Best. Song. Ever.

Early this year, I posted my 5 favorite (and least favorite) movies ever. I figured I'd continue that little series with my 5 favorite songs ever. So here ya go, in no particular order.

1. Spoken Wheel - Flogging Molly
Actual song ends at 2:10. Odd that there's no decent copy on YouTube.

2. Card Cheat - The Clash
 

3. Hide Me Babe - Garrett Hedlund
It was a tough decision between this one and "Give Into Me" by the same artist, but I think I have to "Hide Me Babe".

4. Got You Where I Want You - The Flys
This song came out while I was in high school and it's been one of my favorites ever since. Why? Who knows. Nostalgia knows no logic.

5. Such Great Heights - Iron and Wine
Absolutely beautiful song.

Honorable Mention: Glass - Thompson Squared
This is a fairly new song, so I'm not sure if I'll like it way into the future, but it's very pretty and it's one of my favorites right now.

What are some of your favorites?

The Modern Romance

I have been thinking a lot lately about online romances and as I was lying in bed the other night, I had an epiphany. I, of course, must share that epiphany with you.

Online romances get a lot of flack, less so than they used to, but it's still an issue with a lot of people. Despite the millions of dollars made by online matchmaking companies and the thousands of success stories about meeting online, it's still considered embarrassing to tell your friends and family that you met your significant other on the interweb. There are many in my family who have never even used the internet and think it very odd that I would even consider meeting people in real life that I only know online. On that note, let me say that some of my closest friends are people I've never met and may never meet, but that's another topic (one I've already discussed).

So less babbling, more epiphany-explaining. What is my point? Well, it's this: The modern online romance mimics romance of old. Hear me out before you start asking about my mental stability. I actually have some pretty solid reasons.

Courtesy of jrzykat on Flickr.com

1. Communication in the olden days was done mostly via letter. Sure, nowadays you don't have to wait weeks for that letter to arrive, but it's very similar. An email is a type of letter (electronic mail). The letter is instant, but it's still a letter, and that's how couples used to communicate. They didn't just call a local girl up and ask her to the movies or bowling or what-have-you. They wrote letters, sometimes very long ones. When you're in a long-distance/online relationship, email and instant messaging will be a large chunk of your correspondence.

Courtesy of zoetnet on Flickr.com

2. Actual physical interaction was very limited. Couples saw each other very infrequently during the courting phase. And when they did, they thoroughly enjoyed the time they had together (and I don't mean with sex). They talked a lot and used the time to get to know each other even better. And they didn't always have to be doing something. They were perfectly happy sitting on a bench all day just being near the other.

Courtesy of greatbritishchefs on Flickr.com

3. They required patience and persistence. In today's world of instant gratification, relationships flare hot and fizzle out quickly. One of my favorite quotes comes from the show Party Time. "A good [romance] is like a crockpot. It simmers slowly all day long." Crockpot romances take time to build and and they're strong enough to last through the hard times. Long-distance/online relationships are perfectly suited for crockpot romances. Like all relationships, they take effort from both parties to make them work. You can't just call them up the day you want to go out. You actually have to plan when you get to see each other, and when you do, you make the most of it.

My actual copy.
Duct tape fixes everything!

I remember reading the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder as a kid. She married Almanzo Wilder (Farmer Boy was my absolute favorite book). In the later books, she goes into detail about their relationship and how it grew. They saw each other very little and communicated mostly through letters. I remember watching their relationship grow through her eyes and wishing for the same thing. It seemed so different from what I knew, but so perfect.

 So there you have it, folks. Even though the internet provides nearly instant communication, it also seems to be drawing us back to the old ways of romance. Do you agree? Disagree? Think I'm completely off my rocker?

Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse

Earlier this month, I mentioned that May is Zombie Awareness Month. Then I became curious about my chances of surviving a zombie apocalypse. There was a test floating around Facebook (of course, I can't find the link now), and needless to say, my chances looked bleak at best. Little did I know that help would soon arrive!

For the past several days, I have been hooked on a game that is teaching me valuable skills for the inevitable apocalypse. DayZ is a mod for Arma II and puts you in scarily realistic situations where you must fend for yourself and avoid being eaten alive or killed by fellow survivors. An addicting game, to say the least, but I have learned enough that I feel prepared for the end. But what kind of person would I be if I didn't share my discoveries with you, my faithful reader? Below is what I have learned, and together we shall survive the apocalypse!

1. Stay away from areas that were heavily populated before the apocalypse. There are two reasons for this. First and foremost, more people means more zombies. More zombies means more danger to you. Second, bigger cities have better stuff to scavenge, which also means there will be more survivors there trying to scavenge. There is a good chance someone will shoot you in the back and steal your can of beans.

2. With a knife, a gun, and a pack of matches, you'll never starve. Simple equipment that should be easy to come by, but those three things will keep you fed for a very long time. You also want to make sure you have a water bottle to refill.

3. Don't forget basic medical supplies. Bandages, pain killers, morphine, etc. You will get hurt. Be prepared to deal with it quickly and efficiently. Next to food and water, these are essential items to have. The rest is nice, but not crucial.

4. Don't shoot a noisy weapon in a city. You will draw unwanted attention and be forced to flee or fend off your attackers. Sneakiness is key.

5. Shutting an outhouse door while prone will likely kill you. I made this fatal error once. Never again. It broke both of my legs and I passed out from blood loss before I could bandage myself. A very unpleasant way to go. I'm thankful that I learned this lesson in a simulation and did not have to discover it in the actual apocalypse.

Are you prepared for the zombie apocalypse? If not, join me in DayZ and we'll prepare together!

Choose Your Viewpoint Wisely

Viewpoints are key in writing a good novel. Choose the wrong viewpoint for a story and it just will not flow well. There are four basic types of viewpoint.

First Person

This is the viewpoint I use in my most popular series, Jane. The whole story is told from Jane's point of view, so what she doesn't know, she doesn't share. As a writer, I like this viewpoint because I can immerse myself in her mind and not have to worry about what's going on outside her little world.  As a reader, I enjoy this viewpoint as well. You get an in-depth look at one person's train of thought; you really get to know them and the more personal "I" brings you into their story and makes you want to share it with them. However, sometimes it would be nice to have that extra information that the character doesn't share, but such is the limitation of viewpoint.

Second Person

This viewpoint is extremely rare. It employs the use of the word "you", which is another way to draw a reader in. I can honestly say the only time I've read any novel like this was when I was a child reading Choose Your Own Adventure books, but I have a plan in mind for an adult version of those using e-readers. I think it could be fantastic, but we'll see how it goes.

Third Person

Third person is the most common viewpoint. The narrator takes the position of storyteller and does not get directly involved in the action that occurs. I use this viewpoint in my Blood of the Dragon series. It provides the most flexibility of the three viewpoints as it allows me to move around the kingdom of Layr and show the happenings of many characters at once. Readers get more information and get to connect with more characters, though on a more shallow level than first-person.

There are numerous other factors that come into play for third-person viewpoint, such as omniscient, subjective, and objective, and tenses can be played with as well (Hunger Games was written entirely in the present tense), but we'll save those for another time.

If you are interested in checking out the different viewpoints, Vampire Assassin (Jane #1) is currently free on all formats. Battle of Black River, the prequel short story to Blood of the Dragon is also free. Please check them out and let me know what you think!

What is your favorite viewpoint to read? To write? Are there any viewpoints you absolutely despise? Do you have a favorite book that takes on viewpoints in an interesting way?

Sports Love Knows No Logic

Right now, my favorite soccer team is playing the last match of the season. This game will determine whether we get into the UEFA Champions League group stage (huge tournament for all of Europe), end up in the UEFA Europa league (also huge tournament, but not for the top dogs like the Champions League is), or sit on pins and needles wondering which way we'll go. I figured today is as good a day as any to explain how I came to be a fan of the most awesome soccer team in the world (soccer is known as football in almost every other country, if you didn't already know).

I've always been a fan of all things British. If you know me at all, you probably already figured that out. So it's only logical that I'd prefer watching the Premier League over the MLS (Major League Soccer). In 2009, I watched a preseason game and fell in love with the sport. It beats American football hands down, in my oh-so-humble opinion. The game is non-stop action for 45 minutes, you get a 15 minute potty break, then another 45 minutes and the game is over (unless it's a final of some sort). No commercial breaks every goal or whenever the quarterback sneezes. But I'm not writing this post to dis American football...

I had a very complicated and slightly convoluted process to come up with a team to cheer for. I actually made a spreadsheet. No joke. After about a week of research, I narrowed the teams down to Aston Villa (awesome name), Liverpool (really awesome theme song), and Tottenham Hotspur (named after a Shakespeare character). A little more digging dropped Aston Villa out of the running, though I couldn't tell you why since I never put it on my spreadsheet. So it was down to Liverpool and Tottenham.

I set aside a weekend (this was still preseason, mind you) to watch both teams. It just so happened that Liverpool played first. They were the team that, on paper, should have been my top pick. I got my coffee and breakfast and settled in. It was enjoyable, make no mistake. But I wasn't moved. I actually got a little bored at one point and started playing a video game. But the Reds won, by a lot if I remember right. So they were off to a good start, anyway.

Next came Tottenham, my Lilywhites. The game was quick-paced, tons of action, my heart was clenching in my chest, I was shouting at the screen and throwing my hands in the air on numerous occasions. And they lost, in glorious fashion.

At that point, my heart told me one thing while my mind pleaded with me to go another route. So I decided to give it another weekend. It was the same scenario. Liverpool won, but the game was meh. Spurs lost but I was riveted the entire time. I decided to accept my fate and ordered my first Tottenham jersey. I went with my heart, and it didn't let me down. You know what happened to my new team, the team that was almost relegated a season before? They went on to break up the Big 4 and take a spot in the Champions League. And they gave a damn good showing while doing it.

As of this moment, my boys sit at 1-0 on top of Fulham. Here's hoping they can pull it out and take another run at the Champions League.

Are you a sports fan? How did you choose your favorite team? Did you go with your heart? Or your head?

Best Female Action Star

Image courtesy of Underworld on Facebook

I was on Facebook the other day (shocking, I know) and I saw a post by Underworld. It said something along the lines of "Like this post if you think Kate Beckinsale is the best female action hero."  She's awesome, so I automatically went to click the button, but as my mouse hovered over that often overused link, I thought "Is she really the best?" My answer was an astounding "No."

Action movies are no longer the domain of men alone. In my last post, I mentioned how Hollywood is finally noticing this. Most of my female friends love action movies and there are some pretty amazing women who are taking top roles in them.

Image courtesy of Resident Evil on Facebook

 Milla Jovovich blew audiences away in Resident Evil and its many sequels. I remember first seeing her in The Messenger and really enjoying her performance, though I will admit, she was a bit cheesy. But she's not my favorite, either. Who is?

Michelle Rodriguez is by far my favorite female action star. She tends to get the lesser roles in movies, but she takes any job she's given and does the absolute best she can. She refuses to compromise herself and take weak characters just because they're higher up on the pay scale and let's face it, she is pretty bad ass and deserves a matching role.

Do you agree with my assessments? I can think of quite a few others, but who is your favorite female action star?

Words Worth Repeating

Quotes are a big part of our world. We often find it difficult to express our thoughts and feelings and must turn elsewhere for help in doing so. 

Songs are written with the intent of being repeated.  

Be true to yourself and everything will come right.

- Amy Duncan, Walk Away

All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer by the stars.

-Rush, The Pass

Every word in a movie or television show is chosen with care.

An inch... It is small, and fragile, and it is the only thing in the world worth having. We must never lose it or give it away. We must never let them take it from us. -Valerie, V for Vendetta

Don’t be afraid to fall in love. It’s the only thing that matters in life. … You just fall in love with as many things as possible. -Kelly Canter, Country Strong

But sometimes people say things that with us even though that may not have been their express intention.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. -Maya Angelou 

The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense. -Tom Clancy

I did not inhale. -Bill Clinton

And I have to wonder, did Abraham Lincoln know what an iconic speech he was about to give when he stepped up on the platform in Gettysburg? Did Martin Luther King, Jr. know that I Have A Dream would be required reading for speech classes all over America, and beyond?

So what are your favorite quotes? What has stuck with you since the moment you heard it?
 

Can't... Stop... Drooling...

I think Hollywood has finally sat up and taken notice of all the geeky girls out there. Action movies aren't just about the action anymore. And as many of you know, The Avengers comes out tomorrow. I'm pretty sure this movie was made for geeky females like me. I can't stop watching the trailers. They're definitely drool-worthy. Let's take a quick look at the main cast.

Iron Man

 Iron Man needs no introduction. He is just plain awesome (and hot). This is likely one of Robert Downey Jr.'s best roles.

Thor

While I'm not a huge Chris Hemsworth fan, there is no denying that this man is attractive. And who doesn't love an armor-wearing, hammer-wielding god? 


Captain America

 Captain America is another classic Marvel hero, and Chris Evans is pretty darn good looking in that blue spandex.

Hawkeye and The Hulk

 For the life of me I could not find a decent picture of Hawkeye. Why?? In my opinion, he is the hottest and most awesome of all of them. And though I'm not drawn so much to the big green guy, he's not the most unattractive, either.

Loki

Loki may be the bad guy in this movie, but I found myself strangely attracted to him in Thor. He got the short end of the deal, always in Thor's shadow. And Tom Hiddleston is not bad looking at all.

And then they threw in the Black Widow as an afterthought for the boys. Though I don't mind looking at her myself.

Definitely a movie made for women. And one more tasty treat: The actual trailer.

Will you be going to see the Avengers? Who is your favorite? What Marvel character would you have liked to see included?


*All images courtesy of the Avengers Facebook page.

Please Show Your Support

May is a very special month. Boasting such holidays as Memorial Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother Goose Day, and No Socks Day, it's definitely up there on the list of awesomeness. But there is another reason May is special. It is also Zombie Awareness Month.

The zombie plague is often fictionalized and embellished for television and literature, but it is a very serious issue. Many know someone who has been affected in some way, whether they realize it or not. Please show your support in any way you can. One of the easiest ways to do so is by learning more about this horrible affliction. Below are some valuable resources. You can also visit the Zombie Research Society's website and join their book club or just read their blog. The information they provide is invaluable.

Books to Read

•  Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The original version from Jane Austen, before her publisher and "officials" made her rewrite it to remove the truth. An important piece of work showing the outbreak of her time.
• World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War Enough said. Accounts from those that have been there.
• Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Zombies, written by the ZRS's own Matt Mogk.

Movies

• Night of the Living Dead Does this really need an explanation?
• 28 Days Later Informative and terrifying at the same time. Plus, it has an awesome joke right at the beginning.
• Shaun of the Dead Not only is this movie entertaining, it gives an excellent depiction of how to handle yourself during a zombie invasion 

Have you been affected by the plague? Do you know someone who has? Please share your story with us. And please do not hesitate to share any advice you have for dealing with this horrible affliction.