My So-Called Spooky Life

Cheating on my Blog?

2011-03-02T00:54:00.000-08:00

I seem to be cheating on my dear friend, with tumblr of all places! Fingers crossed one of these places will start to be updated semi-regularly!

http://laceandpumpkins.tumblr.com/

Saint Louis Cemetery #1

2010-12-30T12:33:00.000-08:00

During the magical month of October, I visited New Orleans with my best friend. We fell in love with the food, the Southern hospitality, and the creepiness that seeps into every corner of the city.

On our second day in New Orleans we visited Saint Louis Cemetery #1. There are three Saint Louis cemeteries in New Orleans, but this one is the most famous. Located about one block outside of the French Quarter, where we and most adventurers stay, it was a short walk away. I'm a native Southern Californian, but I have to say, New Orleans is HOT! There are virtually no clouds, so the sun just beats down mercilessly.

So many parts of the city need restoration. I don't blame New Orleanians for not concentrating on their dead, but I must say it is a bit of a shock to see the disrepair their cemeteries are in. There's virtually no grass or flowers, the pathways are mostly dirt, and many of the tombs look like this, in shambles, forgotten.

One of my favorite tombs reminded me of river rock. At that moment I had never seen another like it. A couple of days later visiting Layfayette Cemetery in the Garden District, I noticed these were not super uncommon, but I still found it quite pleasant to look at.

Most people think that the above ground burial is because the water table is so high in New Orleans. That's not entirely untrue. No one wanted Uncle Jimmy to be floating to the surface of the ground before a headstone could be laid down. However the early inhabitants of New Orleans were French and Spanish, and their customs can be seen all over the city. I was showing a few friends of mine photos from our trip, and many were convinced we had actually been to Europe. The European influence is everywhere and it's quite beautiful.

I will never forget this first visit to a New Orleans cemetery, mostly because we got locked in. Two girls from Orange County, wearing dresses to flounce around in and talk pictures, got locked into a cemetery.

If you google New Orleans cemeteries, you'll find tons of warnings about how dangerous it is to go out on your own in the city. I'm not saying this isn't true, but I believe every city can be dangerous, especially if you go looking for trouble. But if you're alert and with people you trust, I think adventuring on your own is quite fine. We did not listen to the suggestions of books and the Internet, and we came into the cemetery on our own.

We saw tour group after tour group. New Orleans is HUGE on tourism, and it's my hope that everyone can visit there and take tours and listen to stories and leave nice tips, however we didn't take a tour for this particular visit. We had just gotten to the city and were tight on cash and tried to be our own tour guides when possible. So we're having a grand time, wandering around the cemetery, when it starts to get quiet. Eerily quite. After looking around and realizing the once full grounds are now empty, we head to the front to let ourselves out. A couple are standing outside of the cemetery gates and ask us, "How did you get in there?"

"Through the gates."

The man looks at us, and says, "The gates are locked."

But aren't there other gates leading into the cemetery? Over 100,000 people are buried here and you'd think this cemetery would be huge. However it's only about a block total, rather small, and the second gate was also closed. There had been no announcement, no person looking for stragglers. Whoever locked the gate that day, at 3 pm no less, had locked us in. The people who met us were lovely, as was everyone we met in the city, and offered their assistance. They left to look for someone to help us out.

My friend and I found a trash can, turned it upside down (sorry for the trash everywhere- we really had no choice!), and found a medium height tomb. We climbed from trash can to tomb, and then onto the 10 foot high cemetery wall. Our friendly strangers were walking down the sidewalk, and told us of how they tried to help us.

"We found the police," the man sad. "We told them there were two girls trapped in here and they needed help."

"Great," I said. "Where are they?"

"Well," he continued, "They laughed when we told them."

Not at all that uncommon, I'm sure.

"They laughed, and they drove off."

Shock. Pure and utter shock. Toto, we were not in Kansas anymore. Nothing like this would ever happen in Orange County. Maybe that's why we loved it so much.

We shimmied to a lower part of the fence and hopped down, short dresses and tights and in tact. We met two great people who offered their assistance to strangers, and we learned that the police in New Orleans is not entirely trustworthy.

It was the first of many adventures.

Happy Birthday

2010-12-30T12:15:00.000-08:00

I wanted to wish my grandmother a Happy (Belated) Birthday. She would have been 74 this past Monday. I lost her a few months ago, and the last thing I had written this year was her eulogy. She wouldn't have wanted me to give up writing, and with the new year approaching, I'm picking it up again.

This picture is of her and I at a Pumpkin Patch circa 1988 or so. She instilled in me the love of holidays and so much more. I will forever be grateful. Here's to a new year of writing, a new year of spooky, and always remembering where we come from and who helped shape us into the person we are. Mom, I love you and always will.

100 Days Til Halloween

2010-07-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

It's that time lovelies! 100 days to prop build, costume make, watch spooky movies, wear anything smelling like pumpkin, and frolic around in graveyards. Wait I do all that all year round! I guess it's time to kick it up a notch then because Halloween is almost here!

(Pictures taken at Disneyland's ToonTown. Pumpkins "grow" there all year round- I'm jealous!)

I Write Like...

2010-07-12T22:52:00.000-07:00

I write like
Mark Twain

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Awesome tool that let's you figure out which famous writer you write like. May become addictive as you open old manuscripts and try and see if you can get different writers. I had a couple, but mostly it was Mark Twain. I take that as a huge compliment. I think most of the writer's you receive are complimentary (although I hear Dan Brown is an option and I don't think I'd enjoy getting him).

Try it out and let me know: who do you write like?

Queen Mary Visit

2010-06-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, on a whim, one of my best friend's and I decided to hit up the Queen Mary. Although we didn't catch any ghosts (such is my luck), we had a wonderful time.

My friend made a fantabulous awesome video, but since I am technologically deficient, I have to figure out how to post it here. In the mean time here are a couple of shots from our trip. First up a painting from the Art Gallery:

Next up is the control room. On our tour we got to see the pool where the first and third class got to swim. The first class was so uptight, that after the third class swam, the pool was emptied and fresh water was put into the pool for them. The pool control that let out and refilled the water was in this room.

Finally a sneak peak of my friend and I. You'll be seeing a lot more of us in the video, but here's a shot of the floor in what's now a banquet hall/library, but during the Queen Mary's voyage days was a lounge for the second class. I've no idea why I always like to take pictures like this. I'm not particularly fond of feet, but there's something about taking a picture of the floor... Anyone else like that?

150, err 149, Days To Go

2010-06-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

I had planned on doing a return blog post to celebrate 150 days until Halloween, but that was yesterday. Whoops- that is so me to miss it by a day.

Instead we're even closer, 149 days until The Big Day of 2010! I'm nowhere near ready. On my list to build this year is a ginormous scarecrow, or a Jack (from Nightmare) but neither have been drawn up, no materials have been scrounged up, and really I've no idea where to start. Summer is my least favorite season, but the good thing about it is it forces me to get on my Halloween planning already!

Another exciting thing about summer is the 4th of July. Now I'm not particularly patriotic (or at all really) but the minute 4th of July goodies come down (at places like Michael's anyway), shelves like this start going up.

Who's ready for this to start up the season? I know I am!

If You're Spooky and You Know It..

2010-04-22T22:54:00.001-07:00

Clap your hands. Clap, clap.

It's Almost H2H, Halfway to Halloween, and that means we need a dash of spooky. The other day at Disneyland I happened to look up... Well, my friend did since I was very focused on the churro's that were calling my name, and she asked me to pull my camera out. This is what was above us in New Orleans Square:

I think something spooky may have been afoot at Disneyland.

Be a Beautiful Creature

2010-04-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, April 18, I was lucky enough to be a part of a YA book club event that involved Kami Garcia and Margie Stohl, the co-authors of Beautiful Creatures, my absolute favorite book of 2009. It was held in the Glendale Borders, which was a bit of a drive for me, especially since there was traffic the entire way. I believe there were a couple of sporting events going on, but I couldn't tell you what since sports is German to me.

Anyway, I arrived a few minutes early and found where the discussion was being held, settled in, and Kami got off to a great discussion. She answered our questions and fired them back at us. She was fantastic to talk to.

Margie arrived a bit later. (That sports traffic got to her too.) The way she and Kami interact with each other is amazing. You can tell they truly are the best of friends. They told us how they met, which shocker involved books. Kami was Margie's children's third grade teacher and she had an amazing library for her students. Margie liked it so much that they together made sure all of the student's in different classes had a library that was up to Kami's standards.

They told us about crazy squirrels, Bo Jangles fried chicken, the South, a teeny tiny bit about the new book Beautiful Darkness (see the countdown on the sidebar for how many days reminaining until it's October release date), and we were shown covers of different countries Beautiful Creature editions. We talked about how important setting is and supporting characters. I expressed my love for Link and Ridley. I so hope they are ALL over Beautiful Darkness.

After they entertained us for about an hour and a half, it was time to actually meet them. I was pleasantly surprised they recognized me from twitter, considering they have many followers. Kami's husband had been photographing the whole afternoon, and he snapped a picture of us. I'm hoping it's floating around somewhere so I can get a copy of it.

Here's a much better post about the day including some pictures from Janelle: Procrastination Station: Are you jealous? You should be!!! :o) and some more pictures Alethea, the organizer of the event who got Kami and Margie to show up, took: 2010-04-18 - 117158255565376186364 - Picasa Web Albums

The day couldn't have gone better. I am renewed in my own writing. Kami and Margie inspired me to pick it back up. The way they "broke" the writing rules, and work in a way that suits them, is refreshing to hear. There isn't one particular way to go about telling a good story. You do what works best for you and I think that's the best thing they instilled in me that day. Never be afraid to write the way you want to write or to tell the story you want to tell. Be yourself. Be a Beautiful Creature.

Meet ScareTaker

2010-02-11T00:48:00.000-08:00

He's creepy crawly and the best deal I've ever found at HomeGoods, and that's saying something!

Jack and Polly

2010-02-11T00:30:00.000-08:00

Jack has been with me for a few years now, but Polly was a recent addition. She used to have a healthy palor and blue eyes and now... well she's a bit dead.

I'm so jealous she doesn't have to worry about tanning in that crazy bright Southern California sun. Me? I need SPF 100, which as of this year, comes in spray on! Wahoo!

I Suck at Taking Pictures

2010-02-11T00:09:00.000-08:00

This looked seriously wicked in real life, and in the photo? It's sort of average. Oh well, I still like it! Store bought pumpkin with no bottom, light fixture that is in my apartment complex near my area of grass, and a bit of super stretchy spiderweb. Instant spookiness! Thank God my landlords let me reak havoc on every inch of land that could be possibly considered mine (or mine and my nice neighbors).

I Can't Carve a Pumpkin

2010-02-11T00:02:00.000-08:00

These are a couple of my lovely pumpkins that were store bought and put outside my front door. I adore real pumpkins, but it pains me to cut into them. I feel like I'm killing the poor things. It's one of the most popular traditions for Halloween, but I can't wrap my head around it.

Where Spells and Ingredients Unite

2010-01-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

These are some photos from my Witches Cabinet from Halloween last year. If I had my way, I'd keep it up year round and incorporate some real spices and such in it.

It's really odd looking at it all on here, but I moved it around nearly daily. A witch would actually use her cabinet of mysterious goodies, wouldn't she? Things have been really out of control lately, so a reminder of Halloween's past and future help get through it all.

Halloween Photos from Disney 2009

2010-01-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

Let's pretend I wanted to save all of my Halloween pictures for January when I would be crashing from the lack of Halloween in my life. Okay? So here's my intentionally incredibly late post on a few Halloween photos from Disney this past fall.

These are both from window displays from Main Street.

I've got to say vintage Halloween is my favorite. Disney does a great job of incorporating the spirit of ye olde Halloween in every nook and cranny, especially on Main Street. More pictures, including a dia de los muertos sugar skull can be found here: Disneyland Halloween 2009 pictures by bellelostdrake - Photobucket

Best of Books- 2009

2010-01-05T22:57:00.001-08:00

I'm a few days behind already, but I wanted to get my Best of 2009 reading list up. I can't even begin to say what a fantastic year this was for reading, and I'm so looking forward to 2010 to bring even more great reads. In no particular order (with the exception of the last two):

Going Bovine by Libba Bray- completely different from her Gemma Doyle series which I was absorbed by, but funny, complex, and wonderfully refreshing. Libba Bray is definitely not going to be typecast as a Victorian fantasy writer.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman- I read it described as "grownup Harry Potter" and went in looking for that. I wasn't disappointed. It was magical and dramatic, and this book stressed me out, but it was worth it in the end.

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris- Not my favorite Sookie Stackhouse book, but the more I get into this series, the more I want. I'm hooked and if there is anyone in the world who hasn't read these books (all three of you) go pick it up immediately.

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough- I've loved witches since birth, and this book gave me a delicious new serving of witchcraft. It was unexpectedly good. I devoured it in one day, and I'm excited that the ending seemed open enough for a sequel. Please?

Eternal Kiss edited by Trisha Telep and featuring so many of my favorite authors- I don't even know where to begin with this one. I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but when I found out that Maria V. Snyder, Holly Black, Kelley Armstrong, Libba Bray, AND Cassandra Clare were going to be featured in the same book, I was in. These women are incredible, as are their storytelling abilities. This book makes me unbelievably excited for Holly Black's book of short stories, The Poison Eaters, due out in February. She's the reason I started reading young adult fantasy, with Tithe, back in 2002. I worship this woman. I could go on and on about all of the authors in this collection, especially the one's I mentioned, but you should just read them all yourself and fall in love like I did.

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead- This author loves to torment us. The Vampire Academy series keeps managing to pull me in more and more as the books go on. I can not wait until May for the next book, and I know I'll read it way too fast, and be in agony waiting for the next book.

The Hollow by Jessica Verday (not pictured up top since it's being borrowed)- Sleepy Hollow is one of those consistent things I think should never be messed with. I think it was honored beautifully in this book and I look forward to the next installment. Also, I wish the author would go on twitter since it's such a great place for us readers to get to know the lovely writers that we live for.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (not pictured up top because it is also being borrowed)- Another surprising one for me and my number two pick for the year. I'm not normally a huge reader of fiction involving angels, but this one cried out to me on the shelf, and Patch lured me in. I think this one gets a bonus star since I love the name Patch so much.

Finally, my favorite book, as it is for pretty much everyone who has read it this year, is Beautiful Creatures by the magnificent Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl- This book is the new Twilight. I don't even know where to begin except to say this story is truly exceptional. I know it's going to be one that I keep coming back to over the years. Follow these ladies on twitter, follow their writing careers, because soon everyone will be. Read Beautiful Creatures before it's sold out at your local book store and you can't find it. I laughed, I cried, I was devastated, I was fulfilled, I was shocked, and I'm dying for more. Please, more, and soon!

Cakes

2010-01-01T22:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Lovelies! I realized I have been the absolute worst blogger ever in 2009, so I promised myself I would write more this year. More in my book, more in my blog, more on twitter... I love words. I want to write them down. In addition to writing and the other random stuff I do, I enjoy making birthday cakes for those closest to me. I'm not great at it, but I enjoy doing it, when not getting angry or screaming at the frosting to just not do what I want.

Anyway, I thought I'd share some pictures of cakes I made, or had made for me. First up is the Twilight Saga cake I made for my mom's birthday in October of 2009. The Twilight journals had only been out a few days, so she was really surprised. I actually placed the cake platter on top of the books, all 4 plus my Eclipse Special Edition since I needed a bigger surface to work with.

Here's another shot:

This is the cake I made for my best friend Jess's birthday which was on Christmas:

Not the greatest lettering at the bottom, but overall I was happy with it. The Spaceship, I think it's the Enterprise lol, lit up, so I thought I got bonus points for that. I mean come on, it lit up! I did the different colored cupcakes based on the shirts they wear, thanks to a suggestion from our friend Cassie.

Last year I made Jess a Repo the Genetic Opera cake. While it did not light up, I think it was appreciated. If you have not seen Repo! go see it now. Seriously. Find a friend, netflix it, phone home, I don't care how you see it, just see it.

Finally, my birthday cake from November 2009, made by the one who started me on cakes so many years ago, my mom. She did a beautiful job.

Closeup with a bit more detail with come soon. Her cakes are ridiculously detailed. I hope I can make a cake half as good as hers one day.

Mmm, I am craving, you guessed it, cake now. Perhaps I shall go dig around for some leftover cake from my dad's birthday.

21 Minutes and Counting

2009-10-30T23:39:00.000-07:00

Well, my decorations have been up for a month, I've eaten and repurchased candy three times, and I'm on my second costume. It's officially Halloween. I don't care if the countdown says 20 minutes to go, I've been ready for this for months.

I actually took pictures of my Halloween decorations this year, and I plan on posting them after the holiday settles down a little. I've been out doing all kinds of Halloweeny events this year, and tomorrow night (aka The Night) is no different. I can't wait and I'm looking forward to having a really good night.

I'm also super excited about Nov. 1 for two reasons: first the clearance sales. I'm completely broke but I've managed to scrounge a little bit together to see if I can find any good deals. I really need a blucky for next year. Secondly it's the start of NaNoWriMo (this is how my friend Jess abbreviated it to me- it seems very complicated).

I've never done it, but I've thought about it. Basically you write a novel in one month. They consider a novel 50,000 words. It is around 1,700 words per day. That is a lot of words for someone like me who usually does around 600 or so on a good day. But you know what? I'm going to try it and see what happens.

I got an idea for a book the other day and I've hardly thought at all about plot, or character development, or any of those things, but I think it's sort of exciting to dive in and have absolutely no clue where I'm heading. Will I succeed? Probably not (pessimistic, I know) but I hope to have some fun in the process. Putting aside my current number one project scares me a little bit, but maybe I can juggle both writing projects at once. With 1,700 words needed every day, I kind of doubt it. I'm lazy.

Wow, it's only 15 minutes to go now and I'm very excited. I'm in a spooky shirt (no really, it's one of those old lady shirts that has sequins and shiny things and it literally spells out SPOOKY) and pumpkin slippers. I have bat earrings on and I'm getting ready to read a Sookie book to ring in All Hallows Eve.

Happy 14 minutes until Halloween lovelies.

Swapmeet Mishaps

2009-09-11T23:09:00.000-07:00

So tonight turned into this random whirl of events. I'm typing this on an unfamiliar computer, in a kitchen not my own.

While odd, it was definitely not a bad night. It was interesting. All started with a trip to Target, which did not have Halloween out yet (well, not really), then turned into a trek to the Santa Fe Springs Swapmeet. We got there and walked around and while on the hunt for my favorite sunglasses stand (I wear massively large black round bug eye sunglasses- yes, I'm one of those) we stumbled across a stage with five female musicians on it. It was the Undercover Girl Band and they were awesome. Off the top of my head, I remember them playing "Gimme Some Lovin'," "Jesse's Girl," and "My Sherona."

For $1.50 (the cost to get into the swapmeet on a Friday night), the 4 of us sat enjoying songs we knew and loved by these extremely energetic women. After that we ate pizza in a parking lot, stalked old boyfriend's houses, and started a blog for my cousin, Breanna. (It's http://onabalconyinsummerair.blogspot.com ) Oh and I forgot about the rice krispy treats we completely failed at making! Does anyone ever make these right? I haven't attempted since high school in a trailer park in Anaheim, and I thought in a real kitchen I'd have better luck, but well... they tasted okay even if they looked burnt.

All in all a pretty fun and eventful evening for the books.

Coffin Building

2009-09-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

I had to steal the wood (or rather ask nicely and took from my dad's work), piece it all together because each piece was too small, and use a saw that wasn't big enough (our table saw broke 2 weeks ago), but finally it's finished. Fortunately I had wood stain (mahogany) left over from a previous project and the only thing I had to purchase was screws, so my new favorite thing hardly cost me anything (except a lot of time). Note to self: don't build props in the garage when it's this hot out. I'm sure it wouldn't have taken me so long if I hadn't dreaded going outside.

Rogers Gardens Halloween

2009-09-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

Friday September 4 was the Grand Opening of Rogers Gardens Halloween in Corona Del Mar, CA. The displays were as gorgeous as ever, but I was shocked at the prices. I've been shopping... quite a bit this year (window shopping, window shopping, I swear!) and have found many beautiful Department 56, Bethany Lowe, Victorian Trading Co., and many more pieces from wonderful companies at shockingly low prices. That was not the case here. Even though I didn't pick up much (thankfully for my wallet), I did take some inspiring pictures I would love to share. Most can be found here: Rogers Gardens Halloween 2009 pictures by bellelostdrake - Photobucket

And here's a couple sneak peeks:

Cooking Time Again

2009-09-01T10:08:00.001-07:00

The other night I went and saw Julie and Julia. It was fantastic. I knew I would enjoy it, but I had no idea I'd love it as much as I did.

It has inspired me to start cooking. So although the heat is sweltering, I'm pretending it's cold outside and turning the oven on. Yesterday before work I made peanut butter and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Last night I made homemade macaroni and cheese. Here is my simple recipe:

3 cups of uncooked macaroni
1.5 cups of milk
1 medium sized egg
about 30 oz. of cheese (or more or less depending on how cheesy you like it- I used sharp, mild would work fine too)
paprika
salt

Macaroni goes into the pot. Salt a bit (only way you can add flavor to the pasta is right now!)

Bring the macaroni to a boil (or cook until soft) then strain. Set aside.

Put 1/3 of the cheese in the bottom of a 9x12 baking pan

Mix egg in with milk

Begin layering cheese and macaroni and pouring in a bit of the milk/egg mixture.

Add dashes of paprika in between layers

Save some of the cheese for the top and sprinkle everywhere. Grate more if you like it SUPER cheesy.

Bake at 320 for about 50 minutes. Top should darken up quite a bit. For macabre macaroni add a garnish of spiders on top. You can get a huge bag of plastic ring spiders at Party City or someplace similar. Make sure the little one's know they're not edible! Enjoy.

Fall Has Arrived

2009-09-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

With September finally here, I am breathing a sigh of relief that summer is over. I wish Mother Nature would take this into consideration and stop making it so warm and sunny, but I'm sure Heat Meiser is being a little bitch right now.

In other news, I went to a concert this past Saturday night at the Fox Theater in Pomona. It's in this downtown area, near Cal Poly, so it's very collegey. I'm used to a fair dose of hipsters, skinny jeans, and the swoopy bang by this point, but there is never quite as much as there is near a college.

What was most surprising was the turnout. This place was packed. Recently I've either been to venues that are medium sized and not quite full, or small and packed near the front. Fortunately I got the "must be in the front" syndrome out of my system when I was a teenager and no longer have to rush up there. The back where I lurk is generally empty, or occupied by those people who don't shut up during a show. (Really, can you have your conversation after the band goes off? It's only an hour. Sorry we're inconveniencing you all by listening.)

Anyway, to keep it spooky, I suggest a couple of songs of theirs, "The Funeral" and "Is There a Ghost." Both are more subtly spooky, then say a bloody zombie found at the Spirit store. If you enjoy a darkly polished candelabra year round, mixed with a pumpkin in your kitchen that's stayed alive for months, then I hope you'll give them a listen.

The band played several new songs that were extremely... for lack of a better word, country. I don't know how I feel about this. I may not be purchasing the next album, but I'll definitely give it a try. I can say Band of Horses are positively perfect live. A little too perfect. One of my favorite things in a show is the banter, or those one time things that no one would understand unless you were in the crowd with me. There really wasn't anything like that this time, but nonetheless it was a good way to spend a Saturday night.

Halloween Forum

2009-08-24T18:17:00.001-07:00

I've never been more addicted to anything in my life.

Adios Summer

2009-08-17T23:57:00.000-07:00

My grandma was in the hospital for a blood clot so I've not been able to be online much. Thankfully she's back home safe and sound, but I'm going to be helping out after work, so free time and summer lazy days are gone. Oh well, with summer going, fall is approaching. And fall=Halloween, hip hip hooray!

To keep it Halloweeny, I've become obsessed with finding these appetizer plates made by Department 56. They've been spotted at Ross and thus far I've found one of four. Between work and my grandma's tomorrow I'm going to head into at least one Ross. I swear the hunt for Halloween is keeping me sane.

Whistle While I Work

2009-08-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

Working on one of my books. Here is a little bit I can't help but going over and over again. Does it visually make sense?

I saw his lips moving quickly and he bent down and touched the roots of the tree. As he stood up, and I arrived next to him, there was movement. I blinked a few times, willing myself to not look away. The roots were pulling themselves up and the whole tree began to split in two. It was as if someone had taken a giant seam ripper to pull away at the tree.

It's the first night I've been home in a while and I'm determined not to get distracted by one paragraph. I've printed out 3 copies of my book thus far, about 25,000 words, and I'm waiting to hear back from 2 of the 3 who have printed copies. We'll see how they like it. (The first person who got back to me was my mother. She devoured it in one sitting, but I cannot trust her glowing review as she birthed me, and therefore cannot be trusted.)

More Halloween Shopping

2009-08-12T18:48:00.001-07:00

Went several places after work yesterday on the hunt for, you guessed it, more Halloween! Here is a picture of a Marshall's endcap.

Nothing super exciting, but it's still Halloween (and no I'm pretending it's more Halloween than fall so just shush). More can be found here:

Marshalls Halloween pictures by bellelostdrake - Photobucket

Yes We Can

2009-08-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

This whole blogging thing is extremely new to me and I've no idea if I'm "supposed" to be sticking to a certain topic, but I'm so upset right now, I don't think I could follow these rules, if indeed they are rules. I haven't religiously kept a diary in many years, so apparently I'm going to just be airing how I feel on here. As if anyone is actually interested, but no matter...

Equality California has decided to push back marriage equality until the November 2012 election. I understand they want to wait until we are sure we can win it back, but I'm still upset by this. It just means there's a TON more work to do, more signs to print out, more people to talk to, and plenty of time to do it.

Rant over. Promise to get back to spooky things when the time fits.

How-To Pretend Halloween

2009-08-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

I think it's hilarious when seriously non-spooky people try and talk about Halloween. See if you can learn anything from this video. I didn't, but it was amusing nonetheless.

How-To Make Halloween Snacks on Howcast

To Grandmother's House We Go

2009-08-06T23:46:00.001-07:00

After a strenuous day at my grandparent's, I decided I needed to head to Home Goods and see what new Halloween had arrived since I'd been there (only a week ago!). I've attempted to put a slide show of the pictures here, but as I'm extremely technologically challenged, I don't think it worked. I believe you can just go to www.photobucket.com/bellelostdrake if that is easier. I really ought to just take away the area I tried to put the slide show in, but the swirling white circles going round and round are strangely hypnotic. Don't get lost in them!

Also I made some homemade peanut butter brownies, and I must say they turned out delicious! I needed them after a failed attempt at making some Halloween necklaces out of wine charms. Oh well, I'll find something to do with them, I'm sure.

Uprising

2009-08-04T23:38:00.000-07:00

Today was another odd day, gasp! Why, you may wonder? I had to stop by work to help my boss out with something and there was so much construction going on in our parking lot, it felt like we were in a constant earthquake. (As a native Californian, I've had my fair share of earthquakes over the years.) In addition to that, I also lost power this morning and lived ye olde style for a while because of lack of lighting. Because my house is a dark cave, I finished Hunted by PC and Kristin Cast by flashlight. God forbid I go outside where it's sunny to read. Plus I couldn't possibly be bothered to get ready without any lights- have you put on foundation in the dark? (I have too, it's not that bad I know, but for dramatic purposes go with me here.) I'll get to why the end of the day was so weird in a bit, but for now a little on my reading.

Hunted was the best in the Marked series, by far, and although there are some extremely stereotypical gay characters, they are getting better. I hope the mother/daughter author combo work on it some more and they keep improving.

While writing this, I'm listening to the brand new single from Muse, "Uprising," and I'm incredibly impressed. I'm not the biggest Muse fan, but it's hard not to love so many of their songs. I think this one is going to go at the top of my Muse list. It's definitely an inspiring song, and when listened to at full volume, it makes you feel- makes you want to get up and do something.

On a Halloween note, I found an extremely cute new prop today at none other than Big Lots. It's a sign that says Dracula's Pub and I love it!

My night ended with going out my oldest friends, who are really like family. We went to do some birthday exchanges and ended up having a late dinner at my favorite diner, Mae's. On the way home we passed my local cemetery, which I'm quite fond on, and once again I'm reminded how odd I am. I screeched out,

"Say hello to my cemetery!"

My friends, who happen to be sisters, responded with,

"No, I don't like cemeteries," and "You know I'm afraid of cemeteries."

When I asked them about remembering where they've come from, and thinking of those who have been here before us, the topic was quickly switched and I was left in the dust. The conclusion of my day left me feeling odder than ever. Am I really the only one out there who feels a sudden urge to frolic every time she passes a cemetery?

Death Before Disco

2009-08-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

Today I spent several hours driving around Southern California on the hunt for more Halloween items. Sadly, I'd either already seen everything that was out, or purchased it already. I'm itching for when the sun goes down earlier, I can wear a coat out, and Halloween is more readily available. I don't even like candy corn, and I've been craving it. I think I shall try to make some pumpkin muffins to squelch the candy corn pangs.

"Death Before Disco" by My Chemical Romance premiered at the aforementioned Roxy shows. Here is a clip of not the greatest quality, but at this point, I'd take anything from them.

Isn't it funny that today is friendship day? I've had my phone off, attempting to shut out the world. Not feeling very friendly, but perhaps those pumpkin muffins shall put me in a better mood, if it isn't too hot to turn on the oven, that is.

I think my time may be better spent working on my paper mache pumpkins that I've recently started. Like all good ideas, they've been thrown out in the back yard and forgotten. Time to resurrect them? Perhaps.

Pumpkin Crazy... or Just Crazy

2009-08-01T16:31:00.000-07:00

It's scary the amount of Halloween purchases I've been making this week. I may have a bit of the "shop to feel better" disorder. Honestly, who doesn't in some way? .:: ROSS ::. has Halloween out and they've been selling these adorable Department 56 pumpkins at $6.99 each. On ebay they sell for about $70 so I figure it's a huge steal. However, I now own 5 of them. Did I need 5? No. But did I need 5? Absolutely. I have a hard time saying no to Halloween.

Tonight I will be missing another My Chemical Romance show and instead heading off to a friend's birthday. I've just arrived home from work and have no idea what to wear, so of course I have clothes all over the floor now. I'll probably just wear a black dress (my usual color) and hope I can get myself in a better mood before tonight. Sadly, no one understands my concert turmoil, because to most people, my closest friends included, it's just another show and another band. If only anyone got that this is a life or death matter.

Okay, sounding waaay emo there but I am pretty emotional today. Staring at the MCR tattoo on my wrist isn't helping and I wish it wasn't so hot or I'd wear long sleeves and cover it. Here's hoping tonight involves lots of drinking and perhaps some peanut butter cheesecake.

So Long and Goodnight... err Welcome

2009-07-31T15:56:00.001-07:00

Well, I never thought I'd break down and start blogging, but here I am. 2009 has definitely been a strange year so far, and I figure writing more isn't going to hurt.

That's right, I'm a writer. Me and everyone else out there. I mostly write young adult in an urban fantasy setting, but I read everything. Currently I'm trying to get through Dracula, which shockingly I've never read in it's entirety. I'm also picking at Hunted by PC and Kristin Cast, and old fairy stories from William Butler Yeats.

Tonight I've decided I have to get out of the house because I will be missing my favorite band of all time, My Chemical Romance, perform at the Roxy in LA. If I stay home, most likely I will pull all of my hair out and curse at the universe for not getting tickets. Let's hope tomorrow is a better day.