So, one of my goals for 2013: Nail down the true purpose for my blogs.

My winter vacation, the last week of December and the first week of January, afforded me plenty of time to reflect and analyze the events in my life during 2012. For the most part, possibly for the first time ever, I’m completely satisfied with what I accomplished. Did I complete every goal on my list? Heck no, not even close. But what I did accomplish is worthy of a pat on the back. Plus, I realized all too often when we look back at the previous year, we tend to focus on what we did NOT do instead of all that we DID. It’s self-defeating and more than a little depressing to start the year off with an already “disappointed in myself” attitude, don’t you think? My biggest advice for all the goal-setters out there: make of list of everything you actually DID and revel in that feeling for a couple days before you start setting new goals for 2013 and carrying over old goals from 2012. That feeling will fire you up and inspire you to achieve more than when you focus on the misses.

Here’s a small sample of what I achieved in 2012:

• Read 81 books; I’d only challenged myself to read 75. (My daughter rocked it, though, with 158!)
• Enrolled my daughter in the social activities she requested, which required significant changes to my daily schedule, mostly business-related.
• Completed all overdue major home repairs: four in total.
• Completed all overdue car repairs: three in total.
• Wrote daily, even if it was only 15 minutes in my journal.
• Eliminated biggest time sucks and stuck to my guns.
• Redesigned Flying Monkeys; although, I was close to pulling out my hair on a couple occasions.
• Completed my first “Inspiration Board.”
• Ended the business relationship with my biggest client, and felt free for the first time in 8 years.
• Began transitioning my virtual assistance business into only bookkeeping, and signed THREE new clients as a result.
• And the list goes on…

Remember, there’s absolutely no shame in feeling good about what you accomplished. I’m a firm believer we achieve more when we change our perspectives and embrace the positive. Am I saying we don’t need to look at those unmet goals? Certainly not; there’s much to learn from missed goals: our core values, for instance. We just don’t need to obsess or beat ourselves up in the process of reflection.

Here are five of my goals for 2013:

1. An art program or apprenticeship for my daughter. The kid is wicked talented (here’s one of her drawings – one of my faves) and I will continue nurturing her passion.
2. Submit my completed stories to contests and open markets.
3. Read 85 books.
4. Sell my house.
5. Sign three new clients.

This list is nowhere close to everything I want to accomplish in 2013, only a random sample. Most people’s eyes would probably glaze over reading my full list.

“Aim for the moon. Even if you miss, you can still reach out and grab a star.”

I’d love to hear about your biggest goals for 2013 so please feel free to leave a comment.

Wishing you a healthy, happy and productive 2013!

So much more than its “gothic romance” label, thank goodness. Yes, there’s a sheltered teenage girl who falls for her employer, an arrogant, seemingly unattainable “bad boy.” But the deeper love story was not between man and woman; it’s the love Jane showed for herself by never, and I mean never, compromising what she believed right. That’s why Jane Eyre is a “classic” and must-read for all ages.

Orphaned Jane Eyre endures an unhappy childhood, hated by her aunt and cousins and then sent to comfortless Lowood School. But life there improves, and Jane stays on as a teacher, though she still longs for love and friendship. At Mr Rochester’s house, where she goes to work as a governess, she hopes she might have found them – until she learns the terrible secret of the attic. (Source)

Charlotte Brontë knew exactly what she was doing when she started the story in the midst of Jane’s torment at the hands of her loathsome aunt and cousins. Immediately I was on Jane’s side and admired her for standing up to authority; most children her age (and gender) would be too scared to do or say anything in opposition. Her passion was evident from the get-go and the quality of her character revealed itself naturally through her experiences at Lowood and in her life at Thornfield. Jane’s coming-of-age was believable and relevant. I never felt she did anything contrary to the person she made herself out to be.

While Jane Eyre‘s themes are timeless, its prose and scandals are not. Modern readers may view the narrative as somewhat boring, certain plot points as too convenient, the romance as contrived, and the “twist” not shocking but bland. For me, the heavy role of religion in everyone’s life was the least relatable aspect of the story. So when Jane’s reliance on God’s rules rubbed me the wrong way, I reminded myself of the century, the country and the culture in which this novel was written. When read within that context, the tale features ground-breaking ideals and spotlights female empowerment. Whatever your opinion, 165 years after publication, Jane Eyre still garners fanatical support from those deeply affected by the story – readers moved to tears then smiles then mixtures of tears and smiles.

For the record, I only cried once (Helen), but my emotions ranged from anger (Mrs Reed = EVIL!) to angrier (Mr Brocklehurst) to grief (Helen) to confusion (Mr Rochester) to relief (Jane’s newfound cousins) to confusion (Mr Rochester) to satisfaction (Jane’s CHOICE at the end). There aren’t many books today that offer such emotional depth to readers. I plan to re-read Jane’s tale at least every couple years.

Full disclosure: I donated to Emily’s fundraiser for My Sucky Teen Romance because I believe in her and I want her to keep making movies.

Watch the trailer on YouTube | Buy the DVD or Blu-ray

Synopsis from the press release (Source):

The kids are biting and the blood is flowing in teenage writer-director Emily Hagins’ horror-comedy breakthrough, MY SUCKY TEEN ROMANCE, the buzzed-about genre sensation. On 17-year-old Kate’s last weekend in town before heading to college, she and her geeky friends head to SpaceCON, the local sci-fi/fantasy convention. There, Kate meets Paul, a recently turned teen vampire (who takes advantage of the gathering’s costume atmosphere by actually dressing as a bloodsucker). But when Kate tries to make a move on him, he gives her the hickey from hell.

Kate and her pals then discover that Paul is not the only vampire at the convention, and it is up to them to kick some vampire butt, or Kate’s going to be attending permanent night school from now on!

Vibrant young actors including Elaine Hurt, Patrick Delgado, Lauren Vunderink and Lauren Lee help teen writer-director Emily Hagins take a bite out of modern pop vampires in a hilarious, bloody tale that proves once and for all that love, like, totally sucks!

My Sucky Teen Romance Official Site | on Facebook | on Twitter | on IMDb

Watch the trailer on YouTube

Or, hit “play” and watch it now.

Synopsis from Magnet Releasing:

When a group of petty criminals is hired by a mysterious party to retrieve a rare piece of found footage from a rundown house in the middle of nowhere, they soon realize that the job isn’t going to be as easy as they thought. In the living room, a lifeless body holds court before a hub of old television sets, surrounded by stacks upon stacks of VHS tapes. As they search for the right one, they are treated to a seemingly endless number of horrifying videos, each stranger than the last.

Bringing together some of the top filmmakers in the game today, this wickedly conceived horror anthology sends the viewer through a gauntlet of suspense, terror, shock, and downright brutality—instantly distinguishing itself from a sea of lackluster found-footage horror flicks. The diverse and deviously creative minds behind V/H/S shatter any preconceived notions about the genre, making it feel inventive and captivating once again.

V/H/S Official Site | on Facebook | on Twitter | on IMDb

Photo credit: Ljupco Smokovski

Self-Test for Literature Abuse

How many of these apply to you?

1. I have read fiction when I was depressed, or to cheer myself up.

2. I have gone on reading binges of an entire book or more in a day.

3. I read rapidly, often ‘gulping’ chapters.

3. I have sometimes read early in the morning, or before work.

4. I have hidden books in different places to sneak a chapter without being seen.

5. Sometimes I avoid friends or family obligations in order to read novels.

6. Sometimes I re-write film or television dialog as the characters speak.

7. I am unable to enjoy myself with others unless there is a book nearby.

8. At a party, I will often slip off unnoticed to read.

9. Reading has made me seek haunts and companions which I would otherwise avoid.

10. I have neglected personal hygiene or household chores until I had finished a novel.

12. I have spent money meant for necessities on books instead.

13. I have attempted to check out more library books than permitted.

14. Most of my friends are heavy fiction readers.

15. I have sometimes passed out from a night of heavy reading.

16. I have suffered ‘blackouts’ or memory loss from a bout of reading.

17. I have wept, become angry or irrational because of something I read.

18. I have sometimes wished I did not read so much.

19. Sometimes I think my fiction reading is out of control.

If you answered ‘yes’ to three or more of these questions, you may be a
literature abuser. Affirmative responses to five or more indicates a
serious problem.

[I did NOT create the above test. This was published as "anonymous" in an e-mail I read back in 1999.]

LITERATURE ABUSE: AMERICA’S HIDDEN PROBLEM

Once a relatively rare disorder, Literature Abuse, or LA, has risen to
new levels due to the accessibility of higher education and increased
college enrollment since the end of the Second World War. The number of
literature abusers is currently at record levels.

SOCIAL COSTS OF LITERARY ABUSE

Abusers become withdrawn, uninterested in society or normal
relationships. They fantasize, creating alternative worlds to occupy, to
the neglect of friends and family.

In severe cases they develop bad posture from reading in awkward
positions or carrying heavy book bags. In the worst instances, they
become cranky reference librarians in small towns.

Excessive reading during pregnancy is perhaps the number one cause of
moral deformity among the children of English professors, teachers of
English and creative writing. Known as Fetal Fiction Syndrome, this
disease also leaves its victims prone to a lifetime of nearsightedness,
daydreaming and emotional instability.

HEREDITY

It has been established that heredity plays a considerable role in
determining whether a person will become an abuser of literature. Most
abusers have at least one parent who abused literature, often beginning
at an early age and progressing into adulthood. Many spouses of an
abuser become abusers themselves.

OTHER PREDISPOSING FACTORS

Fathers or mothers who are English teachers, professors, or heavy
fiction readers; parents who do not encourage children to play games,
participate in healthy sports, or watch television in the evening.

PREVENTION

Pre-marital screening and counseling, referral to adoption agencies in
order to break the chain of abuse. English teachers in particular
should seek partners active in other fields. Children should be
encouraged to seek physical activity, and to avoid isolation and morbid
introspection.

DECLINE AND FALL: THE ENGLISH MAJOR

Within the sordid world of literature abuse, the lowest circle belongs
to those sufferers who have thrown their lives and hopes away to study
literature in our colleges. Parents should look for signs that their
children are taking the wrong path-don’t expect your teenager to
approach you and say, “I can’t stop reading Spencer.” By the time you
visit her dorm room and find the secret stash of the Paris Review, it
may already be too late.

Photo credit: Kroty

What to do if you suspect your child is becoming an English major:

1. Talk to your child in a loving way. Show your concern. Let her
know you won’t abandon her – but that you aren’t spending a hundred grand to put her through Stanford so she can clerk at Waldenbooks, either. But remember that she may not be able to make a decision without help; perhaps she has just finished Madame Bovary and is dying of arsenic poisoning.

2. Face the issue: Tell her what you know, and how: “I found this book
in your purse. How long has this been going on?” Ask the hard
question – “Who is this Count Vronsky?”

3. Show her another way. Move the television set into her room.
Praise her brother, the engineer. Introduce her to frat boys.

4. Do what you have to do. Tear up her library card. Make her stop
signing her letters as “Emma.” Force her to take a math class, or minor
in Spanish. Transfer her to a Florida college.

You may be dealing with a life-threatening problem if one or more of the
following applies:

* She can tell you how and when Thomas Chatterton died.
* She names one or more of her cats after a Romantic poet.
* Next to her bed is a picture of: Lord Byron, Virginia Woolf,
Faulkner, or any scene from the Lake District.

—————————————-

Most important, remember, you are not alone. To seek help for yourself
or someone you love, contact the nearest chapter of the American
Literature Abuse Society, or look under ALAS in your telephone
directory.

While browsing the latest DVDs available on Redbox, I discovered
SOME GUY WHO KILLS PEOPLE (2011). What caught my eye was the movie’s title,
“horror, comedy” and “Kevin Corrigan.” So I rented it based solely on genre and lead actor.

Some Guy Who Kills People is about Ken Boyd, a lonely man fresh out of the loony bin, who sets out to kill those he deems responsible for his miserable life. (Source: IMDb)

Normally when I rent a horror-comedy, especially of the independent persuasion, there’s a heavy amount of cheese and gore, and little else. Not the case with SOME GUY. It proved an exception to the rule and a reason I continue to mine the Indie world on a regular basis.

The key to SOME GUY’s success is its heart: the relationship between Ken Boyd and Amy Wheeler. The horror elements played secondary to strong characters and a realistic world. It felt more like a coming-of-age story with a thriller subplot than the typical slasher flick. That’s not to say there weren’t silly moments or a few scenes of gore; those bits just didn’t overpower the film’s stronger attributes.

SOME GUY WHO KILLS PEOPLE on IMDb | Facebook | Official Site

I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys horror-comedies with a reasonable amount of gore, an even pace, solid character development, and subtle humor as well as genuine laugh-out-loud moments.

[Rented DVD on 7/3/2012 | Bought DVD on 7/28/2012]

Book One in the Dark Tower epic offers fast-paced fantasy with moderate action and few answers. Its focus, though, is on the introduction of the story’s hero, his initial quest, and his world.

The Gunslinger by Stephen King follows Roland, the last gunslinger, on his quest across the desert of a ruined world to find the Man in Black. Along the way Roland meets Alice, a lonely but tough broad, and Jake, a frightened Earth boy, both of whom play an important role in his finding that which he seeks. Ultimately, Roland must decide whether he’s willing to sacrifice everything (and everyone) in order to satisfy his vengeance.

Few first lines are as compelling:

“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.”

Once I started this book, I could not put it down. The sad thing is, I’ve owned the book for over 20 years. Why did I take so long to finally pick it up and give it a read?!? When I finished, all the seedlings – the quest for revenge, the dying world, magic, fantastical beings, a prophecy, and the Tower – sprouted into my overwhelming need to know more.

Roland’s world was quite similar to our own with subtle (and not so subtle) differences. His language, at times, was confusing; a mix between “High Speech” and 70s – 80s American lingo. I wasn’t sure if that was to demonstrate Roland’s lifespan of hundreds of years, the similarities between his world and ours, or simply to make him relatable.

The novel’s structure maintained the balance between pace, forward motion, and backstory. Throughout the story, there were flashbacks to Roland’s childhood and training as a gunslinger, which illustrate who he is (or was intended to be) and hints at potential motives for his relentless search for the Man in Black. At no time did I feel like King needed to hurry up and get on with the story.

There were many unanswered questions that I’m sure King will explore, if not all-out answer, in the rest of the series. But I still felt satisfied with this book’s story and resolution. Overall I’m quite pleased with Book One and cannot wait to start Book Two in October for the Dark Tower read-a-long.

Interesting tidbit: The series was inspired by a ream of green paper, silence on a winter’s day, and the poem, “Childe Roland,” by Robert Browning. (That’s what Stephen King wrote in the “Afterword,” anyway.) The story’s evolution as well as where King intended to take readers in the Dark Tower series were also explored in the “Afterword.”

A solid collection of 20 short stories that demonstrates King’s ability to transform everyday normalcies into our worst nightmares. Several of these stories have since been adapted for the screen.

Stephen King has brought together nineteen of his most unsettling short pieces–bizarre tales of dark doing and unthinkable acts from the twilight regions where horror and madness take on eerie, unearthly forms…where noises in the walls and shadows by the bed are always signs of something dreadful on the prowl.

The settings are familiar and unsuspected–a high school, a factory, a truck stop, a laundry, a field of Nebraska corn. But in Stephen King’s world any place can serve as devil’s ground…if the time of night is propitious, and the forces of darkness are strong, and the victims are caught just slightly off their guard… (Source: StephenKing.com)

Short story collections are sometimes hit or miss; you’ll either love most of them or forget most of them. Thankfully, Night Shift falls under the “hit” category. Here’s a quick recap of each story along with my two cents.

↓ 5 STARS ↓

“I Am the Doorway” was the first story in this collection to give me a major case of the creeps. A retired astronaut has to deal with the reality of coming home with more than just the experience of space travel. Hint: Look at the book cover. *shivers* My favorite of this collection.

“Gray Matter” is an excellent example of King taking an everyday situation, a contaminated beverage, and twisting it into a hellish experience for a man, his son, and the small town in which they live. The descriptions of Ritchie were so vivid I could almost smell him. (For some reason, when I finished this story, Dreamcatcher popped in my head.)

“Children of the Corn” gave me nightmares. I often wondered if the story would pack the same punch as the movie; now I know. Religious crazies always give me the heebie jeebies, but make those nutcases parricidal kids too, and woo-boy! Non-stop shivers.

“The Last Rung on the Ladder” is a gut-wrenching story of a brother’s guilt over not being there for his sister. Heavy themes but more dramatic than horrific. I especially appreciated the relevance of how we all are often too busy with our individual lives that we skip putting in the time on our most important relationships, taking for granted that we’ll have tomorrow to do so.

“One for the Road,” a sequel to ‘Salem’s Lot, reminds us why we should always be prepared whilst traveling and never stray from the beaten path. This is in my top five faves from this collection.

↓ 4 STARS ↓

“Jerusalem’s Lot,” a prequel to ‘Salem’s Lot, unfolds through a series of letters from the current owner of Chapelwaite, a place avoided by nearly everyone because of its sordid history. There was a strong feeling, for me, of M.R. James’ influence on this tale. And just when I was sure I knew what was going on, King took it to a whole notha level.

“Battleground” surprised me. I had already watched its adaptation for a TV mini-series, so I had high expectations. While the TV version and especially William Hurt’s performance as Renshaw had more depth and reality, I thoroughly enjoyed the short story. Plus, the story further supports my theory that dolls (and maybe all toys) are not to be trusted.

“Quitters, Inc.” – Smoking and a smoker’s attempts to quit have been featured in many of King’s tales. This story reminds me of a chain letter from the mafia. You know, read this then pass it on, or else. Only I can’t figure out why anyone, after experiencing “the program,” would refer anyone they knew. Perhaps they don’t really like the people they refer? One thing’s for sure, this “program” works.

“I Know What You Need” mixes a dollop of the paranormal with a healthy dose of stalker-ish love and obsession to deliver a potent tale of one man’s devotion to the woman of his dreams. Of course, she’s about as deep as her pocket book. So in the end I actually liked “the bad guy” more than Elizabeth.

“The Man Who Loved Flowers” demonstrates the power of perspective by telling the story from the people observing and interacting with the main character. A chilling realization that one must not judge a book by its cover or make assumptions about anyone, ever.

↓ 3 STARS ↓

“Graveyard Shift” is told through the POV of Hall, a drifter who works the three-to-eleven shift at a mill in Gates Falls, Maine. Hall doesn’t mind the crappy conditions of the mill or his a-hole foreman. What he minds are the rats. This story will probably have the most impact on those afraid of rats and being underground.

“Night Surf” is set in the world of The Stand and follows a group of survivors after Captain Trips (later renamed Captain Tripps), a flu-like virus, has already begun to wipe out the world’s population. Sadly, I wasn’t a fan of this one; the story is too short to have such unlikeable characters. But it was fun to read the seedlings of what would grow into an epic novel.

“The Mangler” is an example of a sub-genre within King’s work that I refer to as “possessed machines.” This one dabbled in the occult and featured a moderate amount of gore. It was memorable and may cause some readers to hesitate briefly before approaching their appliances.

“The Boogeyman,” unfortunately, didn’t scare me at all. Its concept of “the monster in the closet” interested me; it just didn’t affect me. Maybe it was that I didn’t much care for Lester Billings. Or the fact that no one seemed to protect their children – to sacrifice themselves so their kids would be safe. My dislike of this story is, I’m sure, for subjective reasons.

“Trucks” was probably my least favorite of the entire collection. Not being a big fan of Christine I kinda figured this one wouldn’t knock my socks off. It’s a terrifying premise, though: machines with a consciousness and the ability to rule the world. There’s no contest between the human body and a 15,000 pound truck.

“Sometimes They Come Back” was another story I’d already seen adapted for the screen. The movie was okay but the short story was 100% better. There was more authenticity to the characters and the town. And I better understood Jim Norman’s grief and the evil behind his brother’s death. My only complaint is that the ending seemed fairly rushed, even for a short story.

“Strawberry Spring” – A serial killer terrorizes a college campus, disappears, and then resurfaces nearly a decade later. Meh.

“The Ledge” – Stan Norris has an affair with Marcia Cressner, the wife of a mob-type badass. When Cressner finds out he makes Stan a wager he can’t refuse. If Stan wins, he gets Marcia, money and freedom. If he loses, well, he’ll be dead so it won’t matter much after that. Nerve-racking suspense for anyone with a fear of heights.

“The Lawnmower Man” might inspire you to do a complete background check on your next landscaper. I found this story ridiculous and hilarious! And I wondered when he wrote it if King was inspired by some of Arthur Machen’s work.

“The Woman in the Room” explores some adults’ inability to deal with caring for their disabled or dying parent. I wasn’t sure if John loved or hated his mother. And I’m still not sure if he did what he did because he loved her and didn’t want her to suffer or because he just didn’t want to suffer anymore.

What’s your favorite short story? (By any writer.)

Here are the details:

The Classic Bribe – Challenge & Giveaway:

• Read at least 1 Classic over the summer – between Memorial Day and the end of Labor Day Weekend, September 3rd
• You can have begun the Classic prior to Memorial Day, but it needs to have been completed between the challenge dates above
• Post a review on your blog of each Classic that you read during the challenge period and reference a link to the “The Classic Bribe” challenge page
• Link to each of your reviews separately by clicking on Mr. Linky
• Each linked review counts as 1 entry – no entry limit per blogger – read and review as many as you like
• Each entry builds up $1 toward an Amazon gift card – the more entries the higher the balance can grow – capped at $35
• Random winner selected Labor Day weekend from all entries- no restrictions on region
• Winner receives the full Amazon gift card balance accumulated based on entries received

Click to join: The Classic Bribe 2012 Challenge

My “Classics” Reading List for June 11 – September 3, 2012

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The Wyvern Mystery by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (or J.S. Le Fanu)

I may read others during the challenge, but above are the books I already had on my list prior to the 2012 challenge announcement.

Thanks again, Molly, for hosting this challenge!