Max twirled his glass in a gloved hand. He didn't know what he had expected, to be honest, but he shouldn't have been disappointed. It was stupid. Of course the pianist wouldn't know it. When the floor was opened for requests, most would ask for a ballad, a jazzy tune, or maybe even a classic love song. Something to color the mood while couples looked at each other over their glass. Most wouldn't ask for the theme song of Lester's Possum Farm.
He didn't know if such a song could even be translated for the piano. It was too folksy, from what he remembered. A lot of banjo, maybe a harmonica. It was a little fuzzy. Unfortunately the awkward exchange with the pianist was still all too clear.
Gulping down the last of his drink, Max signaled the bartender. A fresh glass slid over to him and was promptly ingested in one fluid motion. Grimacing, Max asked for another. If the bartender judged him he didn't show it, simply reached for the bottle again.
It had come all at once, the memories of that summer years ago; when his father had stolen him away for a father-son fishing trip. Max had made the first half of that trip a nightmare for his dad. Well, no, that wasn't quite true. While Max had behaved like a brat the whole way, Goofy had spent the beginning of the trip excited as ever. And even when Goofy realized how miserable Max was after the possum fiasco, he never stopped trying to turn it around and bond with his son.
That's right...
That's all Goofy had wanted: To bond with his son.
And Max had fought him at every turn all because of a stupid, juvenile crush that wouldn't even survive his next year in high school. What was her name again? Anne-something? He scoffed. He couldn't even remember her name.
But he did remember the way his father pronounced "sassafras" -- "sassyfras" -- as he hung upside-down with possums. And the sound of his yodeling as he happily clapped along to the theme song...
Max's hand gripped the refilled glass and cleared his throat to mask the sniffle that slipped. That summer had ended well for them both, thankfully. The PowerLine concert still held the spot for his favorite memory with his dad. But they never did make it to Lake Destiny...
He didn't know why he was so focused on that detail. Their relationship had improved leaps and bounds over the years (despite the hiccup when they went to college together) as Max learned how to focus less on the sometimes embarrassing antics his father would perform and more on the compassionate motivation underneath. For his part, Goofy learned how to give Max the appropriate amount of space (and when, that was important) and how to be affectionate without being smothering.
Max coughed to cover another sniffle. That wasn't fair. Sylvia never found Goofy smothering, in fact she relished in his affections and behavior. But of course she did, Max thought with a chuckle. She's as goofy as he is.
Was.
His hand clenched the glass again, his throat suddenly sandpaper. A familiar sensation burned at the backs of his eyes. Throwing his head back, he gulped down his drink, but the liquor did nothing to push down what was coming. The thought echoed in his mind louder and louder and Max shut his eyes tight in attempt to will the memory away before it could replay the events from last week. It was no use though. As much as he drank, he couldn't drink enough to forget.
Forget the carnival.
Forget the look on Sylvia's face when she came back from the snack stand, the tray of caramel apples falling from her hands.
Forget the way she sobbed and rocked him, trying to soothe the screams he hadn't realized were coming from him.
Forget the sight of his father's body lying so still on the ground--
Something shattered against the shelves across from him.
"'EY!" someone roared from his right. It was only as the bartender stomped over that Max noticed his now empty hand in the air and put the pieces together. "That's going on your tab, buddy," the bartender growled. "Now settle up and get out!"
A delicate hand rests on his shoulder before Max could speak. "I'll take care of that." The voice was as soft as the touch, with notes of exhaustion trickling beneath the affection.
Max turned towards the sound, his hazy mind knowing he should recognize it, but not quite making the connection until he saw Sylvia's face. Immediately he wished he hadn't. Her normally sparkling eyes were hollow and cloudy, the dark rings underneath still noticeable despite the dim lighting, and her nose was scarlet and rubbed bare at the sides. She was still in her black dress suit from that morning, but had undone her bun so her hair rested on her shoulders. The once-shiny red locks had dulled over the years and now bore the musky color of oxidized metal. The same color as the rust on the safety harnesses on the ride that--
An image flashed in his mind and Max tore his gaze away, grinding his teeth to push back the sound that threatened to escape him. Whether it was a cry or a growl, he wasn't sure.
The bartender looked at Sylvia's face, then to their matching black attire, and sighed. The animosity was gone from his voice as he recited the total to Sylvia and she reached for her purse.
Max knew he shouldn't allow her to do this. Shouldn't accept any monetary gesture. Not now. Especially not now. But when she pulled her left hand from his shoulder all sense of propriety left him as his eyes caught the glint of her wedding rings beside her mood ring.
Goofy had once told Max about his first date with Sylvia and how their mood rings had shone with a brilliant light when their hands touched.
"Maxxy, right then, I just knew..."
The tears flowed freely then. Max stared with unseeing eyes as Sylvia placed her wallet back into her purse, the transaction completed. His focus was brought back with a start when he felt fingers wiping the tears from his cheeks. His eyes met Sylvia's. A sad frown marred her features.
"Oh, Max," she sighed, and he felt more than heard the sorrow in her voice. She reached into her purse again and pulled out a travel-sized tissue packet. There was only one left and he was crying pretty profusely, but she tried to clean him up all the same. "Come on, let's get you home."
He didn't know whose home she meant, but stood anyway. He couldn't deny her anything -- not anymore. Keeping her hands on his arm to steady him, Sylvia gently led Max towards the exit and out of the piano bar. For a time the only sounds between them were the clicks of her heels as they headed for the parking lot.
"He was always okay." Max's voice is raw with suppressed emotion and hours of drinking, and seems to catch her by surprise. He hadn't planned to say anything, but now he had to explain. "He was always getting thrown by things or crashing into stuff, but he... he was always okay... after..." His lip quivered and he shut his eyes tight, but more tears still slip down. Sylvia's hand immediately goes to his hair.
"I know, Max. I know..." She continues to stroke his hair soothingly as he presses his mouth into a firm line. "Goofy--" Her voice breaks and there's the sound of a breath before she continues. "Sometimes things happen that we just can't explain."
It's said with a surprising lack of bitterness, Max thought, because no one could explain how a popular ride had gone without routine check-ups for so long. How a man who had never had more than a sprained ankle, despite being prone to extreme stunts, had met his end on a children's ride while others walked away shaken, but otherwise unscathed. It was becoming quite the controversy, actually, with several news channels discussing the carnival's public endangerment. But the more they discussed it, the less interested Max became in the company's answers. Nothing they said excused their negligence. And nothing the public learned would change what happened, would retrieve what he lost...
A quiet beep pulled him back to his surroundings as Sylvia's green beetle blinked its lights. With her left arm still linked through his, Sylvia opened the passenger door with her right and helped him climb inside. Max tried not to look at her rings.
The inside of the car was clean, as usual, save for the small plastic bag on the floor by his feet. Its translucence betrayed the contents inside: It was filled with used tissues. Dimly, he remembered the bar and the single tissue Sylvia had to offer. Dragging his knowing gaze away from the bag, Max caught sight of the car's cigarette lighter. Immediately, his thoughts went back to that summer. Back to an image of a can of soup balanced atop a car cigarette lighter on the dashboard.
"Well, it's nice to know this thing's good for somethin'."
The driver's side door closed with a quiet thunk. Max turned toward Sylvia to find the keys in the ignition but her eyes on him, an expression he couldn't read on her face. She studied him, her hands in her lap, as if waiting for a sign he was ready to go.
Max swallowed. He didn't know what to say, how to explain the thoughts that consumed him. And before his mind could catch up, his mouth moved. "We never went to Lake Destiny. Dad wanted to fish. He-He liked to fish..." Again her hand found his hair. Over the years she'd come to show affection for him in soothing ways like this. It was almost maternal. Somehow that made it harder to breathe, and the rest came out with a gasp, quiet and strained. "I-I should have let him take me--"
The words had barely left him when Sylvia's arms wrapped around his shoulders and crashed him to her in a tight embrace.
"He knew you loved him." Her voice was firm now; the sorrow replaced with a certainty that told him she understood. "He never doubted that."
He collapsed against her, fisting her jacket and pressing his face into her shoulder as sobs racked his body. She continued her ministrations on his hair and back, whispering in his ear in attempts to comfort him, but he soon felt his shoulder grow wet.
She was crying, too.
= = = = = =
Obligatory disclaimer: All characters belong to Disney, the only thing I own is this story idea. This was written for entertainment purposes and I do not plan to (nor will I) receive any compensation for it.
This was a two-month-long beast. There are things I still wish I could have done better, KNOW would have been done better years ago, but I'm still proud of this. It's done. And it's mine. And after the years I've had and the struggles with writing, it feels incredible to finally finish something cohesive again.
The idea came from a prompt in one of my christmas gifts. The prompt was "A strange request at a piano bar" and I had to include the following in the story: carnival, sprained, mask, oxidation, awkward, apple, juvenile, controversy, twirl, sassafras.
Fun facts:
-- The reason I immediately decided the story was going to involve Max and Goofy was because Goofy was the only source in my LIFE that I heard use the term "sassafras." The plot developed from there.
-- I was pulling my hair out for over a week trying to find a way to use "oxidized" without it sounding like a vocab drop. I had a bunch of flash backs of similar school assignments where I had to use certain terms and it was always so painfully obvious when something was dropped in just so that it was there. I am praying desperately that I used it well enough that it fit naturally into the narrative. Let me know.
-- The only way I finally calmed and figured out how to use all ten terms in a way that would make sense was to allow myself to use different forms (tenses) of the words. There were no instructions in the book of writing prompts (only the phrase "include the following in your story") so I allowed myself to cheat a little.
I really hope you enjoyed this, those few of you that haven't completely abandoned this place even though it's been barren for years. Please leave me your thoughts, feedback, or suggestions below. If you don't have a blogger account (you automatically do if you have a gmail) I DO allow anonymous comments.
See you next time.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Sunday, August 23, 2015
10 Random Words
gems: Carnivorous Goliath-like bipeds characterized by their immense height, weight, and strength. They are as dark as burned tree bark, with large, thick arms and legs, and their bodies are barren of all hair. Their eyes run a gauntlet through yellow, red, and green, and shine like fires in the dark.
battle: The sound of quick, panicked movement through an underbrush. Usually in reference to small creatures scurrying between branches as they seek shelter from storms.
whisper: A person or creature that hunts or preys on small, winged fairies. Most human whispers use poisons and netting as their tools of capture while animal whispers excrete pheromones that stun or drug the fairies.
doll: A breed of canine characterized by its pitch-black fur, large size, and sickly thin bodies. Doll cubs (or "dollies") are as large as an adult tiger, and grow to be thrice that size by adulthood.
aroma: A mythical, glowing blue stone that is said to grant the magical properties of greek sirens to whomever wields it.
estimate: Weather characterized by severe winds and damaging rains, similar to a hurricane.
childish: A red fruit known for its blue seeds and pink leaves -- its juices are commonly used in most herbal remedies to diminish pain.
feelings: Botanic quadrupeds indigenous to rain forests with the ability to mask themselves into their environment by entwining their vines with the plant life.
lurker: The last shadow cast by an object or organism in a day.
crawler: A person who spends an unhealthy or unseemly amount of time on the computer or internet.
-----------
Disclaimer: If you're a student and you've stumbled upon this page during a vocabulary assignment, DO NOT use these definitions. Your sentences will make zero sense and your grade will suffer.
I knew this was going to be hard, but damn. This is my entry for "Day 12" of the 30 'Day' Writing Challenge wherein I had to find ten random words and invent my own definitions for them. I took this to mean that the definitions I invented had to be wholly unrelated to what the word actually meant. So when I googled a word generator and it gave me "gems" I figured I had to exclude anything dealing with rocks or stones from my definition and anything dealing with fighting for "battle," and so on.
Gotta tell you, most of these were NOT easy to find new meanings for. When I found the generator I was hoping for some words I didn't see often or even know, but instead it gave me these basic words and I had to keep stopping myself from thinking of what they were and forcing myself to think of something new (which was the point, I know). It was worth the struggle, though, because in the end I got to envision some pretty cool creatures in my head... :)
Day 2: Write a FanFiction.
Day 16: Go to iTunes, put your music on random. Write a story about the first song that comes up. (250 words or less)
Day 22: Write a story based on a dream you had.
Day 12: Find 10 random words and create your own definitions.
battle: The sound of quick, panicked movement through an underbrush. Usually in reference to small creatures scurrying between branches as they seek shelter from storms.
whisper: A person or creature that hunts or preys on small, winged fairies. Most human whispers use poisons and netting as their tools of capture while animal whispers excrete pheromones that stun or drug the fairies.
doll: A breed of canine characterized by its pitch-black fur, large size, and sickly thin bodies. Doll cubs (or "dollies") are as large as an adult tiger, and grow to be thrice that size by adulthood.
aroma: A mythical, glowing blue stone that is said to grant the magical properties of greek sirens to whomever wields it.
estimate: Weather characterized by severe winds and damaging rains, similar to a hurricane.
childish: A red fruit known for its blue seeds and pink leaves -- its juices are commonly used in most herbal remedies to diminish pain.
feelings: Botanic quadrupeds indigenous to rain forests with the ability to mask themselves into their environment by entwining their vines with the plant life.
lurker: The last shadow cast by an object or organism in a day.
crawler: A person who spends an unhealthy or unseemly amount of time on the computer or internet.
-----------
Disclaimer: If you're a student and you've stumbled upon this page during a vocabulary assignment, DO NOT use these definitions. Your sentences will make zero sense and your grade will suffer.
I knew this was going to be hard, but damn. This is my entry for "Day 12" of the 30 'Day' Writing Challenge wherein I had to find ten random words and invent my own definitions for them. I took this to mean that the definitions I invented had to be wholly unrelated to what the word actually meant. So when I googled a word generator and it gave me "gems" I figured I had to exclude anything dealing with rocks or stones from my definition and anything dealing with fighting for "battle," and so on.
Gotta tell you, most of these were NOT easy to find new meanings for. When I found the generator I was hoping for some words I didn't see often or even know, but instead it gave me these basic words and I had to keep stopping myself from thinking of what they were and forcing myself to think of something new (which was the point, I know). It was worth the struggle, though, because in the end I got to envision some pretty cool creatures in my head... :)
Monday, September 22, 2014
Guardians of the Galaxy
So I was finally able to watch Guardians of the Galaxy this past Wednesday while on my vacation. (From my full time job, I mean, not this website. This hiatus is no one's fault but my own.) And before I begin with my review there are a couple things I'd like to state for the record.
First, I had never heard of the graphic novels before this film came out, and I still haven't read any. So this review will be based purely on my experience of watching the story/characters for the first time with no set up whatsoever. Going in, all I knew was what I got from the first trailer: Some group of expert criminals, or perhaps just criminals, were needed for something or other. That's it. Honestly, the trailer did nothing for me so I wasn't even going to watch the thing if it weren't for everyone singing its praises from the rooftops.
Which leads me to my second note. I feel that the film may have been inadvertently oversold to me, since all the rooftop praising made my expectations high (and I'm pretty tough on movies to begin with). However, I'll still be reviewing the film as objectively as I can, with notice of where certain expectations were disappointed or reached.
As always, my reviews are spoiler free... and long.
Directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy tells the story of a group of criminals forming an unlikely alliance (of sorts) in order to fight against a being who aims to destroy the galaxy and all life as they know it.
The film is a sci-fi fantasy epic, not unlike the Star Wars series, only with less humans. Well, less traditional humans. During fantasy films centered in space I have always found the ratio between humans and aliens to be important. To be more specific, I have always found it more important for there to be more alien races than humans. I find this helps submerge the viewer (or reader) into the universe much easier and more quickly because it prevents us from getting comfortable seeing humans on screen to then suddenly have a jarring introduction of a being or creature that has tentacles coming out of its eyes (for example). In that, the film half achieved the goal. I was quickly submerged and given more alien races than humans... However, so many of those alien races -- the vast majority in fact -- were humanoid. Meaning they look just like humans except for one or two differences. This isn't the only film to do this -- and seeing as it is based off graphic novels it is not merely the film's choices either -- but I could never help but feel cheated when given a sci-fi/fantasy universe where the creators have free reign over their imagination and the best they give us is: "Here is a pink human... Now a blue one, but he has a horn-like bump on his head. Yeah. That's good."
Rainbow spectrum of humanoids aside, the visuals in this film were stunning. Both the physical and computer generated (but especially the computer generated) scenery and effects were top notch which made this film a captivating watch. There isn't much I can say here without going into spoilers so I'll just leave it with this: They used the physical when they could, and it made a difference, and when they had to resort to computer generation it looked real and natural even. So, galactic kudos to the men and women on that graphics team. Four for you, Graphics Team. You go, Graphics Team.
The characters, however, I felt could have used more work and attention. This is one of those areas I mentioned before that didn't meet my raised expectations. Going in, I figured the characters where going to be knocked out of the park, because the key to a successful story (and therefore film) is for the characters to be solid, complex, and engaging. Basically, they have to make us care. To be fair, my brother (with whom I saw the film) did warn me that Gamora (played by Zoe Saldana) was very flat and lacked proper character development. All of which I found to be painfully true. Moreover I don't believe this was Saldana's best performance. Perhaps I'm just growing jaded (i.e. bored) by seeing the actress in these roles, but I didn't believe her half the time. But she wasn't the only one I had qualms with. I felt Drax (played by Dave Bautista) had similar problems, though he at least had a more developed character arc (but not by much).
And I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but I wasn't won over by Groot (the tree) either. Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) was fun to watch and provided a lot of laughs, but I didn't have the bond with him that I should have. And, looking back, I can't even recall what his back story was, if he even had one. I feel that he did but the fact that its not memorable is a problem in itself. Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Peter Quill (played by Chris Pratt) were the two most developed and well done characters, in my opinion. They each had a memorable backstory that propelled them forward and provided continued motivation for their actions. Also (and I don't know how much of this is Cooper's work or Sean Gunn's, who is credited as being the "On Set Rocket") the mannerisms and expressions that Rocket had made for a very entertaining and engaging character, which, needless to say, is an important quality to have in a character that is not actually there.
Pratt, as the songs went, stole the show. In that, the film did not disappoint. Though he's been acting since at least the 2000s, I had not seen him in much before this film, and the roles I have seen him in were from over half a decade ago. So it felt as if I was watching a new actor making his debut. And damn if he did not blow up the scene. He was very natural in his portrayal of the character and I felt the most connection to him than anyone else on cast. Coupled with Rocket, he was the source of the humor, jokes, and drama that actually landed.
Speaking of which, a lot of the dialogue hit my ear wrong. They were either forced jokes (as in trying too hard to be funny), painfully obvious observations (looking at you, Gamora), underdeveloped/chopped romance, or failed attempts at badass one-liners. Thankfully, it was not the majority of the film that suffered these flaws, which allowed for the film itself to still be a fun watch. But I do feel that a lot of moments could have been better and bigger if a line(s) were different or cut out all together. On the other hand, there were a lot of small moments that were made better and bigger due to priceless dialogue (that'll be the work of Rocket and Peter, mostly). I just wish the film were made completely of the latter rather than suffering so much from the former.
The villain of the film, Ronan (played by Lee Pace), was your typical genocidal foe. His backstory was explained and referenced throughout, though I felt like it was almost unimportant. This could have been purely my take, but it felt as if they said: "Okay, so this is why this dude is so angry. [insert exposition] Now back to the main characters!" Also the film had the classic insufferable elements so many others do with their villains. You know the ones: Monologuing; villain clearly has ability and opportunity to kill the heroes but doesn't; bad dialogue; childlike tantrum attitudes, and so on. Though that last one was actually called out by another character in the film, so it's not so much a developmental flaw as it is a personality flaw the character possesses. Which is unfortunate, since that's what kept me from taking the villain seriously. Due to my nonexistent knowledge of the comics, I don't know how much of that is a reflection of Pace's work and how much is just Ronan.
Overall the film was an enjoyable experience, and I would see it again, but I hope they get rid of their crutches before any sequels. Because of the weak character development and all the lines that made me drop my head in disappointment or annoyance, I give the film 3.5 stars out of 5. Sorry, guys. I just can't give you that full 4 stars. Can't do it.
First, I had never heard of the graphic novels before this film came out, and I still haven't read any. So this review will be based purely on my experience of watching the story/characters for the first time with no set up whatsoever. Going in, all I knew was what I got from the first trailer: Some group of expert criminals, or perhaps just criminals, were needed for something or other. That's it. Honestly, the trailer did nothing for me so I wasn't even going to watch the thing if it weren't for everyone singing its praises from the rooftops.
Which leads me to my second note. I feel that the film may have been inadvertently oversold to me, since all the rooftop praising made my expectations high (and I'm pretty tough on movies to begin with). However, I'll still be reviewing the film as objectively as I can, with notice of where certain expectations were disappointed or reached.
As always, my reviews are spoiler free... and long.
The film is a sci-fi fantasy epic, not unlike the Star Wars series, only with less humans. Well, less traditional humans. During fantasy films centered in space I have always found the ratio between humans and aliens to be important. To be more specific, I have always found it more important for there to be more alien races than humans. I find this helps submerge the viewer (or reader) into the universe much easier and more quickly because it prevents us from getting comfortable seeing humans on screen to then suddenly have a jarring introduction of a being or creature that has tentacles coming out of its eyes (for example). In that, the film half achieved the goal. I was quickly submerged and given more alien races than humans... However, so many of those alien races -- the vast majority in fact -- were humanoid. Meaning they look just like humans except for one or two differences. This isn't the only film to do this -- and seeing as it is based off graphic novels it is not merely the film's choices either -- but I could never help but feel cheated when given a sci-fi/fantasy universe where the creators have free reign over their imagination and the best they give us is: "Here is a pink human... Now a blue one, but he has a horn-like bump on his head. Yeah. That's good."
Rainbow spectrum of humanoids aside, the visuals in this film were stunning. Both the physical and computer generated (but especially the computer generated) scenery and effects were top notch which made this film a captivating watch. There isn't much I can say here without going into spoilers so I'll just leave it with this: They used the physical when they could, and it made a difference, and when they had to resort to computer generation it looked real and natural even. So, galactic kudos to the men and women on that graphics team. Four for you, Graphics Team. You go, Graphics Team.
The characters, however, I felt could have used more work and attention. This is one of those areas I mentioned before that didn't meet my raised expectations. Going in, I figured the characters where going to be knocked out of the park, because the key to a successful story (and therefore film) is for the characters to be solid, complex, and engaging. Basically, they have to make us care. To be fair, my brother (with whom I saw the film) did warn me that Gamora (played by Zoe Saldana) was very flat and lacked proper character development. All of which I found to be painfully true. Moreover I don't believe this was Saldana's best performance. Perhaps I'm just growing jaded (i.e. bored) by seeing the actress in these roles, but I didn't believe her half the time. But she wasn't the only one I had qualms with. I felt Drax (played by Dave Bautista) had similar problems, though he at least had a more developed character arc (but not by much).
And I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but I wasn't won over by Groot (the tree) either. Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) was fun to watch and provided a lot of laughs, but I didn't have the bond with him that I should have. And, looking back, I can't even recall what his back story was, if he even had one. I feel that he did but the fact that its not memorable is a problem in itself. Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Peter Quill (played by Chris Pratt) were the two most developed and well done characters, in my opinion. They each had a memorable backstory that propelled them forward and provided continued motivation for their actions. Also (and I don't know how much of this is Cooper's work or Sean Gunn's, who is credited as being the "On Set Rocket") the mannerisms and expressions that Rocket had made for a very entertaining and engaging character, which, needless to say, is an important quality to have in a character that is not actually there.
Pratt, as the songs went, stole the show. In that, the film did not disappoint. Though he's been acting since at least the 2000s, I had not seen him in much before this film, and the roles I have seen him in were from over half a decade ago. So it felt as if I was watching a new actor making his debut. And damn if he did not blow up the scene. He was very natural in his portrayal of the character and I felt the most connection to him than anyone else on cast. Coupled with Rocket, he was the source of the humor, jokes, and drama that actually landed.
Speaking of which, a lot of the dialogue hit my ear wrong. They were either forced jokes (as in trying too hard to be funny), painfully obvious observations (looking at you, Gamora), underdeveloped/chopped romance, or failed attempts at badass one-liners. Thankfully, it was not the majority of the film that suffered these flaws, which allowed for the film itself to still be a fun watch. But I do feel that a lot of moments could have been better and bigger if a line(s) were different or cut out all together. On the other hand, there were a lot of small moments that were made better and bigger due to priceless dialogue (that'll be the work of Rocket and Peter, mostly). I just wish the film were made completely of the latter rather than suffering so much from the former.
The villain of the film, Ronan (played by Lee Pace), was your typical genocidal foe. His backstory was explained and referenced throughout, though I felt like it was almost unimportant. This could have been purely my take, but it felt as if they said: "Okay, so this is why this dude is so angry. [insert exposition] Now back to the main characters!" Also the film had the classic insufferable elements so many others do with their villains. You know the ones: Monologuing; villain clearly has ability and opportunity to kill the heroes but doesn't; bad dialogue; childlike tantrum attitudes, and so on. Though that last one was actually called out by another character in the film, so it's not so much a developmental flaw as it is a personality flaw the character possesses. Which is unfortunate, since that's what kept me from taking the villain seriously. Due to my nonexistent knowledge of the comics, I don't know how much of that is a reflection of Pace's work and how much is just Ronan.
Overall the film was an enjoyable experience, and I would see it again, but I hope they get rid of their crutches before any sequels. Because of the weak character development and all the lines that made me drop my head in disappointment or annoyance, I give the film 3.5 stars out of 5. Sorry, guys. I just can't give you that full 4 stars. Can't do it.
Friday, May 17, 2013
"Inhale"
We started the evening at our favorite restaurant. It was our third anniversary and Jason reserved the same table where we had our first date. He did this every year but it never failed to make me smile. There was a single red rose at the center of the table, the same kind he surprised me with when he picked me up at home not an hour before. They were in full bloom and I had never smelled any as strong and sweet as those. Well, no, wait, that wasn't true. I remember a particularly stunning bouquet of a dozen roses that smelled so strongly it filled the whole room. It was back when I dated Tyler-- But that was long ago. Strange that it came to mind at all.
The dinner was exquisite. When it was over, I stood and turned toward the exit of the restaurant that led down toward the shops. I had assumed we would go on our usual walk through the marketplace and admire the lights, but Jason gently grabbed my hand and said, "I have a surprise for you." His light brown eyes shone with excitement and...something else. Was he nervous?
He led me back to the car and drove to the park where we first met. It's strange, it was actually the park Tyler took me to on a surprise picnic; I had returned to it one day, years after we broke up, not sure of what I was looking for, when I bumped into Jason. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. All these flashbacks were probably the work of that strange dream I had the other night. But it was nothing, not even worth mentioning to Jason. The dream was innocent enough, if only random, since it involved a coffee shop and I don't drink coffee; so I didn't spend much time on it. Or at least I wouldn't if the flashbacks would stop.
Jason circled the car and opened my door, offering his hand. I smiled like a smitten schoolgirl: His chivalry always made my heart melt. We walked towards the lake together, my heels clicking softly on the sidewalk. The air was a little chilly, and there was just enough of a breeze to make my dress dance around my ankles, but thankfully not enough to pose a risk of a wardrobe malfunction. He wore a new suit for the occasion, I realized. It was black, but flattered his body well, and the green tie brought out the browns of his eyes, even in the night.
"You look really handsome tonight," I said aloud.
He stopped walking and beamed down at me. Guiding me gently by the hand, he twirled me around in a spin. "And you look absolutely beautiful."
I giggled and looked away, fighting a blush, but he cupped my cheek and led me back into a kiss. It was soft, and as we resumed our walking I no longer felt the cold. Still, I couldn't help but realize that every one of our kisses had always been tender. In three years neither one of us had ever let go and lost ourselves in a passionate, heated kiss. It wasn't like that with Tyler... But who was to say that was a bad thing? It only meant we were in more control of ourselves, right? After all, Jason and I were knocking on thirty -- far from the whimsical years of our early twenties when it was easy to give into our hormones.
I lost my train of thought as I noticed something flickering up ahead. We were almost at the lake now and something was casting patterns onto the water. As we took the first steps down toward the shore, I saw it all:
Candles. Dozens of them. Positioned in a wide half-circle around a single chair. The sight was breath-taking, but left my mind reeling with questions. Why was there only one chair? Who had arranged all the candles? Was someone else there with us? Did Jason plan all of this or were we about to intrude on someone else's evening?
My last question was answered when Jason walked me to the chair and guided me to sit. He handed me a single rose -- it must have been laying on the ground beside the chair -- and spoke my name as delicately as I held the flower. His eyes flickered in the candlelight, but I could see he was no longer nervous.
He knelt on one knee, and I found myself inhaling sharply as he pulled out a small box from his jacket pocket. He held it out to me, still closed, while I covered my mouth with one hand and tried desperately not to cry. He spoke my name again.
"From the moment I met you, I knew I had found something that would change my life forever. And every moment I've spent with you since has proven to me that it is something I cannot go back to living without. You are my missing piece, my better half. And if you'll let me, I'd like to spend the rest of my life trying to be the same for you..."
He opened the box. The stone was stunning and sparkled more than the water behind him; and the band of silver swirled around it like a wave, reflecting the candlelight so that it almost looked like fire.
"...Will you marry me?"
It was all so perfect. Our special place, candlelight, words that left me hopelessly crying, and a man who was looking at me with all the love I could ever need. It was all like I imagined it would be. I placed the rose in my lap and wiped at my eyes, unable to control the grin that had spread from ear to ear. I reopened my eyes to meet his, expecting to sink into the deep blue pools that reminded me so much of the open water--
When I realized I was thinking of the wrong face. Jason had brown eyes, not blue. It was Jason that was kneeling before me, waiting for an answer. Jason who had planned a perfect evening and perfect proposal...
Jason, whose smile had faltered because mine had fallen.
Everything was perfect...
And then I said no.
----
This is my submission for "Day 22" of the 30 Day Writing Challenge: Write a story based on a dream you had, which I've decided to title "Inhale." This was actually difficult to write for a number of reasons: One being the massive writer's block I've been battling for months (which I think is probably evident in this piece); another being that (as the challenge says) this was a real dream I had had earlier this week -- no doubt inspired by my romantic troubles -- and so it took a bit of a tug on the heartstrings to relive it in order to recall the general essence and vibe of the evening (not to mention trying to create enough details to fill the holes since the dream was only of the last scene). But there was a third reason, too, which stems from the second reason.
There is an almost crippling fear that accompanies any writing that involves revealing something personal because you are essentially stripping away all the covers and bearing your mind, heart, and soul naked for all to see. While it might sound brave to do so, the fact remains that it involves a lot of risk because it not only opens you up to judgement, but also creates the possibility of someone else being offended, angry, or hurt (etc.) by what is written. I keep a tell-all personal blog that runs this risk every time I write in it, which, on the one hand, gives me good practice on writing despite fears, but on the other hand I purposefully don't give the url out to just anybody because I'm so afraid. (Don't bother checking the sidebar, the link to it has never been there.) So this particular challenge was frightening because I'm essentially admitting that I'm terrified that years from now someone would be proposing to me and I'll realize I'm not over someone else. No real names were used here, obviously, and poor "Jason" didn't even have a name in the dream, but from what I recalled he seemed like someone who would have a "J" name.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this piece and the small glimpse of my personal life that it gave. I am truly sorry for the horribly slow speed of updates, but I promise you it wasn't for lack of trying. As always, please feel free to comment your thoughts and/or criticisms. And as a reminder to those of you who may not have a google/blogger account, I always leave my posts open to anonymous comments (although please feel free to leave an initial or name somewhere in the comment so that I know you're human :P).
Thursday, December 6, 2012
"Coffee Break"
I'm two cups into my coffee break and still struggling to keep my eyes open. I don't quite remember how I even got to this café. My phone rings again. There's two voicemails, four text messages, and now five missed calls that I haven't returned, but I shut off my phone instead. I just need a little time. I'm so tired and haven't made even a dent in all the things that are due this week. Our group project still has to be edited and rendered, I still have to finish sixty pages for my film script, I promised to cover a double tomorrow at work, my play isn't finished either, and--
Breathe. Breathe...
Mom would say I'm over-committing myself again, and Dad would probably say something like, "That's life. It'll be good for you."
I haven't seen them since September. Back then moving to a different city on my own seemed like a good idea. But it's hard to keep up with how fast things move here. I'm sleeping so little these days; I think--
My watch beeps to inform me I'm now done with my coffee break. My wallet's empty so I fumble some change out of my pocket and drop it onto the table. I hope the server understands. I'm still trying to, myself.
I turn and walk back towards campus.
I guess this is growing up.
----------------
This here is my submission for "Day 16" in the 30 Day Writing Challenge: "Go to iTunes, put your music on random. Write a story about the first song that comes up. (250 words or less)." Mine turned out to be 230 words, in case anyone was curious. Fun fact: The first draft was ~270.
I expected to get a ridiculous song choice (like from a musical, a "summer hit" pop song that's mostly chorus, or something heavy metal/rock) since my library is pretty darn random, but was happily surprised with the mellow, somehow soothing song, "Coffee Break" by Forever the Sickest Kids. As you can see, I named the excerpt after the song. **Disclaimer: Do not own the song rights (only the song file, lol) and am in no way affiliated with the band or their representation company.**
It's been a while since I've listened to FSK (I am aware it's "FTSK" online but we English students get it drilled into our heads that "the" doesn't get included in acronyms/other such abbreviations :P) so it actually led to a pretty great session of ideas. I kept working at it but the more I did the more I took out that related to the song (the mother bit used to be in there and got lost completely) so that it would flow more naturally. Rather, so that it'd flow the way a stressed out college or grad student would think on no sleep (in my experience). :P The end result hopefully matches the tone of the song and the general sentiment the speaker had about their life.
So you could say it's more inspired by the song rather than about it, but, hey, that still counts, right? :) Anyway, hope you enjoyed it. And as always, feel free to comment your thoughts.
Day 2: Write a FanFiction
Day 16: Go to iTunes, put your music on random. Write a story about the first song that comes up. (250 words or less)
Breathe. Breathe...
Mom would say I'm over-committing myself again, and Dad would probably say something like, "That's life. It'll be good for you."
I haven't seen them since September. Back then moving to a different city on my own seemed like a good idea. But it's hard to keep up with how fast things move here. I'm sleeping so little these days; I think--
My watch beeps to inform me I'm now done with my coffee break. My wallet's empty so I fumble some change out of my pocket and drop it onto the table. I hope the server understands. I'm still trying to, myself.
I turn and walk back towards campus.
I guess this is growing up.
----------------
This here is my submission for "Day 16" in the 30 Day Writing Challenge: "Go to iTunes, put your music on random. Write a story about the first song that comes up. (250 words or less)." Mine turned out to be 230 words, in case anyone was curious. Fun fact: The first draft was ~270.
I expected to get a ridiculous song choice (like from a musical, a "summer hit" pop song that's mostly chorus, or something heavy metal/rock) since my library is pretty darn random, but was happily surprised with the mellow, somehow soothing song, "Coffee Break" by Forever the Sickest Kids. As you can see, I named the excerpt after the song. **Disclaimer: Do not own the song rights (only the song file, lol) and am in no way affiliated with the band or their representation company.**
It's been a while since I've listened to FSK (I am aware it's "FTSK" online but we English students get it drilled into our heads that "the" doesn't get included in acronyms/other such abbreviations :P) so it actually led to a pretty great session of ideas. I kept working at it but the more I did the more I took out that related to the song (the mother bit used to be in there and got lost completely) so that it would flow more naturally. Rather, so that it'd flow the way a stressed out college or grad student would think on no sleep (in my experience). :P The end result hopefully matches the tone of the song and the general sentiment the speaker had about their life.
So you could say it's more inspired by the song rather than about it, but, hey, that still counts, right? :) Anyway, hope you enjoyed it. And as always, feel free to comment your thoughts.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Mirror Stolen From the Wall
The Wicked Queen laughed triumphantly as she left the cottage, knowing her plan was complete. No matter how much the dwarves fussed, no matter how many pathetic forest creatures rushed to the princess' side, nothing could be done: Snow White was dead. The Sleeping Death poison had worked its dark magic instantly -- it only took one bite. And when the dwarves find her laying on the floor, seemingly dead, Snow White would be buried 'alive.'
The Wicked Queen let out another toothless laugh as she neared her castle. Her disguise of an old woman had fooled the naive princess with little effort. "Who's the fool now!" she cackled, thinking back to the hunter's belief that a pig's heart would keep her from knowing the truth. Admittedly, the trick had worked for a short time, but the enchanted mirror soon told all to the queen.
She smiled wide, revealing nothing but gums, relishing in her success. The mirror couldn't deny it now, she thought. Now with the girl dead, she was the fairest in the land! The Wicked Queen ran a hand through her long, raggy-gray locks as if they were her slick, black strands. The potion that gave her this disguise would not wear off for several more hours, but she couldn't wait -- as soon as she arrived at the castle, the queen ran up the steps to her tower, looking for the mirror. She burst into the room, the question already forming at her lips, only to be stopped short by a gasp.
The mirror!
It was gone!
The queen looked around the room frantically. It had to be here! It wasn't possible for it to go missing: No one was allowed in her quarters. It had to be here!
She turned over tables, couldrons, her armoire, but with no success. The enchanted mirror was gone. Stolen from under her very nose!
She brought a wrinkled hand up to her large, disfigured nose. A disguise so hideous and for what end? The poison? Snow White's death? Without the mirror everything was for not. Snow White's death means nothing if the Wicked Queen could not enjoy her prize, her title. She wanted her rightful reputation of fairest in the land and the mirror was the only one who could confirm it for her. Without the princess to steal the queen's title, she had to be sure there was no one else to -- she gasped. The dwarves! They must have known of her plot and, knowing they could not hope to defeat her, must have broken into her castle and taken what she wanted. But how could they have known of her actions? And how could they have possibly done the theft so quickly?
The hunter!
She had been so focused on the princess that she had forgotten to kill the hunter that dared to deceive her. He must have returned to assure the princess' safety and discovered the mirror in the process. And if he had the mirror, he will know the secret to the princess' salvation. The dwarves may not have stolen the mirror, but if the hunter returns to them with it...
No! She will not let this be! Already she was running down the steps. She had to get to the dwarves before they heard how to break the spell.
Her legs were still frail, her gait still limped, but she hastened out of her palace and towards the woods as fast as her withered bones could take her. She had to stop them. Everything would be undone. She didn't even stop to consider what she would do once she was there -- she hadn't prepared any other potions or spells, and her current state would hardly seem threatening to a group of seven (possibly eight if the hunter was there), even if they were only dwarves. She only knew that she had to get there quick.
After what felt like hours, at last, the cottage was in sight. There was a scramble of animals surrounding it, and just as her eyes were able to make out the door, it opened. The dwarves were furious and looking for blood. She stopped, she would never be able to get close to the cottage now. Perhaps if she hid within the trees and waited for an opportunity--
But she was spotted. All at once the dwarves charged at her, pick-axes raised high into the air. Terrified, she ran, paying no mind to the direction her legs chose. The old-woman body was much too exhausted from covering so much ground, and the Evil Queen was not prepared to face all seven of the dwarves at once -- much less armed.
She found herself at a cliff. How did she lose her way? She turned to double-back, to find another route, but they were coming for her. She could hear their screams and soon, she saw them make the bend.
She reached behind her for something, anything, but mistakenly grabbed a weakened branch, which snapped under her bony grasp. Her balance faltered, and she slipped. She screamed in pure terror as everything rushed past her -- the dwarves' loathing faces, peering at her from over the edge, being the last image she could see before everything went black.
------------
Required disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Snow White, all of which (in this case) belong to Disney. I did not write this for any financial gain; this was purely for fun and creative purposes.
OKAY, now that the disclaimer is out of the way: Hello! This is my submission for the second challenge in the 30 'Day' Writing Challenge: "Write a Fanfiction." This is what they call a "one-shot," meaning it's a short story between one page to one chapter long that has no sequels or room for continuing. Just a flash, one event, a story drive-by if you will. Once it's done, it's done. So this is my one-shot titled (as you can see) "Mirror Stolen From the Wall." I didn't think it counted as a rewrite of a fairy tale since I didn't change anything about Snow White's story or the general ending (Queen still dies), so I figured it counted for "Day Two."
Day 2: Write a fanfiction.
:) Please comment your thoughts. Hope you all enjoyed it!
No! She will not let this be! Already she was running down the steps. She had to get to the dwarves before they heard how to break the spell.
Her legs were still frail, her gait still limped, but she hastened out of her palace and towards the woods as fast as her withered bones could take her. She had to stop them. Everything would be undone. She didn't even stop to consider what she would do once she was there -- she hadn't prepared any other potions or spells, and her current state would hardly seem threatening to a group of seven (possibly eight if the hunter was there), even if they were only dwarves. She only knew that she had to get there quick.
After what felt like hours, at last, the cottage was in sight. There was a scramble of animals surrounding it, and just as her eyes were able to make out the door, it opened. The dwarves were furious and looking for blood. She stopped, she would never be able to get close to the cottage now. Perhaps if she hid within the trees and waited for an opportunity--
But she was spotted. All at once the dwarves charged at her, pick-axes raised high into the air. Terrified, she ran, paying no mind to the direction her legs chose. The old-woman body was much too exhausted from covering so much ground, and the Evil Queen was not prepared to face all seven of the dwarves at once -- much less armed.
She found herself at a cliff. How did she lose her way? She turned to double-back, to find another route, but they were coming for her. She could hear their screams and soon, she saw them make the bend.
She reached behind her for something, anything, but mistakenly grabbed a weakened branch, which snapped under her bony grasp. Her balance faltered, and she slipped. She screamed in pure terror as everything rushed past her -- the dwarves' loathing faces, peering at her from over the edge, being the last image she could see before everything went black.
------------
Required disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Snow White, all of which (in this case) belong to Disney. I did not write this for any financial gain; this was purely for fun and creative purposes.
OKAY, now that the disclaimer is out of the way: Hello! This is my submission for the second challenge in the 30 'Day' Writing Challenge: "Write a Fanfiction." This is what they call a "one-shot," meaning it's a short story between one page to one chapter long that has no sequels or room for continuing. Just a flash, one event, a story drive-by if you will. Once it's done, it's done. So this is my one-shot titled (as you can see) "Mirror Stolen From the Wall." I didn't think it counted as a rewrite of a fairy tale since I didn't change anything about Snow White's story or the general ending (Queen still dies), so I figured it counted for "Day Two."
:) Please comment your thoughts. Hope you all enjoyed it!
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
30 "Day" Writing Challenge
Now, as you'll soon read, I don't think I'll be cranking out a challenge EVERY DAY like the instructions encourage. Let's be realistic here, a LOT of these challenges are gonna take a LOT of time to complete -- I mean, one of them is "write a fanfiction" for crying out loud!! xD But, whatever the schedule turns out to be, I do aim to complete all 30 challenges. Oh! And I don't plan on doing them in order. Just whichever jumps out at me in the moment.
Okay, enough ramble. The challenges are:
- Re-write a classic fairy tale
- Write a fanfiction
- A story that takes place pre-1950
- A poem using the words "blue, mistrust, half, twang"
- A story revolving around an object in your room
- Start your story with "He glanced at his watch impatiently..."
- Create a superhero. Have he/she save the day.
- Write a prequel to that superhero. Pre-superhero life. Maybe their childhood.
- A story in 250 words or less about your favorite city.
- Start story with "She touched the little box in her pocket and smiled..."
- A story where the characters go without power for a day.
- Find 10 random words and create your own definitions.
- Begin with "I thought I saw..."
- Randomly find someone in your yearbook. Create a story about their life today.
- Write about a stranger you see. Either their back-story or what they are thinking in the moment you see them.
- Go to iTunes, put your music on random. Write a story about the first song that comes up. (250 words or less)
- Use time travel in a story.
- A story set in a ghost town.
- Write an obituary for a historical figure.
- Use these words in a story: Grandfather, photo album, post office, and folder.
- He or she sees their crush in a library. Describe the incident.
- Write a story based on a dream you had.
- Describe/fictionalize a childhood memory.
- Write a story that takes place 100 years in the future.
- Write a story about a mythical creature.
- Write about the 30th picture on your phone or computer. Write about the story behind it, or make up the story behind it.
- Story taking place during a sporting event (any sport).
- Story on a ship. Past, present, or future.
- Story about space.
- Story or poem about ice.
Alrighty. There they are. I'll post each of the challenges on here as I complete them. :) I'd appreciate it if you would read them and comment your thoughts. (I will tag them all with the same "30 Day Writing Challenge" label that I'll attach to this post). And remember, you don't need a Gmail account or
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