Month: August 2012

Sydney Quotes the Movies – RIP Tony Scott

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle11 Comments

I was saddened by the news of the death of Tony Scott.  For any movie fan, at least one Tony Scott movie is  in your top ten.  In my case, a Tony Scott film began my love of movies.  It was 1986 and my friends and I went to see Top Gun.  Cue the dreamy movie music.  The F-14’s made me want to join the Air Force and the volleyball scene, well, made me want to . . . watch more volleyball.

In honor of the passing of Mr. Scott, I have dedicated this weeks Sydney Quotes the Movies to the greatness that is Tony Scott.  I have been known to recite the following quotes at inappropriate moments.  Try it, it fun.

“If I’m wrong and we’re at war.  God help us all.”

“Everybody who reads comic books knows that the Kirby Silver Surfer is the only true Silver Surfer. Now am I right or wrong?”

“Mr Hunter, we have rules that are not open to interpretation, personal intuition, gut feelings, hairs on the back of your neck, little devils or angels sitting on your shoulder. We’re all very well aware of what our orders are and what those orders mean. They come down from our Commander in Chief. They contain no ambiguity.”

*Denzel Washington did five movies with Tony Scott; Crimson Tide, Man on Fire, Pelham 123, DejaVu, and Unstoppable.

“That’s pretty arrogant, considering the company you’re in.”

“Hey Goose, you big stud.  Take me to bed or loose me forever.”

“The defense department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid.”

“I feel the need . . . the need for speed.”

“You can be my wingman anytime.”

*This is back when Tom Cruise could work in an ensemble cast and not take over.  Great showcase for Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer, Tom Skerritt, Meg Ryan, and Tim Robbins,  

“Forgiveness is between them and God. It’s my job to arrange the meeting.”

“A man can be an artist… in anything, food, whatever. It depends on how good he is at it. Creasey’s art is death. He’s about to paint his masterpiece.”

“The gun shot holds no fear.  You welcome the sound. In fact it’s the sound that sets you free. You are a prisoner on this block until that sound sets you free.”

“I got all the time in the world. *You* don’t, but I do.”

*This my guaranteed good cry movie.  I have seen it several times and end up in a puddle of my own tears every time.  

My thoughts and prays go out to the Scott family.  As a movie lover, I feel privileged to have access to this man’s creative vision.

What’s your favorite Tony Scott movie?  

Tattoo Tuesday – Two of my Favorites

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

I didn’t know if I was going to get a Tattoo Tuesday post today because writing life, professional life and personal life all decided to beat me up today, but I can’t let my Tattoo Tuesday Fan’s down.  So, I decided to combine two of my favorite things:

Star Wars Inspired Tattoos

Found at Moviemaverick.com
Tattoo by Vincent Moisdon
Tattoo by Leigh Harris at Paradise 2
Tatttoo by Artoo at unexplainedunknown.blogspot.com
Tattoo by Oleg Turyanskiy
Tattoo by Steve Morris

 

Tattoo found at http://www.collegehumor.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How cute is Yoda?  It’s my favorite, which one do you like the best?  Is there a movie you like so much that you would the characters tattooed on your body?  

My Weekly Update – September is Almost Here

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle18 Comments

September means a break for the hot temperatures in China.  Even though the weather is perfect to be outside exploring Shanghai, I have a busy month in front of the computer as well.  Here are a few items that are on my to do list for September:

  1. Finish the first draft on my second novel.  Campnano will only get me about two-thirds done.  I will have another 25,000 – 30,000 words to go before it is completed.  Happy dance will have to wait a few more weeks.
  2. Start edits on, I’m Coming Home, my first novel.  Can anyone recommend a good book on editing?  I am a ‘step by step’ kind of person, so I am looking for something that gives good instructions to follow on the editing process.
  3. Edit my short story for the Burrst Writing Contest.  The only prompt given was ‘Blue’.
  4. Pick one out of the three ideas I have for Nanowrimo.  I want to start outlining in October.
  5. Find more Tattoo Tuesday stories.  If I have to crawl over mountains and wade through lakes, I will find them.  Highest views of the week for me for those looking for exposure (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).
  6. Participate in a few Blogfest.  Click on the badges for more information and to join me.

Blog Love 
I love this poem by The Invitation By Oriah Mountain Dreamer posted on Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaso.  It is what my MC is looking for. To be honest, so am I. 
 
Paul Dorset did a guest post at Karen’s Different Corner that was brilliant.  What do Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll have to do with being an Indie Author.  You can’t go wrong with a title like that and I assure you the post doesn’t disappoint.  
 
New Followers
Things to Bitch About
Cowboy Cowden
Debbie at Moon in Gemini
Roomaomao – my new source for shanghai
 
*Thanks also to all the comments, likes, RT’s, clicks, views, stumbled upon and favorites I received last week. I appreciate the love more then you know. 
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday
Thursday – Sydney Quotes the Movies
Saturday – Blog Post 
Sunday – My Weekly Update 

Current Move is Long Over Due

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle17 Comments
This not my new home, but pretty cool.

Before the age of 5, I moved 4 times.  Georgia, Chicago, Denver & Houston. Then, I moved to Dallas when I was 12 and. Dallas is my home town and my parents still live there.  But, since leaving for college, I have not had the same address for more then 3 years at a time.  Is that strange? My friend who is into astrology says that is a trait of my sign; sagitarius get bored easily.  I lived in New Orleans, back to Dallas, Tallahassee (Go Noles!), back to Dallas, Washington DC, Silver Spring, Maryland, back to Dallas, Jacksonville and China.

Living in Shenzhen China for over 5 years for me is a long time.  It is weird to live in the foreignnest (not a word, but I like the way it sounds) of foreign countries for longer then I have stayed anywhere in a long time. But, based on my history, the move to Shanghai is long over due.

Every move has its difficulties, but moving to Shanghai has been especially unique.  Dealing with movers who don’t speak english, highway restrictions and regulations (You can’t drive commercial trucks on city street except during a specific time), moving company employees quitting in route.  One of the guys that works for us who was supervising the move said he had not been as upset in the 6 years he had worked for us combined then he was on that single day of the move.

Moving from southern China to Shanghai is like a native to Alabama moving to New York City.  It is very different.  25 years ago, Shenzhen was rice fields.  Now it is one of the fastest growing urban areas in China.  But, it has a very young population.  For most of the people in Shenzhen, they have come to the city from farms and villagepuff the farm. They work all year long and take 10 – 20 hour train rides home once per year to visit their family and take money home.

Shanghai, on the other hand is one of the oldest cities in China, but it is the most westernized city in China,as well.  There are a lot of foreigners.  Just below my apartment there is a Starbucks, Subway and McDonald’s all in the same block.  And, it has a metro system that takes you all over the city. After being stuck on the outskirts of Shenzhen with no quick access to public transportation, this is going to me mean freedom for me.

I have been doing some research and they have an expat learning center with writing courses, a fitness center from Australia that offer boot camps all over the city.  There are movies theaters with recently released movies and stadium seating.  It has all the comforts of modern living and I am excited to take advantage of it all.  Plus it is China, so even more opportunities to explore this countries culture in history from a new perspective.

I am happy to be moving to Shanghai, it will be a welcome change of pace from the isolated place I have been in for the last 5 years.

My goal is to take advantage of all Shanghai has to over, until I move again.

Have you moved around like me or have you lived in the same place all your life?  How many different places have you moved?   

 

Sydney Quotes the Movies – Limitless

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle11 Comments

What if a pill could make you rich and powerful?

Good tag line = Good movie. Great actor (Bradley Cooper is totally underrated), Great visuals (I love time lapse photography used in a movie) and Great use of light (on the drug; bright and clear, off the drug; dark and dull) = Great movie.

Limitless was visually an awesome movie.  And the lines, oh the lines. Such great lines. Here we go . .

“You see that guy? That was me not so long ago. What kind of guy without a drug or alcohol problems looks this way? Only a writer.” Opening line of the movies. Bradley Cooper plays a guy name Eddie who is a struggling writer. He has a book deal already, which is annoying, but turns out the book was in his head, he just needed help getting it out. As a writer, I can related.

“Time someone shook up the free world and got things done.” Eddie is offered a drug to help him tap into the full capacity of his brain. He sees what he wants and puts a plan together to achieve it. We can all take a lesson from that — you know, minus the drugs.

“I don’t have delusions of grandeur, I have an actual recipe for grandeur.” Eddie is trying to get in on the financial world, after writing his book in four days (hate him). He has to talk his way into his new career. It works.

“My capacity for self sabotage wasn’t boundless after all.” Eddie was trying to get his girl back. She dumped him because he was such a loser. Self deprecating charm worked, they got back together.

“Don’t wear the same coat and suit. This isn’t The Matrix.” Eddie finds himself in danger and hires a couple of bodyguards. In his directions to them, he references one of my favorite movies. It was a funny line in the circumstance.

“You should really be glad about this, because you know me working for you, you’d end up being my bitch.” DeNiro’s character was the experienced business man who had paid his dues and got to the top and although he didn’t want to give in to this brass new young hot shot, he had no choice. He wanted the deal. Turns out he still tries to keep the upper hand over Eddie, but once again, our Eddie proves to be “50 moves ahead.”

Another star of this movie was the city of New York itself. Really makes me miss NYC.
Good suspense filled action movie with a gorgeous star, acting royalty veteran, shot in the greatest city in the world. You can’t go wrong.