A Recap Just for You

Hi there, friends and dear followers.

Since I've been out of bloggosphere-land, I thought I would let you know what I've been up to the past few months.

I'm enjoying my new job. I've been working in a medical field position for over 4 months now. It is crazy how time flies. I'm currently taking some training courses to get a certificate to allow myself the option for movement at the hospital in the future. Sweet-tastic!

Writing-wise: I have been querying out my second book, BOUND. I haven't been super religious about it, but at least it's out there. Of course, as to be expected, I have received some rejections, but the others I figure no news is good news. :D

Every once in a while, I have been flipping back and forth between two writing projects. In other words, whichever one piques my interest at the moment I focus on. My laptop had to go to the computer doctor to get rid of a nasty Trojan virus, so it was out of my hands for a week or so right when I was on fire with my projects. Drat, huh? Slowly but surely I will get there.

If you've read my sidebar's "About Me" section, you will know I'm sort of (well, totally am) a TV junky. I have been rewatching The X-Files series. I'm on the downward spiral of this madness by being in the 8th season. I grew up on this show and still loveth it to deatheth. Plus, the Mulder eye candy is an added bonus. hehe

I've been staying up on Once Upon a Time and Downton Abbey, too.

I've settled in nicely in my new apartment in Salt Lake City, Utah. Unfortunately, I will be moving again in May with the lease being up. That'll be four moves in a year and a half. Crazy-town all the way. I really wish I could just settle myself into a place, but that seems to be a far distant goal. No prob. Life moves forward regardless. If anything, I look forward to having a bathtub again!

In addition to all of that fun jazz, I've read Endlessly by Kiersten White--loved loved loved it! I'm currently reading Reached by Ally Condie. The Salt Lake City County Library system has been my BFF lately. It has supplied me with audio book listening pleasure for weeks on end now (I love me some audio books). The list has included all of the "Shiver" series by Maggie Stiefvater; "Finale" by Becca Fitzpatrick; "Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian" by Eoin Colfer; and the first two books in the "Leviathan" series by Scott Westerfeld. Oh, how I love his books. I started "Goliath" today and am enjoying it already.

Well, these are the haps in my life over the past while. What have you been up to? Have you read any good books? Are you a TV junky like yours truly?

Writing Jewels

Emotional Scenes

Oops, this was supposed to post tomorrow. My human error for not scheduling it. haha Anyway, I'm obsessed with the SYFY show, Warehouse 13. I've watched up to the current episode in the 4th season. So, if you like sci-fi stuff, you'll definitely like this show. One of the closing scenes in an episode sure incited some major emotion in me. For one, I'm way attached to the characters and plot line. Also, the closing scene has a song in it called "Running Up That Hill" performed by Placebo (originally by Kate Bush). Here's a clip from the episode. Beware: If you haven't finished the third season of Warehouse 13, YOU DO NOT WANT TO WATCH THIS!!! *Spoilers*



Anyway, the music at the end of this episode made it an emotional rollor coaster for me. I almost cried. I think I stopped breathing. And the world stopped spinning for a few minutes (at least for me).

Well, here's a list of book scenes that have incited intense emotions in me, be it laughter or crying (Warning: There may be spoilers):

• These is my Words by Nancy E. Turner. One of the end scenes that has to do with Jack. I cried all the moisture out of my body because of it. My nose was dripping snot, too *gross*
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett. The part where all the toilets are placed on a certain person's front lawn
• Delirium by Lauren Oliver. The super-I-growled-at-the-book-for-at-least-30-minutes cliffhanger ending. Super Grrr!
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: The end of course, but the part where Liesel and Rudy make the food delivery boy's bike slip on the ice and they steal the food. I couldn't stop laughing. At all
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Katniss singing when Rue dies
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. The troll farting scene in the first book. I was listening to the audio book while driving and almost had to pull over because I was crying so hard from laughing. Almost peed my pants, too. Oh, you know you want to read this book now, huh?
• The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale. When a certain person dies. I'm not going to spoil this one too much
• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. Fred and George making their amazing departure when they decided to leave Hogwarts for good. Hilarious with all the magic tricks and fireworks they conjure up
• And of course, when Harry Potter dies (uh...Dobby, too. Probably more so than Harry)

So, what movie/TV/book scenes have incited intense emotions in you? What's your favorite TV show as of late? Is there a song that's been played in a TV show/movie that has made it all the more amazing for you?

Writing. Jewels.

The Multi-Tasking Reader

Over the past year, I have fallen in love with audio books. I think that they are divine. Before I became "audio books Julia", I listened to music and radio while in the car – driving to and from work, to the gym, running errands, going to hang out with friends, etc, etc, etc. I love music and thrive off of it. Listening to it super loud is been a favorite past time for me. Unhappily enough my car volume just doesn’t go up quite loud enough to fulfill my “loud-sing-like-a-crazy-person-seat-dancing-ways. Don’t get me wrong; on occasion I have slipped back into my loud music ways but on average audio books take up around 29 days of my month.

Last year, my sister started listening to audio books. She told me it was great. I thought, “That is interesting. I don’t know if I would like it.” I tossed the idea by the way-side without another thought. Some weeks later, I decided that I had to re-read the “Twilight Saga” in lieu of “New Moon” coming out in the theatre. I started reading “Twilight” but had so many other books that I craved to devour so I tossed around the idea of reading the “Twilight Saga” audio style. I finished them soon after and was drawn in, hopelessly addicted.

After taking the “Twilight” adventure, I listened to all of the Harry Potter books. Jim Dale narrated them flawlessly. Since then, I have probably listened to at least 30+ books, most of them I already read and own.

I like audio books for a few different reasons:

1. I can be reading a book and listening to a book in the same period of time. Such a time saver. This is called “The Multi-tasking Reader”. Hehe!
2. It makes my driving time much more enjoyable and beautifully educational. I will be an audio book mom for sure. My kids are going to love to read and hopefully this will aid in avoiding quarreling between children!
3. I can be driving down the road rolling in my seat laughing up a storm and sometimes with streams of tears spewing out of my eyes. I have almost had to pull over due to such moments.
4. Most narrators bring a fresh view to the books. It makes the books much more real and more lovable then they were when reading them just out of the book.
5. Last but not least, people must wonder what I am listening to in my car because, like music, I listen to the audio books really loud too. What can I say; I am all about the loudness of things!

A great audio book series to start out with is “Artemis Fowl”. Unfortunately, the narrator is changed at book 5, but seriously don’t let that ruin the adventure for you.

I still think that it is a must to read them the normal way, book in hand! I sure have not given up on the book-in-hand experience of enjoying a book, so you don't either!

So have I converted you to being a “Multi-tasking Reader” being able to read multiple books at the same time? Pray tell me!