All the World(I Tell Myself)

Have you ever tried to make a decision and not known who you were doing it for? The last two books I published were my own choices. 'So Contagious' was chosen because I finished it first and just wanted to try publishing. Then came 'Bring on the Night' and that I chose because it contained Black & White and I needed the feedback to see how everyone would enjoy the sequel 'Technicolor'. But now my dilemma lies in whether or not I will publish 'Technicolor', if I should publish the sequel to 'So Contagious' - 'In Too Far', or not go for the cliche sequel just yet and put out a different type of novel altogether 'Haven'. I love each one and I want to put them all out but I just cant seem to decide which would be best to go next. Part of me became discouraged when, once again, sales went nowhere for 'Bring on the Night'. But I cant deny being a writer and wanting people to enjoy my work so I will keep publishing my books if only to hold a copy of it in my hands and mine alone.

Movetime:Megamind

'Megamind' the 2010 Dreamworks film starring Will Ferrell.
Here is the synopsis given on IMDB.com :
"The supervillain Megamind finally defeats his nemesis, the superhero Metro Man. But without a hero, he loses all purpose and must find new meaning to his life."

Much like 'Despicable Me' this was an adorably cute movie but, in true Dreamworks fashion, didn't seem much for kids. There were a lot of jokes and references obviously put in there for adults and while I thank movie producers for doing this I think back to all the good Disney movies that I still rewatch and dont see the same habits. While comparing Disney to other animators isnt fair it is the truth that when I watch 'Little Mermaid' there are adults 'themes' if you will, but not so many jokes aimed towards adults. I quite enjoy the simplistic aspect of childrens movies and revel in the relaxation ones mind might experience watching one. With that said, I do not dislike Dreamworks way of incorporating adult humor, simply that I wonder why they feel they have to do as such.

'Megamind' was a very funny movie and Will Ferrell made me forget who he was for a while. Lately I have not enjoyed his movies as much, or more I find they seem to be all too similar to one another. Not seeing him in this movie helped me to truly engross myself in the film and take in its full worth. The best part of the movie was Megaminds butchery of the English language. He mispronounced most words and has successfully engrained them in my mind.
Some examples are
Metro City-Metrocity (Pronounced the same as atrocity)
Revenge-Revange (Orange)
Hello-Oolo (I couldnt even begin to explain)
School-Shool (Similar to a Jewish temple)

The reason for this was his upbringing and lack of schooling.
All in all I would give this movie a 4.5 rating. It is definitely funny, a well thought out plot, and good for the whole family.

Movietime:Safe House

This will be the first of my movie reviews, I may even get into tv shows as well, but for now just movies. I watch way too many shows that are old or ending or have just ended so it would be very scattered and I'd much rather just give comments on movies for now. I know its confusing to wonder why I would decide to give reviews on a blog devoted to my writing but....fuck it I wanna write them and you will read it!

The first on the list will be 'Safe House', Starring the ever gorgeous and devastatingly talented-Ryan Reynolds, and (this will shock and awe everyone) a not favorite actor of mine- Denzel Washington. Dont even try to argue with this, I have watched his movies and I just never enjoy them, let it go, I'm not easily swayed.

The plot of this movie originally seemed simple to me. Denzel's character is a good guy, turned bad guy. Ryan Reynolds is just hot. After nearly 10 years Denzel pops back up on the governments radar and they want him bad. Hes got secrets and they need him now! Ryan is just finishing up over a years worth of work being a 'sitter' for the safe house. After capturing Denzel, or at least thinking they 'caught' him, they bring him to Ryans safe house. After all that is the name of the movie.

Like so many movies named after a certain place in the movie, this one barely shows the place. There are two brief scenes with Ryan and his day to day loneliness within the safe house. Once they bring Denzel in, which happens within the first twenty minutes of the movie, all hell breaks loose and they have to get out. Somehow the bad guys found them and everyones dead but Ryan. Bad guys are after Denzel for the same reason the good guys want him, information. After Ryan escapes the safe house with Denzel in tow they go off on a very intense car chase.
-I'm gonna put in a side note here about this car chase. When Ryan and Denzel run out they enter onto a very crowded street where everyone is running and screaming because they have just heard gunshots. The bad guys somehow know that Ryan has Denzel even though he had shoved him in the truck before anybody saw him. To me it just seemed convenient that the bad guys knew he was the one they were after just because he sped away. I'd speed the fuck away too if I heard gun shots, I don't wanna get shot! Side note end.
In the midst of a very intense car chase Denzel escapes the trunk, enters the back seat and proceeds to beat the shit out of Ryan who is still driving the car they are both riding in. I don't know if he suddenly has a superman complex but I really don't think Denzel would survive going head first through a windshield at 50MPH. Once they make their escape and Ryan beats down Denzel they have to hide out.
-Oh I also forgot to mention Ryan has a girlfriend. He's of course in love with her, as every covert government agent does with random women. I swear it felt like Bourne all over again, only this chick wasnt helpful in the slightest!
I wont continue with the full on description of the movie. Partially because I don't remember a lot of it, and also because its got a lot of plot twists and turns. I knew I wasn't going to like this movie, if only for the fact that it really isnt my type of movie. You can say its because I am a girl and I dont like action movies, but I do. I just never truly enjoy 'government' based movies. Also not being fond of Denzel I didn't have a lot going for me, other than my love of Ryan Reynolds. Put simply, this movie was a hard watch. I went in expecting one thing and came out with something totally different. Denzel's bad guy character turns out to really be good, which to me seemed like a cop-out. Ryan saves the day and gets the girl. In a very unlikely situation where they both should have ended up dead they somehow escape and live happily ever after.

Ryan's acting is very impressive, especially the fight scenes. He has definitely evolved as an actor and proves time and again that he can excel at whatever role he is handed. Denzel was very believable as the badass in the beginning. Killing people and slipping through like a super spy he fit the role well. The script was more or less the issue as it seemed like they were trying so hard for suspense and fast paced story telling that they ended up making it lag and actually boring me. Although I wont put it all on the script because even a great script can be ruined by poor directing and editing.

All in all I would not recommend this movie. Out of 5 stars I give it a 2.5.Even for Ryan Reynolds fans I would suggest renting Blade Trinity and enjoying true Ryan at his best.

I hope you all enjoy this and check back for my next review- 'Megamind' Starring Will Ferrell

Buy me a pretty girlfriend!

"I asked for an island of men", "And thats why I brought you to Manhattan", "But this is a gay club", "You never specified that they had to be straight"


What is this? I dont know who this is, or what situation this is but its creepily familiar. The problem with having an ex-boyfriend who is gay and is still a huge part of your life, is that you still keep a hold of those boyfriend/girlfriend attributes. Its been 6 years since we dated and yet he stills classifies us as 'we'. Numerous boyfriends, hook-ups and one husband later and I am still his 'we'. Whats worse? I will never correct him because one of the very few constants in my life is him. He is one of my best friends, he is a pain in my ass and for a time he was the love of my life. Things change, people grow but through it all we have stayed the same. He influences a lot of my work and I'm sure this is just another one of his ways of creeping into my life. I don't know what this is just yet but I am sure I will find out soon enough.

Skinny Love

When the coffee drains.....
The reason I don't drink coffee is simply this, the after effect.
I go from so high, to so low. Jittery and giggly to tired and sluggish.
Why would you want to feel this way every day?
Save yourself the trouble and simply sleep.
Enjoy the brain function your body allots you and then say 'Goodnight, Gracie'
As I sit with a batty brain and tired frame, of mind,
I attempt to write and fail each time.
I believe this has become a poem of sorts and before I start to rhyme each word,
Its too late for that. I give up this pathetic attempt at creativity.

Progress

The updated progress of my resolutions is as follows-Regarding my exercise and better eating I have kept with it. Except for a week where I was knocked down with the flu and ate nothing but macaroni and cheese simply because its what I craved, I have been very healthy and active. Sometimes walking 3-4 miles in one trip. Although I would like to hit the gym with my best friend Daihana to get a real workout in I am currently satisfied walking my doggy Bishop for an hour and getting us the exercise we both desperately need.

As for my writing, that has taken a sudden pause if only because inspiration hasnt struck in a while. I've been on a television kick for the time, but I feel as that phase will pass soon enough. Now while I havent been writing as much as I would have liked I am still editing my works, as well as other peoples.

Lastly I have no been successful in finding a job if only because I lack some of the more elaborate qualifications some employers require. While its one thing to ask for a degree I sometimes find it odd when they request for you to be fluent in Cantonese or Creole. I do understand this is New York City and we are quite diverse but sometimes you lose out on a very good potential employee by having such strict specifications. Nevertheless I am sure I will find something soon, like I always do.

I am hopeful that I will be back to write more and have other exciting and interesting things to post about, until then, ta!

Epic Fail?

So for the most part I didnt really start any of my resolutions until this month. A few days ago I started exercising again. Although I cant get down on myself too much because I did start eating healthy almost immediately. After a trip to the doctor I found I weigh a shocking 142lbs. For me that is close to the heaviest I have ever been, the most was 145lb back in high school and even then it wasn't flattering. Everyone says they cant see it and I look good but the problem isnt just looking good, its feeling good. I feel fat and sluggish. I have issues with my clothes since I had to buy a new pair of fat jeans. Thankfully the winter helped me hide it but with summer coming I do enjoy shorts and a belly shirt, as well as plentiful trips to the beach. I cut back on sweets, white bread, take out and anything else artificial or processed. Ive been making desserts for myself because I find denying myself EVERYTHING I enjoy will only anger my body and cause me to binge in excess. I have come to love different things that are good for me like Soy milk, Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, Coconut Manna, Raw Honey, Agave Nectar (Which Hubby greatly enjoys now too!) and tons of other new foods and concoctions! While I do still eat takeout once a week or every other week and have a grilled cheese every now and then I find I like my fresh fruits and veggies and home cooked meals more than anything else. I dont feel stuffed or bloated after eating them, if anything I feel happy knowing I ate something good and my body enjoys it as well. As for exercise I know once I get into a good regimen my body will kick start back into a good metabolic flow. Ill shed pounds quick so long as I stick with it, so lets hope I do.

As for my writing I have been keeping up every now and then. I actually went back to some older stories I had only started and didn't give any real structure. Sometimes when I'm in a rut I find its best to go to the most underdeveloped stories where I have the most freedom instead of ones that are so structured already I don't have much room for creativity. There comes a point in writing where the fun stops because your characters are on their path and even you cant just change it on a whim. Sometimes in life we need whims to keep our minds going, otherwise we fall into a boring, tiresome, void of nothing.

Lastly for work I have been babysitting since November, and while its only one day a week I still make pretty good money. I had gone back to Urban for a few months at the beginning of the year, mostly because Tiffany asked me to. She and I both left at the same time because the stress just got to be too much for all the wrongs reasons. There is work related stress and then there is stupidity related stress. Ours was brought on by stupidity, of someone who supposedly didn't even work there. At the moment my search for a job is on hold simply because hubby will be taking time off work and we would like to enjoy some much needed time together as well as a vacation away.

The other highlight of my new year is one I didnt make a resolution about but have been wanting for some time. Ive started eating healthy and exercising for one very big reason, besides looking good in a bikini. We are trying to get pregnant. I have been taking my vitamins, cutting back on junk and alcohol almost completely, except for a beer or two on St Patty's Day. I found these two great teas that are meant to help with infertility in both men and women and they taste pretty good too! I feel as though with this goal in mind as well I will try and stick with my healthy lifestyle more because its not just about me anymore, its about my family.