Monthly Archives: June 2015

30-day writing challenge: Day 14

15 Monday Jun 2015

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Day 14: Post your favorite movies that you never get tired of watching

I love movies.

I don’t have a favorite movie but I do have a list of movies I could watch over and over and never get tired of so thankfully today’s challenge was kind enough to let me list more than one. In order to keep things sane, I kept it to ten.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
This is probably me playing into the Goth stereotype but frankly I don’t care. Tim Burton, as will be mentioned many times in this post, is basically like a spirit animal to me and his movies have been like an escape for a good portion of my life. I love this movie, know the words to the songs and have an ever-growing collection of Jack Skellington things (including the onesie pajamas from a previous post).

This Is Where I Leave You (2014)
This is a recent favorite that constantly makes me laugh. My mother suggested I watch after seeing a portion of it but, joke’s on her, she didn’t have to convince me because the trailer looked hilarious and I had wanted to see it while still in theaters. While my parents were away on vacation, I was able to watch from the beginning and it didn’t disappoint. Adam Driver, whose character in Girls is one of my favorites, along with Tina Fey, Jason Bateman and Jane Fonda made this movie truly amazing.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
I can’t help but randomly quote this movie and want to chase down people who have cheated their vegan diets and scream “no vegan diet, no vegan powers!” This film mixes comics, video games and music to make a quotable and lovable movie.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
How can you not love this movie? It’s basically the number one cult classic on anyone’s list and can never be remade. I don’t care if they attempt to do it; it will never be as good as the original. You kind of just want to get up and do the Time Warp while wearing a drag-esque face and fishnets.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)
The ultimate misfit movie and it comes in the form of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton teaming up for the first time. I think I always identified with Edward in the sense that he was a dark stranger in a pastel cookie cutter community. Anytime I see an Avon catalogue, I think of Kim knocking on everyone’s door, “Avon calling!” I may or may not have an Edward action figure on my bookshelf.

Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Oh look, it’s Tim Burton and Johnny Depp again (hint, it’s not the last time either). This one scared the daylights out of me as a kid because of the opening scene in the corn fields and the horseman. Now? I love it. I think Depp brings the quirkiness needed to Ichabod Crane and Burton brings the eeriness needed to the town of Sleepy Hollow.

Queen of the Damned

Queen of the Damned

Queen of the Damned (2002)
This is the movie that started it all for me. I’ve stated many times I’m a Goth and it all goes back to this movie. Is it a good adaptation of the book? Not exactly seeing as they combined “The Vampire Lestat” with “Queen of the Damned.”  Anne Rice fans hated this movie but for a young girl who was terrified of horror movies and scared to watch this movie with her mom, the soundtrack drew me in and I have loved it ever since. Stuart Townsend’s Lestat is my great vampire love.

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
My favorite horror movie and it’s not because it’s a traditional horror film. Filmed and set in the mid 60s, the tale of a woman who finally becomes pregnant with the baby she’s always wanted only to find out her elderly neighbors are “witches” who want her baby for their rituals. That’s not exactly what’s going on but I love the thriller rather than the gore and this movie has always been a tense favorite.

Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
I remember seeing this movie in the theater (I still have the ticket stub) and laughing while watching my brother squirm as Sweeney slit the throats of their victims. I’m not a psychopath, I just though it was funny he was so freaked out at the obviously fake blood. Turns out he has a things with necks like I do with Achilles tendons. The songs are catchy and you can’t help but want to sing along with the demon barber and his helplessly devoted landlady.

Dark Shadows (2012)
I love vampires and have more books about vampires than I do textbooks, which is saying something after four years of college, and I’ve seen a countless amount of vampire movies. Vampires plus Tim Burton plus Johnny Depp and I’m sold not to mention Helena Bonham Carter, Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Lee. This movie not only hooked me because of its quirkiness but also because it made my dad and I bond over our love of Johnny Depp.

30-day writing challenge: Day 13

14 Sunday Jun 2015

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Day 13: What are you excited about?

I know many people talk about how excited they are about the future because, depending on the point they may be in their lives, graduation, career, marriage, children, etc. is within their grasp. I’m two years away from graduating college with a journalism degree and English minor but that’s not what excites me.

lights-photographyI’m excited for my future because I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m typically very well organized and during semesters I have to plan out my weeks carefully in order to make sure I have the time to complete assignments and work. Though not knowing what is around the corner of time makes me twitch because it’s hard to plan for, it also sends a thrill through me because whatever is lurking could be amazing or heart breaking. It’s all a part of life and hopefully, at the tender age of 22, I still have quite a bit to live through and experience.

The few things I do know about my future is my hands will likely be cramping from the amount of typing I’ll be doing. I know my eyes will burn from lack of sleep be it finishing an article or stalking my Twitter feed to track news updates. I know I could land anywhere in the world. I know my family will support my decisions. Ultimately, I know no matter what happens, I’ll take it one day at a time and power through it whether it is good or bad.

30-day writing challenge: Day 12

13 Saturday Jun 2015

Posted by in College, Family, Life, Literature, Uncategorized

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Day 12: Write about five blessings in your life

These are the things I am truly grateful for and couldn’t imagine my life without them.

My parents
Behind every nerdy, weird and well-awarded student is a strong support at home. I know if I leave a sticky note on our Keurig asking my dad to wake me when he gets up and 4 a.m. because I’m napping on the couch in an attempt to survive my all-nighter. I know if I rant to my mom she’ll listen and try to make me laugh to relieve the stress. I adore the two of them and couldn’t imagine where I would be without the two of them.

My nephew and I shortly after he was born.

My nephew and I shortly after he was born.

My nephew
Though I am usually left highly annoyed by his antics, I couldn’t imagine not having the little hellion around. He came in the winter “storm of the century” in February 2011 (jokes on us, February 2015 was way worse) and has provided endless mischief. Should I also mention I used to get him to smile when no one else could and he’s repaid me with blaming me for the smallest of things?

Jules
Though I no longer have her, she was one of the greatest things in my life. Right before my sophomore year of high school, we rescued an eight-year-old shih tzu that became my partner in crime, my shadow and my snuggle buddy. She was mine and I was hers. Ultimately, the worst decision of my life was deciding when to let go and giving the go-ahead for my mom to make the appointment that I wouldn’t be taking her home from.

Jules in her comfort zone, my lap, less than a week before we said goodbye.

Jules in her comfort zone, my lap, less than a week before we said goodbye.

My education
I think our education is often overlooked when people think about the things they are grateful for. I’m not only lucky to have had access to a K-12 education but am also lucky to have received a scholarship to Wayne State University, a research institution on par with the University of Michigan. I’ve spent the last four years working hard at a degree and with my recently added minor I still have a bit to go before I’ve conquered college.

My dreams
I guess sometimes you need to have something you want to reach for but won’t put yourself down when you figure out it’s an inch passed your fingertips. I have many dreams, some of which evolve and others fizzle, and I’ve always been happy to be the type that has them. I feel dreams are linked to drive seeing as everything starts as a dream you wish to accomplish and must possess the drive to do so.