Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest

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It is time, once again, for another legendary blogfest from our Ninja Captain Alex. This time it is all about my favorite subject, movies.  But, to pick only ten. Wow, only ten.  Can I possible narrow my list down to ten? Let me give it a try.

Sydney Aaliyah Michelle’s Top Ten Movie Countdown (quotes included):

# 10 – The Matrix (1999) – “You hear that Mr. Anderson?… That is the sound of inevitability… It is the sound of your death… Goodbye, Mr. Anderson…” “My name is … Neo.”

#9 – Goodfellas (1990) – “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.”

#8 – Fight Club (1999) – “All the ways you wish you could be, that’s me. I look like you wanna look, I fuck like you wanna fuck, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.”

#7 – Gladiator (2000) – “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”

#6 – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – “No. Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try.”

#5 – The Bourne Identity (2002) – “I can tell you the license plate numbers of all six cars outside. I can tell you that our waitress is left-handed and the guy sitting up at the counter weighs two hundred fifteen pounds and knows how to handle himself. I know the best place to look for a gun is the cab or the gray truck outside, and at this altitude, I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking. Now why would I know that? How can I know that and not know who I am?”

#4 – Notting Hill (1999) – “I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”

#3 – Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) – “There ain’t nothin’ more powerful than the odor of mendacity!”

#2 – Transformers (2007) – “We live among its people now, hiding in plain sight, but watching over them in secret, waiting, protecting. I have witnessed their capacity for courage, and though we are worlds apart, like us, there’s more to them than meets the eye. I am Optimus Prime, and I send this message to any surviving Autobots taking refuge among the stars. We are here. We are waiting.”

#1 – The Avengers (2012) – “Let’s do the head count here.  Your brother, the demigod; the super soldier, living legend who kind of lives up to the legend; a man with breathtaking anger management issues; a couple of master assassins and you, big fellow, you’ve manage to piss off every single one of them.”MV5BMTk2NTI1MTU4N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODg0OTY0Nw@@._V1_SY317_CR0,0,214,317_

Do you agree with my list?  What films are on your top ten list?  

My Weekly Update – Proud

Proud

Yesterday, I attend the funeral of a close family friend. A beautiful celebration which culminated his sons speaking eloquently about what their father meant to them. So, touching. I am proud to have known him and his family.

I was also proud to be with my family during the ceremony. We are so blessed to be able to spend time together.

RIP Uncle Milton.

Favorite Find

I found this vlog, KelsNotChelsNotLive,  the other day on Google+. I love this girl. She is so funny and so on point when it comes to writers and writing.

This was my favorite, but she has a whole series, check them out on YouTube.

Have you thought about doing a Video Blog? What’s stopping you? 

New Followers
Valeriu Dg Barbu 
Katya Moonstone
Cheryl at CK Poisoned Rose’s Writings
Opinionated Man
Live Life Love Bacon
Adam P Bellotto at Eat, Sleep, Television
 
Next Week’s Schedule
Monday – Ninja Captain Alex Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest
Tuesday – Anniversary Guest Post – Vikki Thompson
Wednesday – Progressive Book Club Post – Save the Cat
Thursday – The Big Reveal Bloghop
Friday – Anniversary Guest Post – D.C. McMillen
Sunday – My Weekly Update
 
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Got Green Blogfest 2.0 – I’m Irish, I Swear.

Got Green 031513I would like to think Mark Koopmans for making me relive this most painful memory. I will be brave for the sake of the blogfest.

When I was a little African American girl, I found this photo of a women sitting on her porch with the Irish flag framed and hung on the wall behind her.  On the back of the photos was written the words Emma Pearl Pierce 1945.  The women in the photo looked old and it was a grainy black and and white photos, but there was no mistaking it. Here was proof. I had an Irish great grand mother.  How cool is that?

I took the photo to school for show and tell and told everyone about my great grand mother Emma.  I had created this elaborate story (big surprise) about how she was born in Ireland and because of the potato famine* her family fled Ireland and settled in Virginia and then 60 some odd years later, I was born. I was so proud.  *I might have had the dates a little confused considering the Potato Famine occurred in 1845.

Now, there were some disbelievers (again, big surprise), especially Kathleen Flanagan, my best friend.  She had red hair and freckles and she was not ready to welcome me into her proud Irish clan.

I remember she called me a fibber (bad word, we were 7) and pulled my hair, which was certainly not red.

But, I, as a proud Irish women stood up for myself and my nationality and declared over and over again, I AM BLACK IRISH!

It turns out I am not Black Irish.  The photos was of my great grandmother, but because of the quality of the photos, it made her look lighter.  And the flag in the back, wasn’t an Irish flag. It was a french flag my great grandfather brought back from France.

Needless to say, I was crushed. I was just a regular little black girl from Texas.  I was so disappointed.

How about your? You have any good Irish stories?

They would look the same in a black and white photo.  

FRENCH FLAG
FRENCH FLAG
IRISH FLAG
IRISH FLAG

 

My Weekly Update – Good Week

Highlights

I received my first paycheck as a writer this week.  I ghost wrote a blog post for a beauty blog and that’s all that I am liberty to say about it.  It pretty exciting to be a paid writer and I have another assignment due this week. Super proud of myself. I’m not going to strike it rich anytime soon, but it’s satisfying being able to earn money doing what you love.

How did you feel when you sold your first book, first, poem, first article? 

Award

My new blog friend and book club host M.L. Swift gave me the The Leibster Award.  Thanks so much M.L.

Blog Anniversary

I’m a little late with my anniversary plans.  Since my actual anniversary was in February, I decided to celebrate the beginning of my second year of blogging by reaching out to some amazing writers to ponder and guest post on “Why do I blog?”. I received some insightful responses and can’t wait to share them with you.  See the schedule below.

  • March 12 – Tameri Etherton
  • March 19 – Vikki Thompson
  • March 22 – D.C. McMillen
  • March 25 – Alex Cavanaugh
  • March 27 – Misha Gericke
  • March 28 – Mark Means
  • March 29 – EM Castellan
Post to Ponder
What I Learned from the Editor: Round 1 by Jordanna East – Its great to understand your bad habits. May save time in your next project.
Writing Madly to a Deadline and then Not Submit by Jennifer M. Eaton – Do you have this type of integrity and respect for your work.
The First Time We Met:  Memorable Characters and First Impressions by Felicia Scotzig – I can’t decide which character is my favorite.
Out of the Mouths of Babes by Jemi Fraser – How does your story stack up to the check list?
New Followers
Mark Riddle
Damyanti Writes
Jason Alan
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Tuesday – Anniversary Guest Post – Tameri Etherton
Wednesday – Trust in Me Blog Blitz
Friday – Got Green Bloghop – get your irish stories ready.
Sunday – My Weekly Update
 
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Insecure Writer’s Support Group

My blog schedule this week has been turned upside down. I can’t believe I almost forgot about IWSG.

As always, we have Alex J. Cavanaugh to thank for gathering like minded writers together to vent and support.  This month, we also need to thank Misha Gericke and Joylene Nowell Butler.  Even a Ninja Captain needs some help every once in awhile. 

InsecureWritersSupportGroupMy goal this month with IWSG is to stave off some future insecurities.  As I mentioned before, I’m attending a few writer’s conferences this year. The first one is March 22-25, the Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival.  There is this great session about using the city of New Orleans as the setting in your novel.  Since, my first novel is set in New Orleans, I can’t wait.

Here’s were I need help.  I’ve been thinking about how to introduce myself.   I was thinking something like, “Hi, my name is Sydney, I write romantic comedies are you a writer/agent/publisher/editor/reader/blogger?” Then depending on their answer, the conversation will continue accordingly?

I am joking. I want to leave an impression somewhere between “let’s give her a 100,000.00 advance today” and “Did you hear about that girl Sydney? Stay away from her.”

What is the best way to introduce yourself at these event? 

Btw, check out my new business cards. Suggestions welcomed. I haven’t gone to print, yet.

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