Mr. Beta Fish

Newest edition to the family =)

My beautiful beta in his beach themed tank.

He's been alive over a month now in my care.

I'm doing good. lol

This is his tank during nighttime.

I let the boyfriend's kids name him, so they picked Steve...

I just call him Mr. Fish.

Convinced my friend to buy a beta that's black, blue, red, and purple.

She's been calling him Squishy Fishy, which is super cute.

I found out he's a spider killer.

Darn thing fell in his tank and died.

He didn't eat it, luckily.

Finger Love

I got my second tattoo on April 9th, 2013 at a tattoo parlor place called Bohemia.

And let me tell you, finger tattoos don't heal well. Not even a week after I got it, it peeled off and the L and O were missing. I had to get it redone. Most of it is there this time, but the bottom of the L and O still disappeared and the V and E are a little splotchy. But what can I say? I was warned that getting a tattoo on my finger might not be the best spot on my body to get a tattoo. Going to have to get it redone a third time. Despite finger tattoos not healing well, this was a very good commitment tattoo to get. My boyfriend also got the same tattoo. (It was even his idea)

 When I got it redone, I had the tattoo artist reposition the L so that it wasn't connected to the O like it was the first time around. That was the only big difference between my tattoo and his.

 Over all, I am happy we got these tattoos together. That's love right there.

My Safe Haven Review

SPOILER ALERT!

Both the movie and the book were amazing, so amazing they put tears in my eyes at the end, but their were some major differences, and I'm not quite sure which one I liked more. I guess I just want to discuss the differences I remember because they were some really big difference I didn't think were necessary.

1: In the movie Katie's hair is supposed to be brown, but she dyes it blonde. In the book her hair is the complete opposite. It's brown, but she dyes it blonde and ends up telling Alex it's supposed to be blonde. In the movie, she doesn't mention anything about her hair color, I guess she just assumes he'll find out when her roots start to show. I really think they should've kept her hair the same colors.

2: In the movie, Alex's son doesn't care to be around Katie because he wants his mom more than anything, and it creates a problem because he knows his dad is falling for Katie. His attitude is horrible, and he's constantly snapping at his dad and wanting to be left alone. In the book, he really likes Katie and he wants her to become part of the family. He also doesn't have this special tower in his house where his mom used to spend lots of her time (her special place). That area is nonexistent in the book, and Alex ends up just having the letters Jo or Carly-Jo left for him before she died.

3: Right away in the movie, Katie moves to the small town of Southport, North Carolina, and she meets Alex instantly. In the book, she's living in Southport for a few months before Alex even talks to her. She doesn't show interest in him as quickly in the movie, and in the movie they actually sleep together when she does realize she loves him. In the book, I kept waiting for them to have sex, but the opportunity just never arose, though it wasn't needed because Nicholas Sparks expressed their love for one another in a way that made sex seem like it wasn't needed to show just how into each other they were.

4: Katie's husband did not make her a murderer in the book. He simply tracked every step she took, every clue he had until he found her. In the movie, and though she had no idea he even did it until Alex saw the flyer with her picture and confronted her, she was hiding from a man who made her a murderer simply to find her more easily. That fight between she and Alex never happened in the book because she opened up not soon after he confronted her about the similarities he saw between she and the battered women he used to help, and she told him everything about her husband. In the movie, he literally knew nothing until the flyer, until he followed her to the ferry and begged her to come back.

5: Jo was a ghost of sorts in both stories, but in the movie, I never knew her real name was Carly Jo. In the book, Alex talked about his wife quite frequently and always called her Carly, which gave the readers no way to connect her to this so-called neighbor of Katie's. I was very surprised when Katie read the letter Alex gave her because the one in the movie was from Jo, and the one in the book was from Carly Jo. If Alex had talked about his wife at all in the movie, I might've been able to put two and two together, but she just didn't even have a name in the movie. It was as if he didn't want to talk about her at all, when in the book, all he could do was talk about her because he wasn't used to talking about normal things with another woman; he didn't know anything but Carly.

6: The end result was pretty much the same in both. Katie shot her husband and he died. She also discovered, after reading the letter, that her friend was Alex's dead wife. Now why no one seems to think this story is a little messed up is beyond me. Its a completely normal story with no paranormal aspects what-so-ever, and then all of the sudden, a friend disappears and a ghost appears and everything makes a little more sense. It was sweet to know Carly Jo wanted nothing more than to make sure her husband fell in love again, and it was even better to know she wanted to make sure Katie was the woman for her husband. I truly believed this story was a rip off of Sleeping with the Enemy until the twist at the end. Don't get me wrong, it was a great love story with an awesome twist, and that twist made the story so much better because it had a lot of volume Sleeping with the Enemy didn't have.

I can see myself buying the movie and reading the book again. Both were that Wonderful.

My First Tattoo

I was very nervous, though I don't look it by a long shot. The tattooist said he sensed not one bit of tension while he inked me.

He was a strange man, and I was disappointed to find out he'd only been tattooing for a year.

 My ink is the logo of the Swedish band Arch Enemy. It turned out okay, but I wasn't given proper tattoo aftercare advice, so it needs a few touchups. Over all, I am still very happy I finally got my first tattoo on December 27th of 2012.

New Kitten

As you guys know from my other blog, I technically have two cats already named Dirty and Tutu, but they are staying with a friend for personal reasons, so I decided to adopt a kitten from the Human Society. Now, don't get me wrong, after I had to leave the other cats behind, I told myself I wasn't going to get a cat ever again because it was painful to lose the two I had for years, but my eyes fell to this little black and white thing and I couldn't resist. She called to me and pulled me in like a kid to a bucket of candy on Halloween. As soon as I stuck my fingers through the cage, she played with me and looked up at me with these big, green eyes. I knew right then I was going to adopt her whether or not other people living here wanted a kitten around because I knew I needed her and she needed me, and she was kind of a birthday present to myself. What better a gift than a little kitten?

The funny thing is: the paperwork said she was a boy. I never checked because I thought the people at the Humane Society knew what they were talking about. I do understand that it's hard to tell on kittens, but come on. Without even looking at the paperwork, I was calling her a girl because she seemed like a girl to me, and then the employee was like, "It's a boy." I felt a little disappointed because I was sure she was a girl, but I still wanted her (him), so I told the employee I wanted to adopt her.

A week later, the Humane Society sent her to the vet to get her fixed. I get this funny call early in the morning, and the receptionist is like, "I just want you to know that your kitten is a girl." I'm like, "Umm, okay," totally shocked and still trying to wake up. It made me giggle a little. Then when I went to pick her up the next day, one of the assistants yelled, "Congratulations, it's a girl!"

The poor little thing just happened to have an upper respiratory infection, ear mites, and fleas, so the vet had to give her medication on top of pain medication for her surgery. A few days after I brought her home, she started to wheeze and breath really heavy, and she couldn't breathe out of her nose at all, so I freaked out a little, (I laugh about that now) and I called the vet to ask them what I should do even though he'd only seen her a few days before. They told me to bring her in right away, and the vet was nice enough to waive the fee since he had just seen her, but I ended up buying another medication because I was still so paranoid she was going to die. Now, a few more days later, she's breathing just fine, not coughing like she was, and acting like a crazy kitten should act. She runs around and chases her tail and even smacks the dog when he's up in her business. I guess I worried for nothing and could've saved myself the trip, but she's worth it. She's too cute to lose.

I decided to name her Grimm since my birthday is a week before Halloween.

Feeling Festive

For Halloween this year, I felt like painting my nails something other than the typical black, green, or purple, so I went with orange and black with black spiders on the orange. It turned out pretty decent for my first time using nail stencils. Maybe I'll do something for Christmas this year too.

Newly Published

This is a short story about zombies. It may be short and straight to the point, but anyone who loves zombies should enjoy the storyline. It's newly published on kindle for only .99 cents!

Amazon

Day 1 in Florida: Animals

I arrived in Florida yesterday about 5:45 pm, and I just happened to survive my first flight ever. I was a little lightheaded when we first took off, and I had a headache by the time we landed, but it was worth it to see the clouds looking all fluffly and big. It was worth it to see the ground with its tiny plots of land and streets and shiny cars that looked like nothing more than specs of glitter. The best part beside the clouds was when we finally reached Florida, and I got to see all these different sized bodies of water. I couldn't believe how much water one state could hold, but it does make sense, and all I kept picturing with each one was sharks and gators.

So when we got off the plane, claimed our luggage, and headed outside to wait for our ride, I noticed a white dove just randomly sitting in the corner watching people. I've never seen such a white dove before, and this baby was super white.

When we got to Wendy's to have a little dinner, I spotted a tiny lizard skittering under the car. It was really cute, and my first instinct was to point at it and say, "hey a lizard," and then chase after it and try to catch it, the way a kid would. Seeing it reminded me of a time when I spent the weekend at Porter beach in Indiana and saw a lizard quickly skitter away from the porch steps we were walking up. I had no idea Indiana had lizards, so I shouldn't have been shocked to see one in Florida, but I was anyways.

On the drive home, it was getting to dark out to see, but I kept my eyes on the grass on both sides of the road to make sure I didn't miss any gators. There weren't any, but I did spot a horse in a pasture with cows, and it was standing up to its knees in marshy water, drinking like there was no tomorrow. In Indiana, horses rarely have the opportunity to stand in water, and most of them are too afraid to get in water because they aren't used to it. It took a lot of coaxing when I took my pony Sparky to the park and wanted to cross the only little stream of water the park had.

Last but not least, when we reached our destination, we almost ran over a baby gator with the car because it was just sitting in the middle of the road, probably keeping warm on the blacktop. It was just small enough to fit between the tires, so it did not get hurt, but it was still quite the experience to see my first gator in the wild.

I am wondering what other creatures I might come across while being in Florida, but for now, I'll just kick back and enjoy the scenery. Day two has only just begun.

My New Friend

So I was at work, and I just happened to glance into one of the kid's washcloths bins. This little guy stuck out like a sore thumb, looking all gothic in a rainbow of washcloths. He came from a quarter machine right by the registers, and for whatever reason, the person who bought him didn't like him. He was still in his plastic case with a yellow lid, of all colors, and he hadn't even been touched. I guess finding him was just a little funny because I kept telling myself I wanted one of those stupid black and red voodoo dolls, but I didn't really want to waste 75 cents on one because I like to keep my quarters for doing laundry or spare change when I'm running low on the green stuff. And even worse, this poor little guy has already been through so much in one day. The dog got a hold of him when I was using the bathroom, and he started to unravel at the bottom. Luckily, I was able to tuck his goods back inside, but I had to rinse the dog slobber off in the sink and dry him with a paper towel. I hate to say it, but he might not survive another attack because this dog eats everything from toilet paper to shoes.

Some fun in the sun!

I have had a blast this summer. As a kid, I used to go to the beach every other weekend, but now as an adult, I am barely able to take off work to head to the beach for some fun in the sun. I have gone to the beach this summer more than I have gone in the past five years put together. Now, that's a lot!

The beach isn't a place I go to check out hot dudes with ripped abs or to bake in the sun in my bikini. It is a place I like to relax and feel comfortable, and I always end up bringing home souvenirs that most people wouldn't even think to look for while playing in the hot sand.

Do you see all those lovely rocks? They will one day be the death of me because I will literally sit in them all day, searching for indian beads and beach glass. I always end up going home with a bag full of beach goodies, but I also always end up going home with a body covered in sun burn. It's a price I'm willing to pay, though, because I love playing in the rocks and having a good old time. The first time I went, my friend and I decided to collect a bunch of big rocks and spell our names in the sand. It was pretty neat and ended up staying on the beach for the next three weeks until people eventually trampled the remains and mother nature slowly tore down our brilliant art work. The last time I went to the beach, only my friend's name remained, and it was barely legible, but I was still amazed to see something she and I had done together almost a month ago.

As for how beautiful the beach is, the sunset picture alone explains it. The way the sun bounces off the clouds and water is absolutely wonderful. It reminds me of all those times as a kid when I was taken to the beach just to watch the sun go down, just to see mother nature following her normal nighttime rituals.

There I am again, literally playing in the rocks like a little girl. I guess some things just don't change over time. --- Last but not least, it a sight just to see Chicago across the lovely Michigan Lake. At times, you can't see anything at all, but every once in a while you'll get a glimpse of the big city so small across the water. It's mesmerizing to see and totally worth the two hour drive.

Sworn to Secrecy

Hey guys! I know I don't blog enough; mostly because I have been extremely lazy. Nothing new has been going on with me. I am constantly trying to work on my books, but things get hectic sometimes, and it has been hard to focus on my own words lately. For a while there, I was working on the second book in my series Zombies Don't Throw Rocks, but right now I am working on the second book in my series Supernatural Living. The book itself is called Sworn to Secrecy, and I can't say that it will be published any time within the next month because it needs a lot of work and I haven't quite finished writing it. I am also struggling with which cover I should use for the book because I can't decide if the pink one makes the story seem like some sort of erotica involving Werewolves. I'm going to let you guys tell me which one you like more, and we'll see what's to come when the book gets closer to being finished. I like both covers, but pink is definitely not my color; the Werewolf on the front, however, fits with the story in certain aspects. Lots to think about.

Updated Version of Beyond the Walls!

Just updated a new version of my book. I believe I changed the last 5 chapters or so. I'm going to say that I didn't give a whole lot more information on the newer characters towards the end of the book because the second book (The Chosen One) has a lot more information on those particular characters! Please buy for .99 cents and leave a review!

No Money?

Ok... so when kindle says they will pay you in 60 days as long as you passed the ten dollar threshold for direct deposit, it really means you'll get your money when you get your money I guess. I started selling Cursed for Centuries on March 3rd, and I have passed the ten dollar threshold, yet I do not see any money in my bank account. It is now the 28th of May, and I'm starting to get a little perturbed. Does anyone have any ideas as to why it is taking longer than usual?

Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye

Second Review on Beyond the Walls.

I never mentioned my first review on Amazon because I didn't like it much. The reviewer was blatantly honest, which is something I respect, but I wish it could've been a little better. If you would like to read that review go to Beyond the Walls Reviews. The second review is 4 out of 5 stars, and I am very pleased. The reviewer was also honest, but he gave his opinion on everything --- both good and bad parts of the book. I respect him so much more for that, and I just wanted to share this review because maybe it'll make you more interested in reading Beyond the Walls.

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     I think I would like to split this review into two parts to give it my "real rating"...

     The concept is interesting and grabs your attention. Years after the "zombie apocalypse", people are now living "behind the walls". This is an enclosed area where everyone is divided into "classes" - the people, the guards, the doctors/scientists.

     The people are all the same - you live in white buildings, you wear white clothes, you eat the same "mush" each day, you take the same pills each morning and night (to keep you emotion free), and while you live in "units" with your family, there is no touching, no hugging, no "I love you", no caring...unless, that is, you are immune to the medications that in everything from the food to the toothpaste to the "air freshener" that is sprayed in your room each night.

     And, if you are immune, you must hide it otherwise, otherwise, you become one of the "chosen" and that is not a good thing.

     October is immune to the medication but has lived her entire life hiding her emotions and fitting in - except when she is with her boyfriend Kay. Kay has been teaching her in an old library how things were "before" and wants her to now escape the Walls and run away with him because living, even for a short time, is better than existing, like they do inside the compound.

     October is not ready to leave her family and take the last step of running away but Kay takes his sister and runs anyway. At this point, the story splits into two paths - that of October and her life in the compound and that of Kay on the outside while he is waiting for October to show up while still trying to stay alive.

     The first 3/4 of the book was really good - I didn't see the spelling errors that the other reviewer had (I must have gotten the revised version) and the concept and "mystery" attached to the Walls kept me wanting to find out what happens next.

     The last 1/4 of the book though got a bit "rushed" to me - like the author is trying to fit a whole lot of concept and information into a little bitty section. The newly introduced characters did not seem as "real" as October and her friends and the Kay story line kind of went downhill too although I really liked Juliana.

     That being said, I give the first 3/4 of the book a 4 star and the last portion 2 1/2 stars. I really hold out hope though for the sequel that is going to be coming out before too long and will purchase it. That is how I came up with the 3 1/2 to 4 star rating.

     I do encourage the writer to perhaps look a bit more into how they write the new characters - they are almost caricatures of evil instead of perhaps "real" people like the others in the book. Just my opinion...

     Despite the last part of the book, I will be purchasing the sequel because I do want to find out what happens to October next..   

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Now, with that shared, I'm going to say this review inspired me to fix Beyond the Walls a bit. I think I'm going to focus on the last 4 or 5 chapters and give them a little more detail. The book will be free again at some point, for those of you who have already bought it and would like to read the changes, and I will update on here as well as twitter and amazon when it is free. Please keep an eye out and be supportive. I thank everyone who has read the book for supporting me and giving my book a shot!

The second book in the series called The Chosen One will soon be available on kindle!

Beyond the Walls in Paperback!

The paperback copy of my book finally came in the mail today. The cover looks so much better compared to the old one, and the words on the back aren't blurry like they were on the old one. I'm so happy with the new changes I made!

As you can see, this one is the old book. I changed the picture a bit. The zombie no longer has a skeleton hand simply because it looks better as a normal hand. The bio hazard sign is no longer white, and it looks a lot older. The words are no longer stretched across the entire book, and the picture is no longer as dark. With this old copy, I would have to tilt the book to the side to see it clearly. With the new copy I don't have to do that anymore, and it looks freaking amazing!

Dead Throne Tour 2012

I saw these guys last night, but it was the second time I saw them. The first time was at my uncles place called Java Jim's in Laporte IN (venue no longer open). Last night's show was the last show of the Dead Throne 2012 Tour. They also played with Every Time I Die, Letlive, and Oh Sleeper. Those bands were okay. It's not my favorite band, but they put on a pretty good show!

This is the Murat Egyptian Room. I love the light fixtures, but the guy's head is annoying!

I love this picture because almost every member is in the picture, and their logo looks awesome!

This picture is awesome because they are both headbanging! Rock on \m/

This video sucks unless you go in about 23 seconds, then you can hear a the good lyrics. The song is called Born to Live. Its one of my fave by them.

I cut out the crappy part of this video, but the beginning is so pretty. It's called  Kansas.

Beyond the Walls FREE on Kindle March 28th-29th!

Grab Beyond the Walls while its free, read, and leave a review please. It will be much appreciated, and I promise to keep you all updated on the second book in the series (Zombie's Don't Throw Rocks).

Beyond the Walls

Reuploading Cursed for Centuries on Kindle

Hey guys. I'm editing Cursed for Centuries hardcore because people are saying there are a lot of misspelled words and grammatical errors. I am currently editing the paperback proof I printed to catch the errors easier. Keep an eye out for my last two days of free promotion, especially if you want to grab the better edited copy!

Beyond the Walls Now on Kindle for .99 Cents!

Beyond the Walls

Zombies Don't Throw Rocks book 1

YA Sci-fi Post Apocalyptic

Synopsis: During the year 2011, life as we once knew it went crashing down. A virus spread from country to country, consuming the world one population at a time.

People died...

But most of them came back with the infection coursing through their veins.

They became cannibalistic, feasting on any and all flesh they found, human and animal alike. As the years passed, they continued to flourish without fault, killing off the majority of the government and the survivors it was trying to protect to keep humanity from being wiped off the face of the planet forever.

They were uncontrollable and couldn't be classified as part of humanity.

Now in the year 2076, October and her friends live in a place they call The Walls. It's a Government operated facility with the basic necessities humans need to survive in a Post Apocalyptic world, but it's not a happy place to be for those with the drug immunity. Someone purposely shut them out of the world beyond to keep them safe, to keep them from finding out what really happened sixty years in the past. They know only what they're told, which is never enough. They've come to realized the world is far greater than they imagined, and it's only a matter of time before they discover what's really happening beyond the walls which have kept them out of the loop since they were born.

By the way, I changed the cover photo (so keep that in mind when you check out my old posts)