Florentine Tragedy progress

*edit* July 15, 2013

I found a message I sent to a friend on this same date of November 24, 2012. I said, "My word count is now up to about 13,000. I'm almost to the half-way point and I still have a lot of block paragraphs that aren't fully formed scenes yet. I can't believe it!" Ha, I really thought this was going to be a novella. Here it is, practically a full-grown novel.

Breaking Dawn, part 2…this time it’s serious.

Remember when I first started this blog and I made fun of Breaking Dawn part 1? Then I said, and I quote, “I can’t wait for the new Breaking Dawn film in November. What comedic bits are in store for us there?” and proceeded to support my argument with examples? Well, good ol’ Bill Condon did not disappoint. This film was peppered with unintentionally funny moments, though, sadly, not as many as BD1. For the sake of organization, I’ll divide the moments into three categories: Unintentionally Funny, Intentionally Funny, Emotional Moments, which can range from “awww” to “what in the hell is going on?!” to “YEAH!!! Do it!!”

Warning: Spoilers ahoy!

Unintentionally Funny

That creepy-ass robot baby. I guess it’s hard to cast a real baby who has hair and teeth, can smile, and can put a hand on someone’s face.


Jasper, or as one fan referred to him online, Harpo Vampire, wooshes over to Alice the Vase-Dropper, complete with the vampire wooshing sound. Really, Harpo? Was it necessary to woosh over like that?

Michael Sheen’s awkward, creepy, high-pitched squeal/giggle (squea-ggle?) when he heard Renesmee’s heartbeat

The Romanian accents. I swear, at one point I thought Boris and Natasha were going to come out of the woods and look for “big moose and squirrel.”

Intentionally Funny

Brand New-born Bella embracing Edward for the first time. Pattypoo’s face was priceless.

Jacob demonstrating how the Romanian vampires creeping him out, by widening his eyes and silently staring at Bella for a few seconds.

Jacob asking Edward “Should I start calling you ‘dad’ now?” (silence) Edward: No.

Emotional Moments

Bella punching Jacob when she realized he imprinted on her baby. She didn't do that in the book, so seeing it on screen was a “yeah!!” moment for me. Honestly, Meyer, I know Bella loves Jacob like a brother, but if anyone came between my relationship with my robot baby, they’re going DOWN! (which was funny to me, because it’s like the filmmakers were saying “Yeah, Stephenie, your book sucked. We're going to fix it.” Then they proceeded to do just that in several scenes.)

Jacob taking on his role as the Alpha, taking those boys (what were they, 11, 12 years old?) under his wing and teaching them how to be wolves but not injure people.

THE BATTLE
Aro killed Carlisle: I couldn't feel anything other than shock. I just sat there with my mouth open.

Then when they killed Jasper (forever known now as Harpo Cullen) I mentally screamed WHAT IS GOING ON?????? This had better be a dream sequence.

Seth - How dare they kill my favorite wolf??? He was the adorable, floppy-eared puppy of the pack!

Leah - I’m kind of ‘meh’ on that one. I know she’s had a tough time what with being the only girl wolf and having a bad case of unrequited love, but her story wasn't developed enough in the film, so people who haven't read the books will just see her as bitchy. For that matter, I wouldn’t have exactly cried my eyes out if the Volturi had taken down Emmett and/or Rosalie.

It was cool, though. The battle scene turned out to be Alice's vision of what was going to happen if the Volturi continued their assault. Collective sigh of relief all around, partnered with a "really, Bill Condon, you seriously just did that to us??"

The yearbook-style ending. It’s nice that everyone got a little shout-out, even if they weren't involved in this last film.

That’s all the bits I remember. I will say that due to the amount of action in the film, combined with much less cringe-worthy moments in comparison with the other Twilight films, this one was my favorite film of the series.

Who Wants To Be….a Vice-President?

I tuned in to the Vice-Presidential debate at 9:10. It was already in progress. That was a bit of a Homer Simpson “d’oh” moment; I thought surely it would be 10 minutes of having to listen to political commentators guess about which issues the candidates would talk about. Apparently, the debate started at 9:00 p.m. sharp. Here were my thoughts as they occurred.

*warning* The longer the debate got, the sillier my comments became. I apologize if you’re visiting this page expecting something more serious and topical. And FYI, "malarky" is a great word!!! I heard my mother use it constantly when I was a kid.

9:14 Ha, the moderator just said "I'd actually like to move to Iran." She meant "the issue of Iran" but see, kids, what happens when you don't use clear language?

9:16 oh good, both sides are pointing fingers at what “the other party” didn’t do.

9:20 Who is “Bee-bee”? Is VP Biden referring to Benjamin Netenyahu?

9:21 Wow. Joe Biden’s teeth are really white. I wonder who his dentist is. And are those his teeth or are they dentures?

9:22 Okay, Paul Ryan is beginning to sound a little trigger-happy.

9:26 I’ve had it up to here with the finger-pointing. Everyone sucks, okay? Democrats and Republicans alike.

9:29 So…is Mitt Romney going to give money to everyone like he did with that one family? Is that the point of your story, Paul Ryan?

9:30 Oh, no. Is this going to turn into a pissing contest over who’s had the worst tragedy?

9:31 I’d like to mirror what others have said in the past. It doesn’t matter who’s in office, the global and national economy is always going to have major ups and downs. No one’s going to be able to swoop in and save the day.

9:32 Okay, Ryan, your dad’s death benefits helped to pay your way through college and yet you want to cut Pell Grants! There are students who need help paying their way through college but don’t have a dead parent’s benefits to rely on.

9:40 Good Lord, stop fighting over time. You two are worse than little kids!

9:41 Joe…stop interrupting. You’re getting on my nerves. You’ll get your two minutes for rebuttal.

9:42 Paul…stop interrupting. Don’t make me get out my paddle

9:44 Joe Biden’s teeth remind me of when Kermit the Frog got teeth on one episode of Sesame Street News Flash. I believe he bit someone not long after that.

9:48 How much longer is this thing on?

9:49 Oh, shit, the Internet says 90 minutes. That means the debate won’t be over until 10:30. UGH!!!!!!!

9:51 Joe…STOP INTERRUPTING!!!!!!!!!!

9:54 I will say this for Paul Ryan. He’s a much better Republican VP pick than Sarah Palin was.

9:55 I officially want to staple things to Joe Biden’s forehead for all the interrupting he’s doing. Now I remember why I recoil from politicians.

9:57 Oooh “sequester.” Fancy-pants vocabulary!

9:58 Toniiiiiiiight…we are yoooooooung. So let’s set the world on fi-ee-yaaaah we could go hi-ee-yaaaah than the suuuuuuuuu-uuuuuuun.

10:00 Kunar sounds like something from a Klingon planet. Oooh, or maybe Kunar is one of the Klingons and the captain of a Klingon bird of prey!

10:04 “step up” *clap clap* “unh, step up” *clap* “yeah” *clap, clap* “step up” *clap, clap*

10:06 Will we expect to see Ikani designs on the red carpet at the next awards ceremony?

10:08 Dudes, shut up, the mod’s trying to move on.

10:09 Joe Biden on Syria “it’s a different country.” Good tip, you should teach. I like how he says “Saw-dees” for people from Saudi Arabia. I pronounce it more like “sow-dees.”

10:11 *snicker* Pootin’.

10:16 Reason and science is why you’re ‘pro-life’ Ryan? You want to give everyone a chance at life? What about a young woman who has been abandoned by the man who impregnated her? Where is her chance at life? Let HER make the choice.

10:19 Yay, Biden!!! Yes, that’s how I feel. “this is my personal choice, but I’m not going to impose it on someone else.” Exactly!!!!!!!!!!

10:26 Toniiiiiiiight…we are yoooooooung. So let’s set the world on fi-ee-yaaaah we could go hi-ee-yaaaah than the suuuuuuuuu-uuuuuuun. (Man, this song’s really addictive.)

10:27 I really need to pee. I wonder if anything earth-shaking will be said in the next three minutes.

10:28 The moderator needs a cattle prod. That way, if someone starts talking after she’s said not to, she can give them a little jolt.

10:29 Joe, quit wasting time complaining about how little time you have left. Tick, tock!

10:33 Like him or not, Paul Ryan is one smooth mofo.

10:36 Aaaaaaaaaand, scene.

This is what I've been doing with my week off work

This was breakfast on Monday...okay, brunch. Dippy eggs and soldiers (because of the way you have to cut the bread)

I posted on Tuesday about the chocolate peanut butter cookies I made. I may take another crack at it and this time do peanut butter, cocoa, and chocolate chips.

Then today I made chicken pie and roasted Brussels sprouts for dinner. Stand down, the sprouts are supposed to look like that. Actually, they're supposed to be much darker.

Before I go back to work on Monday, I ambitiously plan to make butternut squash soup, chilaquiles, and apple cobbler. Plus maybe the aforementioned cookies. We'll see.

Hot Cocoa

"Hot cocoa" is not a euphemism for my latest crush. It's been wonderfully chilly the last couple of days, just like it should be for the autumn season. I made hot cocoa today, the "fancy stuff" as my sister Veronica says (she uses that big family-sized can of Swiss Miss for her cocoa.) This recipe and most of the subsequent doctoring (addition of instant coffee granules and peppermint extract) was courtesy of www.hersheys.com. However, I never have milk in the house, so I substituted water. It was mint-y, chocolate-y goodness, just like I like!

20 ounces (peppermint mocha)

¼ cup sugar
2 tbsp Cocoa
1 tbsp instant coffee
2 ½ tbsp & ½ tsp hot water
1 c half n half, 1 c water, mixed together
½ tsp vanilla
¼ tsp mint extract


Directions
1. Stir together sugar, cocoa and coffee in medium saucepan; stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Add milk; stirring constantly, heat to serving temperature. Do Not Boil.

2. Remove from heat; add vanilla and peppermint extract. Beat with whisk until foamy. Serve topped with marshmallows or whipped cream, if desired. Five 8-oz. servings.

*edit 10:04 PM*
Okay, so not only is it autumnal and crisp outside, but I have the whole week of work and you know what that means! I'll spend an entire week reading, writing, cooking and sleeping, though not necessarily in that order. I just took chocolate peanut butter cookies out of the oven. MAN, the house smells good. I nicked the recipe from this website:

http://fakeginger.com/2012/03/05/secret-recipe-club-chocolate-peanut-butter-cookies/

and here's a photo of said cookies from said website.

Delish! Goodnight, all!

Suicide - cowardice or despair?

Al Black is one of my new acquaintances in the arts community. He frequently posts questions on his social media site to get people thinking and open a dialogue. Today, his question was based on an online article that said suicide was now claiming the lives of more Americans than car crashes. His question to us, then, was "What is suicide - is it cowardice, bravery, martyrdom, fleeing, hiding - maybe all, maybe one or maybe none; I only know that it has now become the leading cause of death in the US and we should ask why - your thoughts?" There were, of course, people who said it was nothing more than cowardice and/or selfishness, which is a common view of suicide.

My nephew committed suicide about three months before his 21st birthday. He was certainly not a coward. Rather, he was weary and overwhelmed by a feeling of complete hopelessness. As I interpret it from his final letter, he continually struggled to live up to the status quo of what a young person is "supposed" to be. His perpetual failure combined with a complete lack of options for a young person in the tiny beach town he lived in made him feel worthless because he did not live up to the so-called standard expectations. His mind went to a dark, hopeless place where conditions in his life had reached such a low point, he felt as though he were drowning. As a result, he could see nothing else beyond his own pain.

As a high school student, my nephew was an extremely intelligent, thoughtful, witty young man. I think of him constantly, wondering what he could have achieved in his life. I wish I could have seen the emotional pain he was in while he was alive so I could hug him and say “hey, I know it must be awful now. I remember feeling hopeless in my early 20s. I promise you, things will improve in your life. Take charge of your own future, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and don’t let anyone dictate to you what your life should look like. Only you get to make that decision.”

I wonder if those who brand suicide as "cowardice" have been through the emotional horror of the suicide of a loved one. Have you really tried to empathize with what could have possibly motivated a person to feel so hopeless that they saw suicide as the only way out? Or do you just metaphorically cross your arms and sit in judgment of another's choice, erroneously calling them out as “selfish”? Please, rather than taking that stance, make yourself valuable to young people. Get involved with them and help them to see that they’re not worthless, that they do have a future. They are, after all, our future.

Black bean chicken tacos

After searching through various online recipes and plucking various steps from those , I cobbled together a brand new recipe that will use ingredients I already have on hand.

1 chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
Salt, cumin, and chili powder to taste
½ 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tortillas
½ cup of rice
1 clove garlic, minced
Cheese (I always have pecorino romano in the house.)

Cook chicken and seasoning until done. Add beans to the pan, mix well and cook until heated through, about five minutes.

Heat a medium skillet over high heat. Add the rice and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 cup water, a bouillon packet, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low; cover and simmer, undisturbed, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle the chicken and cheese over the rice mixture, cover and remove from the heat.

*edit* I made vegan brownies for dessert. They were delicious!

*side note: could the media PLEASE stop saying that Robsten...oops, I mean Pattypoo and KStew are "braving" crowds in the wake of their breakup. It doesn't matter if you're going through a bad breakup, you have a hangnail or your leg has fallen off, you still get your ass to work and do your job (except for the leg falling off, maybe.) As movie actors, one is required to promote movies one is starring in. Press, stop being dramatic tools.