My Weekly Update – Awards, Food and Sex

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

Blog Awards

This award is oh so Inspiring.  Thank you, Vikki at The View Outside.

 

This award is oh so Lovely.  Thank you, Kitt at The InnerWildKat.

Food & Sex

Writing about food and sex are so much fun.  Her are some great post on doing both well. Writing about them, I mean.  Get your mind out of the gutter.

You Are What You Write had a great post about The Importance of Food.

Angelica Dawson wrote a great guest post on Sex in Fiction.  She taught me how to reel in my sex scene a little.  I can get carried away sometimes. Again, with writing them.  😉

Chris Stocking wrote an interesting post called Let’s Get Vulgar, Shall we? It is always important to have some limits, right? Remember who your audience is.

New Follower who I am also nominating for these Inspiring and Lovely Awards.  
Brian B. King – talented writer
Jamie E. Rowett – great Bourne Legacy review
nyparrot – she loves to shop
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Monday – check to the left – Genre Favorites Blogfest by the mind of one of my favorites – Ninja Captain Alex 
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday
Friday – Blog Post
Sunday – My Weekly Update
 

Do you enjoy writing about food and sex? What about food with sex?  

 

 

 

Sydney Quotes the Movies – The Bourne Legacy

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle9 Comments

At first, I was not going to see this movie.  I am a tried and true, full on, he can do no wrong, fan of Matt Damon and his best work, the Bourne Trilogy.  Robert Ludlum only wrote three books.  Where the heck did The Bourne Legacy come from?  And, you think you can just replace Matt Damon.  Jeremy Renner is a good actor, but he is no Matt Damon.

But, then I calmed down, came back to reality and looked a little further in to this movie.  I get it now.  The Bourne LEGACY – this is what happened after the fact.

I am happy I figured it out (I am smart, but slow) because it was an interesting movie.  The movie is about another agent named Aaron Cross played by Jeremy Renner in another government program to build/engineer the perfect agent.  I enjoyed it.  And, it paid correct homage to Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne.  I didn’t love it, though.  With that title, they had a lot to live up to.  And, it feel a little short.  But, here is what I liked:

It had its own language.  I felt like I had an education in bioengineering after leaving this movie.  Expect to learn the appropriate use of the following terms and concepts:

chems
protocol
In the program
Unacceptable
Outcome
Neurol design
Programmable behavior
Program participants
Down stream
D track team
Pull that access
Drop a bag over this.
Viral him out
Off the grid
The trail is definitive
Stay enhanced

More people in my circle need to see the movie so they know what the hell I am talking about when I tell them to send in the “D track team” to “viral me out.”

Another highlight of this film was the greatness of Edward Norton.  I love him almost as much as I love Matt Damon.  American History X, Primal Fear, & Fight Club – need I say more.  He had some great lines in this movie:

“Jason Bourne was just the tip of the iceberg.”
“That’s Aaron Cross.We have never seen evaluations like this. He’s Treadstone without the inconsistency.”
“This contingency was covered loud and clear.”
“You and I have our jobs because we have the strength to do what’s necessary.”
“Morally indefensible and absolutely necessary.”
“Everybody find another gear.” 
“Same outcome without the emotional attachment.”

And, these lines deserve mention because they added a little comic relief to a very intense movie.

“I don’t know, are you suppose to kill me or give me a pep talk?”
“You’re the director of the C.I.A. Act like it.”
“Well, I’m not just a science project, doc.”
“You’ve been shot.” “That’s alright.” 
“You were given a Ferrari and your people treated it like a lawnmower.”

If you are a Jason Bourne fan, you will enjoy the movie because it takes the concepts in the original trilogy to an extreme and scary level. If you are a Jeremy Renner fan, you might be disappointed.  Anyone could have played this role.

If you want visit a dozen international cities in 2 hours, experience a pretty cool motorcycle chase and finally realize why you were required to take that basic biology course in college, then by all means.  Go see this movie.

BTW, I am starting a Jason Bourne meets Aaron Cross movie petition.  That movie must be made.  Who’s with me?

Related Post:  Bourne and Generic Engineering

Tattoo Tuesday – Does your tattoo artist have a style?

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments
Marvin by Tom Armstrong

Most tattoo artist can do it all. Give them a picture, an idea or an image and they can create an original tattoo, no problem.

But, some artist have a style or a speciality.  Some artist prefer doing one style or another. If the artist apprenticed under a guy who does Asian. He may prefer to do dragons and water and lotus flowers.  He probably learned as well that you don’t place certain elements or colors together.  So much about these type of tattoos is the tradition behind the tattoo style.  If you find an artist with this type of knowledge, it is a great experience and I am all about the tattoo experience as a whole.

But, is it important?  I enjoy reality competition shows and the latest crop are tattoo competition shows.  The two best are Ink Master on Spike TV and Best Ink on Oxygen TV.

Both shows put tattoo artist through a series of challenges that focus on certain techniques of tattooing as well as different styles;  shading, fine lines, color and black and grey as well as Asian/Japanese, old school, new school, photo realism, portraits, scripts, pin ups, military, mechanical, the list goes on and on.  They judge the artist on their work as a whole and then declare a winner.  The whole idea is a great tattoo artist has mastered all the techniques and can do any style.

One of my favorite artist who did my favorite tattoo, a asian inspired bull on my ankle, is known for tattooing the most amazing dragons.  People come from all over the world to get an original dragon from him.  It is his speciality.  But, he can do it all.

There is nothing wrong with wanting your tattoo artist to be an expert in the type of tattoo you want.  I compare it to doctors.  I am sure if I have a heart attack, a general practiciner can save my life.  But, I would much rather go to a cardiologist.

The goal is to get the best tattoo.  So, research your artist.  And if you have a tattoo in mind and it’s possible, make sure your artist has done that style of tattooing before.

What’s more important to you, technique or style in picking an artist?  What style of tattoos do you like?  

What’s Your Chocolate?

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle54 Comments

I told you it was a Blogfest heavy month for me.  Today, I am truly excited and regretfully sad to bring you the What’s Your Chocolate? post.

Ciara Knight and her fellow host asked a very important questions recently; Do you love chocolate? Why yes, I do.  And, thanks for asking.  But, I am not a chocolate purest. Well, if given a piece of chocolate, I would eat it, but I prefer my chocolate with peanut butter.

Be sure to click on the badge to learn more about this blogfest and to visit other chocolate inspired post.

Without further ado, I bring to you my top 5 favorite chocolate and peanut butter pairings:

#5 – Butterfinger – The first candy bar I remember eating with my dad many, many, many years ago.  I haven’t had one in years until recently.  OMG, is it still good.

#4 – Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup – It is the classic chocolate peanut butter candy and still a crowd pleaser, but for me I prefer it in the Easter Egg, Christmas tree and the newly discovered Easter bunny shape.  Year round, I prefer other forms.

#3 – See’s Peanut Butter Patties – a little fancy. A little pricy, but the only chocolate and peanut butter treat I can find in Hong Kong with any consistency.  You do what you have to do.

#2 – Lindt’s Lindford Chocolate and Peanut Butter Truffles – These are super rich and super decadent and I discovered them at Barnes & Noble years ago.  I would wander up and down the aisle of B&N looking for the perfect book for that day.  Next to the check out where these lovely treats.  I would only buy one.  One is all you need.

#1 – Peanut Butter M&M’s – When I get off the plane coming back to America, I purchase this bag. On my way to the airport to go back to China, I buy another one of these bags.  Take note, this is the XXL size bag.  When ever anyone send me a care package they know to send me these.  It is just BLISS in bite size chocolate peanut butter pieces.

None of these treats are available in China on a consistent basis, therefore I regret I am unable to partake as often as I would like.  Oh, the deprivation.

There you have it.  That’s my peanut butter chocolates.  
What’s your chocolate? 

My Weekly Update – Books and Beginnings

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle10 Comments

Books

I read a book last week. I know what you saying. “Sydney, you are a writer, your supposed to be reading books.” Let me clarify. I read a real book, last week.  No. That’s not the right word. I read a physical book last week.

It had paper, a soft cover on the front and the back and I never had to recharge it.  I read it in bed and didn’t have to worry about breaking my nose.  Am I the only one this has happened to?  (Imagine lying in bed holding your iPad/Kindle over your head and you loose your grip and from that distance it landing smack dab on your face) I can’t be the only one and it hurts.  I read in the tub and didn’t have to worry about dropping my life in the bathtub and loosing all my information.  And, I read on the train and didn’t have to worry about the shady guy eyeing my most prized possession and think, that could easily belong to me.  (Just kidding, there are no shady people on the Hong Kong train).

Regardless, it was quite a thrill.  I didn’t tap it, flick it or swipe it and accidentally turn to many pages.  I read a page and manually turned to the next page. I used an old receipt as a bookmark and there was no question whether I was in the right place.  I spilled some coffee on it and still kept on ready.  It was so much fun.

I haven’t read a real book in about 6 months.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPad with it’s iBook and Kindle app.  But, really there is nothing like reading a real book.

What do you prefer?  Your Kindle or the real deal.

Beginnings

Spring is considered the season of new beginnings, but it appears the end of summer is inspiring me and others to begin new stuff as well.

I began to edit my June novel and at this point it is a lot of work.  But, I found these articles very helpful in getting my head organized to tackle this new writing task.

How to Use Brainstorming to Edit from Ava at Writability
What is It Like to Read a First Draft? from Becca at Inspiration for Creation
 

Roxie’s Blog is beginning a series on effective editing on September 14th. She will feature a weekly post on her editing process.  I can’t wait.  Her post are informative and always funny.

Sevestian Winters began a new blog: The Homeless Gazillionaire.  It you haven’t read it, I would suggest you do.  It is fascinating and sad and inspiring and heartbreaking and life altering all at the same time.

AM has returned to My Weekly Update.  I am sure he is thrilled.  But, this is legitimate. His site had a new beginning last week; a new look and a new focus and I think it is pretty cool.  I also wanted to help him introduce a new feature;  Wired Writers Wednesday, for all those coffee drinking writers out there.  I was inspired to take this lovely photo:

 

 

New Follower – they began following me this week (it works).
Baz McAlister
Tyson Carter at Head in a Vice – Movie Review Site
Meghan Elisabeth at Book Nerd
Patrick Latter at Canadian Hiking Photography
Miranda Hardy – Future New York Times Bestseller! – I love that. 
 
Next Weeks Schedule
Monday – What’s Your Chocolate Bloghop
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday
Friday – Sydney Quotes the Movies – The Bourne Legacy
Sunday – My Weekly Update