Update on James Bond

The James Bond film 'Diamonds Are Forever' definitely took the phrase "artistic license" to a new level. There was a HUGE difference in the plot- I hardly recognized the storyline, which deviated quite far from Bond's original "following the pipeline through the U.S." Most of the characters were the same, but a few were added on like Plenty- didn't remember her at all in the book, and I was super disappointed in Tiffany's character. First of all, she was supposed to be blonde, and second of all, she and James's relationship was not like that at all- in this "case", I prefer the book, as opposed to Casino Royale, where the Daniel Craig version of the film is supremely better than its origin.
I did however hear a fascinating back story about Sean Connery- apparently after a midnight 'rendezvous' with Plenty O'Toole actress Lana Wood, Lana expected he was in love with her, only to have been used by the Big Tam. ...Scandalous.

I Am Loving: P.B. & J.

No, not the sandwich (although, when in the mood, peanut butter and jelly is super tasty). No I am talking about the dynamic duo, Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly. One of my friends theorizes that Jennifer married Paul because he is English and blond (he is red-haired in my opinion) and she needed that to satisfy her love of the unavailable David Bowie since they starred in Labyrinth together. I think that my friend is silly. But I also think, that at least from my viewpoint, not knowing them personally or anything, that they are a great couple. I admire them not just because they are gorgeous and stylish and together and ooze chemistry (in the very brief cameo appearance she makes in Inkheart, you'll see what I mean) but also because as individuals they are awesomely talented. So here is a visual aid for you!

Kickon? Kickup? Kickme?

I'm wondering what the opposite of "kickoff" is... certainly not "kickon"... Well, the point is, after the move, and being a bridesmaid, and getting sick twice, I got rather tired of James Bond's frankly unhappy life. Sure, he enjoys great food, the occasional butt-kicking, and being a womanizer, but at the heart of it he's constantly surrounded by people he can't trust and when he does open up his heart, it gets broken. So I quit halfway through From Russia With Love. Another obstacle to my project has been the lack of James Bond films available at the library and local video rental place. I wanted to read-watch-compare and all I got was read-search-get disappointed. I will DEFINITELY pick it back up again someday, as Ian Fleming's writing takes you right into the heart of it, with details so vivid I'm curious to know if his books ever endangered his life for revealing enemy secrets! But for now, I'm going to try and read some happy things.
Of course, the first thing I picked up was a romance novel, but we can skip that one. Next I read Sweet and Deadly by Charlaine Harris. I was super needing of the Sookie Stackhouse books but I am on the wait list right now. So I read this instead, and of course, it is neither happy nor uplifting (what was I thinking) but it was adventurous, even if I did guess the killer I did not guess the motive, as it was out of left field. It was also quite interesting to read Harris's first novel, and to see how her style developed, not only by later incorporating the supernatural (Sweet and Deadly's villain is purely human) but how she matured as a writer and developed her characters later on, able to make them more likeable.
Also as of late I have been getting seriously into old film noirs about the supernatural. See my other blog about that!
P.S. If any of my friends are ever out shopping anywhere and see any Matryoshka Russian Nesting Dolls, please tell me where I can find some! (I really don't want to but them off ebay- shipping is nuts) I heart them.

The James Bond Project Kickoff

Hello lovelies,
So I have a next-to-impossible goal I want to accomplish. It will be my very first blog-crossover event and a rather interesting undertaking. I am going to read all the Ian Fleming James Bond novels I can get my hands on (and can you believe he is the same dude who wrote "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"?) and then watch the film version and write about my experience. I am starting at the beginning with Casino Royale and I will update as I go. My goal is to at least read all the books by the time I move into my new apartment at the end of the month. Anyone interested in reading along with me or who've already read and want to comment, feel free!
Until then,
Cloud

500 Years Later... An Applegy

It is very very sad when the person you kidnap wifi from goes on vacation (dang you, Craig!!!) But when they come back it's like an instant party. So now I'm furiously trying to do all the things I've been wanting to do but unable to due to lack of internet. I am sososososo sorry that it's been ages since an update. I'm pretty sure Blurabbit's mad at me too, but we will be getting on with that soon enough. LOTS of fun movies to watch and blahdyblah. Any way, soon I will be moving into a new apartment with shiny new internet access and will be able to update more often. Okiedokie.... and on with the show!

Shopping and Makeup and Harry Potter, oh my!

Wowwwww.... I just went shopping with the fam. May I say that outlets are DANGEROUS>!! So I went to the CCO for the first time and bought my first MAC pigment... I am super excited to try it out. I also got a new Fossil watch to replace the old one that I accidentally wore in the hot tub on the cruise.... (long story, I may tell it later) and I also purchased a passport holder by COACH! A coach bag is basically my holy grail of purses, and I should tell you that I have a smidge of a purse collection going on. I love and adore bags because no matter how big or small or short or tall you are, purses ALWAYS FIT. Love. So this mini-vacation of mine has been phenomenal, mainly because I got to see some old friends, go shopping, do makeup looks on me and my sister, see the midnight premiere of Harry Potter (Professor Snape was kind enough to attend with me!)

and also today after outlet shopping I got to eat Ben and Jerry's at the beach! Sheer salty-sea-air perfection. Tonight it's Ghost Hunters as well (which I never get to watch because I don't have cable at home - I'm visiting the parents right now.) And then tomorrow it's back to the real world. Boo-hoo...
Until next time my loveliest of lovelies, enjoy the sunshine, take a moment, and remember the things in your life that are good and hold on to them. Sometimes they are the only things that keep us sane! Love, Cloud

R.I.P.

Today was a day of loss. Michael Jackson... Farrah Fawcett... and most of all, Cubby. Cubby was born around May 21, 1997. At barely two weeks old, she and her two brothers were abandoned in a garbage can outside a high school. She was rescued by a really nice family (mine... OK I am biased) and spent her years playing, exploring, getting in bags and boxes, constantly lying underfoot, and flopping around the floor. Her favorite things were napping in the sunshine, getting her head rubbed by a shoe, and listening to Hanson on the big stereo. She was my sister's cat but she was more than that... she was a member of the family. Cubby, you will be missed. (I still find her black fur in bits in some of my boxed things from the move... so she will live on in our hearts and our boxes.) I will miss her soft fluffiness and her cute kitty profile.
Love.
~Cloud/Steampunk Mermaid

Makeup dupe!

Dearest friends,
This one is just a quickie, but at Claire's I found my first dupe! For the non-makeup-obsessed, that means a knockoff of a name-brand cosmetic. This one was this:


I got it at Claire's at the mall for about $6.50 (Sorry for the not-so great pictures but you get the general idea)
As opposed to the Kat Von D palette in "Beethoven":
which retails at Sephora for $34! So that brings us to what I'm going to use it for. Practicing a look from YouTube...
One of my guilty pleasures is watching makeup tutorials! I am addicted to watching other people put on their makeup. But I'm telling you, I have learned sooo much. I will have to put up my first FotD which I took pics of the other day with all the products I used and everything.
Happy shopping my lovelies!
Steampunk Mermaid

We're Devils and Black Sheep and Really Bad Eggs...

So I mentioned earlier about pirates....

One of my favorite things every year is the Blackbeard Festival in Hampton, VA. I travel from far and wide just to see the reenactors all dressed up; they even have a camp set up where pirates and merchants sell their "wares." This year, I took my boy, a Soom Namu, dressed up as his character Captain Ichabod VanIvan, swarthy seafarer, to attend the festivities. He was a big hit with everyone, and I took lots of pictures. Here are some of my favorites:

Classy shoe shot on top of the parking garage

My boy's amazing outfit I had especially made for him by this amazing lady in New England

Gazing out upon his domain

On deck! All hands to the mast!

Lookit them lips

An avid fan of the Captain... she sold me a pair of freshwater black pearl earrings

"Avast!", I learned, means stop but don't let go.

Walking the crowded streets of the festival

And last but not least, part of the amazing fireworks display... they actually lit the bridge on fire!!! It was this indescribable waterfall of fire and light; magnificent.

Well, friends, thank you for looking!

Drink up me hearties, yo-ho!
Yours,
Steampunk Mermaid a.k.a. Cloud

Loving Deviantart

Hello friends!
I never ever remember to update my own deviantart... maybe someday I will and then I will link it all together. But right now I just browse and enjoy everyone's talent. Today the top 3 awesome artists/images that caught my fancy are:


#3: http://muszka.deviantart.com/art/white-coffee-126569128
Such a lovely image; I want to wear flowers in my hair everyday... but it's not practical with my job really.


#2: http://mattthesamurai.deviantart.com/art/Spinning-Fire-Guillotines-124672692
This is sincerely cool. Don't think I've ever seen "fire art" before. Really sweet gallery.


#1: Auriethepixie has two I adore.
and
The first looks like Edward and vampire Bella to me... *sigh*
As always, my lovelies, take care.

Introductions

Hello friends!
I started blogging movie reviews and recently realized that I have a LOT more to talk about than just my love for film. So I've decided to try a little something new and we'll see how things go!
To start off, I think a little inspiration goes a long way. One of my favorite bloggers, Taza {http://taza-and-husband.blogspot.com/} posts folks' top ten things that make them happy. This is constantly changing for me, just like my taste in music, so here is my top ten list RIGHT NOW.


1.) Fireworks shows
2.) Historical Pirate reenactors (especially handsome ones who play the fiddle... *sigh*)
3.) When my Dad takes me to the movies or my Mom calls me for a "dolly update"
4.) Getting a random compliment, or sometimes giving one and seeing it truly appreciated by the person
5.) When babies smile at me
6.) Listening to Immediate and imagining my dream movie trailers
7.) When I have a good song in my head and I turn on the radio and it's just started playing
8.) Planning vacations with my sister even if it isn't for years
9.) A really really good hug when you really need one and the person smells nice
10.) The feeling I get when I finish a painting and sit back and say "Wow, I made that."


I may have new and entirely different happy lists later. As always, happiness is ever present but ever changing.
Love always, your