A final post for 2010, Silly and Heartfelt all at the same time!

Dear Friend,
A year ago today I decided to put some of my Itunes gift money to good use. I looked around and listened to various clips from assorted artists and releases that had caught my attention in the preceding months before settling on to Ocean Eyes by Owl City. I'd heard his single Fireflies (just like every other person on earth) and had enjoyed to sound of it. I figured it was gift money, so I may as well take a chance with it.

I didn't listen much that night, being rather busy with New Year's Eve traditions, but what I did hear I liked. Little did I know it would send me into one of my "obsessive" phases that I am inclined to suffer through from time to time.

Though, suffer is a horrible choice for the way to describe how I go through these phases. I enjoy every second of immersing myself into a pleasant activity. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother, now would I?

As I mentioned in my previous post about the soundtrack of my year, Adam Young took over my listening habits. I love his music. However, it isn't just that. I love him.

I often have what I call Celebrity Crushes, they're fun and meaningless and often get me to watch movies or shows or listen to music I wouldn't have known about if I hadn't taken a strong interest in whoever the latest "heart throb" is. These little episodes rarely last longer than a month, sometimes less, really strong crushes occasionally last two or three months, and when they're over I still look fondly at the person and enjoy their work. I just don't obsess like I had before.

I've been "in love" with Adam Young for a year now.

I don't know what exactly it is that I adore so much about him. I do know that I find him witty, funny, sweet and inspiring, though. I've been happily listening to his music and reading his twitter and his blog. He quotes some of my favorite movies, including You've Got Mail. He reads wonderful books, even getting me to finally read the original Bambi novel. He's a Christian, and did the best cover of In Christ Alone I've ever heard. I almost can't find anything wrong with him.

But, isn't that a little strange? He's human, just like the rest of us, so he must have some faults. Well, I mean, besides the fact that he's obviously into Blond girls and a vegetarian, but those aren't exactly faults, are they, they're just his opinion and choice.

I've come across people who are so obsessed with celebrities that they believe they're honestly in love with them, and frankly those people scare me. I am not that scary, stalker girl who can't talk about anything or anyone else.(Though, the fact that he's been mentioned in almost every blog entry I've made these past six months might contradict that statement, huh?) The one who sends letters and presents and is upset when she doesn't get any replies or thanks. I also am not the girl who loses sight of reality in the fantasy of some unobtainable "god." I'm just sitting back, enjoying his music and lyrics and thoughts that he chooses to share with his audience.

I've chosen one of his songs to be a sort inspiration for this upcoming year.
Sky Sailing's Steady as She Goes



The tide can bring in anything,
So Steady as she goes!

Happy New Year, and God bless you, my friend!

My 2010 Soundtrack

Dear friend,
I got a lot of new music this year. Some of it really left a strong impression on me, so much so that it almost seems linked to all of the experiences I had this year. That has inspired me to compile a sort of soundtrack from the year.

For whatever songs I can, I'll embed a video from Youtube, so if you're reading this on facebook, and you don't see a video, go to my blogspot blog, there should be a link to click. If you don't you'll miss half the experience.


1. Fireflies by Owl City


2010 was practically the year of Adam Young for me. He somehow swooped in and took over my ipod, not just as Owl City, but also with his albums under the names Port Blue and Sky Sailing. I even bought some Swimming With Dolphins because of his involvement. This was the song that started it all, of course.

2. Terrified by Katherine McPhee feat. Zachary Levi


I got a complete and total celebrity crush on Zachary Levi this year, which is the only reason this song warrants exposure on this list... It's sweet though.

3. Galileo as sung by Josh Groban


I adore this song, I've played it to death, but I still adore it. It's silly and sweet and makes me smile each and every time I hear it.

4. End of May by Michael Buble


This song got me to like Michael Buble again after I had practically given up on him. I've got one hell of a melancholy streak in me, and this song speaks to it beautifully. It's another song I've played to death.

5. I'm Yours/ Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Straight No Chaser


I like this version better than Jason Mraz's which I would have thought was impossible. I love these guys, they are my favorite a cappela group (as though I have a lot of those groups to choose from...) They're amazing.

6. All My Heart by Stellar Kart


Theirs was the only Christian album I bought this year (*blush*) and this song just struck a chord with me. I'm not sure what other songs I've played this often on the album. (Honestly, last year's Barlow Girl CD Love and War is still heavy in my rotations, it was too awesome to overcome this year, I guess)

7. Rhythm of Love by the Plain White T's


Another song I've played to death. It makes me think of summer. Oddly enough, while I was writing my novel this November this song sort of became the main character's theme song. I can't explain that in any type of way, because it makes no sense. But it doesn't have to, it just works.

8. Bienvenue Dans Ma Vie by Nikki Yanofsky


Found Nikki on Itunes this year. I like her voice, and I love this song. Played to death, just like all the others on this list.

9. The Only Exception by Paramore


I'm not usually into Paramore. It seems like the sort of music I'd love, but somehow it just doesn't hit me. Until this song. I love it. Say it with me now: Played to death. LOL

10. Rainbow Veins by Owl City


I told you Adam Young took over my life this year. I adore this song, I think it's my favorite of his under Owl City.

11. Brielle by Sky Sailing


Adam Young again. This song will forever be the song that gave me the idea for my book that I wrote this year. If you listen, don't expect to know what my book is like, they couldn't be less alike. (I wrote a murder mystery, I can't explain how that came about) It's a beautiful song, and I love it.

12. Silhouettes by Swimming with Dolphins


Pretty, pretty song. I've got a story in my head because if this song. Maybe I'll write it someday.

13. Never Knew I Needed by Ne-Yo


The song from Princess and the Frog. I don't care very much for Ne-Yo, but I do like the song.

14. Voce Existe Em Mim by Josh Groban


It took me awhile to like this song, but once I did I loved it. I think it's because of all the drums. It's awesome.

15. Peppermint Winter by Owl City


Adam Young does Christmas! I so adore this song. I wish he'd make a proper Christmas album. The lyrics of this song are perfection!

I think that's enough. Hopefully all of those videos work and all this gathering and typing wasn't a complete waste of time! LOL

A new year is coming, you know what that means?

Dear Friend,
2010 was not a year of blogging. I don't really know what happened, I just didn't feel like writing out what was going through my head most days. I've had ideas, but no motivation. I'm hoping to change that. I've got a few ideas for blog entries, even a few series, that I have to do a little research on. (Research, on a blog? Aren't blog entries supposed to be spontaneous? What?)

Just to let you know, the first series I want to write is about people who inspire me. I made a list of ten people who make me want to get up off my butt and do something, even if it isn't what that person does. Hopefully either next week or after the beginning of the year I'll get started on that.

I'm planning on editing my NaNo novel after the new year starts. I think that will be enough of a break from the story to let me look objectively at the story and change what needs to be changed. I'm not satisfied with the story as it stands, so I know that editing needs to be done.

Eliot comic strips are also in the planning stages. I'm out of practice drawing him, so I've been sketching him lately, before I try to combine the art with the plot lines.

Christmas baking is swiftly approaching. For once I have no plans to try any new recipes. I'm hoping for a quiet Christmas, since Thanksgiving was extremely busy.


What is it about the end of the year that makes me so ambitious?

Now that's terrifying

Dear Friend,
I don't celebrate Halloween. Beyond spiritual reasons, I personally find a holiday in which children disguise themselves and then proceed to beg for candy by threatening to harm someone if they are not rewarded to be absolutely disgusting.
However, that doesn't mean that I don't find October 31 scary in its own right. It's scary because the very next day is the beginning of National Novel Writing Month! Each year, October 31 is the last day that I have to wonder if I'm really crazy enough to write a novel in a month. If you've never done it before, you don't know how both exciting and terrifying it is.

I have decided this year that the task of writing a 50,000 word story isn't enough for the month of November. I also have chosen to add an art project to the mix. Every day of November I will attempt to draw the one thing in this world I hate drawing: People. I will attempt various degrees of realism (mostly leaning to the cartoony spectrum) but they will all be people.

Also, I'm not planning on telling anyone that I'm doing it. When I say "anyone" I mean my parents. The idea this year is to write and draw in addition to my normal life. I don't want to use these projects as an excuse to slack off on my work and chores. (This will be extra interesting since we're having Thanksgiving company this year!)

November is a month of adventure! What are you going to do in it?

Fun days deserve blog entries

Dear Friend,
Adam Young's (Owl City) other project, Sky Sailing, came out with a new album, exclusively to Itunes for two weeks, today. (I'll give you a chance to find your way through that sentence, now) I had it pre-ordered, and I love it. The album is very mellow, with a lot of guitar, and just right for dreaming.

Psych season 4 DVDs came out today, too. (Un)fortunately, the fifth season premieres tomorrow, so I can't watch all of the discs beforehand. The picture is much clearer than the previous season's which was really grainy for some reason. They look great on a blu-ray player.

I stopped in at Pier1 today, just to see if they had reed diffusers on sale (no such) and discovered that they had a few "fruity" bath products. These products included pineapple themed objects, like soap and bath gel and sponges. Obviously, I had to buy a pineapple shaped bath sponge. Simply adorable.

I watched the premiere of Covert Affairs tonight. It was all right. I'll give it at least one more try. It certainly isn't to the level of Psych, Leverage, Chuck, Burn Notice or Due South for me.

My mind rebels at stagnation

Dear friend,
I've not been blogging, even though I've been doing things that I usually choose to write about, for example; seeing movies. I've seen at least Disney/Nature's Oceans (skip it, it sucks, though the footage is pretty), Sherlock Holmes (wow, that was fun! Why haven't I bought it yet?), Iron Man (fun again, but not something I'd buy), and Iron Man 2 (I had just as much fun with that as I did with the first. But I saw them on the same day, so they kind of melded into a single, extremely long movie in my head).

Really, I'm writing now because I noticed something about myself. I like mystery shows, books, and games though I suck at figuring out the solution. I think I know why, though. I care more about the characters than the mystery. I feel as though I am missing the point, but I don't care since I'm enjoying it anyway.
I noticed this when I was watching Sherlock Holmes. My Dad had ordered the movie on Pay per View, but didn't tell me, since he didn't know I wanted to see it. Since PPV is usually a 24 hour deal, in which time you can watch as many times as you like, I decided to watch the next evening. The film cut off just before the end. I wasn't torn up about not seeing the solution to the mystery at all. I wasn't too concerned about seeing the end because I knew (spoiler, I guess) Watson was still alive. (End of the fake, silly spoiler)
Some would look at that as a sign of a very poorly written mystery. Maybe it was, but I've almost never bothered to try to follow mystery plots anyway. A good deal of the shows I watch are either cop or detective shows. Psych and dueSouth especially, but even Chuck and Burn Notice have the same sort of elements. Most people who watch LOST are talking about the need to know answers by the time the finale airs tomorrow. I don't really care. I mostly want to know what's going to happen to these characters, rather than what occurred to make all these things happen.
In other words, I care more about the characters than the stories.

Having realized this, I am beginning to read a lot more mysteries. I even went out and bought a copy of the entire Sherlock Holmes. I've read most of the first novel already, and I'm loving it. All I'm focusing on are the characters of Holmes and Watson. I have tried reading Holmes before, and most of it just went over my head, and I didn't get the hype. I'm catching on now. I find it much easier to follow the story by focusing on why Holmes is doing what he's doing rather than focusing on what he's doing.

I hope all this enthusiastic ramble made sense. I'm just happy to figure out one of the ways my brain works. I don't want to focus on a problem; I want to focus on how the problem affects the person.

(That reads like a soundbite...)

Why I'm not a critic

Dear friend,
I just had another session of reading negative reviews of products that I enjoy. That little hobby of mine might sound weird, and even frustrating, but I still do it. Sometimes it can be funny to see someone's vehement hatred of something silly and unimportant like a movie or CD. (In the sense that there are definitely more vital parts of our lives that the same energy could be used in pondering.)

In any case, friend, tonight I was reading reviews of Owl City's album Ocean Eyes. It seems to me that there are only two opinions to have about this album, either you think it sucks or you adore it. I am in the second camp. I cannot seem to get enough of this dude's music. The thing is, though, I'm able to understand those who hate it. When I step back and look at it rationally, the music isn't good. The singing, the lyrics, the style, etc. when looked at objectively aren't great. Yet somehow, put them all together, and it touches something in my heart or soul in a way that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

And so, that is why I'm not a critic. I can't tell you what is of good quality and worth your time. I can only tell you what gives me a feeling of being wrapped in a comfy blanket.

Owl City isn't for everyone. In general I'd almost say that if you're not a romantic (hopelessly and classically so) don't bother. If you do give him a shot and hate him, don't say I didn't warn you (and what's wrong with you?)

Darn these two viewing minimum movies

Dear Friend,
I saw Alice in Wonderland today.
All I can tell you is that I enjoyed it. I can also tell you that I can't tell you whether I recommend it or not yet.

My mind works in this weird way when I see certain films. One brilliant example would be Becoming Jane. I went to the theatre the first time to see that film and came out not sure whether I liked the movie or not. I went to see it a second time and decided that it was just ok, not that great. When it came out of DVD I rented it and decided that I disliked the movie. So, that movie was a three timer.

I came out of Alice thinking that I had been entertained. My Dad gave it a 3.5 out of five, and asked me if I would be buying it. I told him I probably wouldn't. This surprised him. I explained to him that it needed to stand up to a second viewing. (Prince Caspian didn't stand up to it's second viewing very well)

Most of the online reviews (given by people who are not professional film critics) are saying much the same thing: It's great visuals cover a so-so story. So, I won't say that. I'll instead list a few pros and cons.

PROS:
Costumes! Costumes! Costumes! (granted, it seems they want to see how many geeks they can get to dress up like Alice at ComicCon this year)
Visuals
Soundtrack by Danny Elfman
Not entirely boring
For some reason Mad Hatter was Scottish sometimes... like when reciting "Jabberwocky" (yes, that's a pro)

CONS:
The Eye stuff (would be a spoiler to explain)
That horrid dance (ditto)
The beginning and ending sequences were dull
There's something missing... I've heard it was edited and chopped a bit from the original screenplay. Maybe that something was left on the cutting room floor.

Actually, I enjoyed it, but I don't know if I will again. I'll have to give it at least one more try.

The Annual Birthday Post!

Dear Friend,
Once again, it is my birthday. It seems to happen every year around this time. Usually it makes me feel both nostalgic and introspective. Not so much this year. This year, I'm more wondering about the future. Frankly, as far as I can tell I'm on the verge of something. It might be something big, it might be something small. I don't know yet. Either way, something has to change, it's inevitable, whether I want it or not. I can't say that I feel ready for it, but since when do life changes wait until you're ready?

It's been a fairly nice day. Amazing, it hasn't been, to speak a little like Yoda. What I've noticed in my life is that if I plan my birthday myself I end up disappointed, so I didn't try to plan much for the day. Having the pick of what to do with my day, I took my mom to see Princess and the Frog again. A good movie, still, but not as great as it could have been, entertaining though. Crush any expectations you might have of it being Disney's greatest film ever, because it isn't. Can you really expect that though? Make a decent movie and slap Disney's name on it and more people will see it, though. Someone brought this adorable little boy who laughed at one scene and asked "Isn't that funny, Daddy?" really loud in the theater, too and that was cute. Do have a nice day, friend, and I'll talk to you later.