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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

This crazy thing they call life

I've been pretty stressed out these last few days. The main reason is simple. I have an apartment lined up and for sure have one roommate lined up but we need a third person to move in with us. I thought it would be so easy to find someone. I thought that there were tons of girls anxiously looking for an apartment with a couple of awesome roommates. Of the three people who have shown an interest, two have said no. The one is still in limbo. And I'm starting to freak out. I think that we could maybe afford one month with just the two of us but... it would be tight. And I really don't want to try. I'd really just like someone to be interested and say yes.

I know that if it doesn't work out, that I won't be immediately homeless (there's always the option of moving back home- gag- love you mom and dad!). I still have a little time in my current place (my brother's house) but they're expecting a baby (my first nephew!) and I want them to have the room to baby-fy it before January.

I keep waiting for my phone to ring with someone on the line wanting in. It hasn't happened yet. We've posted stuff everywhere advertising this amazing apartment! But no one seems to want to move in with us.

Stress is becoming a normal part of my day. Not like, normal day-to-day stress but the kind that puts a pit of nervous energy in your stomach so that all you can think about is this thing that is stressing you out. What will it take to get someone interested in this apartment!? And what will happen if no one ever does get interested? Will I be stuck back in square one where I have to go looking for an apartment again? I don't want that!

This stress gets multiplied when I start thinking about the fact that Christmas is coming and graduation is coming and I really don't have my life figured out. I've been planning on this apartment thing working out and now I'm scared that it's not going to. Then all my plans will fall through and I'll dive into the depths of a stress induced depression and my will to accomplish things will fall even more so than it is now.

*Deep breath* I think writing this post is helping... or making me more stressed because now my problems are "down-on-paper".

Life is crazy. And full of stress. And never goes according to plan. How am I going to make it through?

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Fictional Guy of the Week: Wendell Bray


And the Fictional Guy of the Week is... Wendell Bray!

Where He's From: Fox's BONES

His Story:

We don't really know much about Wendell Bray due mostly to his position as a secondary (or would he be tertiary level?) character. What we have learned, we've pieced together from numerous episodes. He comes from a lower class neighborhood and he's going to school on scholarship and with the help of loving neighbors. He comes from a single parent home (right?) and he has knowledgeable skills as a bar-tender. He has street smarts but he's also very good with science. 

He gets along with everyone in the lab and Booth. They play on the same hockey team and seem to be really comfortable with each other. Also, Wendell is very good friends with Hodgins (even thought he slept/dated Hodgins' girl!)

Wendell, as of late, has been the most seen/used intern in the lab. (I have no qualms about this.) And there you go. I think that about covers it. Right?

Why He's FGW: 

I've never considered writing about one of the "squinterns" from Bones before but when I saw Wendell (aka Michael Grant Terry) on an episode of Criminal Minds I just couldn't resist. (I may have seen him shirtless...) Of all the rotating interns, Wendell is probably my favorite. I'd be totally okay if he became the permanent intern. My reasoning is this: he is a little bit of Hodgins and a little bit of Booth. Meaning... he has the perfect balance of scientist and real life guy to be an asset to the lab. At least I think so.

I think Wendell is awesome. I think he's got the background that makes him able to relate to everyone in the lab. Single parent issues= Cam. Science stuff= Brennan. Hockey/sports/street smarts= Booth. Science (and Angela)= Hodgins. Compassion/knowledge of human suffering (or whatever)/ (Hodgins)= Angela. So you see, Wendell's got something for everyone.

He's got the perfect balance of traits that make him excellent in the lab but he also has an understanding of human nature. In essence... Wendell Bray is AWESOME!

 And now my favorite part... pictures!

What are you thinking Mr. Bray?

He looks all "squintern-y". Mmm...

See above caption.

Pretty much awesome!

And this is the "human" side of Wendell Bray. Wowzer!
And because I couldn't resist (and the fact that there aren't a ton of pictures of Wendell Bray) here are a couple of the one and only Michael Grant Terry.

Color me smitten!

I think I love him... just a little.


I'm coming to the startling conclusion that the greater portion (or all) of my FGW's are only written because I find the character/real life person attractive. Do you judge me? ...If you do then you're a lame-o! I can't help it that I find certain men attractive. So sue me. But don't really.

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Fictional Guy of the Week: Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds

This week's Fictional Guy of the Week is... (if you can't tell from the title) Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds!!

Where He's From: (the very short lived) Firefly and Serenity (it's a movie)

His Story:

Just a quick background for those of you who have never seen Firefly (and if you haven't, you totally should!). The story starts after the earth got used up and new "earths" have been created on different planets. The central planets have technology and the power. The outer planets are not as technologically advanced, some rivaling the old west in our history. Anyway... Malcolm Reynolds was raised on a ranch on a planet on the outskirts of the system (if I remember correctly).

There was a rebellion when the central planets started to demand control of all the other planets and Mal was part of the rebellion fighting against them. Unfortunately, the rebellion failed and the central government won control. So now, here's a man who's lost faith in his beliefs. So he buys a ship and gathers a rag-ma-tag crew and starts flying around doing whatever jobs (smuggling) he can get

So the gist is... Mal Reynolds is a space cowboy who has lost his faith and now has a crew depending on him for their livelihoods. They tend to get into some pretty interesting situations but somehow they make it through... as they should. [Spoiler alert: by the end of Serenity (the movie that conclude the abruptly ended series) Mal has gotten back some of his faith.]

For serious, go watch Firefly. It'll change your life. (That may be a little dramatic but go with me on this.)

Why He's FGW:

So why is Mal Reynolds FGW? There are so many reasons. Number one: Nathan Fillion!! Nathan Fillion plays Mal Reynolds and makes him who he is. (Confused yet?) I L-O-V-E Nathan Fillion. He makes my heart happy and I would marry him if he asked (also, dramatic... and there's like a twenty year age difference between us... that could be awkward...)

Number two: He's fan-freaking-awesome!! I mean, a SPACE COWBOY!! If you know me, you know I kind of sort of have a thing for a) cowboys- or at least the idea of them and b) guys with guns... Add the surly yet lovable character of Mal and I'm in love.

Mal has issues- but doesn't everybody? He's a little surly and curmudgeonly. He's not a particularly happy person. He refuses to admit failure. He tends to make some situations worse than they should be. But... he cares, even if he tries to seem like he doesn't. He feels responsible for his crew and he'll do what he has to to keep them safe and fed. He does have sense of justice and he will put his life on the line for someone he cares about.

Basically, he's a man with flaws and as a hopeless romantic, I love him. Ha ha ha!

Of course, I haven't forgotten about our (my) favorite part of FGW. Picture time!!

Uh, can anyone say "Space Cowboys are hot?"

See above picture caption
Can you see why I love him?

Remember that thing I have about guys and guns... as long as they're not bad guys... And he is not a bad guy.

I thought this was cool picture. Look at Adam Baldwin... also hot! (I think I have issues)

Love him! Especially in suspenders!

I'll admit that he looks a little like Han Solo here... love it!

Yowza! He's awesome!

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

Monday, October 17, 2011

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly...

Okay, so the title is taken directly from Kelly Clarkson's song Breakaway. A song I happen to like lots and lots. I was driving home from a visit with my parents when this song came on the radio. I've liked it since it came out but for some reason it really struck me this time around.

Here's why. I graduate with a degree in English with an emphasis in Technical and Professional writing. Here's a confession: I don't know if I really want to do that. Mostly, I've been just trying to reach that goal of getting my degree... in something I'd enjoy doing. As I've gotten closer to that end goal, I've become increasingly aware that I'm not really into it. It doesn't make me happy. I don't mind doing it. But I don't mind my current low paying job. I want to find something that I'd be somewhat happy doing.

The whole reason this has been plaguing me lately is because I've been stuck in this mindset that I have to have my whole future planned as soon as I graduate from school. I've always that I'd have everything planned and figured out by the time graduation rolled around. I don't.

I don't have anything planned. And you know what? That's okay. I've decided to take what would be "spring semester" and just figure out what I'm going to do next. I mean, I have a job that pays the bills and I can go full time there. And I have a place to live. It's not like I'm going to be jobless and homeless as soon as I get my degree in hand.

What I really want to be when I grow up is a writer. A fiction writer to be more exact. I've always thought I was a good writer (please correct me if I'm wrong thought) and I've always had story ideas running through my head. I would be okay with a job that pays the bills and still gives me time to write. (At least, at this point I think I would be.) And the good news is that this isn't a permanent thing. If I decide that I want to give technical writing a shot, I still have a degree and the knowledge to get caught with the current trends and technologies.

Along with writing, I think I'd like to be a librarian (yes, I have blogged about this before). So if I want to take that path, I'll need to go for a masters. At this point, I'm nowhere ready to apply and do all that it takes to getting into grad school by January. Plus, I don't have the money to pay for graduate school. I could spend a year and a half working (somewhere) and saving money for that.

Basically, I just want to admit in writing that I don't have to have it all figured out by the time graduation comes along in eight-ish weeks. (Holy crud!!) My life isn't suddenly going to come to a complete standstill if I don't have a career/job lined up as soon as I get out of school. I've been in school for 19 years (this is including two years of pre-school because in my mind, that counts). It would be nice to have a break and just work and to know what I've accomplished- getting a bachelors.

So I'm going to "take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway." (Feel free to sing this out loud or in your head- I did.)

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic

Friday, October 7, 2011

I shouldn't be so excited...

This morning I watched a promo for season seven of Bones. It was so AWESOME!!! I can't wait! There are 27 days until the season premier!! Can I make it?! *clears throat* So anyway, I've decided that I might be just a little too excited. I mean, it is just a television show. The characters are fictional. It's about murder and full of gross bodies. I shouldn't like it so much. I should be cool and adult-like and not get so excited.

Forget that! I'm totally excited!! I'll be counting down the days until Michelle and I have our Bones premier party! Not counting today... 27! Tomorrow there will be 26! And the day after that will be 25! This is not healthy...

*deep breath* I am calm. I am not squealing and jumping up and down like a five year old. This is all figurative by the way. I'm sitting in the hallway at school and thus cannot jump up and down without making a fool of myself.

Until Next Time,

 The Hopeless Romantic

P.S. Please don't judge me too harshly for my excitement. It's the little things that get me through my last semester of school. This is definitely one of those things. 



Fictional Guy of the Week: Matthew Quigley

This week's Fictional Guy of the Week is... Matthew Quigley!!

Where He's From: Quigley Down Under

His Story:

Matthew Quigley is a gunman. Meaning he knows guns. He travels to Australia to show off one of his modifications to a ranch owner named Marstons. While in Australia Quigley meets Crazy Cora who thinks he's her husband, Roy, come to fetch her.

Quigley doesn't care much for Crazy Cora but still lets her tag along with her. They are each others constant companions from the port to the ranch to the outback to the Aborigine tribe back to the port. Eventually, I think Quigley does come to care for Cora and she loses a lot of her craziness when she finally comes to terms with the fact that she accidentally killed her own child and that her husband sent her away after the fact.

Quigley learns of the ruthlessness of Marston and his men. He ends up killing a couple of them, including Marston. He also befriends a tribe of Aborigine that come to his rescue a few times. Pretty much it's the trip of a lifetime full of adventure, gunfights, crazy people, and near death experiences.

[If you really want to know his story, just watch Quigley Down Under. You won't be disappointed.]

Why He's FGW:

I love Quigley. He's the epitome of an American cowboy even when in the Outback. Also, he shoots guns. I don't know what it is about good guys with guns that sends my heart to pounding. Add Tom Selleck (whom I love beyond words) and the cowboy ways and the guns and the good guyness. Wow! I think I'm in love.

I just love his sense of right and wrong. He won't work for Marston. He protects Cora even when she's nutso. He learns and accepts the ways of the Aborigine who save his life. He's a good guy. Plus... I think he's hot. ;) I mean, tall, broad shouldered, dimples, and a pretty dang stinking amazing mustache (who is Tom Selleck without a mustache?).

Okay... I'm always going to write these amazing posts about these characters but while writing all I want to do is stare (and drool) over pictures.

So for your viewing pleasure, I present the picture portion...

[There aren't a ton of pictures so don't hate me- hate the internet... and my laziness...]

Come on! I thought this was cute. So sue me.

Quigley and Cora's first meeting. He's defending her honor... sort of.
Don't tell me you're not impressed.
Tall, broad shoulders, and carrying a gun... where can I get one?

Until Next Time,

The Hopeless Romantic