Happy Monday my friends,
As I said in my last post the elements that make up the mind space I call Dreamer's Night is held together by music. The songs on this list are either part of the aforementioned memories, I listened to during that time of my life, or they had nothing to do with either but the sound still carries me there.
Don't Stop Believin' by Journey- That keyboard opening and the wail of the electric guitar a classic song hands down. I remember when my parents had the old Atari system out playing the Journey Escape game I think a certain points in the game you hear this song.
Cowboy Take Me Away by Dixie Chicks- This song easily takes me back. It's the one I did the dance from in Lowe's in a previously mentioned memory. (Click link above to see. ) Th Fly away on it's fiddle to Dreamer's Night.
Doctor Jones [Metro's 7" Edit] by Aqua- This is the version that appears on the Sabrina the Teenage Witch Soundtrack. I remember riding to and from the a Friday night football game with the Captain and that CD was spun. This version is longer with I think and even more techno sound.
Imagination- Jessica Simpson- This is off the artist's second album Irresistible. If I did the video for this song there would be anime involved. Something about this songs screams it needs to be in Japan either real or anime, or both. I think that's why it brings on the Dreamer's Night feeling cause I get images of a anime night scene like in Sailor Moon (the original).
Style by Taylor Swift- From her 1989 album about a love that never goes out of style. I actually have a couple off this album that are on this list. Something about the music that takes me back.
With You by Lila McCann- Of her album Something in the Air. I was jamming to this CD in one of the memories. This is my favorite song on it. Also the video involves teens sneaking into an observatory after closing. I think my favorite scene was the singer and her boyfriend looking up at the stars.
Two in a Million by S Club 7- This song is found on their second album 7, lot of second album songs on this list. This is also another song out of my memories. I remember this is one of the songs I sung for my vocal teacher.
Girl on TV by LFO- From their debut album LFO. I get an image of this guy and the girl looking down on the lights of L.A. while sitting on the hood of his car.
I Could Not Ask for More by Sara Evans- This song displaying the simple moments with a loved one being enough. Again it has a sound that drops me into Dreamer's Night.
I Will Be Your Friend by Amy Grant- Coming from her Behind the Eyes album, this song assures a friend will always be there for the person no matter what.
Can't Find the Moonlight by Leann Rimes- This song is theme for the movie Coyote Ugly, that movie invokes Dreamer's Night for me moe than anything, which is why it made the pinterest wall. My favorite scene has to be Violet writing a song on her keyboard and getting inspired by a guys hip hop music in a nearby building. I also love the performance she did for it at one of the country award shows.
Small Town Girl by Kellie Pickler- From the album of the same name, this song invokes small town memories, especially the going to Walmart. I reminds me of when we still had the regular Walmart on a hilled plaza and it's be night and you'd see all the lights below.
Show Me Love [Radio Edit] by Robin S.- Another from the Sabrina the Teenage Witch soundtrack. This was my most favorite to hear back in the day.
Rock This Country! by Shania Twain- Off what in my opinion is the greatest of all her albums Come on Over. I remember one time when hanging out with Crystal jamming to this song.
Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift- Another 1989 offering, a love song to the NYC.
Lucky by Britney Spears- From surprise another second album Opps!... I did it Again. This songs on here cause if anything the video invokes this Dreamer's Night feeling for me.
Well that's another musical moment. Hope you guys found something to jam to. May your week be good, follow your dreams, and God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
Books, Music, Geekiness, Life... This is the blog of the Thrifty Geek.
Monday, January 28, 2019
Friday, January 25, 2019
Dreamer's Night
Hello my friends,
It's Friday night and we have survived to another weekend. Today's post is gonna be hard to explain, but I'm gonna try to express it that best I can. I did this post back on my old blog, but I felt it should be revisited and updated, plus don't want a perfectly good Pinterest board to go to waste since it was specially made for this post.
I was jamming to a song earlier and I found myself catching hold of an old familiar feeling, I can't describe it, but I know that when I recall certain memories, hear a song, or see a photo, I find this feeling tugging. I thought maybe it was a yearning for the teenage years where the memories come from, but when songs and sights that are not from that period call to me, I'm beginning to think all this the memories, images, what have you is actually taking me to a limbo brain realm I'm gonna refer to as Dreamer's Night.
What is this Dreamer's Night? Well I think it's a state of mind I find peace in, a place where hopes and dreams are doable, and also a place ripe for creativity. It's a patchwork of memories, music, images from my life that make up this realm. I think this is my brain trying to get me to reconnect to this part of myself from my teen years the ambitious dreamer who found little joys in the music, or a night sky, and believed dreams could come true.
How is the explaining so far? Well since this feeling is hard to explain let's see if I can show you.
The Memories
This mental space I call Dreamer's Night has it's roots in a cluster of little memories from my high school years that when I think on them bring this feeling. There not all earth shattering, they all probably happened in different years, but they all happened at night, and bring on the same feelings. Their like charms on a bracelet, different but connected.
Memory One: This is simply leaving a grocery store coming down the hill it's on and I looked out over the landscape and saw the lights of the town shining. Can't also help to think of Angel in his Buffy spinoff over looking L.A.
Memory Two: I was outside the laundromat I think sitting in the truck listening to Lila McCann's Something in the Air CD, I'd just bought it if I'm not mistaken.
Memory Three: Riding in the truck on a rainy night with an S Club 7 song in my head. I had this golden disco ball key chain in my hand and I was spinning it.
Memory Four: Being in the newly opened Lowe's the folks were buying something. I was hyped up so I started dancing there in the aisle like Natalie does in the Dixie Chick's Cowboy Take Me Away video, may have had the tune stuck in my head that night.
Memory Five: My Junior Prom Night at the Deer Park Restaurant and at some point as I danced I looked up and saw a night sky tinged pink from the Asheville lights nearby as a plane blinks by.
The Images
Pictures worth a thousand words right? Well most what I can offer is the Pinterest board which contains images that fit in this mindset. There's images of cities/towns, quotes and things from my teen years centered around this Dreamer's Night. I even made a Polyvore outfit (RIP). Some items have connection with one of the above memories of the time they occurred to help illustrate Dreamer's Night. As I was looking at old trip photos I found this feeling calling even in a blurry shot.
Now lastly to link all the pieces together is the music, but that will be Monday's Musical Moments. I hope you guys have a good weekend and may God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
It's Friday night and we have survived to another weekend. Today's post is gonna be hard to explain, but I'm gonna try to express it that best I can. I did this post back on my old blog, but I felt it should be revisited and updated, plus don't want a perfectly good Pinterest board to go to waste since it was specially made for this post.
I was jamming to a song earlier and I found myself catching hold of an old familiar feeling, I can't describe it, but I know that when I recall certain memories, hear a song, or see a photo, I find this feeling tugging. I thought maybe it was a yearning for the teenage years where the memories come from, but when songs and sights that are not from that period call to me, I'm beginning to think all this the memories, images, what have you is actually taking me to a limbo brain realm I'm gonna refer to as Dreamer's Night.
What is this Dreamer's Night? Well I think it's a state of mind I find peace in, a place where hopes and dreams are doable, and also a place ripe for creativity. It's a patchwork of memories, music, images from my life that make up this realm. I think this is my brain trying to get me to reconnect to this part of myself from my teen years the ambitious dreamer who found little joys in the music, or a night sky, and believed dreams could come true.
How is the explaining so far? Well since this feeling is hard to explain let's see if I can show you.
The Memories
This mental space I call Dreamer's Night has it's roots in a cluster of little memories from my high school years that when I think on them bring this feeling. There not all earth shattering, they all probably happened in different years, but they all happened at night, and bring on the same feelings. Their like charms on a bracelet, different but connected.
Memory One: This is simply leaving a grocery store coming down the hill it's on and I looked out over the landscape and saw the lights of the town shining. Can't also help to think of Angel in his Buffy spinoff over looking L.A.
Memory Two: I was outside the laundromat I think sitting in the truck listening to Lila McCann's Something in the Air CD, I'd just bought it if I'm not mistaken.
Memory Three: Riding in the truck on a rainy night with an S Club 7 song in my head. I had this golden disco ball key chain in my hand and I was spinning it.
Memory Four: Being in the newly opened Lowe's the folks were buying something. I was hyped up so I started dancing there in the aisle like Natalie does in the Dixie Chick's Cowboy Take Me Away video, may have had the tune stuck in my head that night.
Memory Five: My Junior Prom Night at the Deer Park Restaurant and at some point as I danced I looked up and saw a night sky tinged pink from the Asheville lights nearby as a plane blinks by.
The Images
Pictures worth a thousand words right? Well most what I can offer is the Pinterest board which contains images that fit in this mindset. There's images of cities/towns, quotes and things from my teen years centered around this Dreamer's Night. I even made a Polyvore outfit (RIP). Some items have connection with one of the above memories of the time they occurred to help illustrate Dreamer's Night. As I was looking at old trip photos I found this feeling calling even in a blurry shot.
Now lastly to link all the pieces together is the music, but that will be Monday's Musical Moments. I hope you guys have a good weekend and may God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Daily Treasures: Lazy Rainy Days
Rainy evening my Friends,
It was pouring rain earlier. *Cue Eddie Rabbit's I Love a Rainy Night* It's suppose to switch over to snow sometime both which will result in the same thing... mud. Uh really not liking that. But despite all that I do at times love a rainy day. During the heat of a sunny summer's day when a gentle rain shower suddenly falls and a rainbow could be your reward. Or in the fall when the grey and fog of a dreary rain made the colors of the leaves pop.
Rainy days make the soul feel the need to slow down, wrap yourself in a blanket, and get lost in a good book, a nice warm beverage is optional. I love sometimes to just sit and listen to the gentle patter of rain falling to earth. A good song to fall asleep to.
Anybody remember that anime movie Studio Ghibli did The Secret World of Arriety. I seem to recall a couple scenes where you had just rain sound, actually I think they did this in a lot of their movies. Wasn't like the most calming feeling when these sences happened.
Ok I think that's enough about the weather for this post. Yes I just did a post about weather. I'm trying to get back to a once a week posting habit, and this is all I could come up with except for a couple other ideas that will requiere more effort.
I hope you are doing well in this new year friends, may you enjoy your lazy rain and/or snow day, and always may God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
It was pouring rain earlier. *Cue Eddie Rabbit's I Love a Rainy Night* It's suppose to switch over to snow sometime both which will result in the same thing... mud. Uh really not liking that. But despite all that I do at times love a rainy day. During the heat of a sunny summer's day when a gentle rain shower suddenly falls and a rainbow could be your reward. Or in the fall when the grey and fog of a dreary rain made the colors of the leaves pop.
Anybody remember that anime movie Studio Ghibli did The Secret World of Arriety. I seem to recall a couple scenes where you had just rain sound, actually I think they did this in a lot of their movies. Wasn't like the most calming feeling when these sences happened.
Ok I think that's enough about the weather for this post. Yes I just did a post about weather. I'm trying to get back to a once a week posting habit, and this is all I could come up with except for a couple other ideas that will requiere more effort.
I hope you are doing well in this new year friends, may you enjoy your lazy rain and/or snow day, and always may God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
Sunday, January 13, 2019
The Ninja Writer's Library- The Final Pages of 2018
Hello Friends and Readers of Books,
I'm happy to announce that in 2018 I read get this: A TOTAL OF 30 BOOKS! There's probably those of you who've read more in a year, but for me given the fact for a few years now my reading has been short by mental illness, mostly fearing something would trigger me this is a milestone. According to Goodreads I read around 9,664 pages, it's nice to actually see that tallied up. I told Goodreads I'm shooting for 20 this year, yeah I know I should shoot for more than I read last year, but If I aim low and go more, I'll feel accomplished. So before I get to far into my first book of the year I figure better finish up my write ups for 2018's reads. So get comfy, this may take a bit.
Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
First up is the first book by author Katherine Reay. It was the title that caught my attention, given it's the name of the character from Jane Austen's Emma. I thought it was a good read filled with bookiness and smut-less romance. It's also a book about finding your own voice and accepting all you are. It also deals with orphans young and adult and what they have to deal with being in this situation.
At first I was annoyed with everyone trying to get the main character Sam to let go of her literary habits, to me it was like forcing her to give up what she loved, but I see it wasn't they wanted her to completely let go of the words she loved, but let Sam shine more instead of the characters she hid behind.
This was a good heartfelt book, and I recommend it to lovers of books. It's a book I'm defiantly gonna put in my keep pile.
The Erye Affair by Jasper Fforde
Hanging onto the books with a literature theme we fall into the pages of The Erye Affair. It's the first in the Thursday Next series. We find ourselves in 1985 in an Alternate Universe were literature is so big it can start riots and movements, there's even a special crime unit that deals with Literature based crimes, which is the unit Thursday Next works in. Soon a villain steps in who finds a way to enter the pages of books risking altering their tales forever. It kinda reminds me of the Fiction Fixers video games, which I totally recommend you guys play.
It's a strange tale, as all trips to parallel worlds are, complete with airships, isn't that like required in parallel universe stories. I also got like some serious Doctor Who vibes when Thursday's time traveling Dad shows up, I think he defiantly took a page from the mad person in the blue box.
Our digital library has more of the series, but like a few books on into the series, so I've put in a request for them, hopefully they'll purchase them so I can continue the series in order. Must make a note to do so for the Aunt Dimity series too.
Like my previous read definitely for lovers of books, and parallel universes. When you read this book you should check out the website for the book, there's a lot of strange things there.
House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
Back in August I posted about the first two books in the Howl's Moving Castle Series, well our library got in the Third book House of Many Ways. We are once more back in the kingdom from the 1st book, thought the main character is a woman named Charmain who has been tasked to look after her great uncle's crazy magical house. We meet with some familiar characters from the two previous books including wizard Howl and his beloved Sophie, actually we find the wizard finding new ways to annoy his wife if that's possible.
Like the previous two it's a fun short read, though for my speed reading skills too quick. But if you like the world of Howl I totally invite you guys to read. I kinda wish they'd made anime for the other books two, a little curious how they'd translate.
Sourdough by Robin Sloan
When I first heard about this book, I want to say from Austin Kleon, I was intrigued, but after reading Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Book Store I was wary, see link to that post in above paragraph. Well I dove in anyway. We have a you techie named Lois who finds herself left to care for a Sourdough starter from her favorite restaurant when they owners are forced to leave. This leads her into a strange new world. Like the author's other book it was interesting enough to keep me reading, I didn't get any strange vibes with this one, but I do have to say while it wasn't bad, it really wasn't mind blowing either.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
I loved the movie Stardust, so I was glad to finally read the original book. Much like the previous book I liked it, devoured it quickly, but it really wasn't earth shattering for me which is a little sad given how much I enjoyed the movie. It joins the list of the rare times I prefer the movie to the book. This tends to happen sometimes. *ducks to avoid pitch forks*
I will say as I tend to do in books with movies, I'm glad I read this realm's origin story, and am grateful that this isn't one of those times reading the book of a movie I love hasn't spoiled the movie for me. I still haven't watched The Jane Austen Book Club since I read the book. Reading the full story behind a incident that was briefly mentioned in the movie kinda scarred me.
The Dark Materials: The Twisted Trilogy- Book Two by Amanda Churi
I've mentioned the author a couple times given I've ran into her at conventions I've attended the last three years. This year I purchased the second book in her first trilogy, I purchased the first one the year before. I just finished reading this during the Christmas holiday, I needed a break from my current mental health, and computer issues.
I think this book may have topped the first one. I have to say I'm really being further drawn into this story, and will probably have to shell out the money for the last one due out anytime, hopefully she'll be at the Asheville Anime Regional Convention again so I can. I have to say unlike the first which had very minor spelling and grammar errors, keep in mind she published it as part of her Senior Research project and as I recall that's a crazy deadline to make, the second book didn't seem to have any. This story which was strange to begin with is getting even more dark and twisted. Our main characters find themselves dealing with the aftermath of their actions from the first book, which has lead to changes that effects the past and future.
I will warn you it is a dark book, as the whole trilogy has been, but it's a compelling read from an author who hails from my part of the state. This story has magic, time travel, a nod to current politics, a different view of heaven and h*ll, actually Supernatural fans might enjoy this now that I think of it
Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel by A.W. Jantha
This is a favorite movie of mine, so when I heard about this sequel, I think it may have been Wotso Videos' post, I was ecstatic. I loved the idea that there was a continuation.
Now the first part of the book is of course a novelization of the books, but there is still some new here, we see into the characters heads and find a new view to what we've seen, we also see some new moments that will help tie this tale to the sequel.
Speaking of the sequel I loved it. I sometimes find reading a book of a character that has been a youth in another tale bitter sweet, example Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I actually found some of the destines of the original movies characters humorous, and why did hey name the child Poppy. I don't think it was addressed in the book. It was great to catch up with the old characters and see how they got along after Halloween 1993.
I can't help feeling when we have the cellphone zombies it's a commentary on how people becoming zombies with their devices. I really hope the open ended way the end of the book was left is a sign for more story to come.
If those Sanderson Sisters "put a spell on you" then get the book and enjoy a trip back to that Salem we love.
Whew that was a list. I have checked out the first book of the new year Percy Jackson and the Olympian-The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. I think I'll read as much as I can in this series whatever the library has, hope it's not like Stardust. I'm holding for a couple books in the Miss Peregrine world, which includes the newly released one, but I'm like so far down the list.
Well I hope you guys are having a good new year, may you consume many burritos, and God bless you.
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
.
I'm happy to announce that in 2018 I read get this: A TOTAL OF 30 BOOKS! There's probably those of you who've read more in a year, but for me given the fact for a few years now my reading has been short by mental illness, mostly fearing something would trigger me this is a milestone. According to Goodreads I read around 9,664 pages, it's nice to actually see that tallied up. I told Goodreads I'm shooting for 20 this year, yeah I know I should shoot for more than I read last year, but If I aim low and go more, I'll feel accomplished. So before I get to far into my first book of the year I figure better finish up my write ups for 2018's reads. So get comfy, this may take a bit.
Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
First up is the first book by author Katherine Reay. It was the title that caught my attention, given it's the name of the character from Jane Austen's Emma. I thought it was a good read filled with bookiness and smut-less romance. It's also a book about finding your own voice and accepting all you are. It also deals with orphans young and adult and what they have to deal with being in this situation.
At first I was annoyed with everyone trying to get the main character Sam to let go of her literary habits, to me it was like forcing her to give up what she loved, but I see it wasn't they wanted her to completely let go of the words she loved, but let Sam shine more instead of the characters she hid behind.
This was a good heartfelt book, and I recommend it to lovers of books. It's a book I'm defiantly gonna put in my keep pile.
The Erye Affair by Jasper Fforde
Hanging onto the books with a literature theme we fall into the pages of The Erye Affair. It's the first in the Thursday Next series. We find ourselves in 1985 in an Alternate Universe were literature is so big it can start riots and movements, there's even a special crime unit that deals with Literature based crimes, which is the unit Thursday Next works in. Soon a villain steps in who finds a way to enter the pages of books risking altering their tales forever. It kinda reminds me of the Fiction Fixers video games, which I totally recommend you guys play.
It's a strange tale, as all trips to parallel worlds are, complete with airships, isn't that like required in parallel universe stories. I also got like some serious Doctor Who vibes when Thursday's time traveling Dad shows up, I think he defiantly took a page from the mad person in the blue box.
Our digital library has more of the series, but like a few books on into the series, so I've put in a request for them, hopefully they'll purchase them so I can continue the series in order. Must make a note to do so for the Aunt Dimity series too.
Like my previous read definitely for lovers of books, and parallel universes. When you read this book you should check out the website for the book, there's a lot of strange things there.
House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
Back in August I posted about the first two books in the Howl's Moving Castle Series, well our library got in the Third book House of Many Ways. We are once more back in the kingdom from the 1st book, thought the main character is a woman named Charmain who has been tasked to look after her great uncle's crazy magical house. We meet with some familiar characters from the two previous books including wizard Howl and his beloved Sophie, actually we find the wizard finding new ways to annoy his wife if that's possible.
Like the previous two it's a fun short read, though for my speed reading skills too quick. But if you like the world of Howl I totally invite you guys to read. I kinda wish they'd made anime for the other books two, a little curious how they'd translate.
Sourdough by Robin Sloan
When I first heard about this book, I want to say from Austin Kleon, I was intrigued, but after reading Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Book Store I was wary, see link to that post in above paragraph. Well I dove in anyway. We have a you techie named Lois who finds herself left to care for a Sourdough starter from her favorite restaurant when they owners are forced to leave. This leads her into a strange new world. Like the author's other book it was interesting enough to keep me reading, I didn't get any strange vibes with this one, but I do have to say while it wasn't bad, it really wasn't mind blowing either.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
I loved the movie Stardust, so I was glad to finally read the original book. Much like the previous book I liked it, devoured it quickly, but it really wasn't earth shattering for me which is a little sad given how much I enjoyed the movie. It joins the list of the rare times I prefer the movie to the book. This tends to happen sometimes. *ducks to avoid pitch forks*
I will say as I tend to do in books with movies, I'm glad I read this realm's origin story, and am grateful that this isn't one of those times reading the book of a movie I love hasn't spoiled the movie for me. I still haven't watched The Jane Austen Book Club since I read the book. Reading the full story behind a incident that was briefly mentioned in the movie kinda scarred me.
The Dark Materials: The Twisted Trilogy- Book Two by Amanda Churi
I've mentioned the author a couple times given I've ran into her at conventions I've attended the last three years. This year I purchased the second book in her first trilogy, I purchased the first one the year before. I just finished reading this during the Christmas holiday, I needed a break from my current mental health, and computer issues.
I think this book may have topped the first one. I have to say I'm really being further drawn into this story, and will probably have to shell out the money for the last one due out anytime, hopefully she'll be at the Asheville Anime Regional Convention again so I can. I have to say unlike the first which had very minor spelling and grammar errors, keep in mind she published it as part of her Senior Research project and as I recall that's a crazy deadline to make, the second book didn't seem to have any. This story which was strange to begin with is getting even more dark and twisted. Our main characters find themselves dealing with the aftermath of their actions from the first book, which has lead to changes that effects the past and future.
I will warn you it is a dark book, as the whole trilogy has been, but it's a compelling read from an author who hails from my part of the state. This story has magic, time travel, a nod to current politics, a different view of heaven and h*ll, actually Supernatural fans might enjoy this now that I think of it
Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel by A.W. Jantha
This is a favorite movie of mine, so when I heard about this sequel, I think it may have been Wotso Videos' post, I was ecstatic. I loved the idea that there was a continuation.
Now the first part of the book is of course a novelization of the books, but there is still some new here, we see into the characters heads and find a new view to what we've seen, we also see some new moments that will help tie this tale to the sequel.
Speaking of the sequel I loved it. I sometimes find reading a book of a character that has been a youth in another tale bitter sweet, example Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I actually found some of the destines of the original movies characters humorous, and why did hey name the child Poppy. I don't think it was addressed in the book. It was great to catch up with the old characters and see how they got along after Halloween 1993.
I can't help feeling when we have the cellphone zombies it's a commentary on how people becoming zombies with their devices. I really hope the open ended way the end of the book was left is a sign for more story to come.
If those Sanderson Sisters "put a spell on you" then get the book and enjoy a trip back to that Salem we love.
Whew that was a list. I have checked out the first book of the new year Percy Jackson and the Olympian-The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. I think I'll read as much as I can in this series whatever the library has, hope it's not like Stardust. I'm holding for a couple books in the Miss Peregrine world, which includes the newly released one, but I'm like so far down the list.
Well I hope you guys are having a good new year, may you consume many burritos, and God bless you.
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
.
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