I can't.

I had a conversation with my boyfriend the other day about how disappointed we were with the toy industry these days. Not that I'm all that old (22 years young), but back when I was a kid every other year there would be some awesome, viral toy that parents would HERD to Toys R Us and stand in line for hours to buy. Tamagochis, anyone? Tickle Me Elmo, Furbies? We LOVED that shit back in the 90s. But it's been years since anything has had that kind of hype.

Kids' toys these days suck. My Spongebob fest was rudely interrupted this morning by a commercial for some teletubbie-looking animal that squirms around and has BLUBBER WHEN IT DOES SO, and talks back when prompted by some cheap keywords. The thing's voice is AUTO-TUNED. I CAN'T.

In other (good) news, they're bringing back 90s All That and maybe some other shows! Way to go guys; I knew that if we all bitched and moaned at Nick's execs enough they'd have no choice but to listen to us eventually. POINT: Oldass 90s Kids.

Well, way to get yourself way off topic there, Kate. Anyhow I've been noticing something weird. I know that a lot of people base their books' characters on real people. But lately, I've found myself searching out my characters' traits in people. It's helped put a lot of things in perspective, which is nice!  I wish I had more time to work on it, though. I've got every chapter outlined, now it's just sitting there waiting to be fleshed out and I seriously just don't have the time. I work a lot. I'm all for being a novelist, but I'm a realistic one and don't plan on starving in a box for any amount of time. #gurlno.

I WENT CHERRY PICKING YESTERDAY. Look at these cuteass cherries in the tree.

First time I've ever gone to pick anything. /Cool story, bro.

I miss Mexico.

I miss Mexico.

That whole trip, everyone was so damn chivalrous. Taking my orders first, making sure I was taken care of and opening doors for me and stuff. I mean, I don't need it on a regular basis or anything, but it was kind of amusing! Cozumel was gorgeous and I want to go back. I'm not even gonna lie, my skin was super soft the whole time. Then we landed back in dry-ass New Jersey, I got back home to NY and no amount of moisturizer has been able to save me since.

I've been thinking about settings for the past day or two. My current WIP is set around here—it's an area I know well and the weather patterns and scenery fit the story. But I think for my next one I need more of a hot weather place. Florida's personality doesn't really fit, neither does the V.I.'s. There is this perfect little underwater cave that we found in Virgin Gorda that would do niiiicely, I have to use it somewhere! I will make some shit up just to include that place, I won't even lie.

It's really hard to get started. I've got some scenes drafted out, but I'm still afraid of touching the opening. I want it to be perfect and right now I'm tapped out and empty as far as how to start! Oh well. Maybe if I stop taking it so seriously, it will come easier. Knock it off, over-thinking asshat brain. ]:

Ghosts, adventures, I hate yoga.

The outline is finished! I’m done I’m done I’m done! :D I have no clue what this thing is going to be called, but the outline is finished!

I know it’s a pretty small step but it’s a step nonetheless, and whatever—I’m proud. Haters gonna hate, gators gonna gate, etc.

The story is based around ghosts and haunting, and I definitely had a lot of fun writing out what the ghosts can do and how they can affect people. Actually, I believe in everything paranormal. I was brought up in sort of a native community and around here, we believe in ghosts, spirits, energies…etc. Okay, example… an example that will make me sound like a nutcase, but ohhh wellll!:

My maternal grandma died when my mom was little, so I never met her. But I feel like I know her, like I’ve gotten to know her over the years like I would have if she were alive. She was a heavy smoker from what I’m told, and no one in my house or our circles of friends smokes. But every once in a while if there’s something big or stressful going on in my life, I’ll smell heavy cigarette smoke, like she’s there. You might find it creepy, but there’s a definite comforting feeling when it happens; it’s nice.

I know that people get edgy when it comes to the supernatural, and like creatures to be certain ways: i.e., the way people flipped their shit when Stephenie Meyer made vampires sparkle. Is it the coolest way she could have gone? Unless you’re Ke$ha or a unicorn, probably not. But here’s the thing: vampires don’t exist. As far as I’m concerned, that means that anyone has the license to make vampires look like and do whatever they want. #heregohellcome

There are about a billion theories about ghosts and spirits that date back for centuries, so I know that what I believe is possible is going to differ from what the next guy/girl believes. Buuuut, I’m cool with that :)!

In my quest to be ~skinny, I returned from the gym sore once again. I'm pretty sure I messed up my ankle when I went on Sunday, because the second I got on the treadmill yesterday it was: "Oooo... oooo this will be an adventure :[" I say "skinny" kind of sarcastically; really, I just want to not jiggle so much. Sooo, tightening up! But running always makes my legs bulk up SO quickly, but it + elliptical is the only cardio I really like to do. I wish I could stand yoga, but the slowness bores me to tears and the "spirit" talk from the trainers or TV personae is corny, forced and distracting as fuck. YOGA. Y U NO HAS HAPPI MEADIUM?

Werq, ghosts and Cassandra Clare's plagiarism

You know, I have a big sassy black lady in my story named Laverne. Until yesterday, it was bothering me that it sounded so familiar and I had NO clue why. Then I turned on Scrubs and remembered why: NURSE LAVERRRRNE! R.I.P., homeguuurl. Ironic, considering that my dearest Laverne is a ghost.

So, "cool story sis" moment coming up: I got a job! It's temp for now, but it's an HR position and HR was always a direction I would have liked to go in. Did a little dance, probably made my poor boyfriend's ears bleed when I squealed at him over the phone. After eight months, that boy is used to it. :D


Excuse me, I need a moment:



That's better. Psych makes everything better. Which is why they should have brought it back at the regular time, I'm just saying. This push-back is going to make me start some problems.

I look a hot mess. Summertime has cause me to seriously let myself go. At least I still manage to go get my nails did every two weeks. But I'm pretty sure my eyebrows are making me look like one of the Geico Cavemen, and that's not a cute look. #unacceptable

So I was on ONTD the other day and there was a post about YA novels that might replace the Twilight franchise. Here's the post.  But there was some serious Cassandra Clare wank. Now, I haven't read Clare's books so I was wondering what everyone was bitching about, to be blunt. It turns out that she "plagiarized" quotes and replicated (loosely, from the evidence I've seen) scenes from other books, TV shows and movies. I was pretty surprised at how angry people were getting at this girl. Sure, I'm a little late to the party, but I don't get the hate.

Honestly, I don't think there's anything wrong with making pop culture references in novels, TV shows and movies as long as that's as far as it goes. In fact, I like seeing it. It's a nice way to connect with the audience imho, even though it might not be an "evergreen" way of doing so. Maybe I missed something, but I haven't seen anything that she has word-for-word ripped off in entirety. I can't be too mad at it, even if I can't say I would do it in the same way. #kanyeshrug

Gym creeping.

I think the gym is going to kill me. I have such a love-hate relationship with it. I feel so great while I’m there, but I always end up pushing too hard and then my energy is shot for the rest of the day.

The good thing is that there’s always something there good for a LOL. Today it was the super-paranoid bug-eyed guy I went to school for 12 years with. I watched him on the elliptical from my treadmill in the back, and noted that every 30 seconds he’d twitch his head around and look over his shoulder making this face: “O_o”.

Because I was watching him like a creep? Nope, he wasn’t looking at me. Homeboy’s been doing that shit for 12 years. I don’t know who he’s expecting to jump out at him in Planet Fitness, but if he’s that nervous I sure as fuck don’t want to run into whoever it is.

I have about 15 chapters of this hopefully-a-book outlined so far. I’m sort of scared to say that I’m pleased so far, but I am. It’s got all the ingredients I need for fun: some drama, some dark humor, some light humor, ghosts that look like Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Well. One ghost that looks like Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Unfortunately, this character is sort of a dick-bag, but he’s pretty. I can’t even hate on that.

But now I’ve gotten to the hard part where I had everything super clear in my mind all written out. Now I’m onto the fuzzy part where I sorta-kinda know what I want to happen, but have no clue what order or what progression. I can’t. #no1curr I’m sure, but it’s pissing me off none the less! ]:

I keep getting all these invitations for job interviews for freelancing projects and it’s weirding me out. I feel like it shouldn’t be so easy and it’s playing on my suspicions. They all check out too, weirdly enough. My insecurities might be talking but I didn’t think I was that great to have employers actively seek me out like that. #conspiracy

It seems like everything in my life flip-flopped, at least for the time being. Even in my stupid dreams, which for the past week have all taken place in the DEAD of night with absolutely no lights outside or inside. Last night’s was in broad-ass wintery daylight and was so bright I almost went fucking snow-blind. Maybe tonight my subconscious and I can settle on some mid-afternoon springtime OUTSIDE somewhere.

Obligitory.

The first posts are always so ugly.

It would probably be responsible to use this post to introduce myself and what the blog will be about. SPOILER ALERT: it's going to be about writing! Well. For the most part. When I can keep myself manage to take a break from writing for the Yahoo! Contributor network orrrr editing. Work is work, this is going to be the fun part even if it kills me, dammit.

Responsibility is for jerks!

And to stay on that topic, I'm seriously considering spending the cash and going after BSBNKOTB tickets at Nassau next month. That would certainly be a responsible~ use of my meager resources, wouldn't it?

Brb, living in the past.