Jack Lewis Baillot's Blog, page 65

"If something illegal is going down it's our duty to call Lasiter and get him shot."

 Today I am returning to my life of thievery. 
 In which Jack admits to being a thief yet again after she has stolen a dinner party.
 I found this tag while reading Treskie's blog. Normally I don't steal tags, but this one looked like such fun I decided to resort to my life of crime. But, to look less incriminating, I will link back to her blog, which you can find HERE!
 This tag is where I plan a dinner party and invite my favourite book characters. And I will now open up the invitation to all of you to join me in the life of crime and say if any of you wish to steal it, go for it!
 All one must do is answer the questions.
 1. One character who likes to cook. I will go with Sunny from A Series of Unfortunate Events. Although...the Redwallers are great cooks too...how come the British can make toast sound like the best meal in the world?
 2. One character who has money to fund the party. King Peter and Edmund. They should have enough...they are kings after all
 3. One character who might cause a scene. North. And Bunnymund. Because, while North can cause a scene just fine on his own with his swords, he is better at it if Bunny is at his side.
 4. One character who is funny/ amusing Howl. In an annoying way....but still, I wouldn't mind. And I doubt any other girl would either.
5 One character who is super social/ popular Will Treaty. And there is Howl's competition  
 6. One villain. MORIARTY! "I thought you might call."
 7. One couple (doesn't have to be romantic.) Jack and Myrtle from Larklight...or maybe Art and Charity...ug, that is hard. As much as I am not fond of Myrtle I'd adore having Jack there...but couple would mean having him and not Art and I'd miss Art. Must think on this. No, to fix this I will do Sherlock and Watson instead. (They are a couple of friends.) And it will keep things interesting, having Moriarty there. (Also, if Jack and Art want to sneak in I shan't complain.)
  8. One hero/ heroine TINTIN!
 9. One under-appreciated character Percy from the Percy Jackson books. Aye, he has a good many real life girls who love him, but in the books those who aren't trying to kill him are usually thinking of him as an idiot.
 10. One character of your own choosing.   Alec from the Leviathan books. I have two kings, why not a prince?
 In other news, I have a surprise for Friday. But for now I am going, I have lots of work and editing to do. 
 Quote is from Gus (Psych) when Shawn is trying to talk him into doing something dangerous - if I remember correctly. And he is trying to talk Shawn into calling Lassie instead.

 Allons-y!

"Someone better start telling me something because I'm in the mood to stable heads."

 As you can see, I changed backgrounds again. As much as I like pink, there is only so long I can endure nothing BUT pink. I still wanted something springy though, even though we just got hit with a blizzard here. (Not that I'm complaining since I didn't get a chance to build my snowman this winter. I'd be fine with a spring snowman.)
 Sunday I wasn't feeling well so spent most of the morning curled up in bed. And, needing something to do which didn't require a lot of brain work, I finished reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
 I never read all the Classic children's books as a child. I was too busy reading Historical Fiction, but lately I've picked up a few of the Classics - such as Peter Pan. And while I enjoy these whimsical stories, Alice kind of lost me.
 I am sure everyone knows the story. Alice chases a rabbit down a rabbit hole and finds herself in a strange world where Mad Hatters have tea parties and the queen and her court are cards. A nonsense book, a kind of wild imagination story. And while I did like the story, very often it felt like it jumped too much. As if the author was writing something, got stuck, and made a wild leap to some other subject just to keep the story going. 
 Aside from that the story was fun. It really made no sense and is a nice way to pass a summer's day. A good book to read if you don't want a plot. And Alice wasn't overly annoying as I worried she would be. However, I think my favourite character would have to be the Chasmire Cat who liked to show up at random times for no reason whatsoever.
 Quote is from...yeah, you guessed it. It is something Lassie says when Shawn and Gus are being elusive, and he is armed with a stapler. Not a wise move on their parts.

 Allons-y!

"No one hates me. I get Christmas cards from people I arrest."

 Okay, first, I am still trying to get caught up on comments. Very sorry I am so far behind, my catching up day didn't work out as planned. 
 Second...oh wait, there is no second. How is this then?
 I was walking through the store the other day when I saw something on one of their TVs which reminded me of a character of mine. A few days later I was watching a TV show which reminded me of another. Therefore, on a bit of randomness, I am here to share them with you.
 This one those who have read the book are likely to get. (And even those who haven't might.)
 Most everyone knows who this fellow is. A dashing French skunk who just cannot get himself a lady even with all his charm, accent, and good looks. (Really, what does a guy need to do?) While watching him bounding after a scrambling cat it suddenly hit me just how much he and Shamus Steed are alike. Both French, dashing, handsome, everything a girl should want. A both with an inability to get themselves a girl. (Side note, Steed was not at all pleased I started snickering over the resemblance he has with a skunk.)
 The second show reminds me of a character I've not yet introduced. He is in a book, well the romance book I've mentioned before. The only one I've written which has gone through almost too many re-writes to count.
 This fellow is a shepherd. Laid back - which is putting his laziness mildly - doesn't really care about anything going on around him, and always looking for a way to get out of work. He is the older brother to the main character in the book - and the main character has a herd of unruly sheep.
 At first I thought the TV show reminded me of the main character and his sheep, but when I watched the farmer more I realized it was more his brother - with the main characters sheep. 
  The farmer, like the brother, makes his dog do all his work. And the sheep, like the main character's sheep, run the whole thing - being they are so much smarter then the farmer. P.S. If you haven't seen Shawn the Sheep you should watch a few. A fun British show if you are too tried to want to watch anything which requires a lot of thought.
 And that is all. I'm going to answer some comments then go to bed.
 Quote is from Psych, when Jules learns that someone doesn't like her - I think they are trying to kill her or something. I forget exactly but I'm sure someone out there can refresh my memory. *Blink*
 Allons-y!

"By the way, Spencer. You ever call me Binkie again I'll shoot you."

 Tomorrow I need to get caught up on comments. So, just so you know I haven't forgotten about all of you I am here to say...I haven't. *Smirk*
 Everything here is still crazy, but just less crazy. And really, I cannot expect anything less out of my life, being as weird as I am and all.
 Thanks to my editor, I have been shown the problem I had with A Stretch of Loyalty. I am the Author who struggles with telling instead of showing and while reading the book I couldn't pin point the problem with it I knew was there. My editor kindly pointed out it was my telling and not showing problem. I am now hoping to start up my editing next week. Since this week is over I figure I might as well get some things done first. I'm the kind of person who cannot write if my "office" is out of place. And right now mine is a disaster. So I'm spending the next few days in fixing it up a bit more so I can settle back next week and edit. (Messes bring out the Monk in me and I get restless and start adjusting things.)
 And right now, having been around the mess so long, I am more high strung then a cat. I believe is someone was to come up behind me and bang something I'd jump high enough to hit the ceiling. Thankfully though my lack of sleep is catching up with me and I'm more willing to take a break, sit back, and watch TV for an hour or so every day. (Never fear, I will not be pulling another Psych marathon for awhile. Or any other marathon just yet.)  Speaking of Psych, who has seen the new season?! How did you like it? (I'm trying to hide all spoilers here...)
 Now I should go. Again, thank you for all your comments and understanding when I went AWOL on everyone, you are the best readers any Author could ask for. And I hope to have comments answered tomorrow, I just thought a kind of update would be helpful. And now it is your turns, what have all of you been doing this past week?
 Quote from Psych, Lassie's solution to everything.
 Allons-y!

"Oh, you don't call him Binkie?" "We do now."

 Howdy! I'm back, of sorts. Actually, I'm too tired to be completely back. But I did want to thank everyone for their comments, which I will be answering soon. I also wanted to announce I like American TV over BBC in only one aspect, they don't have the same BBC evilness of killing off well loved characters.
 And, as you can see, I changed backgrounds. I wanted something brighter for spring coming but will likely change it soon as it seems too hard to read. Your thoughts? Does it play tricks on your eyes or is it just mine?
 There was more but I forgot. I am now going to bed before I fall over.
 Quote from Psych, when Shawn and Gus meet an old friend of Lassie's, and learn a nickname he had when he was a kid. 
 Allons-y!
 Bonne Nuit, Lune

"A gentleman of leisure never packs his weapon next to his socks."

 I don't talk about my real life very often. I sometimes wonder if Jack is my way to escape, a person I can hide behind and I have to work hard for it not to become so.

 It is easy to hide from troubles or uncomfortable situations. It is easy to hide behind emotions others say you should have, or songs, books, or movies. We all have places we like to go when we wish to hide. But I have realized, we cannot hide forever.

 When I moved out on my own, I had to face situations I used to be able to run from. I had to talk to people, I couldn't get my parents or siblings to do it for me. I had to do the one thing I feared most, I had to grow up.

Aye, I've always feared growing up. I didn't want to become an adult and yell and panic about non important things. I didn't want to face a reality which insisted that things were impossible and being an Author could not be considered a real job. I didn't want to see a world filled with money and work and bills, a world without imagination and adventures and fun.
 And now that I've seen the world, I don't think that is what it is really like. When I got a job I determined to like it. I determined not to dread every day I had to go in or panic about money. I found out that being an adult means facing your fears. It means no longer running but standing up and confronting trails. And I have had plenty of chances to do so.

 After I moved out the job I thought I had fell through. The other job I had I had to quit. I spent the whole fall out of work, no money coming in, trusting God to provide when the money I had saved ran out. And He did, but during it I lost a would be friend.

 I've never been the girl who spent her life dreaming of falling in love - though if I do I'd not complain. No, I've been the girl who dreamed of finding a best friend. And when I met this girl I thought we would end up being good friends, maybe not best friends, but friends at least. We had a lot in common, she was sweet and funny and we knew each other as little girls.
 But things happened which changed this. I had heard warnings about this girl but didn't believe them. (I live in a town filled with gossip.) Sadly, it took me really getting to know her to find out a lot of what was said was very true. This girl is not the type I would want for a friend. And things have steadily gotten worse.

 On top of this I had other things going on, again things I didn't wish to face. A painful past I thought if I buried it would be okay. A very wonderful friend's words of warning I choice to ignore - and in the process might have lost the true friend I had. An issue with pride and bitterness, and things I refused to do because I am a coward. And I'm sorry to say it took that dear friend saying good bye to snap me out of it, among other things.

 During the winter God took everything I thought I knew and shook it. He set in my path a hard trial during which I saw the kind of woman I was doomed to become if I didn't change. This woman had been hurt, much like I had, and refused help. She hid behind bitterness and self pity and now lives a life alone, pushing away all offers of friendship. She scorns at everything and thinks there is no good left in the world. Imagine living such a life, all alone, brought on because pride cannot be laid aside, hurts cannot be mended. And that would be me, I was already heading that way.

 My thoughts were like this. "Oh yeah! Well, she hurt me too! So what if I hurt her, I forgave her, why cannot she do the same! I will just not let anyone close again! I don't need friends!"
 But we do need friends. We all do. God didn't create us to be alone. He created us to depend on each other, to have someone to love and be loved by. To fellowship with. And seeing the kind of life I was heading for scared me, almost as much as spiders do. Not only did it look miserable, I was broken hearted for this woman who thought it was her job to point out every fault she saw in others. (Another downfall of mine.)

 And since then, since I determined to do something about my life to stop this, God has shown me many things and helped me face many fears. My secret project is the main one I am facing. I am doing something which has always terrified me, and which many of my "friends" said was evil to do. (Note, these friends believe it is wrong for a girl to do anything but sew and clean. And while I find nothing wrong with these things, it is  how these girls view others who don't do them which I find wrong. So when I say my secret project is viewed as evil I am not implying that I am planning on going on and doing something evil. It is something God has called me to do, and the only thing I felt peaceful about doing since starting writing.)

 My other fear I am trying to face is in getting help. As I said, I went through a bad experience as a child. My dear friend adviced me to seek help on it, but I refused. I didn't wish to confront it, to dig up those memories. But I know I have to now. Especially now.

 And all of this scares me. And knowing I have to face it all as an adult, no longer running or hiding is even worse. And the fear that it is messing up my writing right now makes it even harder. I'm an Author. I have to market and write and edit. I don't have time for all this. But I know if I don't make time for it now I can never get past any of this.

 So, I am admitting to problems I have. I am going to do my secret project even if I want to run the other way. I am going to face the girl I thought would be my friend and face whatever outcome follows. And I am going to get help, and hopefully have finally found a way to do so. And lastly I plan to do something I thought I would never have the courage to do. I am hoping to win back a friend.

 And writing all this here is a bit weird for me. And I don't even really know why I am doing it. I am very prone to self pity and as soon as someone looks at me and says, "Oh, you went through all that? You poor thing!" I instantly start thinking, "Yes! Poor me!" Which brought on a lot of my problems in the beginning. And I know I'm not writing all this to seek out pity. Maybe this is just my way of actually doing all this. That if, I know others know about it, I will go through with it. Because I'm still a huge coward. (But I can be thankful. While I am facing things I'm scared of, I am not going to try befriending spiders. So, it could be worse.)

 Just keep in mind, my writing is...kind of second on my list right now. I can't believe I am actually saying that, but these things are more important at the moment. I am still hoping to keep up on everything so it will all be out on time, but I don't think I can make promises.

 Now I need to go, I have blogs to read.

 Quote from Psych, from the English Art Thief who is very cool

 Allons-y

"I'm going to kill you, Spencer." "I never said the victim wasn't a sea lion."

I've been spending a few days at home, during which time I made my family watch Tintin with me. Which brought upon us watching the old Tintin cartoons. They are a rather fun way to spend an evening, but don't compare to the new movie, in my opinion. (I still have trouble accepting Tintin's URKEA! What is he, a gold miner?)
 But I am not here to talk about cartoons. Instead, I have a book to review, finally. (And it isn't the second Guardian book, Bunnymund's book. Which is wonderful, but which I cannot review without giving spoilers to the first book. Trust me, just read it. Bunnymund is great, kind of like Sherlock. He doesn't understand human emotions, AT ALL.)
 Anyhow, the book I am reviewing today is called The Dark Unwinding. This is a book I found at my library and picked it up because it looked Steampunk. Instead I found a cross between The Woman in Black and North and South. (The Woman in Black is a slightly creepy movie which is fun to watch if one wants a scary movie but not one which will haunt one for the rest of their life.)
 The story is about Kathrine, a girl who lives with her greedy aunt. Kathrine is forced to go to her uncle's - an uncle she's never met - and see if he is really insane so her cousin can have all his money. But when Kathrine meets her uncle and finds out just what he is like, she doesn't think she can go through with it.
 I liked the beginning of this book. In the first chapters creepy things happen around the house, an old mansion which could easily pass for haunted. It isn't keep you up all night scary but the fun kind, more suspenseful. Kathrine tries to pass off as a tough girl who is scared of nothing but very fast we see through this and realize she is a sweet, compassionate girl who just wants someone to love her.
 The other characters are wonderful as well. There is a cute little boy named Davey who is never without his pet rabbit. And the uncle is the best character in the book I think.  Also there is Lane. Lane is the uncle's quick tempered assistant who falls in love with Kathrine later on in the book. He is the kind of fellow who doesn't care what others think and will do anything to protect those he cares for - the uncle.
 What I didn't like was near the end of the book. When I got there it felt like Kathrine was repeating herself. Most of the book from there went like this, "I knew I couldn't go through with this." "I had to go through with this." "I had to do this for my uncle." "I couldn't do this." Over and over till I wanted to scream, "I GET IT!" But, aside from that, it was an enjoyable book. Not quite a ghost story, and not overly exciting, but a nice story if you can get through Kathrine's mood changes and Lane's moments of stupidity. (If you ever fall in love, just admit it. Don't leave the other one to guess. Lane and Kathrine could have solved a lot of trouble just by saying they were in love. I wanted to slap them both.)
 So, while I do recommend this book, just don't go into it expecting anything extraordinary. 
 Quote is from...aye, you guessed it. The episode where Shawn and Gus are looking into a sea lion murder, and talk Lassie into helping - or something like that. Trick Lassie into helping is more like it. Shawn has a lot of people wanting to kill him, and most of them are his friends.
 Allons-y!

"So, heard about Pluto? That's messed up."

 Not sure how to being this post since I've used the, "Well, I'm back," so often. How about this? Want to share a pineapple with me?
 As promised, I have a character for all of you to meet today. And his name is Stefan.
 Stefan is 18, his eyes are brown and his hair is black and curly. And he lost his left hand in a wagon accident. (You saw that correctly, I spelt accident right without looking.)
 Stefan is the hermit I've mentioned before. He left his home at a young ish age and moved up into the mountains where he hopes to live out his days in peace, and ALONE. Unfortunately, I'm his Author and I had other plans.
 His quiet life changes the day Magda comes crashing down into his garden. Reluctantly, he joins her and Lachlan on their mission. He is very critical, grumpy, reminds everyone every chance he gets how he would have been happier back at his cabin - ALONE - and likes to cook. He is actually a rather good cook, as well as a good swordsman.
 Over time he begins to question his reasons for going with Magda, and wonders if he is starting to believe in her cause.
 And there he is. I'd say you should introduce yourselves to him, but he might just use that as an excuse to say he doesn't care and ask you to leave him alone.
 And, before I go...quote is from Psych! SURPRISE! It is something Gus says a lot in the first seasons, when he is trying to start a conversation with a girl. And since I am a firm defender on Pluto's injustice of getting knocked from the planet list I've decided to claim it as a conversation starter as well.
 Allons-y!

"Dude." "I will kill you, Shawn."

 I'm just passing through today to say the character introduction is moved to Monday. Sorry about the postpone, but life hit me and wasn't kind. I'm taking the weekend off, a day early, to try and sort some things out.
 Monday, however, you all shall have the chance to meet Stefan, unless someone passes him up in the voting.
  Until then, here is a picture of Edmund smirking, because that makes almost everything better.
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 Quote is from...Psych! Surprising, right? I don't remember what was going on in the episode, but Shawn was trying to talk Gus into doing something, and Gus threatened to kill him. (Which he seems to do a lot.)
 Allons-y!

"Just call someone a hippy and get to the point."

 Wherein Jack talks of nothing important because she has nothing important to talk about. 
 And even after all that I am trying to think of something important to post about.
 Okay, forget important, I'll go with anything at this point.
 I could tell you all about The Broken Blade and the character I finally figured out.
 I could explain about my continued sulk on the one character who I killed. (And there, now it is more permit writing.)
 I could take a moment to explain how editing is going.
 But, none of those are really sticking out at the moment. What is, is - was - my brilliant plan to get over my sulking of killing the character. (Yeah, watching six seasons of Psych in less then two weeks.) And it has backfired on me. So now I feel the need to shout.... WHY DIDN'T ANYONE WARN ME?! Okay, not that it is any of your fault, *eyes all the Psych fans* But still. Hints. Evil movie writers, they are worse then Authors. I take back everything I've ever said about Authors and their evilness. Movie writers surpass us to Moriarty levels. You all likely know what I'm talking about. And those who don't, take a wild guess. I'll give some hints. Think BBC and end of seasons, cliff hangers. Okay, now you have some idea.
 As if the abrupt cliff hanger in Grimm wasn't enough. 
 Therefore, warning. When I write cliff hangers - which I do - you all know who to blame. (Hint, not me.)
 However, TV cliff hangers to the side, I have been making better progress in writing. At least in The Broken Blade. In Abolished Impracticality I am trying to comfort one of my favourite characters whom I was rather mean to. And it isn't going over too well. I feel like a traitor to him, claiming to be his friend and then...going all BBC on him. It is hard to convince a chap you like him when you do things like that to him.
 And right now, that is all. So...the usual.
 Quote is from the same place as the last...ten or so.
 Allons-y!