Where, oh where, has Ophelia been. . .

July 22, 2013February 17, 20152 Comments

So it’s been about a month since I’ve blogged. It’s summer, it’s so blooming hot in Texas, and I just haven’t been in a bloggy kind of mood. I’m sure you know how that goes. That’s not to say I haven’t been meaningfully occupied (as “I am very busy and important,” to quote Bridget Jones).

Here are some of the fun things I’ve been up to:

I organized my iTunes library (more on that later).

I went through two edit passes on my upcoming NA (new adult) novel: Definitely, Maybe in Love (MUCH more on that later).

I started writing a new story–which I plan on finishing this week before my writers’ group.

I’ve been listening to Sara Bareilles’s new record The Blessed Unrest pretty much nonstop.

I swam a bit, bought a new patio chair, got a nice tan, talked to my mother several time, hmm, what else…? Oh, yeah, I made soup. Twice.

I’ve been drinking this:

I’ve been doing a lot of fun novel reading:

Matched – Ally Condie
Where We Belong – Emily Giffin
The Summer I Became a Nerd – Leah Rae Miller
The Ocean at the End of the Lane- Neil Gaiman
Losing It- Cora Carmack
Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
Billy & Me – Giovanna Fletcher

But most of all, I’ve been doing some pretty major vegging out. Meaning, I’ve watched a butt-load of TV and movies. For example, I caught this flick:

And then went home and watched this one…

This one:

Oh, and then I had a Star Trek weekend. Check it out…I watched the first (new) movie, the new-new movie…

Star Trek II – Khan, III – Lookin’ for Spock, IV – the whale one….

And then the first TEN episodes of this:

So yeah, for the most part, I had a very productive month. But now it’s back to the “real life” of writing and blogging and not sleeping. Hooray!

Hey there, Khan.

Where, oh where, has Ophelia been. . .

July 22, 2013February 18, 20152 Comments

Here are some of the fun things I’ve been up to:

I organized my iTunes library (more on that later).

I went through two edit passes on my upcoming NA (new adult) novel: Definitely, Maybe in Love (MUCH more on that later).

I started writing a new story–which I plan on finishing this week before my writers’ group.

I’ve been listening to Sara Bareilles’s new record The Blessed Unrest pretty much nonstop.

I swam a bit, bought a new patio chair, got a nice tan, talked to my mother several time, hmm, what else…? Oh, yeah, I made soup. Twice.

I’ve been drinking this:

I’ve been doing a lot of fun novel reading:

And then went home and watched this one…

This one:

Oh, and then I had a Star Trek weekend. Check it out…I watched the first (new) movie, the new-new movie…

Star Trek II – Khan, III – Lookin’ for Spock, IV – the whale one….

And then the first TEN episodes of this:

So yeah, for the most part, I had a very productive month. But now it’s back to the “real life” of writing and blogging and not sleeping. Hooray!

Hey there, Khan.

Mad about Bridget

July 18, 2013February 17, 20152 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I won’t be able to sleep a wink until this book comes out!

Mad about Bridget

July 18, 2013February 18, 20152 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I won’t be able to sleep a wink until this book comes out!

Music Monday/Movie Review – The Great Gatsby

May 14, 2013February 17, 20152 Comments

Happy Music Monday. Since I didn’t love the soundtrack, here’s my stab at a Jazz Age ditty to listen to while you read my non-review review.

Okay, here is my take on the Great Gatsby.
But wait. I must preamble first:

I was beyond excited about this movie, but after seeing the first trailer, my heart tanked, and for the next 9 months, I put on an excited act when really, I was already heart-brokenly disappointed. I loved the book so much…it is visual enough, so why would we need all the flashy extravagance this director is known for? Again, ugh. (Obviously, all of this is IMO, so no hate mail, loves.) So yeah, I made plans with my girls to see it opening night, but not thrilled in the least. I love looking at Leo, so worst case scenario, I get to stare at him for 2.5 hours. Not too tragic.

But I digress…

Long story short–because I’m already bored with this non-review–I loved it. Almost like the book, it had me hook from the first page. Tobey was fine, a bit too tiny and pale for my personal vision of Nick Carroway, but I grew used to him quickly. Obviously, I was waiting for Leo. Not since The Third Man, had I looked so forward to a character making an appearance. And when Gatsby finally hit the screen, I was stunned.

This is the point in the film when I actually whooped. I couldn’t help it! Sorry, other patrons of the 8:30 show at Tinseltown. I was at a Backstreet Boys concert, evidently

The over-the-top-visual scenes were fewer than expected and didn’t bother me as much as they could have. I know, I know, the Jazz Age was rather over-the-top, but you know what I mean. I didn’t care for the soundtrack either, and hoped there would be some updated Gershwin in there. But again, what did I expect knowing the director?

Visually, it was stunning. The colors and costumes and hair dos were wonderful. The special effects were lost on me, so I won’t go into how cool the (cartoon) house looked. I’d heard a few reviews saying the two leads had no chemistry. I must disagree. I think I would sell my own sweet granny to be pressed against that oak tree with Leo. So yeah, the acting was stellar.

ENDING SPOILER (if you haven’t read the novel, shame on you):
When Gatsby was sinking to the bottom of the pool, lifeless, my girl friend and I turned to each other. She muttered, “Titanic,” and I muttered, “Jack, I’ll never let go.” Also at the end, we see another flash of Gatsby, all pressed suit and gorgeous, also a bit too Titanic-y, like when we see Jack at the top of the stairs, all non-dead.

Anyway, blah-blah-blah, I was wrong, Leo. Your movie was greatness, and I know it took me a decade to forgive you for Romeo+Juliet, I hope it doesn’t take you a decade to forgive me. ❤

Music Monday/Movie Review – The Great Gatsby

May 13, 2013February 18, 20152 Comments

Happy Music Monday. Since I didn’t love the soundtrack, here’s my stab at a Jazz Age ditty to listen to while you read my non-review review.

Okay, here is my take on the Great Gatsby.
But wait. I must preamble first:

But I digress…

This is the point in the film when I actually whooped. I couldn’t help it! Sorry, other patrons of the 8:30 show at Tinseltown. I was at a Backstreet Boys concert, evidently

Anyway, blah-blah-blah, I was wrong, Leo. Your movie was greatness, and I know it took me a decade to forgive you for Romeo+Juliet, I hope it doesn’t take you a decade to forgive me. ❤

Music Monday – and some pretties

April 29, 2013February 17, 20151 Comment

Aloha!

Just for you, here are a few pix from my tropical vacation. And since it’s Monday….a song. On the “Hawaiian music” radio station we had on in the car pretty constantly (100.3), this ditty played at least twice a day.

Some quicky highlights:

Pearl Harbor

ABC Stores

crepes

The Polynesian Cultural Center

North Shore

more crepes

not eating Spam (although I really wanted to)

snorkeling despite my fear

And now for the pretties….

The start of a perfect day on Waikiki.

Snorkeling at the Hanauma Bay reef.

The view atop Diamond Head, post hike.

Surfers at North Shore. The waves were huge compared to Waikiki. Can’t image what they must be like in the winter.

The sand up at North Shore is amazing. I wanted to roll around it.

What you don’t see is that after we made the hike to the falls (in our flip flops), we jumped in with our clothes on and swam to the falls. Other than shorts and a white tank top, I was otherwise commando. I’m so classy, I know. Embarrassing on the way out, but totally worth it.