Popcorn, Skittles, and Starburst Oh My

For once I'm not late in a blog fest, but that is only because I originally thought it was on Monday Sept 5th instead of Monday Sept 19th. No idea why I thought it was the 5th but if I signed up for or promised to do something for you on the 5th and didn't, this would be the reason why. I apparently have lost the ability to tell time and/or what day/month/year it is. 

So now onto the Worst Movies EVER blogfest which btw is hosted by the total awesomesauceness himself, Alex. Here's my list. It's suppose to be 10, but I'm not that big of a movie/tv watcher person so I have 5. Ok here goes. In no particular order:

5. Shadow Man - When ruthless enemy agents kidnap his young daughter, an ex-C.I.A. oeprative goes on a deadly rampage to find her in this explosive, action-packed thriller starring martial arts legend Steven Seagal.

Steven Seagal- enough said about why this movie is on my list. 

4. The Accidental Spy - A thrilling adventure directed by Teddy Chan and starring Jackie Chan, THE ACCIDENTAL SPY follows Buck (Chan), a man whose dull day job as a fitness equipment salesman makes him yearn for a greater purpose. When he accidentally witnesses a jewelry store robbery, he finds himself teaming up with a fast-moving private investigator on the trail of an international crime network. An added dimension is the threat of deadly lung cancer virus that could cause massive death if it is released before Buck can find and contain it.  

Jackie Chan - again enough said about why this movie is on my list. 

3.  Our Lips are Sealed- The twins we all know and love visit the Land Down Under and wreak their own brand of cute havoc on the Aussies. Kangaroos, koalas, and overall crazy fun abound.

Somehow I allowed my children to talk me into this one. Oh I remember now it was free. That is why we rented it and why I had to take two tylenol 15 mins after it started because the sound of their little voices was like nails on a chalkboard. 

2. Balto 2- A sequel to 1995's "Balto," the story of a half wolf, half dog who leads a sled full of antitoxins through the Alaskan winter to a town suffering from diphtheria, "Balto II" picks up where the first ended. After settling down with Jenna and having 6 pups, it soon becomes time for Balto to give his children up for adoption to human families. However, no one wants Aleu, his daughter, because she looks so much like a wolf. When Aleu figures this out, she runs away, forcing Balto to go after her and sending her on a journey that reveals quite a bit about herself.

I told you I didn't watch movies much and those I did watch were due to my children who I allowed to rent a movie on Saturday from Blockbuster because it was free. Therefore I have seen way too many movies that no adult should ever have to watch. 

1. Tease - Jurgen Prochnow, Mandy Schaffer, Rosanna Arquette, Thomas Kretschmann - Director: Dennis Berry. If looks could kill, they'd look like Traci; young, innocent, appealing, deadly. Traci clings like ivy to her devoted mother and strikes with a vengeance at any man who intrudes on their relationship. Now Traci, using her budding sexuality, will do anything...seduce anyone...murder everyone who threatens to come between them.

After this one, I think I should have stayed with the kiddie movies.  

So that's my list little as it may be. I look forward to reading everyone's posts. At least I'll know which movies to avoid whenever I decide to watch something.

Insecure almost Writer Support Group

Today is the first meeting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. If you're not signed up then head on over to Alex's, he's the ringmaster, and join in the insanity fun. I guess I'll go ahead and get the hard part out of the way.

Hi. My name is Dafeenah and I'm an insecure (almost) writer. 

My topic for this week is self doubt. I have not really talked about it on my blog, but I actually am working on my memoir. I've been working on it for some time now, but I never felt confident enough to talk about it. I don't consider myself to on the level as all of the other amazingly talented people I've met in the blogsphere. I worry I'll never finish my WIP simply because I tend to be so critical of myself. I go over and over and over what I've written. Trying to make it "better" or "good enough", but it's never better and it's never good enough. At least not to me. I worry over word choice. I feel because I don't have a good educational background that I am unable to express myself the way others are. Mostly because I don't have the vocabulary that others do and I don't know how to best use the words that I stumble across so that my point is made clear. 

A part of me knows I have some raw talent and if I could just shake off the self doubt and allow my writing to just flow, then I'd be a much better writer. However, that's easier said than done. So for now I'm just trying to get the words on the paper or in my case the MS word page. In my head I know exactly what I want to say, but when I go to type suddenly it all gets jumbled together. 

So enough of my whining. That's my confession for the week and here's a little writerly surprise for all of you:

On Monday I had the pleasure of having 16 yr old up and coming writer Jake on my blog. You can read the full post here. I asked him if he wanted a career in writing and this was his response: 

I wouldn't mind making my writing a career but I don't think I'm that talented. I'd love to but right now I'd just rather keep it a hobby. 

If you can, stop by and let him know he is talented enough.

Spark(le) Fest

Today I'm doing a post for SparkFest. There's still time to join and there are prizes!! Make sure to stop back by on Friday for my big news reveal.

As writers, we're always striving to get out a message of inspiration to others. This blogfest is a celebration for those who have done this for us. Join the Spark Blogfest, aka Sparkfest, by posting your answer to any of the three prompts above (or make one up as long as it fits the theme).

 

So here's my answers to her questions. I did all 3 because I'm geeky like that:

What book made you realize you were doomed to be a writer? 

 

It wasn't a book so much as blogging. I have written my whole life but never ever considered I had talent, potential, or ability until I began blogging. Now I am addicted and have become one of the masses of insecure aspiring writers. However I think my writing style is definitely Stephen King inspired. I love how he writes about the dark side of things but in a not so dark way. Needful Things is one of my all time favorite books.

 

 

 

What author set off that spark of inspiration for your current Work in Progress?

 

There are 3 actually for me. I know I haven't mentioned it on my blog but I do have a WIP. Although I am not forcing it and am just taking it slow. The writers who influenced me and gave me the courage to begin are Lizzy Ford,  Karen Walker, and Dues Ex Machina. Each inspired me in different ways and gave me the support to begin my WIP.

Or, Is there a book or author that changed your world view?

 

I don't  know if this counts or not but as a child I read National Geographic books constantly. I was fascinated by the exotic places and locations. I came from a very secluded backwoods redneck town smack in the middle of the Bible Belt and those books were my first glimpse into what lay beyond the county line.

 

 

Top 5 Blogfest

Teralyn over at A Writer's Journey is having a blogfest and I could not pass up the opportunity to play. The challenge for this blogfest was to pick your top five favorite books and write one line of what each book is about and one line about why you liked it. I don't know how well I will stick to the one line, but let's see what happens. The blogfest is from June 20th-22nd so you can still sign up for it, but you best hurry!!

1. Clan of the Cave Bear 

Clan of the Cave Bear is a historical fiction novel set in prehistoric times about the life of a little girl who becomes lost from her family and is found by neanderthals.  I LOVED this series. I don't have words to express what I felt as I read through the entire Earth Children's series. I am not a fan of historical fiction but the writing, the characters, the story just drew me in and I was held hostage. I guess this is cheating because there are 3 books in this series and I loved them all but I am only counting this as one.

2. Animal Farm

Animal Farm is a dystopian allegorical novella  and is about the events leading up to and during the Stalin era before World War II. I loved the rawness of this book. I originally read this when I was in highschool as part of my required reading, but I have read it several times since then. Every time I read it I see something I didn't see the first time which is what I love most about this book. 

^{3. Wuthering Heights}

The narrative tells the tale of the all-encompassing and passionate, yet thwarted, love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, and how this unresolved passion eventually destroys them and many around them. I am a big fan of the Bronte sisters. I love their flawed characters and how they showed the reality of the world that surrounded them instead of the pomp and circumstance that people pretended was reality.

4. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe 

The story begins in 1940 during World War II, when four siblings--Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie--are evacuated from London to escape the Blitz and are sent to live with Professor Digory Kirke, who lives in a country house in the English countryside. Believe it or not I have not ever seen these movies, but have read all of the books. I lost myself inside of these fantasies. I hid inside of my own closet and played pretend whatever chapter I had finished reading that day.  

5.  Interview with a Vampire

A vampire named Louis tells his 200-year-long life story to reporter Daniel Molloy (who is only referred to as "the boy" in the novel). My very first book crush was over LeStat. I connected with him in such a way that made him so real to me. I felt as if I actually met him and lost him, but was able to reconnect with him through the book. And no I never saw this movie either. I am not one for watching the movies if I have read the book. That includes the LOTR as well. I am weird like that I know. 

So that is my list. I almost played by the rules which is a lot for me. I can't wait to read what books everyone has listed. I know my list is a bit eclectic but what can I say? I have never been known for being "normal".

Wanna Play Doctor with Me

Today I am playing along with Alex. He is having a blogfest and asked that we list our 3 favorite games and why. So here are mine in descending order:


#3. Operation

 

I love this game as much as I hate it.  You either have to be a masochist or an extremely skillfull surgeon to play this game. I am not a surgeon and from how badly I was at this game that might be a good thing. I played this game as a child and being a bit OCD even then I became determined to remove all of this guy's body parts. I never could. The butterfly, the rib, and the funny bone were always my downfall. That freaking "zzzzzz" sound when you touched the sides made my skin crawl. I bet you're waiting for why I love this game. Yea I am not sure why exactly but I do. I even bought it for "my children" when they were little and forced them to play it with me. 

#2. Trouble

I might be telling my age with this game. I played this when I was little and yes I also forced my children to play this. I mean isn't that one of the little perks of having children, being able to buy things for yourself while pretending it's for them? Don't judge you know you do it too. This was also the game my grandmother and I spent hours playing so that is another reason it is one of my favorites. She would always have "trouble" getting the dice to pop so I would always have to do it for her. 

#1 all time favorite game drumroll please: 

I am definitely telling my age with this one. Do you guys even remember Atari? Do you even KNOW what an Atari is?

Atari game console

I was seven when I got this for Christmas. It came with DuckHunter, Astroids, and Pac Man, but the following year for my birthday I got Ms Pac-Man and my addiction truly began. Not only was I addicted, but I was damn good. I could get two juniors without ever losing a life. I could flip the board. TWICE. Without breaking a sweat. Ms Pac-Man was the center of my seven year old existence and I was her willing slave. Oh Ms. Pac-Man it's been so long. I have played you on my computer but it's just not the same as having that joystick in my hand. The Atari joystick. Get your minds out of the gutter people. 

So those are my top 3 favorite all time games. Or well at least the legal ones, but we won't go there. I can't wait to read everyone's responses and see what all they list as their favorite games. If you want to join in, then head on over to Alex's. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the linky thingy to see all those who have already signed up. Thanks Alex for the playdate!!!