Weekly Recommendations - AND WE'RE BACK!

I’m baaaack! Did ya miss me? Sooo, soooo, sorry for being a fail at my rec blog. It seems that when I started writing, everything else in life was put on the back burner… no, further than the back burner… the splatter guard BEHIND the back burner. That’s okay, ‘cause our lovely AT (Alitriona) is going to keep me on track now. She has a whip and handcuffs… wait, those aren’t for me… Anyhoo, she’s going to keep me from forgetting. *grin*

So since we are basically re-starting, I’m not going to go with my little hint from before. I’m just starting fresh. And one of the fics that is just begging me to rec it is:

Midnight Sun of a Biotch by Greeen Goldfish

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5825067/1/Midnight_Son_of_a_Biotch

GGs summary:

What would happen in Midnight Sun if the characters weren't so...Mormon? How does a vampire break it to his lady love that he wants to eat her? Can vampires get drunk? Let's find out. Warning: I delight in abusing canon. OOC, AU.

My summary:

Now, don’t go thinking this is just a re-write of SM’s Midnight Sun, because it is FAR FROM IT! First of all, many situations are entirely different. Yes, Bella’s blood still sings to Edward and yes, he reads minds, Alice sees the future, yadda, yadda. But, there’s so many other things that are different, like for instance, Edward was changed by Tanya. Ooooh, interesting, no? ;)

So, anyway, this is so wonderful! Edward is snarky, and he cusses like a sailor – but it’s epically funny! I haven’t read a single chapter that I didn’t laugh out loud!

That being said, a few people have started the fic and said, “Ehh, it’s not for me.” And quit reading. Personally, I think everyone should at least read three or four chapters before they pitch it, because it is just so incredibly funny!

To help reel you in, you know I always give you a good teaser, so here goes:

Teaser 1:

"It all happened so fast, no one really saw. I've been in their heads and they all just assume I was standing there when the van started skidding and I shoved us both out of the way."

"What about Bella?"

"Well, obviously I don't know what she's thinking."

"That's a bit of a problem, isn't it?"

"Alice doesn't seem to think so," I said, nodding toward the overbearing oracle of optimism.

"What do you see, Alice?"

"Same stuff as yesterday, really," she said. "Except Edward plays hard to get for a while, first."

I already knew this, of course. But it wasn't something I particularly wanted to discuss with the whole Bloodsucking Brady Bunch. It was something I needed to think about.

"Can you tell in the visions if Bella knows what Edward is?" Carlisle asked.

"Not really. But I'm guessing if they're cuddling, she's going to kind of notice that he's not exactly…warm and cuddly."

"But you don't see her revealing anything?" he pressed.

"Nope."

Carlisle turned to me then and raised his eyebrows.

How are you feeling about all of this?

"I don't know," I answered.

"Hey! No brain talking! That's rude!" Rosalie protested.

"Well, then maybe the rest of you should let me and Edward have a minute," Carlisle responded. The girls narrowed their eyes at Carlisle then, but Jasper and Emmett took it in stride and began ushering them out. As soon as the door was closed, Carlisle and I began talking again. Ironically, he didn't speak to me in his head once they were gone. He found that, then, he would often let things slip that he didn't want me to respond to. I mean, I would hear them all the same. But at least if he spoke out loud, I would know what he deemed appropriate for conversation. "So?" How are you feeling? Are you worried? Have you developed feelings for her already? Is it only because of Alice's vision? You can't possibly have feelings for her already. Would you have saved anyone that that was about to happen to? Did she lose any blood? Does her blood still sing to you? My god, you must have will power.

See how much the mindreading can suck?

Teaser 2:

"Thank you."

"Oh. Uh…you're welcome. Like I said, it was kind of just instinct. I didn't really think about it."

"Well, thanks all the same. It sounds really strange to say it out loud, but I'm pretty sure you saved my life."

"It's cool. You loaned me bio notes yesterday. So, uh-I figure we're even now."

She smiled at me then. I won't lie—I was kinda hoping for a laugh. But I'd take a smile.

"I don't remember…right before the accident… It's so weird. I remember standing next to my truck, and I remember the squeal of the tires and seeing the van headed toward me. But I don't remember you."

"Wow, way to wound a guy. I like to think I'm memorable."

See how good I am at deflection? (And fishing for information?)

"What were we talking about?"

Shit.

"Uh. Actually, we weren't. I had just meandered over there. I hadn't had the chance to strike up conversation yet."

"Oh." She tilted her head then for a second. "What were you going to talk to me about?"

"Uh. I don't remember. I was probably returning your notes or something."

"Oh." She seemed satisfied then, because she began digging in her pocket and then turned toward the vending machine. She pulled out a handful of change and began counting it out. "Fuck," she muttered under her breath. Then she looked up. "Do you have any change?"

"Uh, yeah," I said, fumbling for my wallet. I pulled out a dollar bill and handed it to her.

"Thanks. I'll get you back. I just don't want Charlie to get all suspicious when I don't come back with a soda."

"Don't worry about it." Then I watched as she tried twice to get the machine to accept the bill. It rejected it and spit it back out both times. Which was weird because it was a pretty crisp bill. "Want me to try?"

"I'll get it," she said. Then, I could see the tip of her tongue protruding from her mouth in concentration as she gave it another go. On the third attempt, the machine finally accepted the bill and she pressed her selection. Then, she retrieved the Diet Coke that came tumbling out, along with her change, which she turned and offered to me. I shook my head.

"Keep it." Better not to risk any more contact for right now.

"So. Uh. Do you think you'll go back to school?" she asked.

"Probably not. Might as well exploit the shit out of the near-death experience, right?"

"Yeah. That's kind of what I was thinking. I'm not exactly looking forward to being a spectacle," she said, as she popped open the soda and we began strolling back down the hall.

"Yeah. Me either."

"What are you talking about? You're always a spectacle."

"Sorry?"

"Uh. I mean… I just mean… Sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

"Like what?"

"I just meant that your family doesn't exactly blend."

"Right. Yeah."

"Sorry."

"No, don't apologize. It's the truth."

"It doesn't bother you?" she asked.

I shrugged. Only when it threatens to expose us as the undead creatures of the night that we actually are. When that's something you have to worry about, the rest is kind of just gravy. I don't think I'll be sobbing myself to sleep if I'm not crowned homecoming king. And not just because my body can't produce tears.

"So, uh…can I get your notes back to you tomorrow?" I asked.

"Yeah. Of course. Getting those notes back isn't exactly top on my list of concerns right now."

"What is?"

"Huh?"

"Top on your list of concerns?"

"Um. I don't know. Not getting killed by careening vans. Keeping this whole thing a secret from my mother. Avoiding Charlie's scrutiny."

"Why?"

"Uh. Because he can be a little…overprotective, I suppose."

"No, I mean, why not tell your mother what happened?"

"Oh. Because she would freak out about it even though nothing happened. No reason to get her all worked up over nothing."

"You call your dad 'Charlie'?"

"What's with the twenty questions?"

"Sorry. I just…I guess I'm nosy. Didn't mean to pry. Sorry."

"No, it's OK. I just…I don't know. Are we like, suddenly bound by our shared near death experience now or something? You can go back to being aloof if you want."

"Ouch."

"God. Sorry. I didn't…I didn't mean it like that. That came out totally wrong. I just…I don't really know how to act around someone who saved my life. It's really weird, right?"

"I don't see why you need to act any differently than before. But then again, you're not, really."

"I feel like I kind of owe you. Like…my life."

"Like I said—bio notes. Don't sweat it."

"Um. I don't think it works like that."

"Seriously, Bella. You don't owe me anything. You would have done the same for me."

"Uh."

"You know, if you hadn't been too busy staring at the careening van."

"Right."

We slowed down then, as we had reached the doorway of the room we had originally come out of.

"So, um…I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked, unsure of what I was supposed to say or why I had even engaged in the conversation with her in the first place. In fact, the only thing I was sure of in that moment was that I was even more confused about everything.

"Um. Yeah. Tomorrow."

And that’s only chapter 3… it gets better and better and better, lol! I love how Edward REALLY acts like a teenager in this. He’s so confused and doesn’t understand anything about anything involving relationships, and girls, and Bella, it’s just hilarious :)

Ok, so, as usual, I have to give you a hint for my next recommendation.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and rec something that is gonna take a LOT of finagling to get y’all to read ;)

The hint is:

Not over fruit

Luv you all!

-RSA

Hi everybody!

*Hi, Dr Nick! *

Sorry – I couldn’t help myself. Anyway, this is KC writing the blog, and when I didn’t have the rehab blog I thought of so much I could write, but at the moment I’m pretty stuck for words. Don’t you just hate it when that happens?



It’s like when I’m writing, sometimes I just stare at the screen and nothing comes, but whenever I’m at work… or, nowhere near a note pad, I always seem to have the best ideas and dialogue, and half of the time I forget about them. So annoying.
Yes, that's exactly what I look like when I'm annoyed, although you might want to add the nineteen years>>


Anyway, I still feel like the newbie to Rehab, although I must have been knocking around for what…2-3 months? I remember when I first arrived and was nervous joining the chat because I didn’t want to seem like an idiot, but I spoke and that gave everything away – dammit. Haha, but seriously, everybody has been so nice and made me feel right at home. Thank you all for being so lovely! :)

Haha...I'm thanking people for being lovely...

Oh, and thanks for being so supportive with my competition entry! It really means a lot!




So, it’s summer, and I really have nothing to do…well, I do, but it’s not that important…just my job. Though, I am going to Latitude festival, which I’m so excited for (because I’m going to run around in bare feet and wear floral dresses and say words like ‘psychedelic’!)…but it’s not like I’m going to Paris and London like a certain someone…ahem. So, this means that I have a lot of time to write – which is great – but also I can do some beta’ing, if anybody needs it. It’s there, left on the table, my proof-reading skills, waving at you. Yes, you.

Oh, and while I have the blog, I might as well promote the non-canon blog I’m working on with MBL, For the Love of Non-Canon. It’s been really fun to get interactive with another twi-site, because before joining rehab I never explored the fandom…I just kept myself to myself.

Aww, rereading that makes me sound so sad. I wasn’t sad! They were the happy days when Kim didn’t tell me about this horrible woman called Aunt Flo!


That's Aunt Flo.

Hahahah…







Anyway, I’ll keep on rambling, since I think I’m doing a fine job. So, I’ll tell you my favourite angst-y song of this week that has really put me in the mood for writing angst. It’s called 'Fistful of Love' by Antony and the Johnsons. It’s really sad, being dubbed as a ‘sweet masochistic song’. I find that his voice alone makes me feel pretty emotional. But then again, I’ll cry at anything. I can’t watch Britain’s Got Talent anymore because every time an old woman sings and she’s amazing – the flood gates are open, and I’ll be shouting at the T.V ‘It’s so beautiful!’

Ahem, moving on…


My happy song of the week is…hahaha, I barely have any happy songs. Oh, I tell a lie, I really love this MGMT song called ‘Brian Eno’. I love a bit of MGMT. Overall, my other rec’s are any Laura Marling or Patti Smith. Or Joni Mitchell.

Okay, I’m done, but when it comes to music I could go on for hours. And hours and hours and hours.

You get the picture.





Of course, I have some fandom questions, which I really should save for my mentor…but I’m going to ask you ladies, because you always give me really detailed, and insightful answers. Not that my Twi-mentor doesn't, she's pretty brilliant too.

Anyway, would it be a bad idea if I wrote a twific that was set in England? You know, with English characters, typically English. Since, I feel like I’m betraying my own writing style by deciding to use American grammar for the obvious reasons. I mean, I know people have written fics in England and had English characters, but I just wanted to know if that puts you off, or attracts you, or maybe not even bother you? So yeah, some feedback on that would be great, because I’ve started another fic where all my characters are English, and I’ve decided to get a bit of courage and write my first non-canon fic. Woo. Excitement.


Actually, I thought I would have more questions, but that was the main one that I’ve been thinking about lately.

Okay, I’m stuck for words. But I swear I’ll be better if I have the blog again! :D

So, I’ll love you and leave you.

But not without some male beauties. ;)












And, as our beloved Duckie would say from Pretty in Pink, 'I'm off like a dirty shirt.'

Kitty.
x

Random rambling from MBL

So, AT emailed me earlier this week and said it's my turn to write on here. But the thing is, I have no idea what to write about!

I don't know whether to write what's been happening in the past couple of months, or just ramble and put some random stuff so then I know I've done what I need to do :P.

Anyway, decided to just ramble, and before I forget, started a new blog! It's called For the Love of Non-Canon (it's linked), there are so many blogs out there that cover everything within the fandom, or some specific part e.g. The Major (lets face it, we can NEVER get enough of the Major), but this blog is based on everything Non-Canon. We have themed weeks, which is basically a week dedicated to one character and we find a load of fics and rec them and interview authors etc. who write something with that character.

This week is Carlisle week, so we're finding pictures of Carlisle and posting them, as well as finding other non-canon fics and posting them. This is the first week of us posting something everyday, and I love it, it's hard work, but it's so worth it in the end!

So to anyone who reads this blog, please check it out, leave a comment or something, or even follow us :), or send us your favourite non-canon fics, we'll post them, :)

So enough about the blog, I might have bored you to death with that. Other good news... I've finally had my operation, 15 months is wayy to long to wait for one, I even took pictures of my knee, how lame is that?? Before and After shots, it's hilarious, but I'

m so glad that I can walk now, run, skip, star jumps (I had a major wack out yesterday doing all of them), it's just amazing on how two weeks after my operation I'm doing all of them already!!!

The last 15/16 months have been really hard on me and my family, and to be honest, I don't think I could have gotten through it without all my friends, especially the rehab girls, AT, Sheree, Rags, ILWA, Frenchie, KC, VampsHaveLaws, Allysue, and most importantly Detochkina and Sobriquett. These girls rock, no joke, but when things have been seriously bad, and I just feel like giving up altogether they were always there picking me back up again, I can't thank you guys enough for all the help you've given me in the past year and a half, and know that if there is anything I can do, let me know!

BEWARE-RANDOM RAMBLE

Sometimes I don't know if I'm taking on too much, I mean I have three fanfics, the blog, Picprompt, two novels, beta'ing, and I've kinda accepted someone's request at co-writing a fic with her. AGHHHHH *pulls hair out*, maybe I need to organise things, and do things straight away and leave the writing until I have time or something, I don't know, but I really need to sort myself out. Maybe take myself out of the fandom for a while? Actually, no. I tried that and I didn't last a day. Urm... Any tips?

Man rant

So coming to the end of my post, and I promised Shereebedee that I'll rant about guys. So here it is.

Men are stupid, pathetic creatures who are just there to tear us down when we're vulnerable. There may be good guys out there, but where the hell are they? In Sheree's case, I wanna hunt down anybody who hurts her coz she's an awesome person and I hate hearing/seeing her hurting, I wanna kill the people who hurt her and I'll be really happy, in my case, I have stalkers, guys who are insensitive jerks who post on my facebook wrong things that my family shouldn't even see, I mean who the hell does that?! I think that both Sheree and I, and whoever else who is having guy problems... we should just forget about men altogether and just be happy with who we are, and live life the way we want to, that may include getting with guys ;) but at the end of the day, things with guys always end in tears.

To people who are Happily Married/in a relationship, you're the lucky ones and make sure that they don't hurt you and if they do... we're here for you :)

Kind of a lame rant or what?! lol.

End of rant

But if anybody is interested in following me on twitter I am @miss_bekki_lou, the blog address is: http://fortheloveofnon-canon.blogspot.com/, my pen-name on FF.net is Miss-Beckie-Louise and yeah that's about it.

So if you read this, thank you, if you just glanced at this, then you've probs saved yourself so good on you!

Anyway, laterz ;)

MBL xoxoxoxoxox

Coz I'm so lovely ;) (Laugh it up ppl) I'm leaving this post with a couple of hunky pictures ;)

(500) Days of Summer

I can't very well let my last post be my only post this week, since it was too negative for my taste. I don't like what I did and a part of me wishes I hadn't published that rant, but I stand by my words, so the only way to balance the negativity is to post another post.

I had intended to use this week to impose on you guys my views on writing styles, or even do a few grammar tips, but quite frankly, I'm not feeling that. Instead I have decided to show you what I'm doing this summer, and actually what I've been doing every summer since 2007.

As many of you might already know, I'm born and raised in a little country in the North Atlantic known as Iceland. Furthermore, I grew up close to a town of about 2500 people, which is called Húsavík, and it's situated on the north part of the country.

I started working at the Húsavík Whale Museum in 2007 and I loved it. I work mostly with foreign volunteers, and I've met some great people over museum. I try to delegate that task onto the volunteers, since I hate speaking in front of a crowd, but I have done quite a few guidings, both in Icelandic and English (and even two in Danish, now THAT was impressive :P).

I also get my own projects, like write and review texts, translate from Icelandic to English and vice versa, write news for the home page, and now I have the task of going over all info plaques and correct them (because there are a lot of embarrassing mistakes, unfortunately).

The whale museum also does research, and every day, someone goes out with the whale watching boats and records sightings and the route of the boat, as well as taking pictures of whales. Did you know that individual whales can be distinguished from each other, simply by looking at their flukes or colour patterns? It is pretty interesting. The fluke of the humpback whale, for example, has a very distinctive black and white pattern, some have a completely white underside, some are completely black, while others have spots and stripes.

I can't even begin to count how many whale watching trips I've been on. Not to mention that I acted as a guide for one of the whale watching companies in 2008. I've gone out in all kinds of weather, including a day when they decided the weather was too bad to sail in (of course that was decided after my trip), in blinding fog (though that was one of the most awesome trips I've had, since we ended up seeing six humpback whales, and we didn't even bother chasing them, most of them were that close), and in burning sunshine. I have gone on trips where we saw nothing at all, and trips where the ocean was so clear that you could see the whales underneath the surface. I have seen blue whales, sei whales, fin whales, minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, long-finned pilot whales and northern bottlenose whales. I'm still waiting on the Orcas :P

Despite cold and wet tours, much like the one I had today (it was nothing special, but we did see a blue whale and two minke whales, one of which even jumped for us), going whale watching is probably my favourite part of the job. To be able to go away from the stuffy air of the lobby and breathe in the fresh ocean air -- it's bliss. A lot of my brain storming is done out at sea, and I think a big part of my story, Simplicity is Key, was thought up while waiting for whales.

So, if there are any outdoorsy people out there, then I strongly recommend you coming to Iceland. It is the best place for easy hikes and beautiful scenery. And come to Húsavík, visit me, and go whale watching :)

P.S. - I have loads of good pictures just like these, and I might be uploading them to a good place somewhere, so if you're interested to know where they'll end up, you know where to find me on Rehab (I hope), and if not, you can find me on twitter @ragsstone :)

To Rant or Not to Rant

Last night, we got wind of a rant.

Last night, I read the rant and felt a little annoyed by ranter.

Today, in my curiosity and as I was reminded of the subject, I went to check up on the comments, and that’s when I noticed how big the little rant had become.

Ranting is one thing, bitching is another, and utter bullying is something completely different. It doesn’t take much to make one little rant entirely and inappropriately personal, and when it becomes personal, it has turned into bullying. Keeping things ‘anonymous’ and then going off to say all kinds of things about the-one-who-shall-not-be-named does not mean it isn’t personal. We’ve all read Harry Potter, we all know who you-know-who is.

So today, I am furious. Having had much experience of being both on the receiving and the giving end of bullying, I am the first one to say that it’s simply not cool. And publicly ranting on a blog about someone is taking it a step further than nasty comments. When someone puts something out in the open like that, they can very well expect people to respond, defend and lash out at them in return.

I do not condone bullying, but I will stand by my friends. I am the ultimate diplomat, and I prefer to make nice than be bitchy, but some people really make me want to bitch at them. I don’t like who I become when I bitch at people.

Maybe, just maybe, it would be better for me to contact these people by PM or email and nicely point out where their arguments don’t add up and stand up for my friend. Or maybe I should contain my rant in a private place, so the people in question wouldn’t get hurt. It is what I would have suggested in the first place, if anyone would have asked my opinion on it. It is what I usually do whenever I need to vent.

But why should I rise above these people? Why should I be the one keeping my mouth shut and not bitch in public? Someone said Freedom of Speech, so I’m using it. Someone also said do unto others as you would have them do unto you (yes, me, the atheist, is quoting the Bible, deal with it), so I’m doing unto others what they would have others do unto them. And with that, I’m ready to have someone rant about me in return. The cause is well worth the risk.

The third golden nugget: if you are attacked -- attack back, but with class. Jeez. Some people should really think before they say something, and actually look at all sides. What has been done and said so far is far from classy. Besides, can anyone remember who was attacked first?

I can.

And that’s exactly what drives me to rant myself.

I hate that this is my first blog post on here, and I definitely don’t want to waste my week on a rant, so y’all should expect another blog soon, something more cheerful, I hope!

Oh, and there are other mama bears in this fandom, some of whom I am more scared than others (*cough AT cough*)

Rehab and Me

I am delighted to be the first poster on this new rehab blog and the main subject of my blog is… you’ve guessed it. This will be a place that we can talk about anything and everything. It doesn’t have to be related directly to twilight, although it can be. It is just a place to share whatever it is that is stirring your heart in the week you‘ve been tagged. So, the way it’s going to work is this. Each week on a Friday someone who has added their name to the list will be tagged by me, meaning from Saturday to the following Friday they are free to post. I’m sure for most people it will only be once, but if the mood takes you go ahead and post again. Like I said it can be about anything going on in your life or outside of it, a long as it’s something important to you and you want to share, even if it’s only the latest pics of Rob. :-)  That’s it, very simple really. If there are any issues at all let me know and I will be in touch via rehab with anyone who has put their name on the list but hasn’t yet been added to the contributors. 

 

As for what’s going on in my life… I would like to say firstly, how incredibly proud I am of my son, Eric who will be taking part in Special Olympics Ireland from the 9th to the 13th of June in Limerick and good luck to all of the athletes. I would also like to thank the committees, fundraisers and volunteers and everyone involved. A little support goes a long way and for all those on facebook, you can show yours here.  http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!… 

Many of you that know me already know that I am looking forward to the publication of my debut novel, Shades of Atlantis. It’s been a long road and a hard one. Not so much with writing which is something I love, but with everything else that comes along with it, rejection, doubt and criticism, something I’m sure a lot of you have experienced in writing. So I want to thank everyone who has supported me and my writing in the twilight fandom, it’s because of you all that I found the guts to go submit again. This is my Website, I know it's shameless self-pimp but meh... CarolOates.com

Lastly, I want to thanks the ladies at rehab for their friendship; it means the world to me. Everyday I know there is somewhere I can go and share even the most mundane details of my life and always find a willing ear. I can cry from sadness or laughter or both, gossip, debate, joke around, give and receive virtual hugs and handholding for life’s tough moments and find boundless love with a pure generosity of spirit I am truly honored to experience. You ladies ROCK!