Avatar Challenge

Okay, the big blue “people” were a little out there, but I could work through it.  Joe Soldier, though, was too stereotypical testosterone driven for my taste. Good grief, Rambo on steroids! The movie could’ve done without Mr. “I’m gonna kill your butt if you don’t follow my orders.” Seriously.

The movie didn’t captivate me, to say the least. Not my preferred genre, but as my partner pointed out, there was a good message encased in all the action. Differences should be accepted. And the U.S., as usual, deems it okay to pilfer and destroy environments. We are the nation of over-use and abuse. Nothing is sacred to us and if it has the potential to be a “money-maker” then environment and humanity be damned. We’re going to take take take to our hearts’ content. Aren’t we awful? We love to seek and destroy, it seems. Shame on us.

Perhaps another message buried within the action — everyone and everything has the capacity to love and not necessarily within the prescribed parameters set forth by the greater majority. Should that love be any less valid or accepted? I say, unequivocally, no! Call me a romantic (although I’d never call myself one!)

The movie was a bit long for my tastes, but if you like action, fantasy and whatnot, then you’ll enjoy this flick. I cannot, however, speak about the 3D piece. I have this little issue I deal with … motion sickness … and I have to sit in the very last row of any movie theater in order to survive without getting upchucky. Seeing Avatar in 3D was out of the question for me. I did hear, though, that it’s spectacular if you have the stomach for that kind of thing. I barely made it through the “normal” version … I can only imagine my insides’ reaction to the 3D effect. Happy viewing!

Holy crap! It’s almost Christmas, again.

How many shopping days until Christmas?

I can’t believe that it’s almost that time of year, again. The commercialization of it all makes me weary. The hustle and bustle of shopping gives me heartburn. People’s rudeness and ‘me first’ attitude make me commit thought crimes. My biggest fear this season isn’t finding the perfect gift, it’s being stuck at the Mall of America during a practice lockdown!

Why can’t we all just get along … without big huge expensive presents? What’s the point of buying someone something they will never look at again, much less use? Just for the sake of buying them something? Or how about the kids who rip through a pile of gifts without taking a breath and then sit in the midst of gifts and wrapping paper and say, “is that all there is?”  In the words of a wise cartoon character, good grief.

I’m not a Scrooge, despite what my words may convey. I just wish for a more mellow and enjoyable season. One in which people enjoyed each others company without trying to “out buy” in the gift department. And I love listening to the music of the season (nonstop from Thanksgiving through Christmas Day-just ask my dear partner!) Do you hear what I hear? Sleigh bells ring, are you listen’? Frosty the Snowman. We Wish You a Merry Christmas. And poor dear Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.

Along with the holiday tunes, I enjoy a few seasonal flicks:

My wish for all of you … enjoy the season … enjoy the music … enjoy the movies … and if your family makes you crazy, then make your enjoyment with FRIENDS! And if you can’t do that, then enjoy the season with a little help from a friend –

Happy Holidays, my friends!!!

November’s End-Woo Hoo!

Holy Crap! I spent the entire month of November … actually 29 of the 30 days … on an adventure known to the writing world as NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The objective–to write a 50,000+ word novel in 30 days. No stopping. No passing Go! And most important of all (for you writers out there you know how hard this next one is) – NO EDITING!

I accomplished this feat without missing a day of work. And I did my chores. I managed to ensure the household had groceries. I went to three movies, one play, a two day writers festival at The Loft, the Talking Volumes show starring Stephen King,  a show at Bryant Lake Bowl and a girls hockey game. All these events and the Thanksgiving holiday happened within the same 29 days that I managed to pound out my novel.

Ernest Hemingway said, “The first draft of anything is shit.”

I’m here to tell you my output for NaNo was total shit! LOL Why, you ask, do I seem happy about this? Because I actually COMPLETED the project. 52,006 by the NaNo word counter. I surpassed the goal by 2,006 words. And not only did I have that many words, but I actually concluded the story. It is a complete, albeit, awful work of fiction.

My first fully completed work. Chances are, however, that it will not see the light of day (vampires aren’t the only creatures that don’t fare well in daylight!) I don’t think that I’ll allow anyone to read it, unless I devote many more hours to making it presentable for human consumption.

Still, that doesn’t diminish the accomplishment! If anything, I’m jazzed up to move onward and conquer, again. Yep. Ain’t no keeping a determined writer down. Talent, I may not have. Passion and discipline, I have in abundance. I’m amped!  And I’m a:

Do not doubt the power of passion and discipline my friends! And if you’re really really good (or really really bad) … perhaps, you’ll be in my next novel. Before I embark on my next journey of mystery, intrigue and darkness, though, I have a long awaited date with a new book. Perhaps you’ve heard of it: “Under the Dome,” by none other than, the King himself!

Here’s a thought to carry you through until we meet again-

“Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.”

–Stephen King

(Ain’t he great!?!)

And now there are six

At midnight September 1 Vermont began issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples. Same sex marriage is legalized in Vermont – the first state to do so without a court battle preceding the event. Back in April the state House voted 100-49 and the Senate voted 23-5 to override a veto by Vermont’s governor on the legislation.  Ah, progress.

There are now a total of six states (Massachusetts, Iowa, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine & Vermont) that have legalized gay marriage and the District of Columbia recognizes marriages performed in other states and countries. The hatemongers, of course, are out in force to “protest” the new marriage law. I say let’s ignore the ignorant. The tiring religious dogma hasn’t changed. Stale rhetoric spewed by evangelicals is all we’ll hear. Perhaps some day they will understand this is NOT a religious issue. The issue is equal rights under the Constitution.

So, I say “YAY, Vermont!” Even Ben and Jerry’s jumped onboard — they changed the name of their “Chubby Hubby” to “Hubby Hubby” (in Vermont) and show two grooms in tuxedos getting married on the carton. The name change may be temporary, but the impact is permanent -an icon of epic proportions showing support for gay marriage. Life is good today.

And I ask, “Which state is next?” Slow and steady is the progress which we are witnessing.

Freedom, Equality and Justice

Every American deserves to be treated fairly. I think every state in the union ought to follow the example of the state of Maine. The argument that most conservatives use to fight against same-sex marriage is one of religion. Perhaps all religions, not just the Roman Catholic Church, should re-acquaint themselves with the concept of “separation of church and state.” I respect each person’s right to their religious beliefs, but I don’t want them forced on me or anyone else.

Marriage, in the civil sense, is an issue of equal rights. Why can’t people understand this? Equal rights–the right to be at a dying partner’s bedside in the hospital WITHOUT providing a legal document stating it’s allowable. Equal rights–the right to have affordable FAMILY health insurance. Equal rights–the right to adopt children together. The right to say “I do” and have it be just as legal as any heterosexual couple’s same words. These are rights NOT religious tenets. Religion has no basis in the arguments for equal rights.

I’m just sayin’,  Maine gets it! Maine values everyone! Protect those values … protect equality. What do you have to lose?

(Check out the youtube videos by clicking on the two places where Maine is underlined above.)