5/30/10 FF Rant

WTF is up with fanfiction?!?!?! Why is it when I upload a document, it not only erases part of my formatting, it also eliminates random letters, words or whole phrases?!?!?! And why is it next to impossible to put the underlining back in? Seriously, it's annoying as hell to try and "fix" the document. I look at my original and it's fine, everything is there. I preview the uploaded one and it's a mess! I also read back through a few chapters of my earliest stuff and was ticked to see whole sentences missing as well as the formatting gone. I checked the originals, it's all there. Now I'll have to re-upload and replace if I want to fix it. It makes me not want to post anymore and I almost have the next chapters to my three current F29D series ready. Seriously, WTF?!?!

About me:

I have a wicked sense of humor and I use it to deal with all situations in my life. I appreciate all types of humor: highbrow, lowbrow, sarcastic, ironic, etc...

I laugh at myself on a daily basis (before others get the chance).

I can be a smart ass (which is better than being a dumb ass).

I'm very shy and quiet until I get to know you, then, look out!

I'm very sensitive and can cry at the drop of a hat if I see or hear something beautiful or touching. I hide this most of the time behind a tough, quiet exterior so it can't be used against me as it has been so many times in the past...

I'm so shy and quiet that I had laryngitis for a week and my family didn't notice (I hate doctors so I didn't tell).

Some people I know are scared of me and I find this highly amusing-it proves they don't know me at all.

Colors affect me physically.

I always have music playing in my head (it helps get me through the day).

I've been an insomniac since kindergarten.

I'm an old soul.

I'm very intuitive and read people well (which bugs the crap out of many of my peers and more so my teachers and boss).

I'm a very private person.

I'm patient to a fault.

None of my family or friends know about my fanfiction. Only my best friend knows I write but she doesn't know what I write or what I do with it (and she knows me well enough not to pry).

I'm addicted to books.

I learn a lot from TV and not just the educational shows/channels.

I also learn a lot by keeping my mouth shut, and my ears, eyes and mind open.

I'm very eclectic in all of my tastes.

Like Lex in 'Flight 29 Down', I've often heard since I was little, "How do you know so much?" My answer: "I read. A LOT. And watch TV."

Likes/Loves: MY DOG, reading, animals, any kind of music (almost), theater, witty repartee, movies, art, photography, movie production, TV, dancing, biking, hiking, the beach, the mountains, the desert, any beautiful and peaceful setting really, laughing, vanilla ice cream, lemonade, steamed zucchini, grilled mahi-mahi, white chocolate, natural peanut butter, soy products (yeah, I'm a tofu girl, but recently had to start eating red meat again for health reasons-boo! but I am feeling better), baking for my friends and family, helping people, working with kids, babies, NICE (and polite) people-manners cost you nothing, peace and quiet...KARMA...

Dislikes/Hates: Drunk Drivers! (I've lost too many people in my life to them) Smoking! Drugs! LIARS! People who use their power/job/influence to bully people! Injustice! Suck-ups. Braggarts. Posers. Ignorance. Arrogance. Incompetence. Haters. Coke and Pepsi. Chocolate ice cream. Chocolate pudding. Fudge sauce. Techno music. Green peppers (deathly allergy). People who judge a book by its cover! Bella Swan!

Favorites:

Colors: Black and Dark Blue (like the bruises on my soul)

All of the following are in no particular order...

Authors: Shakespeare, Dickens, Mark Twain, Harper Lee, Cynthia Voight, Elizabeth George Speare, Jenny Nimmo, Jean Craighead George, Madeleine L'Engle, Charles Schulz, J.K. Rowling, Gary Paulsen, Brian Jacques, Avi, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and way too many more to name...

Books: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Hamlet (a play, technically), Harry Potter series, Charlie Bone series, A Wrinkle in Time, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Greatest Generation, Big Russ & Me, A Light in the Forest, Hatchet, Marley & Me, My Side of the Mountain trilogy, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Redwall series, A Dog's Purpose, The Help, The Hunger Games series, and WAY too many more to name...

Music: U2 (especially the early stuff-'October', 'War', 'Under A Blood Red Sky'), Daughtry, Harry Connick, Jr., Kelly Clarkson, Bryan Adams, INXS (old and new), Men at Work, Tears for Fears, Hooters, Queen Latifah, Maroon 5, Bon Jovi, Mozart, Vivaldi, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Patsy Cline, Alan Jackson, Hootie and the Blowfish, Justin Timberlake, Big Band, 80's, 60's, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Lifehouse, The Corrs, Matchbox Twenty, Creed, Avril Lavigne, The Wallflowers, Savage Garden, Des'ree, Linkin Park, Kate Voegele (she's my new hero!), Saosin (thanks, Johnny P.!), Darius Rucker, Taylor Swift, Train, and loads more...

Best Concerts: I've not had the opportunity to see tons (especially the past few years) but I definitely prefer small, intimate venues and I was lucky enough to see U2, Bryan Adams, and Harry Connick, Jr. (during his swing phase) in very small venues and they were all most excellent. 'The Edge' totally freakin' rules! I appreciate any artist who sounds the same LIVE, it shows they have real talent. I've been very disappointed by some faves who sounded awful live. Recently saw Darius Rucker--he was AMAZING!! Sounds even better live!!!

Theater: Aida, The Lion King, Rent, Stomp, The Sound of Music, etc...

Movies: Love Actually (absolutely brilliant!), Bridget Jones's Diary, Cold Comfort Farm (Kate Beckinsdale is awesome!), To Kill a Mockingbird (Gregory Peck-brilliant), Bring It On, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson is always amazing!), Rent (beautiful), Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy (but I HATED the ending of the third movie), Toy Story 1,2, and 3 (made me cry!), Finding Nemo, The Incredibles (favorite superheroes next to Spiderman), March of the Penguins (one of the most moving flicks I've ever seen), Harry Potter series (but the books are so much better!), Lord of the Rings trilogy, Castaway (LOVED it!), X-Men trilogy, Underworld, Little Miss Sunshine (Paul Dano was brill!), The Family Stone, Coach Carter (this is how ALL coaches should be), Some Kind of Wonderful, The Breakfast Club, The Holiday, White Christmas (Bing and Rosemary-perfection!), Meet Me in St. Louis (Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Harry Davenport, spectacular sets, costumes and musical numbers-lovely!), The Sound of Music, Blue Hawaii (Elvis Hawaii = 'nuff said), School of Rock, HSM & HSM2 (good messages for young people that aren't preachy but Troy's dad is a dick), Napoleon Dynamite, She's All That, Ten Things I Hate About You, License to Wed, Juno, The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain, The Matchmaker(sweet), Eat Drink Man Woman (sighs), Face (Wow!), Purgatory House (Powerful!), Driving Lessons (Julie Walters is fantastic!), Flirting (charming), Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero (visual poetry!), Gigantic, Away We Go, Adopt a Sailor, Tennessee, many indie and foreign films-particularly Australian and Chinese, and too many more to name...

TV: Flight 29 Down, Flipper (original), The Office (BBC and American), Coupling (BBC), Scrubs, Lost, Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, One Tree Hill (only with Peyton and Lucas), Men in Trees (Can't believe it's cancelled and I hated how they left Patrick and Annie!), How I Met Your Mother (LOVE Barney!), Entourage, Little People Big World (fell in love with the Roloffs), Meet the Press (my heart is broken and I'll probably never watch it again), DIY shows, Changing Rooms, Robin Hood (BBC), The Magnificent Seven, VIP (campy, fun escape), Farscape (Best sci-fi, ever!) , Firefly(A sci-fi western-Awesome!), Mind of Mencia, Late Show with David Letterman (he's brilliant!), Conan O'Brien, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Ellen, MAD TV, South Park, Reno 911, animal shows (Animal Planet), Horatio Hornblower series (A&E-breathtaking!), GLEE, Phineas and Ferb (yeah, I like a cartoon, so what?), Castle (the delicious Nathan Fillion!), 10 Things I Hate About You (Lindsey Shaw and Ethan Peck's chemistry is electric! ABCF was IDIOTIC to cancel it!!), Haven, Hawaii 5-0 (but I can't stand Scott Caan's Danny, I prefer James MacArthur's), Alphas, Warehouse 13, stuff on the History Channel, and too many more to name...

Characters: Ron Weasley, Fred :-( and George Weasley, Atticus Finch, Tibby, Jackson and Melissa, Will Scarlett, Will Turner, Snoopy and Woodstock, Charlie Brown, Linus, Calvin and Hobbes (how I miss them!), Woody, Ophelia, Sandy Ricks, Flipper, Jim Halpert, Hurley, John Dorian, Perry Cox, Hiro, Barney Stinson, Phineas, Ferb, Perry the Platypus, Dr. D., Kat, Patrick, Gary Bell, Rachel P. Cameron Hicks, Mike Chang (though he was an ASS to Tina in "Props"), Tina Cohen-Chang, Brittany, Coach Beiste, Burt Hummel, Finn, Puck, Kurt, Artie, Sue, and most of the Glee gang (Never liked Terri and I'm liking Rachel and Santana less and less, don't like Sugar or Unique), Rory could've been a great character, but I think past the sterotypical leprechaun/can't understand his accent gags Ryan got bored and stopped trying. He obviously stopped trying with several characters (Honestly, go away, Rachel! Soo over you).

Pet Peeves for Fan Fiction:

People who don't use spell check. Or a dictionary if they aren't sure of a spelling or meaning. Misused/misspelled words and/or phrases is a biggie.

People who don't know the difference between to, two and too; their, there and they're; we're, were and where, lose and loose, stared and starred, wiped and whipped, wrapped, rapped and raped, scared and scarred, summary and summery, and the list goes on and on and on and... writer and writter, writing and writting, title and tittle - seriously?!?

Writing in text or chat speak and thinking this is okay. If it's a text message or a chatroom conversation-fine. If it's part of the story or dialouge-improper!! (Not ok 2 write like this & b serious writing.)

Also, people who don't use capitalization and punctuation correctly including apostrophes!!! im and Im are not words!!! It's I'm. C'mon, people! This is stuff you learn in early elementary school. Not good with it? There are programs or get a GOOD BETA!

People who steal ideas/details/characterizations/phrases/format, etc... from other author's stories OR profiles. I've gotten a TON of PMs lately about this very thing and it's not cool, people! It's called plagiarism (look it up in a dictionary if you don't know what it means). I have a list of FFs people have sent me to read because there are details, etc. from my stories or this profile in them. I worked hard to create details and background information about the characters for my stories and I don't want to see them somewhere else. I'm sure other authors feel the same way. Don't steal details/ideas, etc. from other authors! (I even have a profile to check out that used some of my thoughts about the series and 'Hotel Tango' below on their own profile as their own 'opinion').

8/18/07

(Enters stage left, steps up on soapbox)

Ahem...

I don't want Flight 29 Down to end. I'm all (hands over ears) LALALALALA staring at the ceiling (or I just change the channel) whenever one of the promos for the movie comes on TV and I refuse to read or search for any spoilers/synopses about the movie because I have a companion piece to 'The Strong Will Survive' that follows the Club 29 Downers during the same time frame and a sequel to both that takes them home roughed out and I don't want the movie influencing my fictions. (I've even stopped reading all other ff's so I can focus on my own.) I am trying to get them both completely written-except for tweaking- before the movie next Saturday so I can feel they're truly my ideas but school starts this week (Damn!) so it will be a race against the clock (thank goodness I'm such an insomniac). Don't expect them to be posted any time soon though.

I know all good things must come to an end but I truly feel this end was premature. I also know F29D will live on in fan fiction but it's not the same...

I just have to say I think Discovery Kids made a big mistake only making two seasons--this show has so much potential to show (and teach) positive values and character lessons and so much more in a very entertaining, non-preachy way that is very appealing to all ages-my 40 something year-old aunt LOVES the show! I also love that it's not cutesie and/or ridiculous (although I do enjoy those kinds of shows, too) - it's not 'talking down' to kids. I also think the Disney Channel made a HUGE mistake passing on the show in the first place!

Anyway, I find myself feeling very depressed with the end of the show approaching (much as I did when 'Deathly Hallows' came out) and I cried a lot watching the repeat of 'See Ya' this evening, both at 8 and 11. (Yes...pathetic, I know, get a life...I've said the same to myself but something about this show and these characters just captured my heart and my imagination as nothing else has. I mean heck, it prompted a very shy person to get an account and post a story on a website). I'm finding my writing is becoming very dark (because I am so sad about the imminent end of the show) causing me to have to delete and re-write, further slowing me down...I know this too shall pass but right now, I'm sad.

Okay, so, that's my two cents. I just felt the need to vent here. I figured there may be one or two people in this fan fic-dom that feel the same way. So, thanks for listening (reading). I'm done. Peace out.

(Curtsies, steps off soapbox, exits stage right...)

I didn't want the Harry Potter series to end -- even though it will live on in fan fiction, it's not quite the same is it? (Fred's death gutted me! And Lupin and Tonks. And Hedwig...)

I started writing the Flight 29 Down FF back in February '07 but I've been too shy (chicken) to post it until now (.

9/9/07

I just have to say a little something about “Hotel Tango”. I was afraid DK would make it rushed and unsatisfying like “Blake Holsey” but I was pleasantly surprised.

Raise your hand if you cried when the search plane flew over and turned around (I admit, I cry a little every time I watch it-tears of joy).

Raise your hand if you were screaming at the screen for Jackson to kiss Melissa after she promised to be there for him. (Yeah, it would have been OOC for either of them to kiss at that point but isn’t that what we all wanted? A peck on the cheek would’ve been acceptable!)

Club 29 Down-was that a parallel universe or what?

Lex--At first I was like, go Lex! But then he was just too nasty to Daley. Then I remembered, he is only 10 years old and despite his genius, he can still be a brat.

Daley--She became a total emotional wreck and foul up a la Taylor. (And I don’t like the haircut. I like it longer).

Taylor-- She was suddenly competent and the voice of reason? I finally started to like her and thought about re-writing my club 29 down story…(but I won’t)

Nathan--Mr. 'I really like Daley', NOT! Could he have been less supportive of the girl he supposedly has such strong feelings for when she was feeling crappy? I mean heck, he didn’t even hug her.

Nathan and Daley-that was the biggest disappointment. Are they only going to be friends now?

Okay, I understand why they did all that stuff, Daley lost her confidence, the Lex stuff, even Nathan, etc…but still…

I’m glad they didn’t show them back home (as much as I wanted to see it) for two reasons:

1) it would have been too rushed -- they would have had to cut other parts of the movie to fit it in, and

2) it left the story wide open for us fan fiction writers =)

My favorite part: Jackson and Melissa, together as they should be. = ) And, is it me or did Mr. Pacar look even hotter (if that’s possible) than he did in the series?! Yum! And I thought Kristy looked absolutely beautiful.

And, ‘Typhoon Melissa’--how freakin’ awesome was that?! To me, Melissa was the main character of this series since day one. Jackson as well, but Melissa was definitely the heart of the show…

Overall, I liked it a lot (okay, I loved it) and watch it every chance I get. (I love DVRs!) It did keep me on the edge of my seat-especially when they were first in the ‘hotel'. When they all jump at the loud noise and Melissa runs to Jackson, I feel their fear every time and later when they hear the plane and run to the beach screaming for it to turn around, I’m right there with them, and yeah, I get emotional when they're looking back for the last time before they get in the boat… (yeah, I’m big into suspending disbelief when I watch TV and I'm a big ol’ dork and proud of it).

Sad to see it go but I’m happy I can live with the ending…(sighs)

5.12.08 Survivor Rant:

OK, I just have to say this and I have no other forum open to me right now. It SUCKS that Parvati won Survivor! I wanted Ozzy, James or Amanda to win. Or even poor, naive Eric. I'd have even been fine with Cirie although I don't think she deserved it. But Parvati?! NO WAY! She definitely didn't deserve it.

And the IDIOTS that voted for her at final tribal-ugh!! For Alexis, who mentors young girls, to think Parv is a good role model just shows how immature and/or idiotic she is-keep her away from my girls! Someone who admitted she flirts with anyone and everyone to get what she wants and to get ahead...that is so NOT a good role model for young girls or anyone! I mentor teens and I use people like Parvati as examples of how NOT to act! (Her last name is 'Shallow' for a reason!)

I saw, rather heard, the fatal mistakes at final tribal that cost Amanda some votes, notably Cirie's. If she had said a few things differently, I think she could have at least pulled a tie. Eliza was so obviously jealous and just wanted to make a name for herself (like Sue's rant from season one) and milk her fifteen minutes of fame. Let's hope she's quickly forgotten! (Sighs loudly) Okay, I'm over it...(but it still SUCKS!)

Tribute: 6/13/08

Tim Russert was one hell of a journalist and probably the only reason I ever paid any attention to politics. I've been watching him for years and was a huge fan. His love and enthusiasm for everything was obvious and contagious. I read his book, "Big Russ & Me" and fell even more in love with him (intellectually). He was one of the few figures in journalism/politics that my sister and I actually agreed on as being just awesome (I'm an Indie, she's a conservative Republican). I am sad for his family, friends, colleagues and the nation. We have truly lost a great human being and I can't see myself staying interested in politics without him to explain things, grill politicians or moderate 'Meet the Press'. A light has gone out in the world...

Olympics Note 8/12/08

Did anyone else watch 16 year-old Melissa Wu and her teammate Briony Cole win the silver medal for 10M Synchro Platform Diving in Beijing? I almost fell off the couch when I heard her name then of course, I just had to watch the whole competition. They're on the Australian team. The competition was awesome, but a real person actually having the same name as a 'F29D' character (rather, the character having the same name as an actual person) just tickled my funny bone.

2/24/09

Okay, I'll just say it...I wasn't that impressed with the 'Twilight' books. They were okay but parts of the story didn't seem very original at all. I actually found it pretty predictable. It probably didn't help that I found some elementary grammatical errors and typos (who was editing?) and I spotted some inaccuracy in the first book (I think), though I can't remember what it was and I'm not motivated to re-read the book at this time.

My biggest problem? I hated Bella. She was just so weak (and I'm not talking about her physicality). The way she just fell apart when Edward left her? Wimp doesn't begin to cover it. I can't think of a strong enough word to describe her but I found her extremely annoying and dumb. She made some really stupid decisions in each book. When I pointed out my reasons to my friends, they had to agree. I actually liked her better in the movie. Edward...Sexy? I find nothing sexy about someone who's hard, like cold marble. Yeah, call me weird, but I'd rather snuggle up to someone warm and pliable than someone cold and hard like a stone. Team Jacob all the way for me! (Although the imprinting on babies was creepy.) I also think the fact that Edward liked Bella made him less sexy to me.

I've had many debates with friends and siblings and I get it. I get the romance, I can see why these books appealed to so many and sure, Robert Pattinson is easy on the eyes... I'm not dissing those of you who LOVE the series and Edward and Bella, etc. That's cool and I'm glad you like it, it just didn't do much for me. And I thought the whole 'confrontation' in Breaking Dawn was such a letdown. I was all keyed up for this epic battle and it was just such a disappointment. All my friends agreed on that point.

I think I actually preferred the movie to the book. I was disappointed with the 'sparkling' Edward. My sibs and friends agreed, we expected more sparkle. But really, other than the horribly cheesy effects of Edward running and climbing the trees, I enjoyed the movie. I wish it had been longer and included a few more things from the book. I liked Alice in both the books and movie. I liked most of the characters, just not Bella (and Rosalie).

All in all, it was okay. But nowhere close to the brilliance of Harry Potter. This is just my opinion and I'm entitled to it, as you are yours. I will agree with certain points about the books and I did find large parts of them enjoyable. I just didn't feel they were much more than mediocre.

6/26/09

As many of you know, I experienced a terrible loss in April. I am just now getting back to this site. Thank you to everyone for your kind words and prayers, I really appreciated them!

I'm working on FINALLY getting Chapter Four of "Club 29 Down: Then There Were Four" on my computer and posted and also the next chapter of "One Breath Away", but real life is still hell, so please be patient. It will be very soon.

5/8/10 Rant

ABC FAMILY SUCKS!!!

Once again, a show I adore has been cancelled. ABC family made the dumbest decision ever--they cancelled the EXCELLENT '10 Things I Hate About You'. Lindsey Shaw and Ethan Peck have the best chemistry on TV!!! I can't believe they dumped this show but kept the horrible, awful, foul, insert your own adjective here, 'Secret Life of the American Teenager'. I tuned in once to see the wonderful Molly Ringwald, but found it to be utter garbage and unwatchable. Their new series, 'Pretty Little Liars' looks equally idiotic. THANK GOD for DVDs so I can watch my beloved Katrick as much as I want! ABC family is now banned in my house (well, the second after the airing of the final '10 Things'). My remote will be programmed to skip this channel so that I never have to watch it and the trash they are touting as 'family fare' again. (Okay, so I'll watch 'Make It or Break It' whenever Johnny Pacar is on, but only when he's in an episode!) BOYCOTT ABC FAMILY!

--NEWS-NEWS-NEWS--

The bad news: I have recently sustained a very painful back injury and had a relapse! I have an extremely high tolerance for pain but I can only sit up for five minutes at a time (and I still have to go to work and school-very difficult under these circumstances). As I don't have a laptop, this makes it inconvenient to transfer my stories from notebook to computer. I am trying my best to get in at least two typing sessions a day and although I'm a skilled typist, I can't do too much in ten minutes. (Pain pills or muscle relaxers are not an option).

The good news: Because of all the time I'm forced to lie around, I've written at least six new stories for "Flight 29 Down". (I'm not posting the ideas here because I don't want them ripped off - I've been warned by several people this is happening).

I apologize for the delay in posting more chapters of "C29D: TTWF". My back is healing at a snail's pace but I'll do my best to get chapter four up as soon as possible. Thanks to all for being patient.

Future Stories/Status

(All are in notebooks waiting to be put on the computer)

1. Club 29 Down: Then There Were Four- Starts after 'See Ya'. Follows the adventures of the four who stayed behind. (Complete) (Chapter Three posted 4/21/08)

2. Club 29 Down: Back to Reality - The Sequel to 'The Strong Will Survive' and 'Club 29 Down: Then There Were Four'. Brings both stories together. Very long-may divide it into 2 'sequels'. (Complete) (FINALLY thought of a title!)

3. Untitled 2: ONESHOT. Little moment between Jackson and Melissa set on the rescue ship after 'Hotel Tango'. (Complete)

4. Untitled 3: ONESHOT. Another little moment set on the rescue ship after 'Hotel Tango'. (Complete)

5. Untitled 4: Suppose they had stolen the boat from Captain Russell and Melissa and Abby sailed off into Typhoon Melissa. What would have happened? (Complete)

6. Untitled 5: ONESHOT (?). Valentine's Day. There are several versions written -- haven't decided what to do with it/them (or which version(s) to use. Supposed to be posted by 2/14/08. (Complete)

7. Untitled 6: 'The Strong Will Survive'-Alternate Ending. Suppose the end of Chapter Thirteen wasn't a dream. How would they all react? Goes through the sequel(s). (Complete)

8. Untitled 7: Suppose there had been one more student on the plane. (I know, it's been done to death but I think I have a bit of a different take). (Complete)

9. Untitled 8: They've been stuck on the island for YEARS. All have given up hope of rescue-how have they survived? Have they survived? (Complete)

10. Untitled 9-??: Series of ONESHOTS about various little moments or 'missing' moments. Set during and after the show and movie. (They just keep popping up in my head and I write them down) (Several complete, several in progress)

11. Stupidity: ONESHOT. Very different fare for me--mature-themed short story that came to me in the middle of the night, sort of a half-dream, and I can't focus on anything else until it's finished. (I don't know where this came from, I must have eaten something weird for dinner that night). I'm not sure how I feel about this one but I'll post it.(Posted on the Ides of March 08) I've had several requests to continue this or write a sequel. I've already made notes for either a second chapter or a short sequel (but this will be sometime AFTER I finish posting C29D: TTWF and its sequel).

Now you know why I haven't been on fanfiction to read or review in months--I've been writing my little fingers to the bone =)