Category: My Life

The Level Up! Blogfest

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle18 Comments

mithrilwisdom.comI know I’m a day early, but I have a busy week ahead.  I couldn’t miss out on this Blogfest hosted by Mithril Wisdom and Geek Banter.

No one would mistake me for a gamer. You may find me occasionally playing a game of Spider Solitaire while standing in line. I have been know to giggle with glee at destroying pig shaped storm troopers on the Star Wars version of Angry Birds (blame that on on my 12 year old nephew).

But, the last time I was obsessed with a game was back in elementary school.  We had an Atari 2600 game system and I spent ours becoming a Kaboom! master. Now, I have seen this game recreated as an app, but nothing compares to playing this game on an the Atari with these special controls.

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All you had to do was prevent the bombs dropped by the bandit from hitting the ground.  The more you caught, the quicker the bandit dropped them.

At a certain level, the bombs would drop so fast, you went insane (literally, not virtually) trying to catch them all.  For some reason, I was really good at this game.  Check out my favorite game, Kaboom!

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What is your favorite game? 

The Very Inspiring Blog Award

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

inspiring-bloggerI haven’t done one of these properly in a while. Since the big move, a lot more has changed then just my geographic location. I thought it was a good opportunity to update you on what is happening in the world of Sydney Aaliyah Michelle, the person, the writer and the blog. Thanks so much to Fel Scotzig at The Peasant Revolt for the opportunity.

The Rules!!

  1. Display the award logo on your blog.
  2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
  3. State 7 things about yourself.
  4. Nominate 15 bloggers for this award and link to them.
  5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements.

7 Thing About Me:

  1. I have discovered a love for reading science fiction. I love the movies, but never really gave it a chance as reading material. When it comes to world building/scene setting, you can’t beat a good sci fi novel. – Thanks Steve Umstead and his Gabriel series for showing me the way.
  2. I am a huge football fan and didn’t realize how much I missed the drama of it while living overseas.  Just catching the playoffs of the 2012 – 2013 season showed me so many highs and lows, fights and injuries, band substance accusations, fake girlfriends and bizarre love triangles.  And you thought it all happened on the field.  SMH
  3. Unemployment doesn’t quite suit me. I figured I would use all this free time to get my blog in order and editing done on WIP #1. But, it’s back firing on me. I am much more productive with a lot less free hours in the day.  I’ll use the rest of this free time to examine why this is.
  4. Even though I am unemployed, I still spend a good part of the day planning what I am going to buy once I am employed. And, moving home from China, I basically get to start all over. That means buying a car, getting an apartment, finding a church, and a gym.  I get to develop a whole new routine.  That includes my annual vacation this year and next year. So far, I’ve planned a trip to London (I miss my favorite city), Hawaii (Mark Koopman’s writing retreat) and DC (Beyonce Concert).
  5. Sydney Aaliyah is a pen name. It has parts of my real name and I have started to add more of my real name, Michelle, which creates a new pen name. So, if you start seeing Sydney Aaliyah Michelle around the blogosphere, that’s me, too.  But, please feel free to still call my Sydney, Syd or Sam (that’s what my parents call me).
  6. I did find my writing spot. It was a recommendation from Kate O Lynch.  The Coffee House Cafe.  The food is so good. They have a cool patio with a fire place that is nice for reading.  Most important, it is quiet from 2-5.  Perfect writing time while I am still unemployed.
  7. In case you didn’t get it, I’m looking for a job.  If you or someone you know is looking for a writer, event director, project manager, editor, proofreader, golf club consultant, book recommender, and/or hand holder while you get your first or fifteenth tattoo, I’m your girl.  That last one, I would actually do for free.  😉

15  Nominations: 

  1. Donya Lynne
  2. Ellie Garratt
  3. Mark Koopmans
  4. Ali Cross
  5. Shannon A Thompson
  6. Spearman 101
  7. Gus Sanchez
  8. Misha Gericke
  9. Marcy Kennedy
  10. Raewyn Hewitt
  11. Annalisa Crawford
  12. Kyra Lennon
  13. Elise Fallson
  14. Tasha Seegmiller
  15. M.L. Swift

Congrats to the winners and check out their blogs.

Who inspires you? 

Imaginary Friend Bloghop

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle16 Comments

Imaginary Friend 02-01

Annalisa Crawford and Kyra Lennon want me to delve into my creative origin and reveal a tail about MY IMAGINARY FRIEND. (cue the scary dreamlike music)

Because for me, my imaginary friend was more of a frienemy.  She flipped the script on me more times than I like to remember. She was the one who spun the positives into the practical and I blame her for my now over cautious senses.

Let me give you an example:

When I was 7 years olds (is that to old to have an imaginary friend), I was all excited to go skiing with my parents on the big slope. No more kiddie hill for me. I was going to ski with the grown ups.

I laid out my ski clothes. I checked on my boots and skis.  I had my long johns laid out and I was prepared. I got in bed and laid my little head down.  As soon as closed my eyes, Sam whispered in my ear.

“Hey Sydney, your gonna fall.”

“Shut up, Sam.” I said.

“Your gonna fall.” she sang.

I closed my eyes tight, trying to block her out, but she just got louder.

“Your gonna fall.”

“Shut up!” I yelled back.

“Go to sleep, Sydney.” my dad yelled from the other room, which shut Sam up for the night. Every time my dad came around, Sam disappeared.

I closed my eyes again and drifted off to sleep with visions of ski wipeouts dancing in my head.

The next morning, I got dress and headed out to the slopes. Standing at the top of the hill, I couldn’t move. I kept hearing in my head, “Your gonna fall, you gonna fall, your gonna fall.”

And, you know what, I fell.  All the way down the mountain.

I hated it when Sam was right.

Tell me about your imaginary friend? 

Allow me to ‘Re-Introduce Myself’ Blogfest

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle44 Comments

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A big thanks to Mark Koopman, Elise Fallson, Stephen Tremp and C.M. Brown for creating this blogfest to allow me to Re-Introduce Myself. I thought I would take this opportunity to announce my updated about page. For those who like to read, it will tell you all you need to know about me.

Six other interesting facts about me:

  1. I am a law school graduate, but not a lawyer.
  2. I have several tattoos.
  3. I lived in China for over 5 years.
  4. I have three of the coolest nephews.
  5. I write romantic comedies.
  6. My 1 year blog anniversary is in February.

For those visual people out there, I figured the best way to re-introduce myself is to post a photo.  Hello, I am Sydney Aaliyah Michelle.

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Check out the hint of cleavage.

I have’t shared a photo of myself on my blog before. I’m happy in this photo and it’s really all you need to know to understand me.

Make sure to jump around and see how others are re-introduce themselves.

Anything else you want to know about me, the Q & A session starts after the video!