It's another Friday friends,
Plus time for the 23rd day of this writing challenge. Today I need to write "A letter to someone, anyone." I think I'll pen one to an old middle school Spanish class student teacher.
Dear Senorita Coffey,
I hope and pray your well. I actually don't know if your still a Senorita Coffey or you've gotten married, but this name's all I got. I do hope you've found happiness in your life, whatever the path has been.
I want to thank you for your encouraging words in you goodbye letter. I was touched you made one for each of us. I actually kept the letter in my wallet for a while. I found those words inspiring. I still do. Even though my dreams have changed since we last met. Even though I haven't read it in some time, it's probably among these papers waiting to be scrap booked, your kind encouraging thoughts still touch my heart. I don't know why maybe it's the energy you put into it when you wrote them that still fuels the dreamer in me.
I hope your own dreams and wishes have come to pass, and maybe fate will allow our paths to cross again.
Always your student
So friends do you have someone whose words or actions have inspired you over the years. I hope your weekend is good and may God bless you.
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
Books, Music, Geekiness, Life... This is the blog of the Thrifty Geek.
Friday, March 23, 2018
The Ninja Writer's Library: The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Thank goodness it's Friday friends,
Today we are going to dive back into the Ninja Writer's Library. Today's book The Girl Who Chased the Moon is by an author who is actually from my region, Sarah Addison Allen. I love Allen's writing style. For all the books I've read by her she takes what could be an average small town you'd find around here and adds a surreal elements to it or the characters. This tale is no different. We have an orphaned teen moving in with the Grandpa she didn't know about and is having to unravel her deceased Mom's past as well as some town secrets, some quite surreal.
Allen also seems to include food in a good portion of her books. I didn't know whether to run out and buy some BBQ or make a cake after reading this. I mean you try reading about a town where the very air smells like BBQ and see how long it takes you to get a craving. Now I don't know if this is a supernatural phenomenon or the fact the town has so many BBQ joints in town.
I also loved they included the full moon names in the book, at least the digital I don't know about the physical version, she does provide a link to a PDF list on her site. I mean I know like the Hunter's and Harvest Moons, but I didn't know the others. Actually as a bit of trivia for you guys I read the majority of this book during the Full Worm Moon.
I actually encourage you guys to head over to this book's page on the author's site. It's got recipes and information surrounding the book, plus you can kinda tour the town of Mullaby.
A very good book, the ending left you wanting to know more of the story, so I hope she decides to make a sequel to it.
I hope you weekend is a good one friends, read lots of books, and may God Bless You!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
Today we are going to dive back into the Ninja Writer's Library. Today's book The Girl Who Chased the Moon is by an author who is actually from my region, Sarah Addison Allen. I love Allen's writing style. For all the books I've read by her she takes what could be an average small town you'd find around here and adds a surreal elements to it or the characters. This tale is no different. We have an orphaned teen moving in with the Grandpa she didn't know about and is having to unravel her deceased Mom's past as well as some town secrets, some quite surreal.
Allen also seems to include food in a good portion of her books. I didn't know whether to run out and buy some BBQ or make a cake after reading this. I mean you try reading about a town where the very air smells like BBQ and see how long it takes you to get a craving. Now I don't know if this is a supernatural phenomenon or the fact the town has so many BBQ joints in town.
I also loved they included the full moon names in the book, at least the digital I don't know about the physical version, she does provide a link to a PDF list on her site. I mean I know like the Hunter's and Harvest Moons, but I didn't know the others. Actually as a bit of trivia for you guys I read the majority of this book during the Full Worm Moon.
I actually encourage you guys to head over to this book's page on the author's site. It's got recipes and information surrounding the book, plus you can kinda tour the town of Mullaby.
A very good book, the ending left you wanting to know more of the story, so I hope she decides to make a sequel to it.
I hope you weekend is a good one friends, read lots of books, and may God Bless You!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
Thursday, March 22, 2018
30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 22
Happy almost Friday friends,
"Put your music on shuffle and post the first ten songs." This is today's instructions for the Writing Challenge. Well here it is:
1. Bop- Dan Seals
2. Walking Away a Winner- Kathy Mattea
3. Then There's You- The Wilkinsons
4. Absolutely Everybody- Vanessa Amorosi
5. Harajuku Girls- Gwen Stefani
6. Friday- Hoops and Yoyo
7. I'm Gonna Getcha Good (Green Version)- Shania Twain
8. Me and the Moon- Bryan White
9. So Close- Jon McLaughlin
10. Coconut- Harry Nilsson
Keep you music rocking my friends and may God bless you.
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
"Put your music on shuffle and post the first ten songs." This is today's instructions for the Writing Challenge. Well here it is:
1. Bop- Dan Seals
2. Walking Away a Winner- Kathy Mattea
3. Then There's You- The Wilkinsons
4. Absolutely Everybody- Vanessa Amorosi
5. Harajuku Girls- Gwen Stefani
6. Friday- Hoops and Yoyo
7. I'm Gonna Getcha Good (Green Version)- Shania Twain
8. Me and the Moon- Bryan White
9. So Close- Jon McLaughlin
10. Coconut- Harry Nilsson
Keep you music rocking my friends and may God bless you.
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
St. Patrick's Day 2018
This past Saturday was St. Patrick's Day. As I promised I was gonna give you the skinny on the holiday so here it is.
Artsy Fartsy Time: Shamrock Card
I didn't get too artsy with my St. Patrick's giftings. I got some St. Patrick's Day Necklaces from Dollar Tree® and decided to make Shamrock cards. I got a pack of Hot Neon Colors construction paper, it's apparently the only paper I could find with green in it. I cut out a shamrock pattern then followed it on the green. I folded it in half, then I used the Irish toasts and blessings I found on Sassy Cat's St. Patrick's Day Page on the inside, I kinda miss the days of these old webpages, and a special message for whoever I was making it for. I decorated the front of the card using some St. Patrick's Day Stickers from Dollar Tree®.
Besides watching Disney Channel's Luck of the Irish, we made a Irish inspired meal. While I don't know how Irish this meal actually is in recent years I try to spearhead a St. Patrick's Day meal for my family. First up my Mom did most the work in the Colcannon, which was inspired by Diane's Colcannon recipe, we never put cabbage in it, and we didn't have bacon, but we we did have bacon grease to cook the onions in.
 | |||||||||||
| Onions cooking on the stove is heavenly |
 |
| Colcannon! |
Mom decided we needed some green for out meal so we cooked some beans:
Our meat was a simple Bristol Brand cooked ham we microwaved:
This makes my third year attempting Brennan's Irish Soda Bread. This year I not only cut back the cooking time, but split the dough into two loaves. this year I can say I was successful, little crusty on the outside, but it wasn't complete over or under cooked.
 |
| A beautiful meal! |
 |
| Can't forget Momma's Cake! |
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 21
Happy Snowy night friends,
Today's writing challenge prompt: "What three lessons do you want your children to learn from you?"
1. Always be yourself.
2. Respect people
3. Follow your dreams
Keep warm any of my snowbound friends, and may God bless you.
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
Today's writing challenge prompt: "What three lessons do you want your children to learn from you?"
1. Always be yourself.
2. Respect people
3. Follow your dreams
Keep warm any of my snowbound friends, and may God bless you.
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 20
It another Tuesday friends,
Today in the writing challenge I am to: "Post about three celebrity crushes." Well I don't usually talk my celebrity crushes, but I'll chat some of my old ones from yesteryear.
1. David Yost- When all the girls were a flutter of David Jason Frank, who played Tommy on Power Rangers, I was crushing on David Yost who played Billy. You know the instance were your not sure if it's the actor or the character you like I think I was leaning more toward the character. Though let me note Tommy is my ultimate favorite Ranger.
2.Johnathan Bradis- Now in the do you like the character or the actor this was leaning more toward the actor. I first discovered him on Seaquest DSV, then saw him in Ladybugs, The Neverending Story 2, and that movie he did with Chuck Norris. I was so sad to discover his passing years ago.
3. Bryan White- This is one of my favorite singers. I love his music still to this day, and as a teen I was crushing on him. I keep thinking about that scene from Srek 2 when the ugly stepsister is describing Charming's handsomeness and how his face was carved by angels when I think Bryan White, especially back in the 90's, though I can't deny he's still a handsome bloke.
Okay that's another look into my least often discussed subjects. I hope you have a good day, may you find something to give your heart a flutter and may God Bless You!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer, Vampire >vv< Kitty, and Mousey~C>
Today in the writing challenge I am to: "Post about three celebrity crushes." Well I don't usually talk my celebrity crushes, but I'll chat some of my old ones from yesteryear.
1. David Yost- When all the girls were a flutter of David Jason Frank, who played Tommy on Power Rangers, I was crushing on David Yost who played Billy. You know the instance were your not sure if it's the actor or the character you like I think I was leaning more toward the character. Though let me note Tommy is my ultimate favorite Ranger.
2.Johnathan Bradis- Now in the do you like the character or the actor this was leaning more toward the actor. I first discovered him on Seaquest DSV, then saw him in Ladybugs, The Neverending Story 2, and that movie he did with Chuck Norris. I was so sad to discover his passing years ago.
3. Bryan White- This is one of my favorite singers. I love his music still to this day, and as a teen I was crushing on him. I keep thinking about that scene from Srek 2 when the ugly stepsister is describing Charming's handsomeness and how his face was carved by angels when I think Bryan White, especially back in the 90's, though I can't deny he's still a handsome bloke.
Okay that's another look into my least often discussed subjects. I hope you have a good day, may you find something to give your heart a flutter and may God Bless You!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer, Vampire >vv< Kitty, and Mousey~C>
Monday, March 19, 2018
Musical Moment: A Cinderella Story Soundtrack
Happy Monday Friends,
It's time to jump back into the music. I'm going to be cruising along through my discs in alphabetical order for the most part. Well this week it's the soundtrack to A Cinderella Story. Yes you all find this movie probably dorky, but I enjoy this movie and the soundtrack.
Artist: Various
Album: A Cinderella Story Original Soundtrack
Released: 2004
Cover: It's a white background with Chad Michael Murray given Hilary Duff a piggy back ride. He's in his character Austin's regular outfit will Duff is in Sam's ball out fit wearing pink Converse. The title is in various blues doing this ombre kind of thing.
Booklet: The background is in a light blue with stars. The song titles and info is written in black inside curved edged squares, the Hollywood Records logo is in black and white. Photos are in the same shape outlined in white some taken for the movie some that were taken on the set, but not from the movie itself. There's a page plugging Hilary Duff's Metamorphosis album, the words are white written in a light blue curved edge square, it's surrounded by white. In gold tones is Duff's The Girl Can Rock DVD. There's a pic of I think of the DVD cover in a curved edge rectangle. Duff's name in in bold white outlined in brown. The DVD name is a brown outlined font. Everything else is black lettering. The back page is a favorite image of mine. It's that light blue starry background with and oval picture of duff in her ball gown against a white background holding the castle snow globe from the opening of the movie. The writing on the page is in white.
Back Cover: The outside back is all white, black lettering for the artist and song list and Duff in Sam's ball outfit. Inside back cover is white with Sam's tiara sitting on her pink Converse.
The Disk: It's continuing the blue and stars theme. CD title us in white with black shadowing. The rest of the lettering and label logo is in a metallic silver.
The Music:
Our Lips Are Sealed- (Written by Jane Wiedlin and Terence Hall/ Sung by Hilary and Haylie Duff) according to the song's Wikipedia page Wiedlin was the Go-Go's guitarist (they'd be the first to record the song, and Hall sang for Fun Boy Three who recorded their own version of this song later. Well the Duff sisters jam it up for this soundtrack. I love this song. One of my favorites on the album. I also love the sweet ride in the video, I think it's the cars Sam cruises in in the movie. Actually I think some things they did for this video was a nod to the Go-Go's video (I mean come on in both videos there's a nice old ride, and playing in a fountain).
Anywhere But Here- (Written by Jamer Marr, Wendy Page, and Chinco Bennett/ Sung by Hilary Duff ) She sings of what her love has done for her and how she'd rather not be anywhere else. Didn't Buffy and her friends play a game by a similar name somewhere during the first three seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where they imagined they were somewhere else and who they were with?
The Best Day of My Life- (Written by David Katz, Robert Palmer, and Lindy Robbins/ Sung by Jesse McCartney) We have a tale of a guy having a normal day that turned into an awesome one when he met the most amazing girl, who apparently has expensive taste in shoes and facial features that can be compare to a famous songstress.
Girl Can Rock- (Written by Charlie Midnight and Denny Weston Jr/ Sung by Hilary Duff) It's a rockish tune about how "the girl can rock". She speaks how the music is apart of her and she's up for wherever it takes her, that it's not just a boys game.
Now You Know- (Written by Kara DioGuardi, Charlton Pettus, and Michelle Lewis/ Sung by Hilary Duff) A girl reveals to someone she's fallen in love with them and she's hoping they don't turn away from her after learning this truth.
One in This World- (Written by Diane Warren/ Sung by Haylie Duff) Warren actually has a lot of songs I like has been written by this woman, so we'll probably be hearing from her again. This particular song ia about finding that one person meant for you among all the others out there.
Crash World- (Written by Desmond Child, Andreas Carlsson, and Julian Bunetta/ Sung by Hilary Duff) Here we are dealing with the alien feelings one feels when a relationship fizzles out. She says she in some kind of bad alternate universe, and the opening of this song makes you feel like you have entered some strange dark world. Plus I think my PC took took the crash in the title literally cause as I went to listen to this song everything starts bugging out.
To Make You Feel My Love- (Written by Bob Dylan/ Sung by Josh Kelley) Wikipedia says Dylan released it on his 1997 album Time Out of Mind album. This guy is trying to win over someone by telling them all they'd do to get them to feel the love they have for them.
Sympathy- (Written by John Rzeznik/Sung by the Goo Goo Dolls) As best as I can figure is we have a man finding someone being sympathetic strange, offering an apology, and realizing he's been chasing after things he didn't need to when everything he's wanted has be there.
Friend- (Written by Kaitlyn Harner and Johnny Douglas/Sung by Kaitlyn) A song about well a friend. What the singer likes about them and what it takes to be their friend. Every time I hear this song I can't help thinking of this one time in the mall when my friends and me attempted to take a picture of all of us in the photo booth and the settings were off so none of us could be in the pic, and my friend deciding she wasn't gonna waste her money and ended up getting pics of just her hand giving the bird... if that wasn't bad enough they put the pic up on the outside screens till they get printed and I saw a security guard nearby. I just turned looked like I was window shopping and was like "I don't know this person". No the security guard didn't see the obscenity on the screen, so she was in the clear.
Beautiful Soul (Cinderella Mix)- (Written by Andy Dodd and Adam Watts/ Sung by Jesse McCartney) A guy professing his heart to the only girl he wants cause she's more than looks, her soul is something amazing too. Another of my top favorite songs on this album.
I'll Be- (Written and sung by Edwin McCain) the singer is describing this amazing person in his life and everything he'll be for them. This was used for the solo moment between Austin and Sam at the ball.
Fallen- (Written by Richard Shelton, Kevin Veney, Loren Hill, Leonard Huggins, Luis Bonfa, and Maria Toledo/ Sung by May) Basically a song about falling in love with someone. I don't know why, but compared to the rest of the songs on the album this song seems to have a different feel, almost like it's out of place I don't know why. I mean it's not a bad song, but just seems like it's the odd song out.
First Day of the Rest of Our Lives- (Written by Michael Herrera/ Sung by MxPx) I feel like this is a song that could take place the first day after graduation. The world's open and your prepping to achieve your dreams. How your already missing someone and hoping to find them again. Everytime I hear this song I can't help of thing of one of the opening credit sequences to Buffy the Vampire Slayer that has a cut of one of the girl's dancing I feel like their moves would work for this song.
Extra Bits: On the CD-Rom is a Hollywood Records screen that's make up of blues and greys with a link to an online page that's pink and white thanking us for our cd purchase. There's a pic of Hilary Duff with links to her site and some other things and merchandise related to her some of it I think is mentioned in the booklet. The soundtrack mane is the same as on the cover, and some of the lettering is in blue and black as well.
It came with a paper with a code to download a bonus track, but I didn't have a computer back then so missed out on that.
I hope you have good jams playing this week friends, may God bless you.
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
It's time to jump back into the music. I'm going to be cruising along through my discs in alphabetical order for the most part. Well this week it's the soundtrack to A Cinderella Story. Yes you all find this movie probably dorky, but I enjoy this movie and the soundtrack.
Artist: Various
Album: A Cinderella Story Original Soundtrack
Released: 2004
Cover: It's a white background with Chad Michael Murray given Hilary Duff a piggy back ride. He's in his character Austin's regular outfit will Duff is in Sam's ball out fit wearing pink Converse. The title is in various blues doing this ombre kind of thing.
Booklet: The background is in a light blue with stars. The song titles and info is written in black inside curved edged squares, the Hollywood Records logo is in black and white. Photos are in the same shape outlined in white some taken for the movie some that were taken on the set, but not from the movie itself. There's a page plugging Hilary Duff's Metamorphosis album, the words are white written in a light blue curved edge square, it's surrounded by white. In gold tones is Duff's The Girl Can Rock DVD. There's a pic of I think of the DVD cover in a curved edge rectangle. Duff's name in in bold white outlined in brown. The DVD name is a brown outlined font. Everything else is black lettering. The back page is a favorite image of mine. It's that light blue starry background with and oval picture of duff in her ball gown against a white background holding the castle snow globe from the opening of the movie. The writing on the page is in white.
Back Cover: The outside back is all white, black lettering for the artist and song list and Duff in Sam's ball outfit. Inside back cover is white with Sam's tiara sitting on her pink Converse.
The Disk: It's continuing the blue and stars theme. CD title us in white with black shadowing. The rest of the lettering and label logo is in a metallic silver.
The Music:
Our Lips Are Sealed- (Written by Jane Wiedlin and Terence Hall/ Sung by Hilary and Haylie Duff) according to the song's Wikipedia page Wiedlin was the Go-Go's guitarist (they'd be the first to record the song, and Hall sang for Fun Boy Three who recorded their own version of this song later. Well the Duff sisters jam it up for this soundtrack. I love this song. One of my favorites on the album. I also love the sweet ride in the video, I think it's the cars Sam cruises in in the movie. Actually I think some things they did for this video was a nod to the Go-Go's video (I mean come on in both videos there's a nice old ride, and playing in a fountain).
Anywhere But Here- (Written by Jamer Marr, Wendy Page, and Chinco Bennett/ Sung by Hilary Duff ) She sings of what her love has done for her and how she'd rather not be anywhere else. Didn't Buffy and her friends play a game by a similar name somewhere during the first three seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where they imagined they were somewhere else and who they were with?
The Best Day of My Life- (Written by David Katz, Robert Palmer, and Lindy Robbins/ Sung by Jesse McCartney) We have a tale of a guy having a normal day that turned into an awesome one when he met the most amazing girl, who apparently has expensive taste in shoes and facial features that can be compare to a famous songstress.
Girl Can Rock- (Written by Charlie Midnight and Denny Weston Jr/ Sung by Hilary Duff) It's a rockish tune about how "the girl can rock". She speaks how the music is apart of her and she's up for wherever it takes her, that it's not just a boys game.
Now You Know- (Written by Kara DioGuardi, Charlton Pettus, and Michelle Lewis/ Sung by Hilary Duff) A girl reveals to someone she's fallen in love with them and she's hoping they don't turn away from her after learning this truth.
One in This World- (Written by Diane Warren/ Sung by Haylie Duff) Warren actually has a lot of songs I like has been written by this woman, so we'll probably be hearing from her again. This particular song ia about finding that one person meant for you among all the others out there.
Crash World- (Written by Desmond Child, Andreas Carlsson, and Julian Bunetta/ Sung by Hilary Duff) Here we are dealing with the alien feelings one feels when a relationship fizzles out. She says she in some kind of bad alternate universe, and the opening of this song makes you feel like you have entered some strange dark world. Plus I think my PC took took the crash in the title literally cause as I went to listen to this song everything starts bugging out.
To Make You Feel My Love- (Written by Bob Dylan/ Sung by Josh Kelley) Wikipedia says Dylan released it on his 1997 album Time Out of Mind album. This guy is trying to win over someone by telling them all they'd do to get them to feel the love they have for them.
Sympathy- (Written by John Rzeznik/Sung by the Goo Goo Dolls) As best as I can figure is we have a man finding someone being sympathetic strange, offering an apology, and realizing he's been chasing after things he didn't need to when everything he's wanted has be there.
Friend- (Written by Kaitlyn Harner and Johnny Douglas/Sung by Kaitlyn) A song about well a friend. What the singer likes about them and what it takes to be their friend. Every time I hear this song I can't help thinking of this one time in the mall when my friends and me attempted to take a picture of all of us in the photo booth and the settings were off so none of us could be in the pic, and my friend deciding she wasn't gonna waste her money and ended up getting pics of just her hand giving the bird... if that wasn't bad enough they put the pic up on the outside screens till they get printed and I saw a security guard nearby. I just turned looked like I was window shopping and was like "I don't know this person". No the security guard didn't see the obscenity on the screen, so she was in the clear.
Beautiful Soul (Cinderella Mix)- (Written by Andy Dodd and Adam Watts/ Sung by Jesse McCartney) A guy professing his heart to the only girl he wants cause she's more than looks, her soul is something amazing too. Another of my top favorite songs on this album.
I'll Be- (Written and sung by Edwin McCain) the singer is describing this amazing person in his life and everything he'll be for them. This was used for the solo moment between Austin and Sam at the ball.
Fallen- (Written by Richard Shelton, Kevin Veney, Loren Hill, Leonard Huggins, Luis Bonfa, and Maria Toledo/ Sung by May) Basically a song about falling in love with someone. I don't know why, but compared to the rest of the songs on the album this song seems to have a different feel, almost like it's out of place I don't know why. I mean it's not a bad song, but just seems like it's the odd song out.
First Day of the Rest of Our Lives- (Written by Michael Herrera/ Sung by MxPx) I feel like this is a song that could take place the first day after graduation. The world's open and your prepping to achieve your dreams. How your already missing someone and hoping to find them again. Everytime I hear this song I can't help of thing of one of the opening credit sequences to Buffy the Vampire Slayer that has a cut of one of the girl's dancing I feel like their moves would work for this song.
Extra Bits: On the CD-Rom is a Hollywood Records screen that's make up of blues and greys with a link to an online page that's pink and white thanking us for our cd purchase. There's a pic of Hilary Duff with links to her site and some other things and merchandise related to her some of it I think is mentioned in the booklet. The soundtrack mane is the same as on the cover, and some of the lettering is in blue and black as well.
It came with a paper with a code to download a bonus track, but I didn't have a computer back then so missed out on that.
I hope you have good jams playing this week friends, may God bless you.
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer
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