Blank Tape

The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don’t wanna blow your wad, so then you got it cool it off a notch. There are a lot of rules. Anyway …I’ve started making a tape … Rob Gordon, High Fidelity.

I miss mixed tapes. There were different kinds of mix tapes.

The I’m going to share all my favorite songs with my best friend mix tape.

My favorite songs from the radio mix tape because I don’t have the cassette tape, or CD yet.

The I miss you mix tape. Aka the break up tape no one is ever going to hear because it will be worn out from being played on repeat.

The road trip mix tape.

The songs that make me the happiest mix tape.

The riding public transportation mix tape.

The songs that are my guilty pleasures that I don’t want anyone to know about mix tape.

And of course, the ever famous, songs for new sweetheart mix tape.

When I was in school Rob Gordon’s quote was right it did take a long time to make a mix tape. Okay grant, it was pre iTunes. It was also before a time when everyone had computers, and you could easily burn a CD. When I was a senior in high school you could still walk into Sam Goody and buy a cassette tape. Kids if you don’t know what Sam Goody is, it was like Best Buy back in my day.

When it was time to make a mix tape, I would have all my cassette tapes and CDs laid out in front of me. Then I would have a paper and pen to write down the possible songs and their order. There was something personal about a mix tape when I was growing up because you knew how long the process was. And you knew if a person made you one it was special. It’s like when you write someone a letter …. you know paper, pen, it was called mail … it means something because it’s from one person’s hand to yours. They took time for you.  

The most difficult process of making a mix tape is when you had to get songs from the radio. Of course you would have your tape ready to go, but then one of three things would happen.

The DJ would come in at the end of the song.

You would have to wait through two or three songs and a commercial break before the song you wanted came on.

You missed the song because you were on the other side of the room.

It’s like when I was growing up and we had HBO we made sure that whatever movie they were showing Saturday night we recorded it. Yes, before DVDs we had HBO. That’s where they showed all the new movies like Ghostbusters, Enemy Mine …. Okay they were new movies to me growing up. And if you have not seen Enemy Mine, this is me shaking my head. A movie about a two warriors, one from Earth and another from Dracon … nough said.

Speaking of missing things. I miss VH1 and MTV. On the weekends you could watch the Top 20 songs. Ah, those were the days. Now you have to go on YouTube. Don’t bet me wrong I like the YouTube but it’s not the same. If that makes sense. I don’t even think they show music videos on tv any more. When I say it’s not the same. It’s like when you are flipping channels and you run across a movie you own but the fact that you ran across it is like a happy accidental. Or, as I normally say inside my head, I have to see it now … even though I own it .., because it’s on now.

I’m glad Guardians of the Galaxy was made, it has introduced the youths to the mix tape. Okay that sound cheesy. But I didn’t have to explain what a mix tape is. *She says the only in the room laughing at her won joke.* I recommend at least making a playlist. A kind of soundtrack that is special for someone or for yourself. I would highly recommend making a mix tape if they still sell radios with cassette tapes. Man you can’t even buy a care with a cassette player anymore. Oh technology you make me both happy and sad.

Was that always there

"Was that always there?" Is going to be the title of my memoir. If I ever write one. Perhaps this might be something I would write about. I’m just going to go with it and see where this blog ends up.

I was just thinking about the fact that I have only used social media for a year. I know for most people that seems strange but I have never been good with what is trending.

Social media to be honest has always made me a little leery. Which is not a surprise, and maybe I will date myself here a bit. But in the late 90s when I was in high school, the year I graduated our school library got two brand new computers. There was this kid who I had several classes with who knew how to use it. None of us really even knew its existence. Or, maybe just did not pay attention. I ain’t going to lie to you, he knew how to get on line and most of us did not.

It was not for me. I was happy with the card catalog, thank you. I don’t mean on the computer. I am talking old school, where you had to know the subject, title, or author. I miss that, where you looked up a subject then it would lead you to the title and author. Then you had to write down the call number. Those were the times when if a book was not on the shelf then it mean someone checked it out. You could not really ask the librarian do you know if someone checked out the book because back in my day kids, the librarian did not have a computer to look that up right away. Instead the librarian would have to look through the library check out cards. Most the time I did not bother because I did not want to have the librarian go through all the trouble.

Yep that’s how it was. When you were ready to check out a book, the librarian would pull out the library card write your name with the due date. The card would have the title of the book and the author. Then the librarian would stamp the library card holder with the due date.

When we wanted to write notes to our friends we did not have cell phones. There was no such thing as texting, we had to use paper and pen. Gee wiz, we still had microfilm in the school library! Kids for those of you who are not familiar with microfilm this was google before google. When we wanted to look up older newspaper articles and such we would have to look everything up on a film that was kind of like a photo negative. That’s usually how I describe it.

That just got me thinking when high school we still had typing classes! By my last year of school we did have computers in the class room. We would do all our typing assignments on the computer then print them out.

I know that computers were around, but where I grew up only people who could afford it had computers. Most of what I learned about computers I did not learn until I got to college. Which was two years before the whole Y2K thing. It was strange as I would sit there and print things from the college’s computer I could always tell who had more experience with computers.

In the early 2000s we finally got our own computer. My brother was in high school by then. So you can pretty much imagine, he is the one who taught me most of the other things I have learned about computers.

The moral of the story is it’s okay. Well in my humble opinion, it’s okay to ask for help. You don’t have to know everything in the world. The point is to always want to learn and develop when you can.

…. Given today’s topics, maybe I should call my memoir …. Kids, ask your parents.

I’m not sure what this blog post is about

Yet again I have gone another two weeks without writing anything. My last reason was because of the holidays. This time it is because well I’m not sure other than too many books to read, and shows to watch. Sometimes I wonder if my procrastination for writing comes from the fact that I sit behind a keyboard IRL. But who am I kidding it’s mostly the books and tv shows thing I want to do.

So speaking of things to watch, Mockingjay Part I comes out this Friday! To answer your question yes, I have been on a Hunger Games movie marathon today. Today was a very SciFi , dystopian movie day in the House Of Cooper. If you have not seen the Comic Relief with David Tennant and Catherine Tate, you need to. That’s all I’m going to say get on the YouTube and look it up.

Even though it was a SciFi day today, I stayed away from the Trek. I was telling my husband the other day, I don’t think I’ll be able to watch the Trek for a while. Even though we know the ending, and the movie in its entirety will not change. Some of the magic seems like it won’t be. I will leave it at that because for each person that feel in love with, and will fall in love with Leonard Nimoy, it will have a different meaning. I just wanted to put that out there into the vast ocean of the internet.

Speaking of vast ocean of the internet. Well just vast ocean. Do you ever have those days where you feel uncool? Like you’re just plain weird? Those are my favorite and worst days to have. Favorite because you know that well as Moss would say, “Weird’s all I got. That and my sweet style.” It also lets you bring something different to the table. Even though some people will stare at you and ask “who is Felicia Day?” “What is Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along-Blog?” or say “I have never seen Firefly” “I don’t watch Doctor Who.”

And it’s the worst day because you feel like no one gets it. No one gets you. It’s kind of like the times in middle school when you hear people whispering and you think it’s about you. Maybe it was. The important thing to remember is I don’t think anyone can honestly say I never have a day where I feel, meh. Just remember you are not alone. With that last sentence I guess I was not as done as I thought. I was in talking about Nimoy because I think that is what brought this on. Just the feeling of those days when you feel small, but in reality you are part of a bigger community than you know. Whether it’s SciFi, books, certain tv shows, it’s always a bigger place than you imagine it was. Yes, sometimes it takes a while to find your peeps, but you will.

Okay I am not sure if my ramblings are making sense. And hopefully it does not sound like I am standing up here on a soap box. These are just thoughts that have been moving around up there in my brain. I guess I wanted to finally put it on paper so to speak.

Oh before this long side rant I was talking about Mockingjay. So yeah it comes out this Friday. First of let me say ….. Hunger Games! Second, why release it on a Friday. I guess I am wondering why so much because normally new movie releases around here come out on Tuesdays. Although I am pretty sure the interwebs know something I don’t know. Because let’s face it. I am always late to Tweet about a show that just finished airing two, three, four days ago. But in my defense I cannot Tweet while the show is going on. I just can’t. I like to watch my tv shows in the moment. And sometimes it’s because I have to have a good cry afterwards like when the last episode of Parks and Rec aired this past week.

So in conclusion. Nope, there’s no real conclusion here because it was just all random. I will end this on one more note though. In a recent interview Leonard Nimoy tribute I saw there was a clip of an interview he did, where he mentioned the live long and prosper Vulcan greeting came from a blessing he saw at a Hebrew ceremony. Then he said so when people do this to each other *he gives the love long and prosper symbol* they are really blessing each other. Me personally, and again I hope it does not sound too soap boxy, I think that’s awesome.

Boys who are better in books... and movies... and TV

There is a YouTube video called Boys in Books Are Better by Carrie Hope Flecther.

It got me to thinking I should do that. Not sing, but write about my favorite leading guys in books, movies and television.

Who are these guys you might ask. In no particular order (and of course in jumbled, short thoughts) we have Maurice Moss, Wade Owen Watts aka Parzival, Johnny Martin aka Max Champion, Peeta Mellark, Jordan Catalano, and Tim from About Time.

Moss. Need I say more? One word, Moss! What girl would not like a guy who is the Countdown winner? For those of who are familiar with The IT Crowd know how funny, awkward, and nice Moss is. I know that show is way over, but I still enjoy it. I know most people would say girls would not like a “dork” in real life. Well I like dorks, I did marry one after all. It’s okay he knows that is probably the main reason I married him.

Can we just talk about Parzival for a moment? He is the unintentional hero of the book. It’s just my humble opinion I say unintentional hero because he starts off in the OASIS playing for himself, then he begins to use his powers for good. I apologize where are my manners? For those of you who are unfamiliar with Wade Owen Watts he is Parzival in Ready Player One. Well, his avatar’s name is Parzival. Ten words can sum up my feelings for Parzival, falls in love with a girl he has never met.

Johnny Martin aka Max Champion aka James McAvoy. Okay yes I love me some James McAvoy. Again, it’s okay my husband knows that. Seriously *she says in her best Scottish accent, like McAvoy, which did not work* I like him in the movie Penelope. That is a favorite movie of mine because it is sweet and different. I have never seen a movie where you did not know where it takes place, but it still works. That broke my heart when Johnny has to say no to Penelope’s proposal because he is not Max. He loves her that much he wants her to be happy even if it means letting her go. Love that movie. Go see it … its okay I’ll wait.

Peeta Mellark in the books and the movies. All I am going to say is when I picture Peeta when I read The Hunger Games I could not think of a better actor than Josh Hutcherson. I am not sure if people have a differing opinion but that is just my humble opinion. Anywho. He is a strong, caring, and loving person. I know a lot of people would say he loves Katniss so much he just wants to protect her, which is true but he also respects her independence. I like a guy who know when to listen, and when you need support. That’s why I married a guy like that.

Okay, I know, I know I am here talking about my love for dorky guys and Jordan Catalano is on my list of favorite leading guys. In my defense My So Called Life, Daria, and …. I am going to date myself even more here ….The Wonder Years are shows that I watched when I was growing up. It’s really the nostalgic part of me that has him on the list. I think when we are all younger we have a Catalano or know one in our lives, and that’s okay that’s why they are called crushes.

Tim from About Time is accidentally charming. In case you are wondering that is his name, he has not last name in the credits. If you have read my blog before you know that I have written about this movie. It is the loveliest, beautifully written movie I have ever seen. If you have ever seen Vincent and the Doctor you know what I mean. Richard Curtis is a brilliant screen writer.

So in conclusion, nice guys don’t finish last. I know some people might think hey of course these guys are awesome because they are fictional. Well … okay so it’s a little true. But the way I see is in fiction they are awesome so you know when to recognize it in real life.

My thoughts after reading A Thousand Pieces of You

My thoughts after reading A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

A Thousand Pieces of You was released November 3, 2014 so hopefully I am not spoiling too much of the book for anyone who has not read it yet. So what is this book about you ask. Well … I don’t know why I am talking like that. Hopefully my thoughts don’t get jumbled into a big ol’ summary of the book.

Before I get into the book, can I just say this is one of the most beautiful book covers I have seen. Well… I guess that not really fair for me to say since I think all book covers are pretty. Well… except for the book covers that are reprinted with the movie poster. It’s nothing against the movie, or the book. But it makes me feel like saying it was a book first people! But at least more people will fall in love with books.

Any who, enough of the wells and buts. The wells are not my fault. All my wells I’ve learned from watching Doctor Who. Major spoiler alert here, so cover your ears. The main character Marguerite Caine is jumping dimensions chasing after Paul Markov, the guy who murdered her father. Well allegedly murdered her father. (Sorry that is the last well … maybe) Her and her parent’s research assistant, Theo are both traveling through different dimensions. Yeah, I guess you call Theo and Paul that. I won’t get into the minutia of their titles. (@DimesnsAndGalxs I did it, I used minutia)

One of the things that I did like about the jumping dimension story is when the characters would jump from one parallel universe to the other is they would jump into their other selves’ body. Huh? That did not make sense after I typed it. So when Marguerite goes into a parallel universe instead of two separate hers she jumps into the alt Marguerite’s body. Essentially she is taking charge of the other Marguerite’s life etc. The same goes for Paul and Theo.

The characters are able to jump from one parallel universe to the next with a device called a Firebird. With the Firebird they are able to jump into the alt universe and remember who they are and why they are there. Yes, to answer your question they do have to keep the Firebird on at all times. Or else they will forget who they are and will become lost in that dimension.

I will admit, and I mean not to offend anyone who loves the book, but when I first started reading it I sopped for a day or so because it started turned into a love story. I was like hey what happened to the Sci-Fi stuff?

So when I picked up the book again, with an open mind this time. It started to make some sense. One other interesting thing about the jumping dimensions is they will always end up where they belong. For example Marguerite always ends up in a version of her life where her family is with her.  In this case having a “love story” is needed to illustrate the point about Paul’s belief in fate. No matter which alternate universe Marguerite jumps to her version ends up finding Paul. Who (even more major spoiler alert) is not the murderer.

A major part of the story is in Russia around the 1800s ish give or take. In this universe Marguerite is a Grand Duchess and Paul is a Lt. and her personal body guard. Don’t roll your eyes just yet. Yes, it does turn out that the Marguerite that was their before the main character Marguerite took over has feelings for Paul. But in this universe Paul has lost his Firebird to his commanding officer for being out of uniform, so he begins to forget everything. Her mother has passed away due to complications from giving birth, but her father is still her birth father. He is actually Grand Duchess Marguerite’s tutor.

I know it kind of seems typically love story, until I read two words that made me say what? Paul dies. Then I was like yeah my Sci-Fi, well at least nonlove story is back. It’s not until you read later more of the book Paul got back his Firebird and was able to jump into another dimension. Then it turns into another love story and end with a love story.

Get ready for another spoiler, it turns out Paul was trying to save Marguerite from Wyatt Conley, the CEO of an evil corporation who wants to jump dimensions to steal technology. Conley is after Marguerite because she can naturally remember who she is with or without the Firebird. And it turns out since Conley has spies everywhere the Theo she has been jumping universes with is not her Theo but a spy.

A Thousand Pieces of You is the first book in a trilogy. Hopefully I did not sound like I didn’t like it. I did like it. I mean who does not like a good love story from time to time. Right? Anyone? My only wish was it could have been a little more Sci-Fi. Perhaps the second book will have more Sci-Fi and the first book was for character building. #SecondChances