Star Wars and My 8-Year-Old

When I was growing up, I liked Star Wars a lot. I've seen the original series a few times. My daughter is almost obssessed with it. She reads books upon books upon books involving Jedi adventures. She watches Star Wars: The Clone Wars as often as possible. She has a countdown all set up for the beginning of the 3rd season. One of her absolute favorite songs to listen to on repeat is The Saga Begins by Weird Al Yankovic. She wants to marry Anakin Skywalker when she grows up. Really, she does. She'll even settle for Hayden Christensen. We've had disagreements about him being old enough to be her dad and how I saw him first, so I've got dibs.

I know why she likes him. My girl's got good taste.

I should point out now that as big as her crush on Anakin is, her favorite characters are Ahsoka Tano, an orange Jedi and Padme Naberrie (a.k.a, Queen and Senator Amidala), Ani's wife and mama to Luke and Leia. We promote girl power in our house, what can I say?

A phaser and lightsaber, a girl's best friend.

I know its perfectly normal for her considering who she has for a mother and she's genetically predispositioned to have slight obsessive tendencies for anything that interests her. (It runs in the family, so eventually it will disappear, but I'll still have the pictures of her jumping around the house with a lightsaber) I just find it amazing that she's as into
Star Wars as I was when I was about 12. Who knew we'd be that much alike.

I totally blame her fandom on the fact that I saw Attack of the Clones when I was 7 months pregnant with her.

Inception vs. Twilight

I don't like Twilight. I'm not a fan of the books and especially not the movies. They both bore me and make me want to pull my hair out. This often gets me dirty looks from fans, especially when I start making noises and commenting about the whole movie because I was dragged against my will by a friend who is a fan (not naming any names, *cough* Patricia. :D). And yes, I complained loudly when Bella was being a dumba$$.

I had to suffer through it and for my patience; I was rewarded by going with her to see Inception. Granted it didn't take a guilt trip or even much prodding on my part (just the mention of Leonardo DiCaprio, yummy, by the way) for her to want to go.

Who could say no to watching this man in a movie?

I knew I was going to like it. But . . . . . .

Can I just say this was the best movie I’ve seen all year? Because it really, really was. The graphics were hot, it involved dreams and it was a heist type movie! I love heist movies, there’s always something else going on to make you think. Dreams are a big part of the movie, and anything can happen in a dream. The whole aspect of dreams is intriguing and not everyone can pull it off. So with that I can say . . . .

Christopher Nolan’s a genius, and I’m really surprised he doesn’t have more movies under his belt.

I won’t post any spoilers, because I don’t want to ruin it for others, but seriously, this movie’s freaking awesome! Everyone should see it. And not everyone will like it, because it’s one of those endings that leave it up to your own interpretation.

I would just like to know more about the secondary characters. We know plenty about Leo’s Cobb (he is the main character, after all), but we learn absolutely nothing about everyone else. I want to know what their deal is. How did they get into the life? Why are they still doing it? What makes them all tick?

Leonardo still looks good after all these years; it’s so strange to remember he was Luke on Growing Pains. And can I also mention how hot Joseph Gordon-Levitt got? He's always been kind of cute (i.e. 10 Things I Hate About You), but not really my cup of tea. But seriously, he's way hot in Inception.

Did he grow up and suddenly get really hot?

Or is it just the slicked back hair, suits, and ties he wore throughout the movie? (what can I say? I have a thing for suits and ties) Haven't pegged it down yet, but he definitely added to the enjoyment of the film. Well, at least for me anyways. I might actually see it again.

So, in reality, there really isn't any contest between Inception and Twilight. There is no contest between the two of them for me. I just thought it'd be an interesting title.

Texas and Me

So as I write this, I sit in a hotel in Texas.

I've traveled a lot in my life and the state is not my favorite state in the country. Actually, it isn't even close. It's so far from close it jumped the ship 10 years ago and swam to Russia without a life vest. I have plenty of friends who dispute this feeling, but those are people from Texas and they think it's the greatest state to ever enter the United States.

I do not agree. Not even a little. Those same people think I'm off my rocker. That's also when I feel the need to point out it's a free country and I can have my opinion about anything I damn well choose. This is also the point where they get mad and look like they'll punch me in the mouth. Because they realize I'm right and then they go about their day mumbling about what an idiot I have to be not to love their precious state.

They forget that I'm not upset they're not in love with my city or state or anything else I love. And why not, you ask? Two magical words: Free Country. Yup, that's right. They're allowed their own opinion and so am I.

But here I am digressing again. Seriously, you can't take me anywhere. Or have me write anything. There really is no purpose for this post other than this:

I'm not meant for Texas.

That is all.

Book letdown

Not the kind of letdown you're thinking of, you know the type: you're so excited about reading a book and it completely disappoints you in the end. No, that's not what I mean.

I'm talking about the kind of letdown that can only come from a really well written book or series. And its so well written you're on a kind of depression and funk when you're done with it. It feels like an old friend left and there will be no new adventures with them.

Maybe I'm being a little overdramatic, but that's really how I feel about a book or series that I'm very attached to. Those are the books that feel like family, like home. But I am one of those people that loves their books.

It's A Sign

Every once in awhile I give up. Well, not really, more like I feel like I don't have what it takes to be a published writer. It's the joys of trying to accomplish something, anything. It's those bad moments that hit me every once in awhile.

I had one of those moments today and I wanted a sign, something to keep me going. I was talking to my daughter and the subject of the future came up. I'm not really sure how, but sometimes she'll say the things I really need to hear. It's nothing to her, but it completely blows my mind away.

I was wondering out loud what I should do after I get out of the military.

Out of the blue, she says, "I know what you're going to be, mommy. A book writer."

Out of the mouths of babes. Such innocent and wide-eyed little people with so much hope, I love it!

The Very Merry Month of June

June's always been the best month for me. It's officially the start of summer and longer, breeze filled days. It's also the birth month of my offspring.

Something about the month makes life great. I think the biggest factor is my bub's birthday. Yes, I have to wait until the end of the month, but I'm big on celebrating all month long. Because, well, birthdays are important whether you're turning 8 or 29(even when you don't think you need to celebrate anymore). And everyone in my family has a summer birthday, so summer is pretty celebration filled.

I really love June, mostly because of the Popsicles. I LOVE Popsicles. They're the best treat on a scorching summer day that was spent hanging out at the pool keeping cool. And they're sooo much better for you than ice cream. Not to mention a ton cheaper.

Music makes the world go round. . .

Or is it money? It could be both in hindsight. But I like thinking its music. It can calm people. It can fire them up also. Or it can make you feel reminiscent. That's usually how I feel about music. I listen to songs often when I drive. I find the radio boring, uninteresting, and usually filled with more news than music, so most times I set up my IPod instead. Its filled with my most precious musical memories, every CD I have and every song I've downloaded.

I'm a big music fan, though I realized a long time ago, playing instruments was not my calling. Good music is the equivilent of a good book, you'll remember it forever.

My first taste of music weren't the songs playing on the radio (I still have a great apprectiation for the '80's), nope, my mom was big on ABBA and country music. Even to this day whenever I hear "Nina, Pretty Ballerina" (which is often because I've turned my daughter into a fan), I'm always reminded of being young and standing in front of the mirror with a hairbrush, plotting my doomed future as a singer (hey, I know starring in "Glee" is a dream that just will NOT happen).

Music makes me sentimental. When I hear The Goo Goo Dolls' "Black Balloon" or Filter's "Take a Picture", I'm transported back to my tech school dorm and getting ready for school in the morning. I listened to them religiously each morning without fail.

Or how Tool's "Sober" or Staind's "It's Been Awhile" reminds me of a certain guy I cared a lot about in my youth but things just never worked out.

The Beatles' always take me back to Sunday morning cinnamon rolls with my mom listening to "Breakfast with The Beatles" on the oldies station.

Anything by the Spice Girls' sends me straight to my high school hallways and my best friends. We'd listen to them daily on Karla's little yellow radio. Those were some of the best times I remember.


Shakira's "Estoy Aqui" was my daily bus ride music on my way to work. And I was in a huge V.C. Andrews phase, so the song makes me remember all those books I always had my nose stuck in.
Even now I can hear it and I'm right smack in the middle of a chapter.


I could go on and on all day about all the music I've listened to over the years, but then I'd be here all day and I've got some writing to do, so I must get to it. Ciao!