Good morning!
Writing Updates: Spider - No More Sweets before Bed
Dreams and books, all under the cuts. Not being Lazy just letting you skip over anything you don’t want to read. I’m going to the movies today and I’m very excited about it. I’m feeling very good. Looking forward to a great day! Need to get Cherri up though so that she can get ready too. Hooah! My lungs hurt a little today. Not going to focus on it.
There was something mysterious if not devious about the blue haired scientist. His eyes were darker than I remember them being but I forgave him for all his stupidities because he always had something for me. He was sitting looking lazy as usual. I smiled at him and he stood a whole foot taller than me. He hugged me tightly and a shiver raced up my spine.
“Shan Bo.” I scold lightly, “You didn’t call me here to shower me with affection.”
Shan responded as usual, “Of course I did! Who wouldn’t want a lady as lovely as yourself in their arms?”
“If that’s the case then I’m leaving.” I turn but he refuses to let of me. I sigh and indulge him. “Alright, Shan, what do you have for me?” I smile sweetly and his embrace disappears.
His voice becomes stern as he replies, “New project. You’ll love it!”
He leads me to a tank of unrecognizable creatures. As I watch spiders begin to eat their way out of them. Nature is morbid. I look at him but I can see only his Cheshire grin. Shan Bo is pleased with himself as usual. I hear there are less dangerous scientists in the World of the Living and in the Soul Society - but this man has been my friend for centuries and I can’t throw him away. Even if he is the creepiest son of a bitch I have ever met. I can’t say I love it.
“Aren’t they cute?” Shan chirps.
“They’re certainly something.” I reply for lack of better response.
Spiders don’t bother me. Normally Shan Bo doesn’t bother me, but there’s something about him today that sends terrible shivers up my spine. Perhaps its finally happened and he’s planning to kill me. Well that’s dramatic. I walk around his museum of useless objects. I met with an orange haired boy and then a red head with tribal type tattoos. The red head is distraught about the loss of his father. The orange haired boy calls him “Renji”. Renji counters with “You don’t understand, Ichigo!” They argue over who ought to understand who. And I am drawn into the battle when a detaching zanpakutou heads my way. Ichigo’s body protects me, I sorry for him because it’s the last thing I need.
Shan stops them from fighting putting Renji to sleep. Ichigo sinks to the floor to cry. I feel he remembers something very painful. Shan leads me out with apologies and brushes my hair from my face. I look at him in a scolding way and he merely smiles. As I walk around this twisted fair ground, I realize, I was safest with Shan Bo. The few spiders he had locked in his cages were combatants to be used against the ones that had previously broken out. Something was crawling on my back. I could feel the eight legs. I shivered at the spider that was as big as my own head. It seemed to sing and coo in my presence. I realize now that maybe it was not Shan Bo making me shivers, but the “cute” little spider he had left with me.
I grimace as one of the spiders the size of a house senses us. I call Shan immediately for assistance but he tells me that my spider companion is spiritual and has the upper hand. It can not be destroyed by physical means. My spider jumps down to defend me and tries to fight the creature eighty times it size. It is promptly eaten and I shriek at Shan.
“He’s been eaten!!”
“Oh dear.” Shan replies on the other end of the line, “Well, looks like I’ll have to release the soul reapers after all. They’ll be there in a few minutes. Good luck, love!”
The line is dead and I cannot remember why I haven’t killed him before now. My only hope is to wait for two broken soul reapers. I sigh, I might just die today. [/dream]
Apparently in the dream it was canon for Renji to lose his father. He said Ichigo didn’t understand but Ichigo did understand losing a parent. But Renji was being all dark and dramatic. Shan Bo reminded me of a mix between Kisuke and Kurotsuchi. -_-;; [/endthoughts]
My partner is in the hospital pining over some blonde bartender. I admit that he’s cute, but I’ve known him too long to be attracted. Marik just isn’t my cup of tea because I know he’s not-so-secretly a jerk. There are other reasons, like me being married with a child. And even if I wasn’t there’s no way in hell I’d date him. I grimace because he’s come to bring her flowers. I know what’s going to happen and I can’t fathom why there isn’t better security in this place. The least she could do is wait until her gun shot wound has healed. I walk down the steps to meet with my captain.
Unfortunately we’ll be partners for the time being. I think he wants to evaluate my work. We stop at a store to pick up something for his wife. There I get a call from my own husband asking me what I’m up too. I say “nothing much” with a dull voice. And he responds “Looks like something much” in a teasing one. I turn around and all the way at the end of the aisle he’s standing there with a shopping cart and my son. I smile; he zooms over in a childish way. I shake my head and hug him tightly.
I introduce him to my captain. Then I introduce my son.
“Your wife’s a good cop.” The captain says sternly.
My husband answers proudly, “She’s good at everything she does. I’m not surprised.”
I feel proud now. My son has a small cold and when he coughs I feel much less proud. That must be why they’re here, to pick up some medicine. Seeing the look of distress on my face, my captain lets me take the night off to care for my sick son. I oblige and leave hand in hand with my husband.
The parking lot is unnaturally dark. We’re attacked. My husband handles the assailant with ease. It’s a little discontenting but as I had the child I suppose he was the only one who could have done something. The lights in the parking lot come back on. My husband is arrested for ties to the mob. His blonde hair shimmers in the harsh light, his blue eyes sparkle the truth. And I have no idea what to do as the police station - my station - weaves the case against him.
I’m watching from behind the glass. My captain asks him his name.
“Syn.” He smiles, “You know that already though, right?”
I sigh, so it is true.
“You have ties to this organization?” Captain asks harshly.
Syn shakes his head, “Not anymore. They’re dead.”
“You know who killed ‘em?”
“Of course I do.” Syn nods, “I know they’re dead because I killed them.” He smiles, a shrug passing through his shoulders, “They tried to kill me first, so I brought down the entire house. Messy business. But that must’ve been five years ago.”
We met around five years ago. He showed up on my door step bloody and bruised. I had rushed him to the hospital. I stayed by the side of a complete stranger for six months. I admit there was something in his eyes that just drew me to him. I knew then, that maybe he wasn’t all he said he was, but I refused to believe it so that I could stay by his side. And we hadn’t had any trouble until the other night when he was arrested.
“If you hurt my girl,” Captain says.
Syn cuts him off, “She’s my girl. And I’ve never done anything to intentionally hurt her. That’s why I’m telling you the truth.”
I don’t believe he’s guilty of whatever they are accusing him of. But I’m not longer a police office sworn to uphold the law. I’m a fond wife who misses her husband.[/dream]
Empress: A Novel
Shan Sa
Start: August 20, 2010
Finish: August 28, 2010
(Aug 21) I decided to keep this as I read the book rather than my thoughts at the end. Anyways, I was a little hesitant to read Empress because its historic fiction and I have absolutely no pre-knowledge of Empress Wu. So I was concerned I would go in blindly to something. However, as I waited for Hector to charge, I went “Meh, might as well start Empress”. And I must say I am really enjoying it! I love that it’s written in first person narrative. And the imagery is amazing. It reminds me how important imagery is and makes me want to write better. The chapters are long but it’s so well written. I only got through two chapters because I couldn’t see straight anymore. I do believe I’m really going to enjoy this book over all.
(Aug. 24) I really do love Heavenlight’s constant changes between strength and vulnerability. She seems so strong and indomitable one minute and broken the next. I just love how human she seems, determined and insecure all at once. I’m on chapter 6 now; I don’t normally like to stop between chapters. But I’m having a hard time with that. They’re so long! I try to get to the “Sections” in the chapters before taking a break then.
(Aug. 27) I’m slowly getting somewhere. Heavenlight is very tricky. Well maybe tricky isn’t the word I want to use. She’s not quite playful as I would note for most tricksters. She’s not quite manipulative because that notes malicious behavior to me. She’d be a mix of tricky and manipulative - she’s both but not quite either. I like that she’s not your standard heroine. She’s very smart and capable of doing what she needs to do. She’s a very dual character, and most times you don’t see that until after the fact. Lately she’s less soft, but, considering everything that has been happening I can see why that is. It’s a very charming way to have written it. I’m on chapter 9 of 14. There’s a lot of information in every chapter. I’ve never read a leisure book that had chapters of 25-30 pages before now. So I like it, because it makes me read more. As it stands now, I’m really glad Cherri suggested it - even though she hasn’t read it herself. I’m really enjoying it. I’m going to try and get through chapters 9 and 10 today. It’s just that I end up reading so much I get really relaxed and end up falling asleep.
(Aug. 28) I’m on chapter 12 now. I got further than I had planned to yesterday. So I’m really happy about that. The thing I like about narratives like this is that you can feel the depth of the character so much more because you can see their thoughts. I also love writing in this perspective and it’s just so more introspective. Heavenlight is very conflicting, which, I feel is something I really needed to see. I haven’t read a book this deep in a long time. And I really enjoy it. Maybe I’m just being too picky. But the imagery is beautiful and her thoughts are laid out so nicely. It makes me want to be a better writer. It also makes me want to read Shan Sa’s other works! I think I’ll finish up today.
Anyways, her relationships are just ill-fated. I really believe that what makes her so cold and aloof even though she longed for the connection of people and being admired. If anything, I will believe Heavenlight was human. She was nowhere near perfect even in her stunning perfection. She’s the center of attention but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a character so alone.
(Aug. 29) I finished last night. I must say that was probably the best book I’ve read all year. The imagery and characters were wonderful. Well, not all the characters were wonderful, most were back stabbing, spiteful people. But that could be easy to see as it was from Heavenlight’s perspective. She doted on a few people she was clearly fond of but still ended up hurting them. She was not as self-aware as she was aware about other people. I really enjoyed seeing all these things that she couldn’t see in herself. That’s one reason I love first person writing. The perspective is so narrow. I t doesn’t jump from person to person to a bigger picture. It focuses on inner battles and thoughts. I find it’s very much more reflective and I love it.
Done:
Dreams and books, all under the cuts. Not being Lazy just letting you skip over anything you don’t want to read. I’m going to the movies today and I’m very excited about it. I’m feeling very good. Looking forward to a great day! Need to get Cherri up though so that she can get ready too. Hooah! My lungs hurt a little today. Not going to focus on it.
There was something mysterious if not devious about the blue haired scientist. His eyes were darker than I remember them being but I forgave him for all his stupidities because he always had something for me. He was sitting looking lazy as usual. I smiled at him and he stood a whole foot taller than me. He hugged me tightly and a shiver raced up my spine.
“Shan Bo.” I scold lightly, “You didn’t call me here to shower me with affection.”
Shan responded as usual, “Of course I did! Who wouldn’t want a lady as lovely as yourself in their arms?”
“If that’s the case then I’m leaving.” I turn but he refuses to let of me. I sigh and indulge him. “Alright, Shan, what do you have for me?” I smile sweetly and his embrace disappears.
His voice becomes stern as he replies, “New project. You’ll love it!”
He leads me to a tank of unrecognizable creatures. As I watch spiders begin to eat their way out of them. Nature is morbid. I look at him but I can see only his Cheshire grin. Shan Bo is pleased with himself as usual. I hear there are less dangerous scientists in the World of the Living and in the Soul Society - but this man has been my friend for centuries and I can’t throw him away. Even if he is the creepiest son of a bitch I have ever met. I can’t say I love it.
“Aren’t they cute?” Shan chirps.
“They’re certainly something.” I reply for lack of better response.
Spiders don’t bother me. Normally Shan Bo doesn’t bother me, but there’s something about him today that sends terrible shivers up my spine. Perhaps its finally happened and he’s planning to kill me. Well that’s dramatic. I walk around his museum of useless objects. I met with an orange haired boy and then a red head with tribal type tattoos. The red head is distraught about the loss of his father. The orange haired boy calls him “Renji”. Renji counters with “You don’t understand, Ichigo!” They argue over who ought to understand who. And I am drawn into the battle when a detaching zanpakutou heads my way. Ichigo’s body protects me, I sorry for him because it’s the last thing I need.
Shan stops them from fighting putting Renji to sleep. Ichigo sinks to the floor to cry. I feel he remembers something very painful. Shan leads me out with apologies and brushes my hair from my face. I look at him in a scolding way and he merely smiles. As I walk around this twisted fair ground, I realize, I was safest with Shan Bo. The few spiders he had locked in his cages were combatants to be used against the ones that had previously broken out. Something was crawling on my back. I could feel the eight legs. I shivered at the spider that was as big as my own head. It seemed to sing and coo in my presence. I realize now that maybe it was not Shan Bo making me shivers, but the “cute” little spider he had left with me.
I grimace as one of the spiders the size of a house senses us. I call Shan immediately for assistance but he tells me that my spider companion is spiritual and has the upper hand. It can not be destroyed by physical means. My spider jumps down to defend me and tries to fight the creature eighty times it size. It is promptly eaten and I shriek at Shan.
“He’s been eaten!!”
“Oh dear.” Shan replies on the other end of the line, “Well, looks like I’ll have to release the soul reapers after all. They’ll be there in a few minutes. Good luck, love!”
The line is dead and I cannot remember why I haven’t killed him before now. My only hope is to wait for two broken soul reapers. I sigh, I might just die today. [/dream]
Apparently in the dream it was canon for Renji to lose his father. He said Ichigo didn’t understand but Ichigo did understand losing a parent. But Renji was being all dark and dramatic. Shan Bo reminded me of a mix between Kisuke and Kurotsuchi. -_-;; [/endthoughts]
My partner is in the hospital pining over some blonde bartender. I admit that he’s cute, but I’ve known him too long to be attracted. Marik just isn’t my cup of tea because I know he’s not-so-secretly a jerk. There are other reasons, like me being married with a child. And even if I wasn’t there’s no way in hell I’d date him. I grimace because he’s come to bring her flowers. I know what’s going to happen and I can’t fathom why there isn’t better security in this place. The least she could do is wait until her gun shot wound has healed. I walk down the steps to meet with my captain.
Unfortunately we’ll be partners for the time being. I think he wants to evaluate my work. We stop at a store to pick up something for his wife. There I get a call from my own husband asking me what I’m up too. I say “nothing much” with a dull voice. And he responds “Looks like something much” in a teasing one. I turn around and all the way at the end of the aisle he’s standing there with a shopping cart and my son. I smile; he zooms over in a childish way. I shake my head and hug him tightly.
I introduce him to my captain. Then I introduce my son.
“Your wife’s a good cop.” The captain says sternly.
My husband answers proudly, “She’s good at everything she does. I’m not surprised.”
I feel proud now. My son has a small cold and when he coughs I feel much less proud. That must be why they’re here, to pick up some medicine. Seeing the look of distress on my face, my captain lets me take the night off to care for my sick son. I oblige and leave hand in hand with my husband.
The parking lot is unnaturally dark. We’re attacked. My husband handles the assailant with ease. It’s a little discontenting but as I had the child I suppose he was the only one who could have done something. The lights in the parking lot come back on. My husband is arrested for ties to the mob. His blonde hair shimmers in the harsh light, his blue eyes sparkle the truth. And I have no idea what to do as the police station - my station - weaves the case against him.
I’m watching from behind the glass. My captain asks him his name.
“Syn.” He smiles, “You know that already though, right?”
I sigh, so it is true.
“You have ties to this organization?” Captain asks harshly.
Syn shakes his head, “Not anymore. They’re dead.”
“You know who killed ‘em?”
“Of course I do.” Syn nods, “I know they’re dead because I killed them.” He smiles, a shrug passing through his shoulders, “They tried to kill me first, so I brought down the entire house. Messy business. But that must’ve been five years ago.”
We met around five years ago. He showed up on my door step bloody and bruised. I had rushed him to the hospital. I stayed by the side of a complete stranger for six months. I admit there was something in his eyes that just drew me to him. I knew then, that maybe he wasn’t all he said he was, but I refused to believe it so that I could stay by his side. And we hadn’t had any trouble until the other night when he was arrested.
“If you hurt my girl,” Captain says.
Syn cuts him off, “She’s my girl. And I’ve never done anything to intentionally hurt her. That’s why I’m telling you the truth.”
I don’t believe he’s guilty of whatever they are accusing him of. But I’m not longer a police office sworn to uphold the law. I’m a fond wife who misses her husband.[/dream]
Empress: A Novel
Shan Sa
Start: August 20, 2010
Finish: August 28, 2010
(Aug 21) I decided to keep this as I read the book rather than my thoughts at the end. Anyways, I was a little hesitant to read Empress because its historic fiction and I have absolutely no pre-knowledge of Empress Wu. So I was concerned I would go in blindly to something. However, as I waited for Hector to charge, I went “Meh, might as well start Empress”. And I must say I am really enjoying it! I love that it’s written in first person narrative. And the imagery is amazing. It reminds me how important imagery is and makes me want to write better. The chapters are long but it’s so well written. I only got through two chapters because I couldn’t see straight anymore. I do believe I’m really going to enjoy this book over all.
(Aug. 24) I really do love Heavenlight’s constant changes between strength and vulnerability. She seems so strong and indomitable one minute and broken the next. I just love how human she seems, determined and insecure all at once. I’m on chapter 6 now; I don’t normally like to stop between chapters. But I’m having a hard time with that. They’re so long! I try to get to the “Sections” in the chapters before taking a break then.
(Aug. 27) I’m slowly getting somewhere. Heavenlight is very tricky. Well maybe tricky isn’t the word I want to use. She’s not quite playful as I would note for most tricksters. She’s not quite manipulative because that notes malicious behavior to me. She’d be a mix of tricky and manipulative - she’s both but not quite either. I like that she’s not your standard heroine. She’s very smart and capable of doing what she needs to do. She’s a very dual character, and most times you don’t see that until after the fact. Lately she’s less soft, but, considering everything that has been happening I can see why that is. It’s a very charming way to have written it. I’m on chapter 9 of 14. There’s a lot of information in every chapter. I’ve never read a leisure book that had chapters of 25-30 pages before now. So I like it, because it makes me read more. As it stands now, I’m really glad Cherri suggested it - even though she hasn’t read it herself. I’m really enjoying it. I’m going to try and get through chapters 9 and 10 today. It’s just that I end up reading so much I get really relaxed and end up falling asleep.
(Aug. 28) I’m on chapter 12 now. I got further than I had planned to yesterday. So I’m really happy about that. The thing I like about narratives like this is that you can feel the depth of the character so much more because you can see their thoughts. I also love writing in this perspective and it’s just so more introspective. Heavenlight is very conflicting, which, I feel is something I really needed to see. I haven’t read a book this deep in a long time. And I really enjoy it. Maybe I’m just being too picky. But the imagery is beautiful and her thoughts are laid out so nicely. It makes me want to be a better writer. It also makes me want to read Shan Sa’s other works! I think I’ll finish up today.
Anyways, her relationships are just ill-fated. I really believe that what makes her so cold and aloof even though she longed for the connection of people and being admired. If anything, I will believe Heavenlight was human. She was nowhere near perfect even in her stunning perfection. She’s the center of attention but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a character so alone.
(Aug. 29) I finished last night. I must say that was probably the best book I’ve read all year. The imagery and characters were wonderful. Well, not all the characters were wonderful, most were back stabbing, spiteful people. But that could be easy to see as it was from Heavenlight’s perspective. She doted on a few people she was clearly fond of but still ended up hurting them. She was not as self-aware as she was aware about other people. I really enjoyed seeing all these things that she couldn’t see in herself. That’s one reason I love first person writing. The perspective is so narrow. I t doesn’t jump from person to person to a bigger picture. It focuses on inner battles and thoughts. I find it’s very much more reflective and I love it.
Done:
- January: Your Heart Belongs to Me - Dean Koontz
- February: Inferno - Dante Alighieri
- March: The Portrait of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
- April: Creative Journal Writing - Stephanie Dowrick
- May: I am Legend - Richard Matheson
- May: Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
- May: The Epic of Gilgamesh
- June: Frankenstein: The Prodigal Son (book one) - Dean Koontz
- June: Odd Thomas - Dean Koontz
- July: The Magician’s Nephew - C.S. Lewis
- August: Empress: A novel - Shan Sa