Z is for Zombieland, Zoey 101, Z:, Dr. Zachary Burns, Zendaya

Movie:

The first rule of Zombieland: Cardio. When the zombie outbreak first hit, the first to go, for obvious reasons... were the fatties. I'm gone if a Zombie apocalypse ever happens. I enjoy food way too much!  Zombieland is a hilarious movie starring Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg.  It's about a kid named Columbus who survives a zombie outbreak and is headed to Columbus Ohio to see if his family is still alive. He is one of only a few select people who were not affected by a mad cow disease virus gone bad, that turned the world into zombies. Columbus comes up with a few rules for surviving a zombie apocalypse:
1.) Cardio, 2.) Double Tap 3.)Beware of Bathrooms etc. . . you get the picture.  Woody Harrelson is a genius at comedy, he plays Tallahassee a Twinkie junkie who is an excellent zombie hunter taking Columbus under his wing.  The movie follows the pair as they go across country, eventually meeting Wichita and Little Rock, two sisters who are also con artists.  They steal their car and guns and take off only to be found later sitting on the top of a drop ride at an amusement park crawling with zombies.  I love this movie, if you like zombies and comedy . . . then this is your movie to watch.



Television:

If it were up to my son I would be using the cartoon Zelda to represent the letter Z but I decided to
use Zoey 101 instead.  The show follows Zoey a girl who attends a private school and follows her and a group of friends as they learn about life, love and friendships.  My favorite character from the show is Quinn.  During the show she and jerky Logan, a stuck-up rich boy have a feuding relationship that eventually ends in romance.  Quirky Chase is in love with Zoey but she doesn't return the affection until later in the season when Chase thinks she is going to a different school and signs up to go there as well.  Zoey eventually realizes she has feelings for Chase and the show ends with a long awaited Kiss that spans many seasons!



Book:

Z: by Michael Thomas Ford.   This is a book that looks very interesting and something I may want to read in the future.  Here is the plot line:

The First Rule of Torching: Cleanse with fire.

Josh is by far the best zombie Torcher around—at least, he is in his virtual-reality zombie-hunting game. Josh has quickly risen through the player ranks, relying on the skill, cunning, and agility of a real Torcher.

The Second Rule of Torching: Save all humans.

But luckily for Josh, zombies exist only in the virtual world. The real zombie war is now more than fifteen years in the past, and the battle to defeat the deadly epidemic that devastated his family—and millions of others—is the stuff of history lessons.

The Third Rule of Torching: You can't bring them back.

I like zombies, and I think the idea of torching seems like a good twist to a very hot subject.  I look forward in reading it someday.

My Book:

So a character I enjoyed writing was a doctor. Dr. Zachary Burns who is one that both Camille and Genevieve see in their books.  Genevieve for some reason can't place who he reminds her of.  During their scenes she spends the whole time analyzing his appearance trying to place who exactly it is he looks like. By the end of their consultation she realizes he looks an awful like Joe Pesci.  Genevieve pokes a little fun at him, saying Joe Pesci's famous line from Lethal Weapon. "Okay, Okay, Okay." as a response to all his questions.  Dr. Burns takes her joke with stride and says, "You're right I do look like Joe Pesci."  I think Dr. Burns is a cool doctor and one that relates to his patients very well.

What's For Dinner?  Homemade Burgers

Song of the Day:



Y is for You Got Served, Young Indiana Jones, Yearling, Trenton Yarbaraough, Yellowcard

Movie:

I love a good dance movie.  I love bad dance movies.  I just love to dance!  You Got Served is a dance movie that came out in 2004 and involved the members of B2K and Marques Houston. It follows two friends Elgin and David who love to make money.  They have a dance group that they want to enter into a dance competition called the Big Bounce where they can with 50,000.  In order to get the entry fee they deliver drugs for a drug lord named Emerald.  They come up with the 5,000 dollars and enter their team.  One of their teammates betrays them and gives all their dance moves to a rival team.  David and Elgin's sister start to like each other and this makes Elgin mad causing a major rift between the two best friends. After a drawn out fight, a friend being shot, and going up against each other in the competition.  Elgin and David join forces for one last dance off against the rival dance group and  . . .  well I guess you will just have to watch the movie.

Television:

Who doesn't love Indiana Jones?  In the 90's they created a show called the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. It follows Indiana as he begins his career as a treasure hunter.  It starred Sean Patrick Flannery. Every show begins with the Older Indiana retelling the stories of his childhood. I used to watch the show a lot.  It wasn't as good as the movies, but it is kind of neat seeing how Indiana became Indiana. The series starts out when Indiana is ten years old and follows him all the way into his teenage years.

Book:

The Yearling is a book written by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings that follows the life of a boy who adopts a fawn. Jody Baxter lives on a farm with his family, and has always wanted a pet.  Because his family is poor and cannot afford to feed anyone but themselves Jody is forced to grow up alone. A rival neighbor steals some pigs from the Baxters and Penny and Jody go out to find them.  While out Penny gets bitten by a rattle snake and he is forced to kill a Doe in order to use her liver to draw out the poison.  Penny survives but the doe leaves behind a Fawn.  Jody takes the fawn in and names it Flag and soon they become inseparable as Flag grows up he starts to become more of a burden eating their corn stock and becoming a nuisance.  Jody is forced to take Flag into the forest and shoot him but can't bring himself to do it.  Jody's mother ends up shooting Flag, and forces Jody to put him out of his misery.

My Book:

Trenton Yarabarough is a character I created for Camille.  Camille doesn't have many friends, in fact she spends most of her book in and out of a psychiatrist's office. On one of her meetings she is introduced to Trenton, a strange, scary, sophomore kid she recognizes from school. Trenton is one of those kids you avoid in the hallways. He's creepy and weird.  He wears dark eyeliner and has jet black hair that falls over his eyes so only one peeks out. He always wears dark black gloves with the fingers cut out, and black nail polish. Trenton has a secret that he keeps from everyone.  It isn't until he meets Camille that he realizes how much they actually have in common, and the two form a unique bond that no one else understands.  Camille doesn't know it but she sort of saves Trenton. He was either going to be a statistic and kill himself, or shoot up the school either way someone was going to die. Despite all Camille's bad points she does have a few redeeming qualities and taking Trenton under her wing is one of them. Though Trenton is misunderstood, he is a character I really enjoy writing because despite his outward appearance, a shy, fragile, wonderful person lays beneath all that make-up. The only person who can see past his psycho is a psycho herself-Camille. The two are a unique paring and I can't wait to expand on their relationship in Camille's book.

What's For Dinner?  Spaghetti and Garlic Bread!

Song of the Day:

Yellow Card - Cut me, Mick

(If you really listen to the words of this song it describes Trenton and Camille's relationship perfectly)

X is for eXcerpt

So I could have picked X-men first Class for my movie, X factor for a t.v. show. Principal Wexley for a character from my book, and find some book I haven't read to represent the letter X, but I'm not going to. Today I figured I would take a eXcerpt from my book and use that for X instead.  One of the blogs I follow has been giving a little bit of her book to her readers for each post finding something to intrigue you from her book series. I really like this idea and decided because X is such a hard letter to find stuff for, I would just give you a little bit of my book instead. One of my favorite scenes I have written for Genevieve and Dillon follows something traumatic for Genevieve.  She needs her spirits lifted and Dillon is able to do this for her.(Following fellow blogger, Kyra Lennon's lead . . . below is a eXcerpt from my book Keeping Secrets: Keep in mind, still editing and my mom hasn't gone over this version of my book yet)

I tear my eyes away from Ursula’s Seduction.  It always amazes me when a character's personality changes during a book. Armand is presented as this suave, debonair bachelor who sweeps Ursula off her feet and promises her the world.  Phillip is perceived as the villain because he seduces her, takes her virginity, which is meant for her future husband, and steals her heart.  You start to feel sorry for Armand and then bam! he returns and all hell breaks loose. He turns into this stereotypical asshole, who you find out, only wants Ursula's virginity, a prize on his arm, and a girl to call him master.  Ursula shouldn't be with him, she needs to be with Phillip!  At least you know he loves her unconditionally. Desperate to read on I greedily turn the page.  I’m going to finish this book tonight. I just know it. I absorb myself within Ursula's world until my phone startles me. I practically jump off my bed when it vibrates against my hand. 

What’s your favorite candy bar? 

Dillon’s text intrigues me. Why does he want to know what my favorite candy bar is?

Reese’s or Butterfinger why? 

I wait in anticipation for his reply but it doesn't come.  What is up with Dillon?  I reach for my book again, but a large thump against my window scares me to death.   What in the hell was that?  I walk cautiously over; afraid that maybe I am walking into a scene from that bird’s movie expecting a giant black bird to be attacking my window.  No bird.  It’s Dillon! What is he doing here? 

He stands below my window his handsome features silhouetted by an eerie, yellow glow casting down from the moon that dominates the sky. He smiles stretching his arm back as he throws something at my window again it lands on the sill.  A Reese’s candy bar?

I open my window and shout down at him."What are you doing?” 

“You said you like Reese’s or Butterfinger, I threw the Butterfinger first but it didn’t make it to the landing.”

“You’re crazy!” I reach out the window and grab the orange package, I can’t help but smile.

“And you’re beautiful . .  . Want to hang out for a little bit?”  How can I say no?  The candy bar thing is pretty romantic. I head down stairs, eager to see him again.

“Dillon, are you out here?” My voice whispers into the air. He steps out from behind a tree carrying a backpack over his shoulder.

“Are you up for a picnic?”

“It’s like 11:00 at night?  How are we going to have a picnic?” He drops the backpack off his shoulder and fishes out two sodas and a blanket. 

"Candy, soda, a moonlit night, and us, what more could we possibly ask for?”  I giggle. Watching as he lays out the blanket between the two large pine trees in my front yard.   We sit down together, he plucks open the two tabs on the soda cans and hands one to me.  “Cheers.” We clink together both of the can’s, the aluminum ricocheting like the buzz of a bee. We sit there quietly, our eyes fixated on each other. Why is it when he stares at me, I don’t mind? But if anyone else stares at me I freak out like a crazy person? It has to be his eyes, or maybe his dimples, either way whenever he looks at me I never want it to stop. I break our silence first, the tension is to much to bear.

“You just texted me with the candy bar thing like five minutes ago . . . how did you get them so fast? The nearest store is at least a mile away. How did you know where I lived? 

“I’m stalking you.”  He says with a straight face.  We both laugh. “Your address is in the phone book. I had to be more strategic with the candy. I went to the store and bought two of each kind they had, even the estranged ones like Whatchamacallit. I made sure I had all my basics covered.”  I laugh. 

“You’re an overachiever when it comes to romance.”

“I do what I can.”  He smiles taking a large bite out of a snickers bar.  “Besides, I knew you would be pretty down today. If I can lift your spirits up, for even a moment, it’s totally worth it.” 

“Today hasn’t been easy.” I whisper, choking down the emotion bubbling in my chest. Dillon leans back on his elbows flicking his bangs to the side.  The moon catches his eyes just right and for a brief second they glow like a wild animal.  Even in the moonlight he’s sexy.   

 ~~~~~~

What's For Dinner?  Chili!

Song of the Day:

Xscape  - You're my little Secret  (Fitting for my story huh?)

W is for The Wizard, Wonder Years, Witches, Dallas Whitley and Willa Ford

Movie:

One of my favorite movies from the 80's is The Wizard.  The movie is about an autistic boy named Jimmy who wants to travel to California but you never really know why.  He wasn't always emotionally withdrawn, in fact two years prior he was like any happy-go-lucky child.  His twin sister Jennifer drowned in Green River and since then Jimmy has been mentally unstable.  Jimmy's parents are divorced he lives with his mother and step dad who put him in a mental institiute for children, his father lives with his two older half brothers Corey and Nick.  Corey gets mad at his dad and decides to kidnap Jimmy and go to California.  While on the way he meets a girl Haley who, with the two boys, go across country to get to California.  On their trip they realize that Jimmy is a wizard at video games and soon they are scamming their way across the country, playing random people video games as they go.  They learn of a contest at Universal Studios, Video Armageddon that involves a 50,000 cash prize and all Jimmy has to do is play video games! Jimmy starts training for the competition. Jimmy's mom hires a jerk bounty hunter to find Jimmy, and Jimmy's dad and brother Nick start looking for the boys as well.  The movie ends with the big competition and Jimmy has to play a video game never played by anyone before.  Super Mario Bros 3!  (Ugh I feel old)  The movie is great and I love the dynamic between the father and his sons, it's real, it's emotional, and the movie is awesome!

Television:

I guess Fred Savage is overtaking my blog today because The Wonder Years is my show for W! The

Wonder Years was a show that graced televisions in the 80's-90's.  The show is told from the perspective of an adult looking back on his child hood in the late 60's early 70's. It follows Kevin and his best friend Paul as they grow up from the age of 12 to 17.  Kevin is love with the girl across the street Winnie, and most of the show is him following her around until they end up dating as they get older. The basic plot of the show is the dynamic between Kevin and Winnie, going from friends, to dating, to dating other people, to breaking up, to getting back together. I myself only caught a couple of episodes of The Wonder Years but I do really enjoy Fred Savage as an actor.  I think, in his adolescence, he brought a immaturity and strength to each of his roles that really influenced his characters and made them relate-able.

Book:

Witches by Roald Dahl, is a book I have not read but did see the movie.  Witches is about a eight year old boy and his grandmother whom he went to live with after his parents died in a car accident.  The Grandmother tells the boy of witches and how they are a powerful threat.  The boy soon becomes fascinated by the idea of a witch and starts to think he sees them everywhere.  When the boy and his Grandmother go to stay in a hotel, the boy soon finds out there is a witch convention going on.  A gluttonous child by the name of Bruno is lured to the convention after he is promised chocolate. The high witch turns him into a mouse as a show of power, the boy who is eaves-dropping then is chased after the witches smell him in the room, he is caught and turned into a mouse as well. With the help of his Grandmother the two mice children are able to stop the witches by sneaking the mouse poison into their soup and turning everyone into mice! You will have to find out what happens next on your own!  The movie was cute, but if the book is anything like the other Dahl greats then I can't wait to read it. 

My Book:

So my next character I am going to introduce is a major part of Chloe's story.  Delilah "Dallas" Whitley Jones, (Yes I know I'm stretching using her middle name, but hey I needed a representative for W!) is a girl Chloe meets a couple weeks into her senior year. Delilah goes by the nickname Dallas because she is from Texas and has way too much Texas Pride.  She moves to Connecticut with her family, and ends up becoming connected to Chloe.  Dallas makes Chloe's life complicated.  Dallas is a free spirit, she's bi-sexual, sexually driven, and beautiful.  This of all things, attracts Chloe like a bug to a zapper.  Chloe is reserved and timid, and to meet someone who is so open about sex intrigues her.  Dallas is really into beauty pageants. Her goal is to become Miss America one day.  She spends most of her time talking about boys, girls, and her sexual conquests.  But one thing she does become is a good friend to Chloe, they even go to prom together! (As friends of course!) On one of Genevieve and Dillon's breaks, Dallas and Dillon end up going to a school dance together and being intimate which causes major friction between Dillon and Genevieve, Genevieve and Dallas, and Chloe and Dallas. I really do like Dallas as a character. I think it's fun to write an exhibitionist into my story.  Someone who is not afraid to be themselves and cause other characters to grow just by being around them.

What's For Dinner?  Pizza Bread!!!  (for real this time) Yesterday we had Sonic due to a un-hungry husband and softball practice for my daughter!

Song of the Day:

Willa Ford - I Wanna Be Bad

V is for Varsity Blues, Victorious, Vampire, Carmen Vasquez and Veruca Salt

Movie:

So it was between Valley Girl and Varsity Blues for the V movie. Guess what football won! So Varsity Blues is one of my favorite teen sports movies.  I love everyone cast for the movie and the story behind it.  Varsity Blues is about a football team that is coached by an overbearing, can't lose, a-hole who treats everyone on the team like garbage.  The story follows Jonathan Moxon, a backup quarterback that wants more for himself then the small town football team he plays for.  He wants to go to Brown and get a real education that doesn't revolve around football.  The first string quarterback Lance is played by Paul Walker (R.I.P) has a bad knee and the coach is forcing him to take injections to be able to keep playing. Soon his knee gives out and Mox is forced to play as the quarterback. Becoming the star of the team turns Mox's world upside down, the head cheerleader (Lance's girlfriend) throws herself at him by wearing a whip cream bikini, and soon the pressure becomes to much.  The end of the movie is awesome and the team over throws the coach going out on the field by themselves.  AMAZING! Oh and Tweeder is by far my favorite character!  Love his cowboy butt shot!

Television:

Victorious is a T.V. show that played on Nickelodeon, and luckily is one of the few shows I actually enjoy watching with my daughter.  The show follows Tori, and beautiful but awkward teenager who goes to her sister's musical and ends up taking her place on the stage.  Tori's sister goes to a private performing arts school and they end up recruiting Tori after she performs on stage.  There she meets a bunch of kids and makes some new friends while exploring her singing and learning to act.  I really like their teacher, Sikowitz, and the scissor loving bad girl Jade who makes Tori's life a living hell. The show is cute, and I really enjoy watching it.

Book:

My YA blog would not be complete without writing about my favorite book growing up. Vampire by Ritchie Tankersley Cusick!  I absolutely love this book.  I think I have read it over and over again to

the point I almost have it memorized! Vampire is about a girl, Darcy Thomas, who is forced to go live with her estranged, young, Uncle Jake, who is not only gorgeous but also mysterious but someone she has never met before.  If meeting her uncle for the first time isn't enough he lives in a creepy wax museum full of monsters.  Soon Darcy meets some of Jake's friends, and everything seems to be going okay until murders begin happening all over the place.  Not just murders, murders involving strange marks on the necks of the victims--Vampire bites!  Soon someone is stalking Darcy, and she believes it has to be one of the new friends she made, maybe even her uncle Jake!  The vampire has their sites on Darcy, and her only hope is to turn to the people she just met for help.  But can she trust any of them? Vampire is a great book.  Cusick is very creative with her horror books and keeps them just creepy enough to keep you intrigued and turning pages. LOVE THIS BOOK!

 My Book:

To round out my three Replicas I have Carmen Vasquez.  She is the enforcer, Mika's bodyguard. Carmen is a very masculine but feminine girl. She has a short pixie cut, and wears short skirts to compensate for her boyish looks. She spends most of the book tormenting Chloe and Genevieve.   Not so much Camille, because she doesn't take anyone's crap.  Carmen is constantly picking on people, getting into fights, and basically waging war against my three main characters.  There is one scene in the end of the book that I absolutely love where their feud finally reaches its pinnacle and everything ends up coming to blows.  Literally!  One significant fact about Carmen is that she is the one who brands Chloe with her nickname of Dyke, she is also the one who Chloe kisses in middle school. I think Carmen's character is going to have some major changes as she gets older, but I haven't decided exactly what those changes will be.

What's For Dinner?  Pizza Bread

Song of the Day:

Veruca Salt - Volcano Girls