Hear a Snippet Here

Friday Night YouTube

Beth — Sat, 18 May 2013 09:06:26 +0000

It’s been a long time since I busted one of these out! But I’ve been finding a lot of ~~cool~~ ~~stupid~~ ~~random~~ ~~ridiculous~~ stuff on YouTube lately, and figured… since I haven’t been keeping you updated on work issues and writing, I should at least show you what I do in my lazy time.

So that Kpop thing… still a thing. More of a thing than before, even.

Cooking? Cooking! – Super Junior

I. love this song. There’s something about the dance with the hand motions and the catchy lyrics. And it’s like, the cutest thing. My sister and I tried to learn the dance, but it’s more complicated than it looks! So we just… run around doing the hand things, singing, “jfsoafnsfd… GUNGOYO!! osifjaodfadf… MADAJOH!”

Yoo Hoo – Secret

This song is everything that made me fall in love with Korean music. Girly, energetic, a little bit childish, overdose of cute, lots of drawing hearts in the air… if I ever learn a whole dance routine, it’s going to be for a Korean girl’s group song. Then I’ll sing it at work. I’ve already made several employee’s nights by dancing and singing to The Three Bears!

I guess I should show you that, too…

The Three Bears Song – As sung/danced by Song Hye Kyo in the Korean drama: Full House

What Was It That Made Me Meet Someone Like You – Bai An

This isn’t even Korean, but Mandarin. It’s just so… engrossing! The language is so different from any other sound I’ve ever heard; different from Japanese, Korean, and certainly all the Latin based languages. The lovely An has such a gorgeous voice, and I can’t stop listening to it!

Not Right Now, Derrick

This is one of those videos that requires a special brand of humour. The Napoleon Dynamite brand. Where it may not be funny the first time you watch it (or at all) but then your brothers start quoting it at very inappropriate intervals, and it makes it hilarious. Then you take it to your job and it’s even funnier!
Employee: Hey, Bethany, can you…
Me: NOT RIGHT NOW, DERIIIIICK!!!

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

I love Jane Austen. I love spin offs of Jane Austen’s stories. And apparently, I love finding things that are impossible to tear myself away from. There are so many quotable one-liners from this adaptation! It is hysterical, awkward, charming… everything Pride and Prejudice is, except put into a modern setting and told exclusively from Elizabeth Bennet’s point of view. I’m in love. It’s also super creative how they made Tumblr and Pinterest and Twitter accounts for all their characters and updated them as the vlog was progressing. It was so interactive and… just… you have to watch them.

And I know if I start to watch these again, I will never go to bed. So I’d better head off to finish my writing… TELL ME NOT TO CLICK THE LINK!!! TELL ME….!!!

Tagged: bai an, comedy, friday, kpop, lizzie bennet diaries, music, super junior, time wasters, videos, youtube

30 Days of Writing: Day 12

Beth — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:05:17 +0000

Challenge #12: In what story did you feel you did the best job of world building? Any side-notes on it you’d like to share?

World building… hm.

I take it none of my fan fiction counts, since that’s building onto pre-envisioned worlds. Do historical fictions count? I guess the world is already in place for those, too.

Okay, I do have several fantasies written in totally made-up worlds that I feel quite proud of. The first that comes to mind is Wind Blessed because I go into the most detail of the settings and characters. It has the most complexities to work out since it’s a world with magic, and all the boundaries of my magic have to be consistently applied.

However, I feel very good about Brides of Plunder, as well. It has a Celtic-y feel to it, but being that I don’t like to be fettered by rules of historical accuracy, (except when it comes to Victorian England) I made it my own world and just go with names and the sort of structure that feels right.

As for tips on world building, I think this quote by Mark Twain says it best:“It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.”

My advice to you would be…

Read History

I’m very bad at following my own advice in this case, but I have to encourage the rest of you to do things the right way. Especially if your world is historically based. If your sort-of-Celtic-but-not fantasy story has elements that go totally against Celtic tradition, but they make sense in your story, fine. But if you’re writing a story based on the Celts, and you mess up, that’s going to be embarrassing.

Base It On Reality

If you’re finding it tricky to figure out your setting–say you need to decide how the land is governed, or what sort of clothes the characters wear, or what kind of landscape would be ideal–find something that exists in the physical world to base it off of. For example, since Brides has that Celtic… ness to it, anytime I’m stuck on what a piece of weaponry should look like, or need a new name, I Google things of a Celtic nature, and tweak history to fit my fantasy setting. You can do this with any culture. Borrow from India for clothing options. Study the British monarchy for political intrigue. Visit New Zealand to write better scenic passages. Use things you’ve seen, and heard, and know a little about to make your setting more believable.

Throw All Advice Out the Window

I think the greatest and most frequently ignored rule of writing is that there are no concrete rules. If you have a good grasp of the English language, a vivid imagination, and an idea of what you want to create, do what feels right. Of course, if writing blindly is not working out, I do suggest reading books in the genre you’re planning on writing in.

Featured Snippet:

Before us lay a green sloping land full of forests and woods, with here and there steep hills, crowned with clumps of trees or with farmhouses, the blank gable end to the road. There was everywhere a bewildering mass of fruit blossom–apple, plum, pear, cherry. And as we drove by I could see the green grass under the trees spangled with the fallen petals. In and out amongst these green hills of what they call here the “Mittel Land” ran the road, losing itself as it swept round the grassy curve, or was shut out by the straggling ends of pine woods, which here and there ran down the hillsides like tongues of flame. The road was rugged, but still we seemed to fly over it with a feverish haste.

-Dracula by Bram Stoker

Featured Image:

Since we’re speaking of world building…

Middle Earth Map Dress

Tagged: 30 days of writing, challenge, literature, original fiction, world building, writing, writing tips

92 “Truths”

Beth — Thu, 09 May 2013 01:03:27 +0000

So… I did this yesterday, but then went to work and didn’t post it. I know, this is a desperate attempt not to let my blog die. I’ll work on real posts soon, I promise!!

Full Name: Princess Liliuokalani Parasha Khaled Persphone Amanirenas; heir to the throne of Manjipoor and possessor of royal magic!

Age: 22

Birthday: 10.18.1990

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 92 Truths about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, copy and paste this note, erase my answers and enter your own, tag people in the under portion of the app then click save.)

WHAT WAS YOUR:

1. Last beverage : A stolen sip of my brother’s coffee

2. Last phone call : To my Beta and bestest friend to speak of stories and adventures in glasses buying.

3. Last text message: Also bestest friend.

4. Last song : Light, by Sara Bareilles

5. Last time you cried : Few days ago. When A Man Loves: two brothers were reunited after one served a seven year prison sentence for killing a mob boss who totally had it coming. The younger brother started crying and there were man hugs, and I can’t handle that kind of thing without waterworks.

HAVE YOU EVER:

6. Dated someone twice: Never dated once!

7. Been cheated on: Does Monopoly count?

8. Kissed someone & regretted it : Nevah!

9. Lost someone special : Yyyeeees… I’m trying to think if there’s a person on this planet who could say no to this.

10. Been depressed: No, I’m a robot. I don’t have emotions so I can’t feel depression. -_-

11. Been drunk and threw up : I have never been drunk, period.

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:

12. Yellow (to wear)

13. Red (for accessories)

14. Pale greens (my mood today)

SINCE LAST YEAR (2012), HAVE YOU:

15. Made a new friend : Yes, and lots of new coworkers, too!

16. Fallen out of love : I… guess? Iiiiii’m aaall out of love! I’m sooo lost withooout you!

17. Laughed until you cried: Sleep overs and night shifts will do that to a person.

18. Met someone who changed you : I thought I made it clear that I was an android, and cannot be moved by human emotions.

19. Found out who your true friends were : A friiiiend is a wish your heeaaart maakes, wheeen you’re faaast asleeeep!

20. Found out someone was talking about you: I work with a bunch of female cashiers. It’s going to happen.

21. Kissed anyone on your FB friend’s list : Why is ‘friend’s’ singular possessive? I have one friend, and that friend owns the Facebook list you refer to? I don’t know because I don’t have said friend’s list. In fact, I’m not even sure which friend I should be asking for the list. (No, I haven’t kissed anyone from Facebook. Or otherwise. )

GENERAL:

22. How many people on your FB friends list do you know in real life: A good 90%. Perhaps higher.

24. Do you have any pets: One doggeh and a truckload of siblings.

25. Do you want to change your name: If it comes with something round and shiny.

26. What did you do for your last birthday : Huh… I know I did… fun things. I had a sleepover and family time, I’m sure. I might have had the day off… but I don’t recall. Gah! We have to fix this problem of adult-like birthdays!

27. What time did you wake up today: Almost 10am. Hurray for closing shifts!

28. What were you doing at midnight last night : Romancing a character on Star Wars: The Old Republic.

29. What’s something you can’t wait for : Lunch. I don’t know what I’m having, but… AAHH! I should go to Whole Foods! They have AMAZING sandwiches!

30. Last time you saw your mother : Twenty-five minutes ago, when I stole the car keys to get my makeup I left there last night.

31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: Not my life, per se. I would like to find a man sooner rather than later. You know, for my name change.

32. What are you listening to right now: Lydia sing Korean songs while she brushes a Barbie’s hair.

33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom? Tom was my Panera manager! Now his granddaughter is our Zone Coach.

34. What’s getting on your nerves right now: I’ve become horribly lazy in writing. Stupid me.

35. Most visited webpage : AOL. Online banking. TOR isn’t really a webpage, but I’ve been doing a lot of gaming as of late.

37. Nickname(s) : Beth, Bethie, Bethadoodle, B.B. Smelly, Ladybird, Beh beh, Honey Jenkins. I have creative people in my life.

38. Relationship Status: SUPER SINGLE!! DO YOU HEAR ME, CHRISTIAN MEN!? I AM SO SINGLE RIGHT NOW!!

39. Zodiac Sign : Libra

40. He or She: She & Him. Good band.

41. Elementary : My dear Watson.

42. Middle/High School : Class/Musical?

43. College : I didn’t go to college. I went to the University of Life and Experiences. And now I’m a full time shift supervisor/manager at my bakery cafe and I can afford to take bi-yearly trips to Europe. And I love it.

44. Hair color : Dark brown. With a strange, natural blonde streak on one side.

45. Long or short hair : Right now it’s short. What I would consider short.

46. Height : 5’3″

47. Do you have a crush on someone? : Shawn Spencer. And Song Seung Heon’s chocolate abs.

48. What do you like about yourself ? : I have a great ability for avoiding stupid questions by going off on a tangent.

49. ? : Weh? NEGA WEH!?

50. Tattoos : Tattoo? What tattoo?

51. Righty or lefty : Righty-oh.

FIRSTS :

52. First surgery : I have not yet had a surgical procedure performed upon me.

53. First piercing : At 12 I got my ears pierced. And that’s it!

54. First best friend : Emily. Who was imaginary. First real person… Maybe Jenny Harpainter.

55. First sport you joined : What is this ‘sport,’ of which you speak? I take sport in many things, but I do not join sports.

56. First vacation : Do frequent trips to the wild animal park as a baby/toddler count?

Not sure what happened to the next two questions… I’ll make some up!

57. First job : Housecleaning for my grandparent’s friend.

58. First words : Light, and duck.

RIGHT NOW:

59. Eating : Nothing! And po’ hungry Shmeagol is staaahving!!

60. Drinking : Sweet tea.

61. I’m about to: Write. No, for real. I’m really going to write something productive today before work.

62. Listening to : My little clock tick.

63. Waiting for : The next episode of When A Man Loves to air and be subtitled.

YOUR FUTURE :

64. Want kids? : Yes, I want them!!!

65. Get Married? : Shouldn’t this question come before the previous one? Call me old fashioned…

66. Career?: I’m happy as a shift super at Panera. I never intended on actually having a “career,” so this is working out great for me!

WHICH IS BETTER :

67. Lips or eyes : I’m tempted to say lips, but considering I don’t have ~~a lot~~ any experience with them…

68. Hugs or kisses : I am fond of huggles.

69. Shorter or taller : Taaaaller.

70. Older or Younger : I’m willing to go with eleven months younger, and fifteen years older. That’s the age gap allowance.

71. Romantic or spontaneous : A mix of both?

72. Nice stomach or nice arms : Song. Seun. Heon.

73. Sensitive or loud: Uh… human? Seriously, not picky.

74. Hook-up or relationship: Relationship. Duuuuh.

75. Funny or Shy?: Not too particular. Although a man shouldn’t be a wallflower, I think it’s cute when they’re shy about certain things. But not generally speaking. And I accept all forms of humour. Cheesy, witty, dry… as long as there is humour.

HAVE YOU EVER :

77. Drank hard liquor : Yep.

Missing two questions again… Okay, you guys make something up and I’ll answer it.

80. Broke someone’s heart : Not that I’m aware of. I’ve turned people down, but hopefully it wasn’t like… shattering hearts into pieces sort of thing.

81. Had your own heart broken : Nnooo… been disappointed, but never brokenhearted. Wait! City Hunter broke my heart!! They killed off my favourite prosecutor and it broke my heart so bad I stayed away from Korean dramas for ALMOST TWO WHOLE MONTHS!! (

82. Been arrested : Not even a little bit.

83. Turned someone down : Yeeeeeeah…

84. Cried when someone died : A few times. And not just character death!

…85….are you hiding…? Am I hiding what? My special cereal so no one else eats it? Yes. A man in my closet? Not yet…

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

86. Yourself : I believe I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

87. Miracles : I not only have learned to successfully do labour charts, but also enjoy them–and they’re all maths! So yes, the evidence is there.

88. Love at first sight: Yes! Like yesterday, I put on this pair of glasses and I was like, “I want these. These are the ones. I’m buying them. Right now.” And then on the way out, I saw this sign for a chocolate chip cookie shake, and not knowing exactly what that meant, I went in and bought it, and the very good looking male associate threw two chocolate chip cookies in a blender with some milk and ice, and I was like, “Whoa. Where have you been all my life?” (To the shake, not the man.) So yes. Love at first sight is REAL, people!!

89. Heaven: Absolutely! I believe in hell, too.

90. Santa Claus: I believe there was a man so-called Saint Nicholas.

91. Tooth Fairy: Nope.

92. Angels: and demons.

Tagged: about me, random, useless

My Type

Beth — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 03:28:34 +0000

I should be writing.

Isn’t that how all of these posts begin? I think I only blog when I’m supposed to be writing and I find some way to stall. =P For this picture heavy post, you can thank my friend and coworker who prompted the following conversation at work, after I bounced around the cafe, singing about the Fex-Ex delivery man who brings me lots of presents…

Little Dorrit: Hey, Bethany, what’s your type?
Me: *taken off guard* Type? I don’t have a type.
Little Dorrit: Sure you do. Everyone has a type!
Me: *in really stupid accent* I like all the boys equally.
Little Dorrit: *trying not to choke on her drink*
Me: Uuuumm… my type is Mr. Darcy!
Little Dorrit: *still unable to control laughter*

So you can see how unhelpful I can be. My main problem is over thinking it, though. My mind goes crazy trying to reconcile all the different qualities I find attractive in a man that I forget having a “type” generally just means the outward appearances are appealing.

Thus, I’ve decided to give you a post filled with a bunch of mega-super-ultra-attractive men!!! Also known as, my type. Although I can’t see how any woman would not find these men attractive.

Even beautiful as a dwarf.

Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooou’re welcome!!

Heh. You know what’s funny? If anyone were to ask, I’d say I don’t like beards at all, and a clean cut man is the most attractive. Yet the majority of these photos have the guys sporting a five ‘o clock shadow. I guess scruff is good. But not full on beardedness. Also, none of these men are American. I’m pretty sure they all have British or Australian backgrounds.

Tagged: about me, beards, good looking men, gorgeous, hypothetical husband, men, my type

Productivity Levels at All Time High

Beth — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 06:03:40 +0000

I had the day off today.

That means I did not get dressed until after 12pm. But you can hardly blame me, since I now own Christine’s Dressing Gown (mine is fuller and more luxurious than Stage!Christine’s!!!) and why would any woman person with a human soul ever want to put something else on?

It also means haven’t finished my daily word count yet, but I have watched about three hours of Eat Your Kimchi videos!

Also, I went Yoona with the skin care.

Dad: Don’t ever scare us like that again.
Lee Shin Dongsaeng Pabo: That. is creepy.

I will respond to them in picture form…

It was an avocado and oatmeal mask and smelt faintly of mint. ‘Twas nice upon my face.

Tagged: about me, beauty, christine daae, day off, eat your kimchi, face mask, phantom of the opera, sleeping in, yoona