Tattoo Tuesdays: Honest to goodness

I have this theory. Caffeine is alive. It thinks. It breathes. It plots against me. Caffeine knows I crave it and that I can at times become an emotional, havoc causing, sputtering, truth 'sayer' in its wake. Dancing bears, painted wings, things I almost remember . . . and all that jazz. I'm not making much sense, am I? It is the Caffeine I tell you!

I guess I'm saying Caffeine causes me to be honest, leaving me vulnerable and likely to tell you things I am better off letting sleep in my subconscious for me alone to dwell on. I'm in a contemplative mood (thanks Caffeine) and liking the walk down memory lane my mind keeps taking me to. All my tattoos for today remind me of someone, evoking a sense of freedom, recklessness and playfulness. I always want to bottle those attributes and horde them to myself. I tend not to be good at sharing the things I love.

The typography nut in me loves this tattoo! This tattoo makes me think of trying to capture a wild horse out on the frontier of America. I may desire to capture that freedom and take it away with me, but the very thing I long for--the chaotic 'mess', the creature that throws 'look before you leap' to the wind in favor of pushing the limits and expectations and the ability to make each day an adventure of the unknown--I can't bind it to my heart without losing in the process. I don't want to tame it. I want to go wild with it!


Other Features for today:

Sweet and simple. It is always nice to have the 'simple' reminder to smile. There are so many sayings that go along with smiling and so many memories.

Smile . . . you never know who is watching.

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” ~Dr. Seuss

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” ~Mother Teresa

So let's smile :) . . .

Take that cigarette out of your mouth! (insert grin) Why do smoking pictures always have this level of 'oh so hot' attached them? (pun not intended) I mean I know it is bad for you and I will never smoke, but still . . . Look at me I'm only talking about the cigarette and after all, This Is Art. (insert 'innocent' grin)

“If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people.”

~Virginia Woolf

Mundane Mondays: Pack and Play

Tomorrow I leave for Maryland, a business trip. Ergo I stayed home today for prep and relaxation. Oh the joys of beauty chores; shaving legs, painting nails, and more. Painting nails? Some weeks ago my Mum convinced me that painting my nails was the pretty thing to do. Well pretty or not, it is tedious and now so ingrained in my subconscious that at the end of a week it is time to hunt down the new color. Painted nails means no trimming of the nails and no trimming means a nail file is your new best friend. Do you realize how hard it is to do menial tasks such as texting with long nails?!? I know, I know  . . . priorities Maddie! Every time I start to complain about the text issue the ever popular meme pops up in my head, "First world problems." I shut my mouth and move on, beauty is 'pain' after all, but why oh why do I continue with it?

I should be packing, but instead I'm sitting outside writing this post. However, in the back of my mind I am compiling my 'must haves' for this trip. We are driving and I have never been to Maryland. Thus I have no clue the number of hours I will be trapped in the car. This means go prepared! Right off I know I will be packing . . . books!

• Tam Lin by Pamela Dean - Poor thing, I've set it aside numerous times lately for affairs with other 'page turners'. It really is time to finish what I started.
• Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck - Book four is finally here! I let my friend Anna borrow it to read it first, as she introduced me to the series. After some of her comments/reactions to it, I'm as anxious as ever to read it!
• Non-fiction Nonsense - I've been basking in the arms of Fiction for . . . too long . . . I need to mix things up a bit. I'm not sure what I will grab yet.
• Kindle - Yep the soul sucker is coming along for the ride. After a comment from someone I am now the 'proud' holder of numerous reviewer eBooks. It is time to get busy! Of course the real books hold precedence on this trip.

After books, we have the bag of goodies we like to call at my house the "Keep busy bag." It is a treasure trove of attention diverters and time passer-by helpers.

• Journals - My soul and thoughts.
• Notebooks - "Notebooks are for notes, not for kissing." My writing and blogging.
• At least 2 issues of Snowboarder Magazine
• iPod - Let's face it, me without my music is like a zombie without the sustenance of fresh brains . . . not tolerable or fun to watch. Unless of course you are watching your mortal enemies (of whom I have many, we are sure) being chased down by the brain hunger buggers. Then we are cheering them on. This is not the case, however, with a music starved me. You will be the one screaming. (insert grin)
• Knitting - undecided
• Possibly an issue or two of Alt Press - It just depends if  I want the added flavor.

You never know what I might toss in the bag. A girl has to be prepared for anything! Oh yes, my camera will of course accompany me. He (Calvin) has a front row seat!

I will be in Baltimore for Expo East (Natural Products Expo). I'm told this expo is the size of 3 or 4 football fields. Bring on the samples! If you are there come say hello. I'm not going to tell you what booth I am working. That would take the fun out of it. Just look for the girl with crazy long curly hair. I'm told I look like Merida from Brave. Good luck!

I wonder if Expo East has a bookstore booth . . .

"The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many--no--fifty things..."

“For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.” 

~Anne Lamott

I caught myself wandering in the realm of 'being baffled', by questions coworkers were asking me yesterday. First off I'm the youngest employee where I work. I've worked here since graduating from high school, so the stigma of "Oh she's the 'baby'," sort of follows me wherever I go, especially as I've known my employer since I was 9 years old. At times it bothers me, but it can't be helped. Second, I'm inexperienced and have lots of learning and rocks to turn over in the world. Third, I'm typically conservative and quiet in nature . . . well amongst my acquaintances. The real deal folks are who see the real me, otherwise it is a waste of time, energy and vulnerability I have no desire to test any further.

Those observations aside . . . I was wondering why coworkers decided to ask me about 50 Shades of Grey. Oh 50 Shades, with all your delicate and gruesome subject matter, "Yes, let's ask Maddie, because I'm sure she will have the answers you are seeking. Either that or we'll get to see Maddie blush a thousand shades of crimson when we have her cornered." This is not subject matter for the work place folks . . . let alone ME. You try explaining what . . . yeah . . . is to your eager/waiting coworkers is and then wondering why you even know this stuff to begin with. I felt like a bumbling idiot and yes I blushed! :P

I have NOT read 50 Shades of . . . 'waste of my time'. I truly have no desire to do so for many reasons. However, I read and read and read until I'm a little grey faced myself, the numerous critical reviews, articles, funny parodies and whatnot. No, not because deep down I crave a torrent affair with the book. I crave knowledge, I own a used bookstore and obviously people find it necessary to ask me questions about books. I have to equip myself somehow, so I read everything there is to know about the book. Perhaps you view that as wrong. How can I form an opinion of a book without reading it? It is one of those cases; I don't need to taste shit to know it tastes bad. 

Anne Lamott says in the quote above, “For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth.” Maybe this is why people ask me, because they realize this is true about me. And maybe this is why I won’t read 50 Shades, but everything else about it.

Last Thoughts

I'm also intrigued by the comments from many people, complete with dazed expressions:

"I don't know why I read it. It was poorly written and basically bound for the trash, but I couldn't put it down. I loved it!"

What makes this book different from any other erotica book out there? Erotica and all the other sordid content that comes with 50 Shades didn't come on the scene when E.L. James penned her story. It has been around the block a time or two . . . so why now the sudden bump with popularity; the sudden acceptance of not only trashy content, but ill used synonyms and 'rip your hair out' worthy analogies? Why are people (notice I'm not singling out the women) so eager to be led to the slaughter?

Waiting on Wednesday: Jane by Robin Maxwell

"Waiting On" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about (created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.)

WoW: Jane by Robin Maxwell

Scheduled to be released: September 18, 2012

Why I'm waiting: 

My sister recommended this book to me on Goodreads* a few weeks ago.  

 

Tarzan is among my top 10 favorite Disney films of all time. I've seen the original Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes and liked it too. My laptop is named Burroughs after Edgar Rice Burroughs. Are we seeing a pattern here?

Perhaps my love of the jungle and living in the wild spawns from daydreaming while watching The Swiss Family Robinson growing up. I would watch it over and over. I never wanted to see them leave the island and I was desperate to find myself on a ship destined for a shipwreck. Do you think a real estate agent can help with tree house property listings?

I have never been apt to read stories from the male perspective. I find that I relate better to a female narrator/protagonist. Gee I wonder why? This is the main reason why a new take on the story is so exciting to me! The author even received permission from the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate to write this book. She can take that to the bank! Let's celebrate the 100 years of Tarzan by reading from Jane's point of view! I can't wait!!!

Book Synopsis:

Synopsis from Goodreads

 

Cambridge, England: 1905. Jane Porter is hardly a typical woman of her time. The only female student in Cambridge University’s medical program, she is far more comfortable in a lab coat, dissecting corpses, than she is in a corset and gown, sipping afternoon tea. A budding paleoanthropologist, Jane dreams of travelling the globe in search of fossils that will prove the evolutionary theories of her scientific hero, Charles Darwin.

When dashing American explorer Ral Conrath invites Jane and her father on an expedition deep into West Africa, she can hardly believe her luck. Rising to the challenge, Jane finds an Africa that is every bit exotic and fascinating as she has always imagined. But she quickly learns that the lush jungle is full of secrets—and so is Ral Conrath. When danger strikes, Jane finds her hero, the key to humanity’s past, and an all-consuming love in one extraordinary man: Tarzan of the Apes.

 

 

Be sure to add Jane to your Goodreads! 

 

 

 

*You didn't know my sister was on Goodreads?!? Well check out her shelves! She reads all the time and has great taste. (insert wink)

Tattoo Tuesdays: Give a little bit ... of YOUR love

Some days I eat, sleep, and breathe (even scream) hope, albeit a few folks around me view it as 'foolish' hope. I like to attribute my hope to two things. One, it is my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I will be the first to admit that I am no prime example for the 'perfect' Christian, far from it, but I know where my hope is supposed to come from. I need smacked around and drug through the mud sometimes to remember . . . the hard way, but I know. Two, I'm a dreamer. We are prone to expecting the impossible and dreaming up the schemes that require so much hope you better be sucking the 'hope lollipop' like a fiend. (insert grin)

'Walk in Hope' by {Jk} qc

Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he [is] our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Psalms 33:18-22 (NIV)

 

The placement of this tattoo and the typography make for an awesome tattoo. It is memorable and speaks of a destination we all may seek. I know I do.

 

 

Other Features for today:

 



Wish it away . . . I'm still deciding if this is paint
or a tattoo. Regardless it is cool and all the black (nails too)
makes it stand out. I'd like to think the flowers are dandelions . . .
because they are my favorite.

 

Hear that little bump, bump . . . that's where the heart is.
It's obvious, with my love of music, why I picked this tattoo.

 

Put your heart in hand . . .
Sweet and simple



 

Music for the moment:

Listening to everything by Walk the Moon! I just got their album in the mail today, but I already knew I loved their music.



A dash, a pinch, a sprinkling of sprinkles

There is something about sprinkles that evokes in me a longing for my childhood. In fact when I see sprinkles I suddenly feel transported to that innocent time where running down a shopping aisle screaming at the top of your lungs was considered cute to the strangers looking on. While you're Mum look liked she might make use of the prison like bars of the cart if you didn't stop causing such a commotion . . . over sprinkles nonetheless.

Even now when I find myself dessert whoring (yes you heard me correctly), I can't help thinking "Let's add SPRINKLES!" When I'm in line at Cold Stone Creamery, spending an exorbitant amount of money on ice cream*, I have to debate am I in a coffee mood, Coffee Lovers Only, or a sprinkle mood, Birthday Cake Remix? Once I've decided sprinkle mood, it is all I can do not to shout at the adolescent creating my dessert masterpiece, "ADD MORE SPRINKLES! NOW!" I don't want to frighten the poor dear into dropping MY precious frozen delight on the floor and then wait while they start again. My patience is far too tasked, as it is people!

Sprinkles are an odd topic for a blog post, I realize, but I have an explanation. By now, though, I would think you know this is what you get with me. Strange. (insert grin)

Last week my camera arrived! I have named him . . . Calvin. I had already been brainstorming about the various photo projects I would try before he arrived. On Wednesday I started my first challenge, 'Let's FACE it'. As the description on my Flickr set reads,

"Calvin has arrived and has already begun working his creative power on my eyes and senses. Who is Calvin? My new camera (yes I name electronics), a Canon Rebel T3i to be precise. 'Let's FACE it' is a 30 day photo project I began brainstorming about even before Calvin arrived. All the pictures feature my face and/or a focus of namely my eyes. No I'm not vain, just find face photography intriguing and invigorating . . . a challenge. This camera is a BIG step for me and I'm learning. I guess I'm saying go easy on me and if you want to . . . offer some advice. Enjoy!"

Yesterday was day three and I'm sitting here typing this post, biding my time until Mum arrives. I need her advice. I have too many pictures of last night's photo session to decide which one is Flickr Photo worthy. However, I also wanted to post here some of the less unfortunate photos and the aftermath of what sprinkles do . . . to your face.


Sprinkles in your nose . . . not pleasant.

Sprinkles in your ears . . . colorful compared to earwax.

Sprinkles in your eyes . . . horrid, as the pictures will attest to.

Sprinkles in your mouth . . . not bad at all.

Cleaning up sprinkles . . . not fun. I think I need to hire a maid for these photo sessions.

Skin reaction to sprinkles and the 'gluing' agent used . . . I looked like I sat in a tanning bed too long. Instead of coming out a bronze goddess, I came out a blotchy red mess.


The Aftermath:

My makeup slave extraordinaire!:

Mum hiding . . . not too hard to do in my hair.

Sprinkles in my eyes:

Runner-up:

Winner:

You have to go to Flickr to see! (insert grin)

All photos in this post belong to me, ©MadMadelyne. Please respect my creative design(s) by not stealing and I will keep sharing! Thank you!


*Thank goodness there is not one near me. Otherwise, I would need to do much more rationalizing in my life than I already do.

Let the Opportunity Arise . . . Book Review

Book Review Time!

Book: The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher
Format: eBook (purchased from Amazon for my Kindle)
Finished: September 6, 2012
Rating: 5 stars!


What an emotional rollercoaster!

Often times when reading I try desperately to personify my judgment, decisions, or reactions onto the various characters, that I’m left frustrated and disappointed. I’m waving, stomping my foot, even screaming “Go here! Do that,” as though they will listen and heed my ‘wise’ advice. The Opportunist flaunted its raw and honest intent in my face. It made the choices I would scream for, but never have the courage to enact in my own circumstances. The very fact that Olivia can, in her own words, admit over and over again that “I’m a bad person,” is so refreshing. You the reader nod in agreement, but you don’t hate her. In fact she captured my attention so thoroughly I didn’t care about her claims. I cared she was so true to the nature of this beast we call human.

I’m not going to spoil the ending, but I feel so lost between wanting to cry and feeling a sense of relief, happiness even. Perhaps I will cry for the realism that I didn’t necessarily want, even though I say otherwise at times, and be happy with the gripping honesty. That a story can provoke such an emotion akin to mutual understanding and acceptances to their choices; the very choices that are evil in intent, yet we grapple with deciding do what feels right and what is right.

I was expecting a sappy, predictable, romance fluff novel. I’m glad to know my expectations were so far off their mark.

“I think that after the first time you give your heart away, you never get it back. The rest of your life is just your pretending that you still have a heart.”

Scary words, yet I still find myself careening into them, searching, hoping . . .

Tarryn Fisher. Well done.

Be sure to add The Opportunist to your Goodreads!

Tattoo Tuesdays: Be ye not afraid to FALL

What is your favorite season?

It used to be I answered that question with a quick nod at my man Fall. Now Fall is first, but Winter is a close second. Autumn colors, smells, sounds, tantalizing tastes and more. I like the cold and fire. It would seem that with Fall you get cold, but not so much so you have to seek hibernation too soon. The fire surrounds you; whether you drive by the country folk burning their leaves, you're roasting marshmallows in the backyard or you watch the trees kiss the sky with their flames . . . the fire is everywhere.




Look closely what else can you see?

Other Features for today:



Ahhh the deceiving notion of perfection.

Can I get witness?
Albeit a fake tattoo from Tattly, but cool nonetheless.



If I lead will you follow?
(More for the picture than the tattoos...guilty.)



 

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” 

~Henry David Thoreau