Monday Music Video: The Dandy Warhol's "We Used to Be Friends"

I love the Dandy Warhols, and while I knew of them, I didn't become a fan until I watched the series Veronica Mars and fell in love with the theme song (yes, I did watch Veronica Mars after it was canceled, cementing my belief that I'm just slow on the uptake when it comes to good television *cough*Firefly*cough*). Anyway, check out their other songs; most of them are good. Not something you can say for every band out there.

Paintbrush Challenged Drools Over Talent

Nautiluhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifs by *MarcSimonetti on deviantART

It's when I see beautiful art like the one done by MarcSimonetti at DeviantArt that I wish I had some talent with a paintbrush (or a pixelated paintbrush). I'm really impressed by anyone that can draw, paint, carve...basically anything artsy. I think I missed that grab-bag when it was being handed out, but at least I get some art points from photography.

Beautiful art always makes me smile. It's like food for a deeper mindset.

It isn't like riding a bicycle...

I know my posting, as of late, has been near non-existent. I was keeping up with the Monday Music Videos, but then that became all I was doing and it got a bit ridiculous. I wish I had more to say about my writing life except that I've put it on hold for now, until I have find a balance. I'm juggling a lot of plates, you see. I'm working 50-60 hours a week and when that happens, you tend to shut down in other things. Virginia Woolf was right when she said that author's (well, she was writing about women writers, but I'll expand it to anyone who wants to write) need a room of one's own and the leisure time to do it, usually brought on by wealth. When you're working that many hours, in a high-stress environment, your brain tends to be squishy by the time you get home.

I'm not happy with this current arrangement. Truth be told, I hate it. I hate that I work so much for very little money. It makes me regret some of the choices I made in my life. I also hate that it's taken away my writing time from me; something that helps keep me sane and energized. I hate that my writing abilities are atrophying. That when I try to sit down and write, it takes longer and harder to get into "the groove" of it. In the Summer of 2010, I had it down to an art, I was at peak form, the best I'd ever been (of course, there was room for improvement, but I was at the best I'd ever been). Then I started this new job and...well, I've barely written anything since then.

I need to do something to change this, but I'm not sure what. Working -- bringing home a paycheck -- is kind of necessary. And on top of that, I need to eat, go to the gym (if I want to lose weight, which I do), keep myself and my apartment presentable. All this takes time.

Maybe, to extend the atrophying muscle metaphor, it is like working out. Do it when you can -- five minutes here, ten there, an hour one day. Eventually the muscles strengthen again.

All I know is my stress levels are up, my coping mechanisms are down. I need to write and soon. And not just stare at the tiny blinking cursor, which is what happens on weekends. No, I need to bite the bullet, get on the bicycle, and learn to ride again.

Monday Music Video: Dry The River's "No Rest"

I guess when they said "Dry the River," they meant by tossing it on themselves, which yes, would equal No Rest (I know, I'm lame). Anyway, it must be difficult singing when people are throwing buckets of water into your face. Regardless, this song is a nice one and I particularly like the chorus, which really echoes the emotions I felt from September to April, and that I still feel the ripples of sometimes. Do you ever start liking songs at first simply because the lyrics have a deeper meaning for you? And then you realize the rest of the song -- like the rhythm, etc. -- is also pretty damn good? The chorus in case you're wondering what I'm talking about: I loved you in the best I loved you in the best way possible I loved you in the best Did you see the light in my heart? Did you see the sweat on my brow? Did you see the fear in my heart? Did you see me bleeding out? I loved you in the best I loved you in the best way possible I loved you in the best way possible I loved you in the best way possible I loved you in the best...

Monday Music Video: Calvin Harris's "Acceptable in the 80's"

This music video is all thanks to VarnishVixen, who got me hooked on Calvin Harris when I was over at her place. This is my favorite song by Calvin Harris, perhaps because of the way he says 80's ("ahytees" :D). Oh, who am I kidding? It's just fun. Calvin Harris, do things for me, I was born in the 80s. ;)

Sacrifices to the Moving Gods

Typical. When I was packing to move last October, I had so many post-its I didn't know what to do with them all. Now I can't find any! Other things that have mysteriously disappeared: my kitchen apron, my fuzzy slippers, my "Plotting Evil" shirt (which makes me sad). But you can't leave anywhere without some stuff being sacrificed to the Moving Gods.

Monday Music Video: Keri Hilson's "Pretty Girl Rock"

I really like this song, but the music video is excellent. Keri Hilson transforms herself into famous female singers. I particularly liked TLC -- I still love the song that those silk pajamas come from. Can you name all the singers?

Writer's Block, Reader's Block, End of Summer Ennui?

I hate to have music video posts pile up, because it looks pretty lazy on my part. However, the simple truth is that I just haven't felt like writing -- or even reading, for that matter. It isn't even writer's block (at least, it doesn't feel like it), it's more like complete and utter creative ennui. I just don't feel like doing it. This is the first time that I can remember of that I don't feel like writing. I don't even feel like reading my usual selection of fiction books (and I have a pretty hefty To Read Pile that isn't getting any smaller).

I think a part of this is due to my current disinterest in the urban fantasy genre. Right now, it all seems the same; every book on the bookshelf that's an urban fantasy seems to blend into each other.

• Good looking female heroine that either is clumsy/doesn't have a job/some other ineptitude that makes her seem like an Every Woman? Check.
• Suddenly getting attacked thereby dragging her into a "dark world"? Check.
• Hot male protagonist who is alpha male, metaphorically (or literally if he's a werewolf), in his chosen profession (usually something hot: assassin, pack leader, bad ass loner, mage/sorcerer/wizard, etc.)? Check.
• Strange murders/unsolved mystery/ancient relic? Check.
• Some challenge that doesn't allow hero and heroine to get together, oftentimes rival for love or murderous bad guy (oftentimes the character being one in the same)? Check.
• Love scene full of purple prose where the hero candidly tells heroine he'll teach her about passion and how to embrace the passion in her own body. (I'll automatically put the book down and walk away if there's any shit like that. Gag me with a spoon. I hate books where the responsibility of the heroine's sexuality is put into the man's hands, as if she can't figure it out for herself.)

How many times can I read that story? I have to be in a very specific mood to read it, I haven't been in that mood for a while. But then, I also have some sci-fi books to read and I haven't even felt like that. In a perfect world, I'd go out to the bookstore, browse the shelves, and decide on something new. Unfortunately, the bookstore is an hour away which is difficult when you're full of ennui. Instead, I hit Netflix Instant Watch and watch BBC Mysteries like Midsomer Murders. (mmm...)

I think this ennui has spread to my writing, too. The Eternal Forest is an urban fantasy, even if I think that it's slightly different than your usual run-of-the-mill (mostly because I try really hard to make it so), there's still a romantic subplot, there's still vampires (although they don't really appear at all in this book, they did in The Blood Queen), so essentially, I am writing an urban fantasy. And I'm not feeling it right now.

Most authors would say, "Grit your teeth and write through it," which is ghttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifood advice. That's the road to publication, of course; writing is also about business. But right now, I can't make myself do it.

I've been writing some short snippets, just writing exercises really, about a woman who lucidly dreams. All her dreams are allegories of famous paintings. I've done a few I actually saw at MoMA this summer: The Dream, Water Lilies, The Persistence of Memory, and Starry Night. They've actually been pretty fun exercises to do (I manage about one a week, which means I'm writing about 2,000 words a week...not very impressive for me). In some ways, these writing exercises are more like journal entries in story form, since writing has always been rather therapeutic for me.

I've been throwing around a story idea I've had for a while, but pushed to the background because I was working on the Tayce series. I can't decide whether to make it steampunk or cyberpunk, as it would fit wonderfully for both concepts, and I've always wanted to write something for those genres. I've never tackled steampunk, although I think it would be a lot of fun. Cyberpunk demands a bit of malaise, oftentimes; an underlying grittiness that I'm not sure I'm really in the mood for. What I'd like is a story that's fun and swashbuckling and filled with witty banter. Something I can walk away from the computer with a grin on my face. But I don't even know where to start with a steampunk, and I find myself staring at a blinking cursor on the computer monitor.

So, to sum up: I'm frustrated with my writing. I'm frustrated with the reading material I have, too. :D

And what happens when I don't feel like writing, reading, and I'm avoiding both cleaning/chores and work-related stuff? I willingly go to the gym! So, I'm off.

Monday Music Video: LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem"

This song is just so damn catchy (and the band's name is actually LMFAO. I don't know why more bands haven't decided to use internet-speak as their band name), I had it stuck in my head for three days straight once, where I kept muttering to myself, "Everyday I'm shufflin'." (No, it probably wasn't good for my, most likely tenuous, grip on my sanity.)

Monday Music Video: Nero's "Promises"

Sorry about missing two week's worth of music videos. In my defense, I've been busy: first traveling, then trying to get everything done when I realized that half of July is already gone! Summer goes by so fast. :( Anyway, I found this song as a result of "YouTube surfing," or basically where I start at a music video I know and then just randomly click on interesting looking music videos to the right. I've found some awesome new music that way. Nero is an example. I really love her voice, plus this music video reminds me of Equilibrium/Aeon Flux/Matrix. You know, that Big-Brother-is-out-to-get-us-fight-the-system kind of thing.