Update

So, I know it has been a while since I have posted on the happenings in my life. Partly because my life is mostly uneventful, and partly because I don't think people actually CARE what my day to day is. However, since the last time I really put a lot of effort into this blog was back in July, I have decided to tell you a little bit about myself.

I went to college in California (1 year in San Diego and 3 years in LA). I graduated last May with a degree in Film (Screenwriting), but, in fact, have no desire to go into Hollywood or, as it is, write screenplays. I haven't completely tossed aside the idea of screenwriting, I just don't feel I'm very good at it and it is not something I want to focus my energy on at the moment. This does not mean, however, that my education was a waste because everything I learned helped me reach this decision and, of course, broadened my experience and knowledge.

I want to be a novelist. I know that is a general statement and that a lot of people "say" they want to be novelists but don't ever do anything about it. Well, hopefully, I am not one of them. I am working on a novel right now and am also prepping for this year's NaNoWriMo, YAY!

After graduation, I moved back home with my parents. Yes, I returned to the good 'ole nest. Illinois. Close to Chicago but not in it. But also not in a cornfield, I thank you.

I have a total of TWO friends in town with whom I am actually still in contact with from high school. They are both guys. Neither of them really get me. So you could say I am a bit lonely.

My four best gal pals are all far away from me: one in grad school four hours away, one finishing up her Bachelors three hours away, and two back in California. Luckily, the one finishing her Bachelors will graduate in about a month and a half and will move back here (She'd better, anyway, or I will be a very sad little Jo). But I guess that's what I get for deciding to go halfway across the country for college.

I'll be going back to school for an MA in English in January. I never thought I would be able to afford grad school but the school I'm going to is quite inexpensive compared to my undergrad. I'm excited, and also kind of nervous. I take the GRE this Thursday. Wish me luck.

When I am not preparing for going back to school, I substitute teach. And when I am not substitute teaching, I am at home catching up on ALL the shows I didn't watch when I was too busy studying in college. And I make lots of crafty things (like awesome movie poster collaged shelves I built for my multitude of books).

Speaking of books. I have too many. My current, but incomplete, count is 205. I went a little crazy at the used book store. I have yet to read all the books I own. In fact, its almost a bad omen for a book when it's not purchased by itself.

Anyways, there's a little bit of an update. Don't want to give too much away right off the bat.

Vampire's Assistant

So, on Friday night I went to see Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant with my one of my favorite persons EVER, whom I dont get to see much anymore as I have moved half a country away.

The movie was....well....I don't really know what I can say about it. I wasn't sure what to expect going into it. Was it a drama? A comedy? A spoof? It seemed like it was supposed to be a dramedy, but given John C. Reilly's resume, I was afraid it wasn't supposed to be taken seriously.

Throwing all confusion aside, however, I found it quite enjoyable. Now, I am far from calling myself a qualified critic, because despite my degree in film, I tend to find it very difficult not to like a movie. It has to be awful. Or boring. I can have issues with certain aspects of some movies, but if I leave the theater mostly happy then I'm good to go.

Anyway, The Vampire's Assistant is a tale of two boys who disobey their parents and go to a freak show where they meet a vampire. They are then enticed by opposite sides of a war going on between the Vampires (mostly good guys) and the Vampanese (the baddies). There's some love, there's some funnies, and there's Salma Hayek with a beard.

It's a great Halloween movie, lots of fun. And I have to note that the opening credit sequence is the best one I've seen since Casino Royale. (You know what I'm talking about.)

My Niece is a Nose Biter

Except that she's cute, and does NOT in fact remind me of the Penguin from Batman Returns.

Talking When Nobody's Listening

For those of you who don't live in places with seasons (California, I'm talking to you), the months of May through August are heavy with construction. This means that basically every road has little orange cones up and slower speed limits.

In residential areas, when those little orange cones take up a third of the street, its just not wide enough for two cars to fit through. So you have to take turns.

Today I was let through first by a gentleman, and as I passed him I waved and said, "thank you." My window was up and so was his. He couldn't hear me.

Why do we do that? (Talk when no one can hear us?) I know I'm not the only one. Some people get frustrated and yell at other drivers. Some people, confused by what another driver is doing might say, "come on buddy." I, personally, catch myself saying, "go ahead" when at a four way stop, without actually waving the person on. And then there's the hesitant inching forward, then stopping to let someone go, only to have them doing to same thing, so you don't really know WHO is going to go but you're both waving each other on.

I think it's really funny that we talk alone in our cars. I used to think it would be smart to install CV radios in all cars and you could just automatically tune in to whoever is around you. That way you could say things like, "hey you go ahead, you look like you're in a hurry," or, "excuse me, but could you please let me through, I'm in a hurry," or, "could you please leave some room on the right so that I can pull into the turn lane? Thanks," or "GET OUT OF THE WAY, MY BRAKES ARE OUT!"

But then I realized what a bad idea that would be after all, because it would probably increase road rage and ultimately cause more problems. Like the two cars that stopped in front of me on my way to lunch the other day. Both drivers got out of their cars and got into a full on contest to see who could yell the F-bomb louder. It was amusing, but I was late for lunch.

So anyway, that was just a random thought of the day. I've been doing more research for my novel and reading up on preparation. Someone had posted a link to this blog, Bibliophile Stalker, which has a bunch of excellent links for writers and readers alike. Check it out.

Sometimes its not about what's on the bookshelf...

It's about the bookself itself.

The past couple of weeks have been my DIY crafty weeks. I rearranged my room and realized, well, I just didn't have enough space for the massive amount of books and DVDs I've collected throughout college.

(I shipped 12 boxes from California, if that tells you anything.)

So, I bought some wood boards, sanded them down, and pasted some movie posters around them. Then I mounted them to my wall. They look pretty freakin sweet if I do say so myself. I will post some pictures eventually, you know, when I take some.

In the meantime, I thought I'd show some of these awesome shelves I discovered while searching for ideas.

 I still want to get this one and put it on my dresser.

And I love this. It would go really well with the colors in my room, but I don't really know where I would put it.

Same with this one, it's cool too, but no place to put it.

This one is just...pretty.

This, I will totally do. Someday.

And this. Which just makes my heart sing.

I'll try and get some pics up of my shelves.

What do you mean, there's two sides to every story?

SPOILER ALERT - If you have not read the Twilights yet, do not proceed.

Seriously guys. I warned you.

I was thinking about New Moon, the next part of the Twilight Saga which is currently filming. I am re-reading the series and I was reminded that Edward is not in about 90% of the book.

Now, knowing the crazy fame of Robert Pattinson, I am going to project that the filmmakers are going to find some way to squeeze in more screen time for him.

You know, make the girls happy and what not.

Anyways, the most likely scenario for them working this out without changing the story would be to show what he's doing wherever he is while he's away from Bella.

This bothers me to no end.

First of all, I believe we were only given one side of the story for a reason. Meyer wanted us to experience everything (in the first two books anyway) through Bella's eyes. She has shown that she is capable of switching perspectives, yet she didn't in New Moon and never from Edward's perspective in the series. So we shouldn't get that side forced upon us in the film, no matter how "hot" RPattz is.

(Love the haircut, though.)

Secondly, the book is already too long for them to fit everything in. Remember what happened to the first film? It cut out way too much. And it's only going to be worse if they are adding things in that aren't even IN the book.

Well, that's my rant. I'm done. For now.

Mom's Day

I thought that, in honor of Mom's Day today, I'd tell you a bit about the woman who reared me (and lived to tell about it). This is how awesome my mom is.

• For my eighth birthday, I begged for a Pocahontas cake. I thought it would be so cool. My mom, however, had alterior plans. Plans which, quite frankly, blew the socks off my Pocahontas plans. When my cake arrived at my birthday party and was set down in front of me, I was surprised to see not Pocahontas, but my own smiling face staring up at me. It was seriously the coolest cake ever, and everyone said so. But I remember being really angry, and possibly throwing a bit of a fit because I wanted Pocahontas. I still feel bad about that to this day.

• When I was 15, my friend decided to let me try and drive his Acura which was a stick shift. We drove around the neighborhood, all the while my friend was shifting for me and yelling clutch since I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing. We pulled up to a stop sign and I did something wrong and the car started bouncing up and down. A cop was behind us and decided to follow us back to my driveway. He got out of his squad car and I stopped the Acura and started to get out. I didn't realize that there wasn't a parking gear like on an automatic transmission, so the car started rolling backwards. My mom walked out the front door just as the cop turned on his lights. We got a warning from the cop, and my mom gave me the "You're in big trouble, young lady," but once we got inside and shut the door she started cracking up.

• She is always telling me to be aware of "bad guys."

• She totally talked back to this grumpy know-it-all that I used to work with and she put him in his place.

• I used "Perm For A Day" on my hair once, and she told me my head looked like a Furby.

• Like all good mom's, she encouraged me to study some sort of medicine. She told me that doctor's and nurses would always find work. And though this was never an area I actually wanted to pursue, I knew she was looking out for my best interests. And of course, she has always been supportive of my writing and has told me (lied, I'm sure) that I'm great at it.

• She taught me how to sew when I was little and helped me make "friendship pillows."

• She made me a gorgeous prom dress. And a beautiful black cocktail dress.

• She laughs at herself.

• Despite the fact that I used to sleepwalk a lot and, in fact, once dove on her in my sleep, she still wants me to sleep with her when I visit. (And her bed is like sleeping on a cloud.)

• She laughs at me. Like the time I fell down the stairs. She held it in until she knew I was okay, then she showed no mercy.

• She says things like, "I don't think Jesus needs a house."

• She used to call in sick for me so I could have "mental health days" in high school. (Then again, I was such a good kid I deserved it. Ha ha.)

Anyways, my mom is awesome. Love you mom. Thanks for birthing me. I pretty much appreciate it. And you got a pretty good end of the bargain too, if I do say so myself.