So late...thus begins my Tech Week...and Writing...and Goals...

So pressed for time and it's almost midnight. I am still trying to finish this check-in. I know, not necessarily the priority, but it's the principle. I have made these goals and I will stick by them. Mousetrap rehearsal are beginning to take over. They are running long and the set is mostly erected (still need to be finished and then paint). But it's looking so good, my cast is looking so good, and my life is falling into place. Yes, I am gushing about my show. Well, by Monday, it becomes my cast's show. I leave it in their hands. I trust them. I have guided them to this point, time to take the training wheels off and get the technical stuff ironed out.

Okay, I am gushing now! But, there is something about waking across your set, when it is all still pieces and odd colours and knowing it's going to be amazing. I get goosebumps. Even if I have to write my ROW80 check-ions after midnight or read my fellow bloggers in the few minutes before leaving for work. I shall forego sleep this week and next, but it will be worth it.

Okay, this check-in is going to be short. I don't have full word counts or all the details at the moments so what I can report on, I will report on now.

This Week:

     *Reading: read more of Five Little Pigs (Agatha Christie). PAGES READ: about 50 pages.

     *Writing: wrote a story, using the 30 Song Title Challenge. Not sure it's the actual title. But, borrowed from Fallon Brown (click the link to read more). Wrote a poem after coining the title Don't Anger the Goddess. inspired by Jessica Scott and Rod E. Kok. WORD TOTAL: 1271 and 149 words.

      *Social Media: mostly on track. I did miss Wednesday's daily goal. Plan to visit 8 blogs tomorrow to make up for it.

     *Theatre Stuffs: submitted press release to The Leader, posters, promotions, and getting last minutes props/costumes.

The Rest of the Week:

     *Blogging: 1 new post.

     *Submitting: 1 new submission.

     *Editing/Novels: 10 more pages edited.

     *Reading: finish Five Little Pigs.

     *Writing: write new story in 30 Song Title Challenge and/or new poem. 

     *Theatre Stuff: prepare of Hell Week (Tech Week).

It's Wednesday too, and I am scrambling to find a WIPpet to share. So, let's look at the math first 2/25 is today's date, let's do 25; 2 + 5 = 7 paragraphs. A bit of back stork. This is the other co-protagonist, Marcie. She just woke from a nightmare. Must of it is unclear to her Mother, but like most dreams, there is truth there. Some of this is echoes from Selynee's snippets from previous weeks, if you've been following along.

Elsewhere there was sounds of screaming. It woke up this house and the tuxedo cat darted through the house.

 

Marcie was screaming and her mother rushed into her room. It happened to be one of those rare nights that her mother wasn’t working. Marcie’s was screaming, not aware of her Mother’s arms holding her. She was crying, and then suddenly hiccupped, thus stopping the screaming. Marcie’s mother sat on her bed, , “Oh, Sweetie, what happened? Honey? Hey, you okay?” She kissed the top of Marcie’s bed head hair.

 

No words came from Marcie, just some tears and hiccups. “Breath, Honey. Please.” She rocked Marcie against her body, softly shushing her whimpers and calming her hiccups.

 

Marcie tried to speak, but her vocal chords wouldn’t work. All she could do were soft grunts and sometimes a sigh, as she breathed against her Mother’s chest. “Let it out, Honey,” she said and she at the clock sitting on the night stand. Two o’clock in the morning. “It must have been a nightmare.” Marcie’s mother said, the only conversation occurring in the room. She was used to her daughter being tight lipped about many things and wasn’t expecting Marcie to answer her.

 

“I dreamt of Daddy, Mom.” She looked at her Mother.

 

The words spilled out of Marcie’s mouth before she could stop. Her mother could barely keeping up with the stream of thought. “I dreamt of Daddy, when he was in the hospital, right before he died. After that, Selynee was there, and that old nurse McLean; and then Selynee and I were at the semi-formal, dancing. Garrett Mulvaney he was there too, for some reason and she stole him. I was mad.” The sentences flowed out of Marcie is a mad rush. “Daddy wanted to die,” Marcie fought back some tears. Marcie was onto the next thought, “She asked him to dance. And I saw, Daddy. He wanted to die, Mom. And she promised to let me dance with Garrett.” The words spilled out of Marcie like a confession that her Mother was unaware of. Marcie was crying again.

 

“Oh, Honey. I’m sorry.” She could do nothing but let Marcie cry, would figure the rest out later.

ROW80, A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Visit the Blog Hop to see what we are up to.

WIPpet Wednesday, created by author, K.L. Schwengel. A Linky List where writers can share their WIPs. Also, stop by, read a bit, and make some new friends! :-)

That's it for now. It is quick and I need to sleep. I have prom dresses to pick up and I think I will go into the day job and take Friday off. Always something. I am pleased with my goals, I am doing pretty well. How are you doing, Dear Reader? Tell me about your favourite goal this round? Mine is the writing daily goal (which I am doing more consistently) and my 2015 Goodreads Challenge to read 30 books this year. I'm at 14. Leave me some love! Thanks!!

Been in a Mediaeval Baebes Mood:

Don't Anger the Goddess

Don't Anger the Goddess

Don't Anger the Goddess,
that is a very foolish move.
You know she watching
everything you do.

Don't Anger the Goddess,
what ever you do,
lest she smite you
'ere with lightening or locusts.

Don't Anger the Goddess,
are you even listening?
have heard what I have said?
Be warned, You!

Don't Anger the Goddess,
or for perchance you'll do
one say thousand hails
and give many offerings.

I Don't Anger the Goddess,
I worship her with love,
honour her with words,
and sing of her triumphs.

Don't Anger the Goddess,
because if you do,
then no words will you write
and no poem be thus written.

I Don't Anger the Goddess,
I only harvest the word,
gather the poems,
and pluck the songs.

This will please the Goddess.
There, now I am done
And now there is a poem
where once was none.

10:45 pm

~For Rod and Jessica

Sunny on a Sunday and Lookee Here...

So, yeah, winter blows and blows...but, here I am doing this...

This Week:
   *Reading: finished Stardust by Neil Gaiman. I really good read. Very fairy tale. Started Five Little Pigs (Murder in Retrospect) by Agatha Christie and will be starting Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. Trying to shift my reading into other author as I am getting low on Gaiman books to read. I am looking at either the Inkheart or His Dark Material series (both I have read, but am looking to revisit them).
    *Writing: wrote a flash fiction piece called Happy F***in' Valentine's Day: A Story for the #writestuff group (topic Anti-Valentine's Day) and co-wrote a poem with the Hubs on Friday about Quetzalcoatl. WORD TOTAL:  877 and 114.
    *Editing/Novel: made a dent this week in The Real Road Trip. Not the full 20 pages I planned, but really got to the heart of one of my characters. I am going to accept that this revision is going to be a full revision and not just small fixes. It's what is right for this story right now. Need to clear the crap out and flesh out the rest of the bits left after the cut. TOTAL 11+ pages. 
     *Blogging: was busy on the blog, what with the Coraline review happening. I finally watched the movie and the review of the book versus the movie needed to happen. Then I posted Happy F***in' Valentine's Day: A Story. Finally, I was tagged in Ink Dipped Moon's blog for the Liebster Award. The getting to know you blog conversation starter. I had done it before, so I decided to do it again and tag new people.
     *Submitting: 1 new submission: Please Hold
     *Social Media/Visiting: on track. 4+ daily blogs visited. Missed Saturday due to it being an unplugged day.
     *Theatre Stuffs (The Mousetrap): got the armchair, most of the costume pieces from the costumer, move the furniture to the dance floor because of an event that needs the space Monday and set building commences on Wednesday, and chatted with my producer. You know, the getting in line with his stuff and my stuff, so we are both on the same page.

For This Coming Week:
    *Reading: Five Little Pigs (Murder in Retrospect).
    *Writing: write or work on a new flash fiction story and interview my friend about her new Kickstarter: Positive Randomosity podcasts. More on that later (but check it out now)!
    *Blogging: 1 new post, about friend's Kickstarter project (see above).
    *Submitting: 1 new submission.
    *Theatre Stuffs: preparation for costumes parade Wednesday, submit press release to one more newspaper, and not freak out about there being less than 2 week until we open.

This is the second time I type this check-in, as my internet went stupid just prior to hitting publish. Gah! So anyway, it has been a busy week here. The cold isn't helping. Today is at least in the upper 20's (heat wave?) Tomorrow the bitter cold returns. I still have a nasty cough. But, I have the theatre and the writing. It keeps me going. What about you, Dear Readers? How are you surviving you winter of hell 2015? How are the goals coming? Anything exciting, joyous, and beautiful happening in your worlds? Leave me some love below, I do love to hear from you all!!

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. It challenges you to make goals and report on those goal bi-weekly. It is a Blog Hop. Come on in!

Happy F***in' Valentine's Day: A Story

I remember when the sky was a slate grey. There were clouds. Everywhere there were clouds. Looking like cotton balls coated in grey paint and nary a hint of blue. It was February. It was cold and grey.

I was sad. The wind pushed against my pea coat, while my canvas shoes sunk into the sand. Wishing that it wasn’t true.

One Step.

One Step.

One Step.

Into the sand my feet sinking as I walked.

And the shale rocks littered the bare beach. I can smell seaweed and rotting fish across this desert of sand and rocks. And there in my hand I cupped a good sized rock, all flat and perfect. I feel my hand grip it tightly and the edges feel sharp. I am not really paying attention.

The wind playing with eddies of the lake water, ripples rising to the surface, and making a deep blue and grey mosaic.

And all I can see in the images swimming before me, her face swimming in the ripples of the water. I can feel the air wash over my arm as I fling the piece of shale into the lake.

The image is broken.

One Skip.

Two Skip.

Plop!

"Damn," I said no one, but a seagull passed overhead. It was the only other life on the beach. Its call echoed across the waves and sounded like her voice. I look down to find another piece of shale, but there are also pieces of green and blue beach glass lying nearby, like jewels. I feel the impending tears as a swallowed hard. It what we did, gather beach glass early morning before the crowds appeared.

My hands scooped up a handful of wet sand, the clumps fall to the beach as I pull out the glass pieces. Blue. Milky-White. Amber. Green, like her eyes. I threw the sand to the ground and the glass went flying. I cursed myself. Sand clings to my hand. The lakes laps at my feet.

Crouching on the sand, the seagull cries, leaving an echo across the beach. I scoop up another handful of sand. More glass, finely worn pieces, blue, brown, milky-white. My mind wanders…

…Absentmindedly I grab a piece of shale, pull back I let go.

One Skip.

Two Skip.

Plop!

"Should have known," I said to the lake, excepting so other response but not getting anything. I started walking along the shore. “I should have known that she wouldn’t want to…” I could hear her voice, somewhere; the jokes and commentary that we would speak of while walking these beaches.

Looking down there's piles of seaweed, driftwood, and an occasional dead fish. I picked up a rock and lobbed hard it into the lake.

Plop!

I was thinking about her again. I could almost smell her body wash and the softness of her skin. It would have been a great month, if only… “Would you ever consider?” I asked.

I looked down and found another piece of shale, worn by the lake water; suddenly it was in my hands and then flying across the air.

One Skip.

I saw her face, there next to me, also skipping stones with her auburn hair blowing around her head. Her lips curling in a laughing smile. I could have kissed them. I wanted to.

I loved her. Her everything, I remembered now. It was the way she laughed, or the way she sang just a little off tune. “I wish…” I murmured. Not in anymore…The cold wind startled my revelry.

Two Skips.

The world slowed.

I turned. I saw her standing there. “But I thought…” I stammered, rushing across the sand. I reached her, “You came?” I grabbed a hold of her and kissed those lips. I felt the warmth and tasted her chap stick. The warmth filled me up to the brim. And there were her arms, pulling me closer. My mind ran with the thousand possibilities in that moment. I felt my lips on hers, her tongue in my mouth, searching. I let her. Finally.

That kiss.

Three skips.

That kiss.

And I was again cold and shivering and feeling very alone. I stared out into the expansive void of the lake; steel blue and slate grey sky. I was still alone.

This place was special. Not just because of her, but because it was a beautiful place. One could lose yourself. Find yourself. Be yourself.

I turn.

One Step.

One Step.

One Step.

I turn.

There she is, raising her hands to my face. Sand covers her fingers; I feel the scratchy sand against my cheeks. The wind is blowing, but I don’t feel it, not even cold now. I am warm. Leaning in she kisses me with soft lips; lips locking, soft, tongue, and arms wrap around, pulling her closer.

“Happy Valentine’s…” I whispered between breaths. There was no answer, but I continued to kiss her, warmth rising steadily. “I love you…”

Plop!

My fingers feel cold. The wind picked up. I am aware, reality sets in, and there is nothing in front of me but sand, lake, and a single gull calling overhead. There are tears and sand streaked upon my cheeks.

I turn.

Plop!

I knew it. "Happy F***in' Valentine’s Day!"

Plop!

Liebster Award 2015

So, I was tagged by Ink Dipped Moon's Liebster blog by challenging "YOU" (meaning me) and because I am a literal and logical person, I chose to answer the questions. I have tagged a few folks, you don't make to response, but I thought you might like to join in the fun.

This will be the second time I am getting the Liebster Award, this time with a different sticker! Also, i am a little bored today. Have fun and enjoy my answers. :-)

1. What is your name? What is your quest? What is your favorite color? OK so those aren't my real questions, but I couldn't resist.

Cynthia Louise Scott (yes my parents loved the Grinch story. I was blonde and blue eyed at age 2.) To find the HOLY GRAIL! Blue.

The real questions:
1. What character from a book would you most like to meet and why?

Bert, the Far Traveler are Samaranth the Dragon from the series The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica by James A. Owen.

2. What is your favorite TV show?

Doctor Who of course, also Star Trek and Twilight Zone.

3. Have you ever suffered from writer's block and if so how did you get around it?

Usually a couple times a year I get bad writer's block. Often a walk in the out-of-doors or at least hanging with friends will help.

4. What is something only your family would say about you?

A bit Ood, I mean Odd! 

5. Where would you go on a dream vacation?

Oh, that's a toughie! Realistically, Hawaii. Fantasy, anywhere in the Tardis. :-)

6. Do you have any hobbies besides writing and reading? What are they?

Theatre - acting and directing; Listening to music; Geeking out to Doctor Who.

7. If you could live in another time, which time would you choose to live in?

The Renaissance, even though as a woman that would be harder on me. I love me the Renaissance!

8. Who would you rather be Pinky or The Brain?

Pinky. Cause he has more fun! :-)

9. What is your idea of a perfect date?

Going to a Ren Faire or driving until we find something interesting to explore.

10. If you could have a super power what would it be and why?

Power to control the weather, especially lightening.

11. What 3 words describe you best?

Careless, Determined, Loving

Questions for you:

1. Whom is your mentor? And why?

2. If you could take only 3 books to the Eloi (The Time Machine by H.G. Wells) in the far future, what 3 books would you take?

3. What is the one food you hate the most? Why?

4. If you could sit down with 1 famous person (alive or dead for lunch/coffee/tea), whom would it be? Why?

5. Favourite band/artist? Why?

6. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

7. Biggest fear, what is it?

8. If you could perform/act/sing with one person, whom would it be? Why?

9. What is the meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything?

10. Greatest desire?

11. If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

Tagging:

1. Shan Jeniah

2. A Wren Writing

3. Allison Lawson

4. Theatrical Wannabe Librarian 

5. Tamara Woods

6. My Life as Lucy

7. Denise D. Young

8. Jessica Scott

There is some progress there...

Jumping in feet first this week...

This week:
    *Blogging: done yesterday. A review of Coraline book and movie. That was fun!
    *Writing: wrote 2 short poems on Monday and blogged Tuesday. WORD TOTAL: 1208 word for the blog and 29 word for the cinquains.
    *Reading: finished The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Really good! Sad, yes, but an engaging read overall. Started Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Seriously I am really addicted to this man's work!! Stuck on Windhaven (George R. R. Martin and Lisa Tuttle).
    *Social Media/Visiting: on track.
    *Submitting: to Yalobusha Review (actually was on Sunday, but well after posting Sunday's check-in).
    *Theatre Stuffs: Cast is almost completely off book. Looking so good.

This rest of the week:
     *Writing: write daily between 100 - 500 words. Current projects are to write Flash Fiction for #writestuff challenge and/or work on Doctor Who story.
     *Editing: The Real Road Trip and knock out between 20 - 30 pages before Sunday's check-in. Slack on this this week.
     *Submitting: 1 new submission this week.
     *Blogging: 1 new blog post (non-ROW80).
     *Theatre Stuffs: need to call the lady we are borrowing the chair from and print off the press release to take to The Leader this week. Call my sponsors that are supposed to be putting in ads in the program.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that challenges you to set goals and report on your progress. It is a Blog Hop, come in and warm yourself by the fire and visit with the rest of us writers.

Borrowed picture from Jenna Wood

Today is WIPpet Wednesday and I am not quite prepared. Today is 2/18, so let's do 8 + 1 = 9 lines from The Real Road Trip. It's a short bit. a little more about Selynee, this time when she's older. Trust me I will post a bigger snippet next week.

Bolting awake, Selynee sat upright. Her room was still dark. Tears were following down her cheeks as the dream receded from her memory. There was Marcie at the semi-formal, it felt like an almost reliving of that night. Selynee fought to shuck the dream off as she cried into her stuffed rhino, but the emotions left her feeling heavy. 

Selynee threw off her covers. The pillows were already on the floor, only the rhino was wrapped in her arms. It was stared at her, with its little rhino smile on its face. “Oh Rupert!” she said, glancing at her clock. The green glowing number made she eyes ache. It was two in the morning and she was wide awake.

This cold, I tell you. I am so over winter! My productivity suffers when it is this cold. I am trying so hard to fight it. The good news is the The Mousetrap is coming along swimmingly. My cast is a delight to watch. We are a little over two week until the show. Wowsa! Scared and excited all rolled into one. What have you been up to in the middle of this snow/cold/winter, Dear Readers?

Coraline: Movie or Book? A Review (with spoilers)

Coraline.

Book or Movie?

That is the standard question for stories that traverse genres, right?

For a good number of years been fascinated with book that give made into movies, or movies that have book adaptations. Some would maybe think there is a different. I highly doubt it. As a firm believer that the written word has shown me a great many things and often in greater detail than a visual story. This isn't trashing the fantastic abilities of any actor, but there is something to the imagination. Am I right, Dear Readers? Having the ability to imagine what Hogwarts really looks likes, imagine the path of the Fellowship to Mount Doom, or dancing with the prince of the realm is the joy of reading a book. That's the way I see it.

There are some stories are also meant to be made into movies. Some stories just lend themselves to being brought to life with use of stellar cinematography and amazing animation. I don't always like movie adaptations. After all, Dear Reader, even a movie needs an AWESOME story to tell - an awesome screenplay - which is the movie equivalent to a novel, short story, or poem. And I am only picky because I want what's best for the story and I want the stories I like those stories to make me feel like I am reading the book, but in visual form. If a movie director (and/or screenwriter of the movie) chooses the wrong actor, location, or changes the plot of the movie then often the movie suffers. And I have seen some stories suffer, ~cough Eragon cough~.

Anyway, it is all about opinion and when I review anything, I charge the reader to make their own opinions of the story, movie, TV show, writer, director, etc. And believe me, Dear Reader I will tell you when I do not like something. I have a critical eye for detail when it comes to a story that I like/love, and yes I might be partial to certain writers, but in the end I try to give the story it's full attention and look at it with a clear and mostly unbiased opinion.

I am most pleased with a movie adaptation when they (the director, screenwriter, etc) pay attention to the little details, pay homage to the writer of the original work, and do their best to tell a story. Today's review is one of those where I was planning on being critical to my own fault, but in the end movie actually held it's own.

Coraline: A Review.

Neil Gaiman wrote this book for his daughters, and as he points out in the very beginning, Dear Readers, he started for one daughter and ended for the other. It a children's story wrapped up for adults. I read it in one afternoon. It was that good. A different kind of story with characters that were a little annoying and even unlikable at first. I was still compelled to read on.

The first thing that struck me about the characters in both the book and the movie. Note: there is a character that doesn't appear in the book, but is central to the movie's plot. Oddly enough, while I was angered by the character in the movie, it made from a fuller story. The character all felt real, even when they were being the too busy parents or the over the top neighbours. They all felt like these people could have been real people. I do like a delightfully eccentric character or five. The movie only added to their eccentricities.

The story as a whole is the same is both versions. I have noticed that some of the events are a little out of order or expanded for the movie, such as when Coraline receives the stone and how many times she actually goes through the door in the drawing room. So, for story telling both versions are equally good. And I didn't feel so angry at the movie for mixing things up as much, or adding a character to the story.

But, there was one, perhaps minor change (or misrepresentation) that wholly bothered me. Note: this is probably a spoiler, or enough of a spoiler that those of you, Dear Readers might want to avoid more of this part of the review. Of the three dead children trapped by the Beldam, the movie hardly mentions anything about who they were and also do not include that one of the children is actually a faerie child. The movie has them being released in a dream, but all you see is the three as little angel spirits going away. There is no picnic, which is in the book, nor are anything about the children mentioned. Except that I must also mentioned that one of the children is the sister of the additional character's grandmother who owns the house where Coraline lives with her parents, and then there's Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, and the Old Man with the Mice. In the movie. The book, Neil has Coraline dreaming of a picnic with the three children that she freed from the Beldam and she learns a bit of those she rescued (with their costumes and mannerisms); there is the young boy, the elder girl, and the faerie child. They were all from different times and are release to the worlds beyond (or whatever is beyond this life). This bothers me that the children in the movie are all treated as human from the same time period, when in Neil's world faeries are just as real as humans. Anyway, Dear Readers, while it bothers me, because in the book it gives you a greater understanding as to how old the Beldam and how long between her meals she goes. It is not something that makes me dislike the movie, it just makes the vision of the book a bit more real to me.

As for the movie, the animation is incredibly stellar, the colours are vivid and drab, in a concurrent and discordant. It makes the dichotomy of Coraline's  and the Beldam's worlds even more vivid to the viewer. I particularly likes the snap dragons myself. Then there is the music, it is a blend of the macabre and the genial, peppered throughout and not overly done. Voice talents are good, I really didn't feel like it was Dakota Fanning playing Coraline and sometimes Coraline in the movie felt a little more disgruntled, maybe more an angsty teen, not a  slightly different to her parents tween. I felt all the voice actors were chosen properly and fit the bill of their characters.

And as a whole the movie's story is a powerful one of  the 'be careful what you wish for' syndrome. I will always side with the book; okay, some books I will never side with (A Separate Peace and Old Man and the Sea comes to mind), but as a whole Coraline the novel has my heart, while Coraline the movie is the goofy friend that I go out with on a Friday night.

Both are good and I would recommend either to anyone. Please, visit Neil's website and check out his stories, novel, poems, songs , and awesome whatnot.

*Pictures from Google search and Other Father Song from YouTube.