilers

Um...Kato is the awesome? Seriously, the Green Hornet has no super powers, it's all Kato. Even thinking back on the story, I would not have cared at all if notfor Kato. Kato makes this movie but that's why it's worth seeing just to see him.

Info Thursday

I knew Janus was a Roman God, but I had never previously known that January was named after him.

Blog Break Encore

I've got a couple interviews I really need to focus on right now. I'll be back Thursday.

Photo Sunday

This replica of a medieval chessman that I saw in San Diego's Museum of Man reminded me very much of the living chess pieces in Harry Potter.