C. L. Norman

Walking home alone last night I had the vivid sensation that someone was following me in the dark through my quiet neighborhood. Phantom footsteps echoed on the sidewalks. Shadows reached for me from hedges and rose bushes along my path. I even imagined I heard an audience screaming at me, “Look out behind you!”

All of this resulted from watching similar scenes over and over again in movies and television shows.

Years ago a bank near where I worked was robbed and the only clue the FBI had led them straight to our store. I remember standing at the counter waiting to ring up the next customer. The next person in line was a gentleman in suit who got out his wallet and flipped it open showing me his FBI ID.

Something happened to my hearing as phatom bullets started flying and I worked out where I would take cover from the violence that would soon follow. My heartbeat sped up and my breathing altered slightly as my imagination put me through a shoot out in the space of a few seconds.

When the events finished playing out in my head (ending up with me wounded and of course selflessly administering first aid to another wounded customer) I came back to actual events and had to tell the agent that I couldn’t help him with his question and directed him to the assistant manager.

Again this was the result of too much TV.

Driving down the road alone at night, I can see the specter of a person running into the road in the rain and freezing in the headlights. A police car barrelling down the highway with lights on becomes involved in a car chase with a lot of explosions and cars crashing in its wake. Folks waiting in line at the bank have guns in their bags/pockets and are waiting for the opportunity to take hostages and rob the bank.

These are the things that run through my imagination as I go through life. All as a result of watching TV. That’s right. I blame my paranoia on TV.

What things do you imagine as a result of watching TV?

        

This year I was really excited to watch the Oscars. I had missed them last year and I wanted desparately to see them this time around. The strangest thing about it all is that I didn’t see any of the 10 movies nominated for Oscars this year. Because of that I didn’t care a whole lot about who actually won the Oscars. If you are interested in seeing the winners list go here.

Here are the highlights that I enjoyed about this lavish tribute to the movies.

• The fairytale like dresses. I love the fancy ballgowns. This year they were more traditional–flowing skirts, fitted tops, shimmering and sparkling fabrics–the way I like them. Of course the dresses always look better against the neat, black tuxes. I always think of princesses and princes when I see people dressed up in that way.
• Tribute to John Hughes. Matthew Broderick, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall, Jon Cryer, and Macauley Culkin all together on one stage was a trip back in time to my teen years. It was wonderful to see the montage of some of my favorite films. I have an urge to break out my John Hughes collection of DVDs and rewatch them.
• The Horror Segment. I am not a horror fan but my brother use to make me watch them to “toughen me up.” I had fun playing “guess the movie” with no answer sheet so, of course, I got all of them right.
• The Intro Song with Neil Patrick Harris. The fun and pageantry of that opening number reminds me of the theater scene in the original Annie movie. Full of pomp and fun and pointing out everything that makes folks go to the movies. I watchted it with a grin stretched across my face and wished it went on longer.
• And the Oscar goes to… That moment when the presenter says those 5 little words and everyone in the Kodak Theater holds their breath in anticipation. That moment when the family sitting around the TV shouts out their guess for the winner. It is the moment the whole 3+ hour long show is all about.

Did you watch the Oscars? What parts did you enjoy the most? Did your favorite movie/actor/director of 2009 win any awards?

        

Alice in Wonderland on March 5th: Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, and Anne Hathaway to name a few, this new Tim Burton film is lush and colorful as a Wonderland should be. It looks different and new but familiar enough that fans of Lewis Carroll’s original works should enjoy it. The trailers have everyone in the house from my 6 year old on up saying “I want to see that one” and I am no exception.

Remember Me on March 12th: Yeah, I know, it has Robert Pattinson in it and maybe that would turn hard-core geeks off of this movie but I am interested in seeing what he can do when his character has a pulse. It also has Emilie De Ravin in it and the last time I saw her it was in Roswell. The presence of Lena Olin and Pierce Brosnan seals the deal.

The Bounty Hunter on March 19th: Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler in one movie? It is bound to be funny. And the premise is just ridiculous enough to work.

How to Train Your Dragon on March 26th: Originally a children’s book by Cressida Cowell, this movie is computer animated and fun and most importantly has dragons. Who doesn’t like dragons?

What movies are you looking forward to in March?

        

February is here and a new list of movies to look forward to as well.

Dear John on February 5th: This romantic movie starring Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe) and Amanda Seyfried (Mama Mia) looks sweet and endearing. I have been a fan of Mr. Tatum since I saw Step Up. He has a talent for putting on a tough guy facade over a soft sweet interior. I, along with a lot of others, am looking forward to seeing how this love story plays out on screen.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief on February 12th: This trailer had me wondering where my son hid his copy of the book so I could get it out and read it. This is mythology and adventure rolled into one. It appeals to the geek and to the kids and many in between.

Valentine’s Day on February 12th: This movie has so many stars I like that for that alone I am interested in it. Then throw in the romantic comedy elements and I am hooked. The only thing making me a little wary is the many different storylines. Traditionally, I don’t identify well with those kinds of stories. I can’t connect with the story because of all the jumps. However, I still am very keen to see this one.

Shutter Island on February 19th: I’ve enjoyed watching Leonardo DiCaprio on the screen since he first walked onto Growing Pains. This movie looks like it is a paranormal suspense/mystery and as such fun. I want to see the eerie interesting parts of this movie and hope that it doesn’t tip over the edge into horror. If I haven’t mentioned it before, I don’t do horror. Nightmares, screams, shakes…it isn’t pretty. This movie may require having my husband’s shoulder close to hand but I want to see it and find out what is happening on that island.

What movies are you looking forward to this month?

        

Writing Group

Met with the group this last week. Attendance was minimal but good discussion dominated. We decided that the open attendance policy encouraged by the store is actually stagnating the group and have decided that we would close up the group, limit membership to 6 to 8. In this way we can set requirements and goals engineered towards those in attendance. The change will come in a month or so, after we have a chance to talk to the semi-regulars and see who wants to make the change. I am excited for the change and hope that the group will start working for me again.

Writing

While I was zone maintenancing (cleaning and organizing the sections) at work today, my mind was free to wander. I found myself thinking about why I am having so much trouble putting words down on digital paper. I have quit all my online games and reduced several other distracting activities to allow more time for writing and yet, I am barely putting 10 words down in a day. I have come to the conclusion that a good deal of my problem is fear of success. Or rather a strange form of stage fright.

I relish normal stage fright. That butterflies in the stomach, palms sweating feeling one gets just before they go onstage or take the podium. I look forward to that feeling the same way folks look forward to the rush they feel on the roller coaster. I have started to receive some encouraging feedback on some of my stories. No acceptances yet but it seems to be closer to happening. And that is making me nervous that I may actually have to start delivering quality work on a more regular basis. It is my dream to succeed at writing but I am not use to dreams coming true. Something to work on and overcome.

Books

This wasn’t a big reading week. I finished up the last Harper Connelly book, Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris. I adored it. I think the series ended very well though the fact of it ending was bittersweet. I thoroughly enjoyed Harper and her world and am sad that I won’t be able to visit her again. At least in a new adventure. I’ll definitely be rereading this series in a year or two, if not sooner.

On TV

I caught up with my TV shows this week. New episodes of Castle, Heroes, Leverage, and Bones kept me entertained for hours on end. I adore the characters and their antics. And as always am very excited for more.

Tomorrow night, Life Unexpected premiers. The actress, Shiri Appleby, portrayed Liz in the TV show Roswell. I loved her character and the show so much I am really looking forward to watching her in a new show. My only complaint is that it is on at the same time as two other shows I enjoy. Guess that is what the DVR is for.

D&D

We have a new player in our D&D group and I have a new character. Both of us are gnomes. I am a bard named Magpie and he is a gnome barbarian/rogue. We are having a lot of fun in this game. My character’s personality is still developing and she (and I) have no idea how to react to the flirting from the half-orc monk. We will have to see how it goes.

How was your week?

        

Looking back over the last week:

Haiti

The terrible earthquake in Haiti has been all over the news and the social networking sites. My heart and prayers go out to those enduring the tragedy and those rushing in to provide aid.

Books This Week

I have finally managed to get back in my reading groove. I had been feeling like I couldn’t read like I use to because I should be writing. Instead I have ended up feeling smothered and very unlike myself. This week I am back in my reading groove.

I read Grave Suprise and An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris this week. I gotta say that Harper Connelly and her ‘talent’ is so intriguing and fun. I am thoroughly enjoying the pace of these books and the who-done-it plots are surprising but not cheating solutions. I am still not sure how I feel about the relationship between Harper and Tolliver yet but I have already found myself recommending these books to others.

I read Belle by Cameron Dokey. It is a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, another of my favorites.  This tale had enough differences to make it fresh and engrossing. If you like fairytales, I highly suggest this one.

I also read Dying Bites by D. D. Barant. This combines a portal story (ie Narnia books) with an Urban Fantasy. In the world Jace, the protagonist, ends up in, humans are a very small minority and supernaturals dominate. I enjoyed this book enormously and can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Movies

Last night, my husband took me to see The Book of Eli. Wow. I loved it. It had action. Post apocalyptic setting. Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman. One of the big reveals at the end was awesome in that clues had been so well seeded throughout the movie that it was an “ah ha!” moment. My husband and I spent the whole drive home pointing out those clues to each other. There is every likelihood that we will be owning this film when it is released on DVD.

Writing

I am finally getting myself back in the writing groove after the chaos and vacuum that is the holiday season working retail. Stories are living in my head and pressuring me into putting them on paper. My habits are still rotten but I am working on them.

How did your week go?

        

Here is a list of movies that will be released this month that I am looking forward to seeing.

Leap Year on January 8th: With Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, this is a sweet romance with all the mystery of Ireland and Leap Year thrown in. I’ve been a fan of Amy Adams for a while and I am looking forward to seeing her chase after her boyfriend and find love in this movie. The plot reminds me a bit of  French Kiss and I adore that film.

The Book of Eli on January 15th: With Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman, how can this not be a good movie? Besides it is a post-apocalyptic tale and so it appeals to the geek in me (and my husband who adores that genre). It appears to have several good action sequences which I am a sucker for. I am also dying to find out what is so special about the book. Is it the only bible to have survived the apocalypse or is there something different about it?

The Spy Next Door on January 15th: It’s a Jackie Chan comedy. What else needs to be said?

Extraordinary Measures on January 22nd: With Harrison Ford and Brendan Frasier, this movie looks like it is guaranteed to provoke a tear or two. It also looks like it could be a feel good type movie which I like on occasion. Couple that with Harrison Ford AKA Han Solo & Indiana Jones, and Brendan Frasier AKA Rick O’Connell, and I’ll love it.

Legion on January 22nd: With Paul Bettany and Dennis Quaid and thrills and special effects, this movie is again for geeks. As of this posting it isn’t yet rated but from the trailer I would say it will probably be R. The violence hinted at in the trailer has be wincing a little but everything else about this movie looks neat. If my husband comes and holds my hand, I’ll be watching it. Watching it between the times I am hiding my face against his shoulder.

When in Rome on January 29th: With Kristen Bell and a touch of magic, this romantic comedy hits all the things I love in a movie. Add in Danny DeVito and Angelica Huston and this movie looks like a fun romantic ride that will be just the thing before February and Valentines Day.

How about you? What movies are you looking forward to in January? And why?

        

I have been looking forward to seeing Sherlock Holmes for months and months. Ever since I saw the first trailer with a unshaven Robert Downey Jr swaggering across the screen, I’ve been looking forward to seeing this movie. Today, as a Christmas present, my husband took me to the local theater to see it.

It is my favoritest gift of the day.

I loved the movie. It was fun, fast paced, and engaging. Mr. Downey’s Sherlock wasn’t the upright, moral citizen I’ve seen depicted in so many other versions. He was a roguish Holmes that had me laughing and rooting for him the entire two plus hours. Jude Law’s Dr. Watson while he appeared clean cut also had more character and flaws to him than the usual Watson.

The pace started quick and kept going and yet it didn’t seem rushed. It was like a joyful carnival ride that I didn’t want to end. And the ending of the movie promised more. It was promised in such a way that I want to start counting the days until the next movie is released.

To quote Holmes at the final line of the movie, “The case is reopened.” And the movie is destined to bring Sherlock Holmes back into the limelight.

See the movie, you won’t regret it.

        

In no particular order, here are 10 roguely types I am thankful for. I am grateful I had a run in with them either in the pages of a book or on the screen, big or small. They are fun and exciting and have contributed to my love of the snarky not-so-law-abiding characters.

1. Phillipe the Mouse from Ladyhawke.  From that first scene where we see him chattering away to himself and God while making his escape from an inescapable prison, Matthew Broderick as Phillipe captured my attention and my adoration. If you are wondering where Mouse got her name it was from this character.
2. Silk from David Edding’s Belgariad and Mallorean.  Silk mastered the arts of disguise, lockpicking, pick pocketting, corrupting the young and he did it all with a flair that left him my favorite character in a series of ten books full of so many interesting characters.
3. Han Solo from Star Wars. Who says rogues can only be in european fantasies? I certainly don’t. Han Solo with his blaster at his side and that crooked grin is my favorite rogue in space. So what if he can’t pick pockets (that I know of) or pick locks. He gets into plenty of trouble without those skills and watching him try to get out is something I have loved to do since I was a wee child.
4. Malcom Reynolds AKA Mal from Serenity/Firefly. The only reason Han is my favorite rogue in space is that I’ve known him longer. Mal holds a very very close second place in my heart. Mal has attitude and flair that is attention grabbing from the beginning. Watching his confidence leak away when confronted with a woman, Inara, is so much fun that I kept hoping for more of those scenes.
5. Sydney Bristow from Alias. Ok, so Sydney didn’t have the snarky attitude most of the rogues on this list have but she was so cool in her many disguises and spies are such close cousins to rogues that I had to include her. I rewatch the Alias seasons about every six months I adore the character so much. She had mad skills and so many obstacles to her dreams that I love watching her journey through it all to the happy ending she so much deserves.
6. Max Guevara from Dark Angel. Max had the snarky attitude, the world outlook that said theft was just part of a healthy economy, and enough selfishness to make her a world-class rogue. She was also genetically engineered to make her really good at it. While the second season of this series (with the exception of Jensen Ackles) irritated me with its complete change of direction, I love the first season. Logan’s attempts to make Max into a heroine are a joy to see.
7. FitzChivalry FarSeer AKA Fitz from Robin Hobb’s The FarSeer Trilogy and beyond. We get to see Fitz learn how to become an assassin under the tutelage of Chade and once he starts mastering those skills his life gets more complicated. At the end of the first trilogy I felt so sorry for this character for everything that he had to sacrifice and endure. He lacks snark but he is a hero with skills with poison, sword, and sneaking. This rogue is one I feel so sorry for that I don’t want to leave him alone in his world. I have to visit to keep him company as he goes through his trials.
8. Kylar Stern from Brent Weeks‘ Night Angel Trilogy. Kylar is an assassin, a wetboy if you will. He is also an orphan like Fitz but instead of growing up in a castle being trained there he grows up in the slums. Kylar is trained by Durzo Blint who has plenty of his own secrets of his own. No snark but a conscience, Kylar chose the field of assassination as a way to escape his life on the streets and rides that very bumpy road to the end. And I couldn’t put the books down until he got there.
9. Hanse Shadowspawn from the Thieves World series.  Hanse had attitude, stealth, nimble fingers, and mystery. He was a the ultimate second-story man and his stories were my favorites in this series.
10. Seregil from Lynn Flewelling’s Nightrunner books. Seregil has aliases, a way with a set of lockpicks, a trick for dealing with pesky guard dogs, and snark enough to light up a suite of rooms. He is part spy, part rogue, and all fun. And he may be showing up on the big screen soon too. So very cool.

That’s it. My list of 10 rogues I am thankful for this holiday season. I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving. What roguely types are you thankful for?

        

Yesterday, I found myself choking up as Star Wars: Legacy Revealed ended on the History Channel. I asked my crybaby self what in the world would make you cry at a documentary about Star Wars. The answer I came up with had everything to do with why I love the movie so much.

When I was a little girl (don’t most Why I love Star Wars stories start when they were young?) one of my favorite days of the year was the day that Star Wars aired on TV. This was before cable so it only happened once a year. And it was before we even thought about owning a VCR player. It was magic.

This night was a holiday for the family. Everyone would gather around the TV, anywhere from two to five siblings, Mom and Dad, and we would watch Star Wars.

My favorite part then had Luke swinging across the retracted walkway with Leia in his arms. He was a prince and she was the princess. It was very romantic. Of course after I saw the other two movies and learned they were siblings it lost some of its luster. But then, when I was starry eyed, sitting in the darkened living room, repaired TV from Goodwill flickering with wonderous images, I loved that part of the movie.

The family also use to go to the Drive-In all the time. I don’t think we ever saw Star Wars when we went (I was little more than 3 years old when it was released and my memories of those times are fuzzy) but I did see something very cool at the concession stand one night. One image that remains with me still. Darth Vader standing next to the payphone, bucket of popcorn in his gloved hand, staring down the passersby. He was the first celebrity I ever saw in person and I remain in awe of him to this day.

The above picture was taken in Victoria, BC in 2007. I had never been there before and it was my first trip out of the country. Darth Vader playing the violin was the first street performer I saw. And he played my instrument. I played the violin for all through junior high and high school and I could tell, Darth Vader had talent.

Tomorrow night, I hope to spot another Darth Vader, stalking the streets, seeking treats. And if I start sobbing at the sight, don’t mind me. I am just remembering nights spent with the family, together, in front of the TV.