Kristy Berridge's Blog, page 4

Inappropriate Things

A short but definitely fun blog for you today.
My bestie (Christina) than the restie bought me this fun little gift as I saw it online and laughed ridiculously loud for about ten minutes straight. So you need to know:1. I love anything vampires.2. This is so inappropriate that I love it by default.3. It has nothing to do with anything, but anything that makes you laugh is good for you!
In fact, there is actually a whole host of inappropriate and funny gifts you can find on https://www.pictame.com/user/funnyafinappropriategifts/8487106753 and I wanted to share this with you because even though I've been browsing through the site, I had no idea it was owned by a friend in NZ! Go figure.
Anyway, so shout out to this company for defying logic, brandishing mugs with naughty words and making me laugh since 2018.
Happy Blogging - Kristy

The Why For Writers

The world we live in is complex, full of different and diverse people, rampant emotions and conflictions. Why would you write?

I think that writers of today need to be a bit of a tough nut in order to cope with the criticism so easily dispersed via the Internet and other social media outlets. Are writers so driven by their own inner dialogue to let out their story as to not to worry about the thoughts of others? Yes, I think so….toughened as I said. I believe the obsession is the story that rattles around upstairs; and the undertaking of putting words to paper, the compulsion.

I have watched Kristy immerse herself within her writing to the exclusion of absolutely everything around her. She once said to me that she visualizes her characters, where they are and what they are doing, this involves all her senses to create an environment where she has immersed herself or become involved. This interaction and involvement creates the very atmosphere of exclusion and in turn, this seems to compel her to write at an almost manic speed so that she can get everything down that she needs to.

The hardest part of writing is not about having a published book. It is about the story! They say that anyone with a story can write a book! I wonder. If you feel that you have something to say, do it, put pen to paper and create. Remember, it is the pull of the yarn, how the characters interact into the fabric of your narrative and what it is that has captured the reader’s attention that is important. If you can grab the reader’s attention, then you are half way there.

It has been my experience, that through writing, writers have the potential of building bonds with other like-minded individuals.

Happy writing.
Stephanie

Wonder Woman

Hi, I am Stephanie and I have been assisting Kristy with a number of things such as her website and the occasional blog on her behalf. I know it has been such a long time since we have put words to paper, that is life isn’t it….it moves at such a rapid rate we often forget to slow down. Although Kristy is heavily involved in her editing now, (new book on the way), she does take time out to do other things. Such as, An Ironman Triathlon, building her new home with hubbie, travelling the world and just in case you think she is slacking off, she is now a ‘wellness advocate.’ This is someone who advocates the benefits to the body by using essential oils - - oops, I almost forgot she has just harvested her first crop of dragon fruit. As a writer she loves quotes and this aptly applies to the moment “Note to self: I don’t have to take this day all at once but rather one step, one breath and one moment at a time. I am only one person. Things will get done when they get done.”……like the laundry!
Until the next time (which won't be long I promise)
Stephanie

Plastic Surgery? Yes or No?

Alright people, I'm admitting it. Turning thirty last year kind of changed something inside of me, sneaking up and altering my perspective on a few things I may never have considered in the past. From previous posts you'll know that I was none too happy about this supposedly magic number, especially since responsibility, maturity and grace should have become my middle name.
Everyone says that turning thirty is just a number, and to some that may be true, but what happens when you start to develop a road map on your face, your butt gets droopy and you can play hackey-sack with your own breasts?
Enter ... Botox. Oh yes, I have turned my nose up at this concept on many occasions when I was in my twenties, skin like porcelain and eyebrows that held their own. Now that I'm in my thirties and find that I could bury a small child in my crow's feet, my sanctimonious beliefs of the past have all but dried up like the Gobi desert.
And breasts? This trend of the inflatable chest is about a heartbeat away from becoming the next online shopping phenomena. I can't go anywhere these days without someone trying to poke my eyes out with their swollen rack. And honestly, the thought of these gravity defying accessories strapped to my own semi-flat chest is somewhat appealing.
So I pose the question; Is plastic surgery the way of the future for young and old? Have our insecurities possessed us to the point of ongoing physical and sometimes psychological adjustments?
I suppose it's not for everyone, but for me, it's an option, a pause button if you will. Mother nature may be an unstoppable force that often knows best, but modern medicine offers the one finger salute in rebuttal - a gesture I think I may become a fan.
Have a good one,

Kristy :)

All My Movies

I have been involved within the IT Industry for over 40 years, and I have had my fare share and opportunities of beta testing a number of software programs. To date, I can honestly say that ‘All My Movies’ is right up there as being one of the best.Let me elaborate, firstly the thing that I like the most about this program is the graphics – one of only a few programs, which is highly detailed without being too busy. The movie covers provided can be viewed any size from very small to very large, also should you wish to do so you can import your own graphics or pictures. Additionally, If you want to change the layout or the display of your movies, then you’re in for a treat as there is a wide selection of themes that can be utilised ensuring your movie catalogue collection will look just exactly as you want it to. The other aspect of this program that I like is the ‘detail.’ If you are a movie buff or enthusiast and want lots of information or history about a movie, then you will appreciate the immediate download capabilities and the extensive information, about not only the movie but also the cast, studio information, technical details, in fact the list is endless about the presentation visual values. The written information downloaded is presented in a legible way that even the short sighted of us can enjoy.How do you get the information into the program you ask? Simple, the beauty of this program is that you can download information by entering the title or you can scan your hard drive and let the program find any stored movie files that you may have. Either solution is more than satisfactory in fact; it can expedite an enormous amount of time and energy.Have you ever started to use a program and become frustrated simply because of its useability? It is refreshing to come across a program that has an interface that is both easy and enjoyable to use.  As an example, many ways have been provided in this program to search your collection in order to find that special movie you are looking for.  Some of these search options include, title, genre, cast member, by year, or how about your favourite director, then you can choose this option as well.  Finding the information that you need, I mean, where does the program get its information? All programs of this type use IMDb (Internet Movie Database), however, ‘All My Movies’ is more intuitive in that it can use IMDb but it can also utilise other online movie databases of your choosing, in fact 14 – a rather nice feature don’t you think?An outstanding feature of this program is its ability to be viewed on your mobile phone allowing you to take your collection with you. In fact, it covers both the iPhone, Android and iPad – an attractive feature if you are travelling away or discussing a movie with a mate. I am sure that money is just as important to you as it is to me. I believe that this program is one of the most affordable programs that I have seen to date – with other programs, you can spend over $100 or more and not necessarily acquire all the features that I have mentioned above, however, ‘All My Movies’ will only cost you USD $39.95 and this allows you to run it on two computers. An excellent choice for your movie collection.Peter Jackson
https://www.bolidesoft.com/allmymovies.html

ALL MY MOVIESI have been involved within the IT Industry ...

ALL MY MOVIESI have been involved within the IT Industry for over 40 years, and I have had my fare share and opportunities of beta testing a number of software programs. To date, I can honestly say that ‘All My Movies’ is right up there as being one of the best.Let me elaborate, firstly the thing that I like the most about this program is the graphics – one of only a few programs, which is highly detailed without being too busy. The movie covers provided can be viewed any size from very small to very large, also should you wish to do so you can import your own graphics or pictures. Additionally, If you want to change the layout or the display of your movies, then you’re in for a treat as there is a wide selection of themes that can be utilised ensuring your movie catalogue collection will look just exactly as you want it to. The other aspect of this program that I like is the ‘detail.’ If you are a movie buff or enthusiast and want lots of information or history about a movie, then you will appreciate the immediate download capabilities and the extensive information, about not only the movie but also the cast, studio information, technical details, in fact the list is endless about the presentation visual values. The written information downloaded is presented in a legible way that even the short sighted of us can enjoy.How do you get the information into the program you ask? Simple, the beauty of this program is that you can download information by entering the title or you can scan your hard drive and let the program find any stored movie files that you may have. Either solution is more than satisfactory in fact; it can expedite an enormous amount of time and energy.Have you ever started to use a program and become frustrated simply because of its useability? It is refreshing to come across a program that has an interface that is both easy and enjoyable to use.  As an example, many ways have been provided in this program to search your collection in order to find that special movie you are looking for.  Some of these search options include, title, genre, cast member, by year, or how about your favourite director, then you can choose this option as well.  Finding the information that you need, I mean, where does the program get its information? All programs of this type use IMDb (Internet Movie Database), however, ‘All My Movies’ is more intuitive in that it can use IMDb but it can also utilise other online movie databases of your choosing, in fact 14 – a rather nice feature don’t you think?An outstanding feature of this program is its ability to be viewed on your mobile phone allowing you to take your collection with you. In fact, it covers both the iPhone, Android and iPad – an attractive feature if you are travelling away or discussing a movie with a mate. I am sure that money is just as important to you as it is to me. I believe that this program is one of the most affordable programs that I have seen to date – with other programs, you can spend over $100 or more and not necessarily acquire all the features that I have mentioned above, however, ‘All My Movies’ will only cost you USD $39.95 and this allows you to run it on two computers. An excellent choice for your movie collection.Peter Jackson

Hello Humanity - what happened to our Morality?The human ...

Hello Humanity - what happened to our Morality?The human race – Mankind… and I am referring to you and me. Oh my - Oh my, we should be so proud of ourselves, look at what wondrous things we have achieved these past years. Our wars don’t just kill thousands, they now kill millions! No validation here, we all take ownership of this bullshit! We either create or have created these campaigns and we nurture and encourage them with banal words of ‘look at me,’ ‘look at me’ with our twitter and Facebook remarks.  We encourage and enlist as much help as possible in defining segregation by encouraging hate toward another’s religion, race while encouraging anger, violence and oppression - let us dominate and browbeat our fellow man…don’t forget bullying and our sexual preferences. Have I left anything out? Probably!Have we made any advancements? Of course we have, but do they outway the negatives that now menace over us such as our wondrous planet slowly dying due to climate changes, our nations dying because of hatred for one another and the selfish “I want what they have” arrogances. Yes, of course we have made advancements. For example medicine, but do the needful benefit from this, of course not because there is no money in it! Bullshit isn’t it. There are folks who are dying who have no homes; no possessions, no money and we see the faces of starving children all the time, why? Is it to remind those who can afford more, to help, oh please do? As mere minions, why does it always fall upon us, can we not be led by example, please! How about the wealthy bodies of the world getting together, i.e. The Vatican to name but one entity – sell your hidden treasures and you will house and feed millions who desperately need it. Nope, your right, this ain’t gonna happen! Why? Because there is no humanity there is only greed and the “I wants of this world,” the entitled who think that they are better than the one standing next to them.Whatever your personal tenets of the concept of morality are, overall, surely they must ultimately address what is right and what is wrong. Do we forsake what is right to appear politically correct? Surely right or wrong is the individual’s natural right to self-preservation, after all who wants to be thought of as wrong!
Stephanie Jackson

How to rid yourself of negative energy!What are you ...

How to rid yourself of negative energy!What are you drawn too? If its negative thoughts, then I am there with you…but only sometimes. However, it is real and it happens to us all at one point in time.  I believe that we all need to change that relentless negative to positive in everything that we do. Okay we all get this and understand this, but how do we get rid of those niggling negative thoughts? That inner dialogue that speaks to us when we do not want or need it to, that inner dialogue that creates stress and havoc, purely out of misguided thoughts or unresolved questions - - where are the quieting moments?Mmmm not so easy is it?  We can say positively that we will think positively…but we are only human and so, try as we might, we slip back to listening to the madness chaos that our minds create. We can do something ‘airy-fairy,’ like imagine something beautiful…yes; this will work for the short term, but not long term. Perhaps the honest and most logical approach is to face what is creating this negative energy, after all as complex human beings we exist, therefore we control, therefore we can create and change, and therefore we can choose what sort of energy we want around us. What is it that we want?Presumptuous perhaps, but we want to be happy, we want to be productive, we want to love and live cohesively with those around us. We do not want negativity, we do not want misery, and we want to be content. We are the only ones that can change this.  We have that power, we have the capacity to think, work, create and be whomever it is that we want! We don’t need the negativity, it stunts, and it creates melancholy and discontent…who wants that?It’s easy, ‘you think what you feel’ or is that ‘you feel what you think!’

Stephanie

Kindness!Is it that hard? Really!Its habit forming. If we...

Kindness!
Is it that hard? Really!Its habit forming. If we do not receive any gratitude for ether a job well done, a little act of kindness for another that does not result in a simple thank you then yes, we become resentful. Therefore, we stop the acts of random kindness to others, this in turn becomes a habit and therefore kindness is relegated to the backbench not to be seen for some time.Are we so busy with our lives that we forget that a) we were once so young we needed help b) we relied so much on the Internet which now appears to be an extension to our bodily limbs…yes the bloody mobile! In addition, c) we are now too old, cranky and afraid of change that no one bloody cares anyway? What does this mean, an impersonal, antisocial, narcissistic society so involved with themselves that they forget or have forgotten human interaction? I am confused, what happened to being kind with and to one another?Is it now classified as old fashioned to be kind? Do we now forget the random acts of kindness to another because we are afraid of negative response? Are we that pathetic? Conditioned, programmed and weak willed?Kindness is like looking into a mirror, if you cannot be kind to yourself, how can you possibly be kind to another?Empathy…there is no longer empathy. Please do not misunderstand me; I understand that there has to be technology in order to move forward.  However, without empathy, sympathy and grace, how can humanity hope to survive? I like to think that we all try always to look past the awful things that people can say or do in order to see them as a whole, albeit a complex person. Of course, sometimes, it is so much easier to assume the worst and yet so much harder to see them as whole entity, after all no one person is good or bad, they may be complicated, messy or perhaps even interesting but they are always worthy of being treated with dignity and respect. Do you not think so?

Stephanie Jackson

It would appear that cyber bullying has become a major is...

It would appear that cyber bullying has become a major issue, predominantly for teens and upcoming adults. Years before the internet it was schoolyard antics that drove children home in tears, now it’s the pouty-mouthed, snap-chatting, selfie-taking figure-heads of popularity that rule the bullying domain.Suddenly suicide rates have increased and rates of depression among teens is skyrocketing. But what can we do to prevent this almost ‘normal’ state-of-affairs from reaching our future children?Education?Now I’m not talking about books and academics or putting the task of educating and also punishing the kids into the already overly-laden hands of our teachers, I’m talking about putting the responsibility of our children’s behaviour into our hands … parents, friends and family … the people who are supposed to care about the nature of our youths the most!It sounds like a whimsical, tried and tested approach and yet, I still see parents allowing their children to wear inappropriate clothing for their age, roam the streets at darkened hours and speak as if they’ve earnt the right to abuse the English language with their texting shorthand and ways of naivety. The truth is we seemed to have stopped disciplining, supporting and encouraging as well as promoting the self-love and self-respect that kids these days are sorely lacking. Along with fish lips and cleavage shots, it has become relative to trade sexual favours for popularity, discard self-respect and completely belittle intelligence or originality. We have bred a bunch of drones incapable of positive human emotion and this is somehow acceptable. When did children get pigeon-holed for their looks, their parent’s finances, sporting abilities or creative differences? Never mind race or gender equality. It seems we’ve stopped encouraging free-thinking, emotionally nourished children with self-respect, dignity and moral constitutions. What would have once been highly praised is now bullied via a coward’s platform … the internet.Unfortunately, I don’t believe that cyber or bullying of any variety will cease in the near future. As long as there are those that find it socially acceptable to berate or belittle another human being for their differences, education and discipline will only reach so far. Solution?
…


Kristy J