5 fandom friday

5 Fandom Friday – 5 Films I'm Excited for in 2017

If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time and followed it through all its iterations, then you know how much I love movies. Not just horror movies, but movies in general. Usually these movies are a couple years old, if not older, but today you have a special treat. Since I’m doing Five Fandom Friday, come with me to the future as I discuss the films I’m looking forward to this year.

Get Out

From Wikipedia: A young African American man visits his white girlfriend’s family estate where he learns that many of its residents, who are black, have gone missing, and he soon learns the horrible truth when another frantic African-American warns him to “get out”. He soon learns this is easier said than done.

Written and directed by the Jordan Peele, the shorter half of the comedy duo Key and Peele, this film truly presents an interesting premise. What is happening to the Black residents of this town? And will our protagonist be able to fight against it? What is IT anyway? I can’t wait to find out!

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Alien: Covenant

From Wikipedia: Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship Covenant find what they believe to be an uncharted paradise. What the crew discover is a dark, dangerous world, inhabited by the “synthetic” David (Michael Fassbender), the sole survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition, and monstrous creatures that are hunting them.^[3]

Okay, so Prometheus was a mess. Even when I watch it again, I am amazed at the actions of the characters, especially the scientists in the cave. I mean, I don’t bend over to put my face in a strange dog’s face, and I like dogs, so for those who saw it…yeah. Don’t do that, stupid. However, the movie had great special effects and Idris Elba, so there you go. Ridley Scott is directing, so it can’t be all bad. Can it? We shall see.

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John Wick 2

From Wikipedia: Legendary hitman John Wick is forced back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, John travels to Rome, where he squares off against some of the world’s deadliest killers.

Oh, my goodness. Keanu Reeves, guns and a gray pit bull? How does it get better than that? I loved the crazy shoot ’em up of the first John Wick and am looking forward to this one. And Laurence Fishburne too!

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Kong: Skull Island

From Wikipedia: In the 1970s, a team of explorers and soldiers are brought together to venture deep into an uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean – as beautiful as it is treacherous – unaware that they are crossing into the domain of monsters, as well as the mythic Kong, the “king” of the island.

I just realized that I dig monster movies, Godzilla, King Kong, Gamera, Rodan…I’m looking forward to this one. It takes place in the 70s too, which is reminiscent of the times I’d watch all these films on the 4:30 movie. John Goodman! Sam Jackson! Tom Hiddleston! Also, King Kong himself!!

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The Dark Tower

From Wikipedia: Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) is a young 11-year-old adventure seeker who discovers clues about another dimension called Mid-World. Upon following the mystery, he is spirited away to the land Mid-World where he encounters the lone frontiersman knight Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) who is on a quest to reach the “Dark Tower” that resides in End-World and reach the nexus point between time and space that he hopes will save Mid-World from extinction. But with various monsters and a vicious sorcerer named Walter Padick (Matthew McConaughey) hot on their trail, the unlikely duo find that their quest may be difficult to complete

I never read The Dark Tower series by Stephen King, but just the fact of Idris Elba in a long, black trenchcoat sporting a pair of revolvers is enough to see this film. I’m also intrgued by the fact that it’s a sci-fi, western, fantasy. You really can’t get any better than that.

Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) in Columbia Pictures’ THE DARK TOWER.

So there you have it! The films I’m excited about for 2017!

What are the movies you’re most anticipatign for this year?

Peace, Love, Unity.

Dahlia

5 Fandom Friday – Goals for 2017

It’s been a while since I posted a 5 Fandom Friday, but this is as good time as any to get back into the swing of things. Plus, if I type up these goals, I have something to refer back to as the year goes on. While I love some sticky notes, nothing is more permanent than the Internet.

Here goes

My first goal for the year is to buckle down in the writing game. Due to some bad health news in 2016, I’ve been very spotty with writing and submitting/publishing. In 2017, I plan to:

Complete and submit at least three short stories
Complete and publish two novels that have been hanging around on my hard drive for at least three years
Complete the third book/story in the Tea and Tomahawks series/universe
Complete a novella that I started last year.

The second goal for the year is to keep my writing desk more organized, which means to set aside time once per week to clean and arrange the desk. Although my dream desk would look like this:

Dream Desk

that’s never going to happen. First of all, my desk is dark brown and I have a ton of stuff.

At this point, I will settle for a bucket of pre-sharpened pencils and working pens.

The third goal is to be more creative. I used to really be heavy into trying different crafts. I have a Silhouette Portrait machine that is sitting in the corner getting dusty. This year, I plan to create at least five different projects using the Silhoutte and to knit or crochet five scarves or hats by the end of the year.

This is what I have, only sad and dusty.

I used to be really crafty. Now’s the time to get back to that. So many projects to do!

The fourth goal is more health oriented. No, it’s not to lose weight or run a thirty minute mile. This is something simple that anyone can do any time.

Drink more water.

Drinking water not only keeps you hydrated – imagine that – but it also keeps those brain cells alert and working. Also, improves the complexion. During these dry winter months here in Northeast USA, keeping up water intake is sorely needed.

Last but not least, the fifth and final goal of the year is to drink more alcohol. No, I’m not kidding. There are so many wines out there that I haven’t tried as well as that dusty bottle of apple-tini mix sitting at the top of the pantry, just begging for vodka and ice. Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t plan on being “that mom” that’s slushed out of her mind in the car pool line. No and nope. I just don’t want weeks to go by without a sip of the spirits. Sangria, Zinfandel, and once in a while some of the stronger stuff…I plan on imbibing them all.

Go ahead, say it. “Dahlia’s a lush”. At least “lush” sounds so much better than “drunk”.

There you go, my goals for the New Year. Surprised?

1Love
Peace, Love, and Unity.

5 Fandom Friday: Five Songs that Changed my Life

Hey, it’s Fandom Friday again! Let me to a shout out to fellow geek bloggers Super Space Chick and The Nerdy Girle for organizing this, as always. It certainly helps me stay on the blogging bandwagon.

Any posts that have something to do with music, I’m there.

Let’s get to it, shall we? Five songs that changed my life.

1. Roxanne – The Police

Where can I start with this? The spare, stripped musical arrangement? The high, plaintive tenor of Sting? Or the fact that this was a love song to “a lady of the night”. I never knew what “red light district” meant before this song. i have every Police album. Love them!

2. In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel

I had never heard of Peter Gabriel until his album “So”. What remarkable album! From the soulful Superstition-esque Sledgehammer to the slow, dreamy melodies of Mercy Street, it was a great listen. But In Your Eyes was the cherry on that music cake. I still love the song to this day, and I’ve never seen Say Anything.

3. Flashlight

I first heard this at a party in college, and just wow. Nothing like George Clinton and the Funkadelics!

4. Mc Lyte – Cha Cha Cha

Yeah, there’s Salt n Pepa, Queen Latifah, Yo-Yo, Roxanne Shante, but Mc Lyte is the “dopest female you’ve heard thus far’.

5. Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics

How I love Annie Lennox’s hair and her androgynous look. And her voice, a lovely alto that has lasted through the years.

I hope you enjoyed!

Dahlia
@bohowriterchick

5 Fandom Friday: My Favorite Things about Winter

It is January! Where did all the time go? A couple of years ago, we’d all be complaining that we’re still putting 2014 on our checks….but who writes checks anymore?

Let’s get to it, shall we? Five things I absolutely love about Winter.

1. Getting snowed in.

As a stay at home mom, sometimes my only reason to get up early and to leave the house is to take the kiddies to school. I am as eager as they are waiting for the phone call that will tell me that I don’t have to drive through unplowed streets, squeezing the wheel in my hands because other folks don’t know how to drive in the snow. Plus, it’s a great impromptu vacation day supplement with movies, cocoa, and fun. Usually the little ones let me get a little work done too.

2. Hot Drinks

Yes, I love my coffee, but winter is the time I like to try out other hot drinks too! I have recently discovered the love of Chai Latte without going to Dunkin’ Donuts! The magic contained in that K-cup is far beyond Merlin could have ever imagined. There are more sample packs of flavorlicious coffee and teas offered this time of year, natch, than any other. Love it!

3. Cuddling Up!

My husband works for a school system, so when it snows, he usually gets snow day too. If we’re lucky, we get the call the night before and are then able to cuddle up, watching movies and chatting long after the little ones have gone to sleep.

4. Scarves and Hats

If you have to go out in the cold, there’s nothing like snuggling into a warm hat and/or scarf. I’m a compulsive crocheter and knitter, so if you reach out your hand in my house, you will come back with a hat or scarf or both. It’s nice to know that the family–including the dog–is putting these things to good use!

5. Sounds of Silence

There’s nothing like winter silence. It’s that dark moment right before the cold winter sunrise that nothing is stirring, except maybe the wind. It’s quite peaceful and fulfilling.

5 Fandom Friday: My Favorite Holiday Songs to Spread Cheer

It’s December! It’s the holiday season. Did you miss my post over at the Luscious Literaries about Five Things I Love about Winter? If so, take a peek over there to see what I’m talking about.

But now it’s time to dust off the old Christmas playing list and get in the mood for snow, Santa and Christmas!

Coming from a totally musical family, I was both a band geek and a chorus nerd. Let me put it perspective – I have a clarinet in the basement somewhere and my own personal copy of Handel’s Messiah. I guess you could say that I’m all about the Christmas music, in several keys and various languages.

The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole

Super classic. Everytime I hear this one, I want to look out of the window to see if it is snowing. If it is, score 110 on Christmas! Nat’s voice is so smooth and mellow on this song and is such melted butter to the ears. Just wonderful to listen to sitting in front of the fire with a cup of hot…spiked…cocoa.

Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt

Come on, it’s Eartha! Who else can be coy and sexy at absolutely the same time. I mean, I’m a huge fan of Madonna, but her version doesn’t touch this one.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

This song makes the choral nerd in me just fly free. The perfection of the melodies, the balance of the voices and the overall lovely arrangement….it’s great listening.

O, Holy Night – Luciano Pavarotti

Mario Lanza, Placido Domingo….I love my tenors, but Pavaratti takes the cake. The purity and clarity of his voice, and the way he can hit those high notes with barely an effort – simply divine – see what I did there?

Do You Hear What I Hear? – Whitney Houston

I just love this song. When it comes on, I stop whatever I’m doing, turn it up and listen. Despite all her other problem, Whitney had a voice of the ages and she does this classic tune justice.

Come back at me….name some of your favorite Christmas songs and leave ’em in the comments!