Sleep is a luxury not a life necessity.

I love to sleep. It's probably my favourite out of all life's necessities. Although I see it more of a luxury, because when I wake up in the morning, or depending how rough a previous day, in the afternoon, I always seem to remember my dreams. Dreams that set me off on adventures I can't even begin to imagine. Every morning I wake, I get excited over remembering what I did in my sleep, but also disappointed it didn't really happen.

For example, when I woke up this morning, I smiled as I remembered I dreamt about Captain Hook. Now the only explanation I have for him popping into my mind in the land of slumber is because I've been watching "Hook" on my breaks at work. Which is bizarre as I have watched "Black Swan" now three times within a week and a half. If anything, I would have expected that one to pop in my dreams. But no, Captain Hook. I'm not complaining however, I do like the chap, he's entertaining. I've dreamt about him before.

The first dream I ever had about Captain Hook dates a few years back in my life. Definitely childhood - but childhood at secondary school, so between 11-13. I can still remember that dream almost as clear as day now. Tinkerbell came to my bedroom and gave me some of her magic dust that allowed me to fly. So I walked outside into my back garden in the dead of night, my mum fast asleep next door in her bedroom that is next to mine. I jumped into the air, and I was flying. It felt so real and unbelievable. I was flying, I was really flying. Of course, I wasn't really flying, it was just a dream, but even now it felt like it really did happen.

I flew over my village, remembering every detail of it from a birds eye point of view, then headed Stratford way and eventually towards the North Star.

Tinkerbell suddenly disappeared, I don't remember when she did, but she wasn't around anymore. I arrived at Neverland alone, and gasped in horror. It was completely destroyed. No-one was around, there was smoke and dust everywhere. It was a wasteland. I landed on the wasteland and started calling Peter's name, as one would expect to meet Peter Pan on their arrival to Neverland. He didn't appear. I started to walk across the wasteland that was once Neverland, and suddenly, I began to hear voices. They were familiar, but not a good familiar. They were pirates, and where there are pirates in Neverland, there is Captain Hook. I need to hide. I thought and quickly browsed around for where too. I saw a cardboard box, big enough for me to fit in. I scrambled inside, clenched my teeth and shut my eyes tight, praying they wouldn't find me.

I could hear footsteps by this time, and their voices had grown louder.

"Someone has been here. I can smell it." I heard Hook say. "Look everywhere." I watched in fear and awe as from my hiding place, I saw him take a step forward so his feet were in my line of vision from my hiding place. He bent down onto one knee, and in slow motion, I could see him lower himself to look into my hiding place, first his long, ebony dreadlocks came to view, then his pointy, sharp and savage face peered down toward me, a smile elongated across his face in pure delight. He fad found what he was looking for, and what he was looking for was me.

Then I woke up.

Which pissed me off. I wanted to know what happened next!

So I had a good old dream about good old Captain Hook again last night. Like the film "Inception" reminds us all, we never really remember how our dream starts, we are just there, and it doesn't occur to us how we got there. So there I am. I'm not alone, I know I am with friends, but I can't remember who I was with. One of my friends informs me that Captain Hook has been arrested, and it was my job to go "book him in". Now I don't exactly take him to a police station. I take him to a strange and unfamiliar house. Unfamiliar outside the dream, but in the dream it was familiar. Have you ever had that happen to you?

So yes, there I am with Mr Captain James Hook, I take him, in handcuffs to this house. For some reason, no-one has taken his weapons off him, so I quickly see to that, taking his sword and gun off of him. Then I take him out into the garden and handcuff him to something that I don't remember. All I know is that he can't escape. Or so I thought. I go back into the house and I'm chatting with someone. There are holes in this dream that I don't remember, but eventually, Captain Hook breaks free, and I'm pretty much shitting myself because I know he is going to come after me. I run into the garden, and we both freeze as we acknowledge each other. I run into the shed and grab at whatever weapon I can, and we begin to battle.

THEN I FUCKING WAKE UP. UGH.

For once, I wish I could dream a full dream and remember every detail of it.

So, blog readers/writers, do any of you remember your dreams, and do you find them particularly epic? I would love to know. Comment on this blog if you do.

I'll be uploading a vlog later, a little rant about a particular troll that is trolling at the moment, if you are interested, take a gandar on this page: http://www.youtube.com/tarka98

NaNoWriMo!

I'm taking part in NaNoWriMo this year. If you haven't heard of it, what is involved is that you have to write 50,000 words within the November month toward your novel. The novel I'm working on, I have planned for many years now, dating back to a time when I was a wee lass at Secondary School. In that time I have made many changes, but hopefully this year my mind is set on the plot. I don't know if any other author out there has had the same type of thing when writing a book, but this seems to work for me.

I know I've been away from blogging for some time, but hopefully my writing for NaNoWriMo will help me write more, as well as vlog more, which is something I have been doing more of recent.

If you would like to check out my NaNoWriMo progress, you may do by clicking the following words: My NaNoWriMo Page.

When I write this, I have only just hit over 6,000 words, and as it's day 10, I am supposed to be way over this word count. Fingers crossed I can catch up!

Anyway, I need to go now, if you are interested in what I am writing, you can read below the synopsis as well as an extract from my novel, feel free to comment with your opinion and critique, I love to know what other people think and what I could do to improve, but please be gentle, this is the only first draft, so it isn't going to be perfect :)

Synopsis: Grace Miller: Otter Odyssey

Grace Miller is your typical inbetweener. Not popular nor un-popular at school. Nothing special. Lives at home with an ordinary mother. Visits her ordinary Grandmother. Her father not in the picture, because he died before she was born. Not that ordinary, but nothing that made her peculiar.

Until her Grandmother, Suzie, is suddenly diagnosed with a fatal illness. An inoperable tumour nested right in the middle of her brain, leaving her just months, if not weeks to live.

Grace prepares herself within these months to say goodbye to her Gram-Gram, and when she leaves her life forever, a new chapter in her life starts, particularly when she opens a letter left for her from her Gram-Gram telling her the truth about her father... her real father.

Now Grace embarks on a journey of self discovery for the missing answers of her life, helped along when after a thunderstorm in the middle of a meadow strikes her with a lightening bolt, trigging something inside her that she never knew existed...

Excerpt: Grace Miller: Otter Odyssey

Dear Grace,

If you are reading this, then it means I am no longer with you. Just know, I love you and your mother with all my heart, and I’ll be watching over you. It was the right time for me to leave. I’d had many chapters of adventure in my life, and while it is sad that I say goodbye to you and your mum now, we will see each other again. I know I’ve never been much of a religious person, but I do believe death isn’t the end.

Even though I’m gone you still have a life to live, and your own life chapters to write. I have left you some money. I’ve known since you were little you’ve always talked about how you would like to travel the world. The money I have left you, I would like you to use that for that purpose.

Now, there is something I need to tell you. Please make sure your mother isn’t reading this part. It’s very important and I don’t think she is going to like what I am about to tell you, so much so, I was a coward and decided to leave it until I was gone.

There’s something you need to know about your father. Your father isn’t dead. In fact, he is very much alive. He was arrested for murder, and has been in prison since before you were born – well, he was supposed to have been, expect he escaped. No-one knows what happened to him. I happen to believe he was innocent, despite what your mum thought. Now don’t get too mad at her, she told you what she told you because she loves you and thought she was protecting you.

Your actual father’s name is Oliver. He escaped from prison. The police contacted me, and told me to let your mother know what had happened in case he came to find her – and you. Even though your mother had told him she had had a miscarriage, he didn’t believe her, he knew her too well to know when she was lying. So he knows you exist. I can’t say where in case this letter gets into the wrong hands, but since he escaped, he has been sending you letters, pictures, birthday and Christmas cards, all of which I have saved for you.

I believe Oliver has a brother who lives in Cape Town, South Africa. His name is Jeremy and I have his address logged down in my address book.

I’m sorry this information has been kept from you for so long, but your mum believed him to be dangerous, and was only looking out for you, not many people believed your father, I was one of very few, and he didn’t deserve to stay in prison. I told him I’ll make sure you are aware of his existence when the time was right, and if you wanted to contact him, it would be easy for you to do so.

Love you forever and always,

Gram-Gram.

DISSERTATION AUDIENCE INTERACTION QUESTIONNAIRE!

Hello all,

For those that do not know me, my name is Zoe, a third year media student at the University of Lincoln, and for my Dissertation, I am studying ‘LOST’ and its fan culture. I need your help! If as many of you could please take a few moments of any free time to spare answering my questions, that would be fantastic! There are fifteen questions in total.

First set of questions is to do with the type of audience ‘LOST’ attracts for my audience research:
1. How old are you?
2. Are you male or female?
3. What do you do for a living? Are you employed, unemployed, student, retired etc?
4. Are you an aspirer or a homemaker?
5. Do you think ‘LOST’ is for a narrow audience or broad audience?

And now for the questions on ‘LOST’

1. What is the appeal of lost to you?

2. How many ‘LOST’ forums are you a member of?

3. Do you part take in any fan culture activities? Such as fan fiction, fan videos, fan art, etc?

4. What would you consider as fan activity apart from the aspects I mentioned?

5. Do you look for spoilers, or avoid them?

6. Is six seasons enough, or would you rather there be more episodes to come?

7. To what extend does your fandom go?

8. Have you ever attended a ‘LOST’ convention, and if so, how were they conducted, and what did you do at them?

9. Would you go to Hawaii to go on the tour of the ‘LOST’ set, and if so, what would you get most excited about seeing?

10. Do your friends ever get tired of your expressed fandom of ‘LOST’, and would you consider yourself as an ‘Annoying Lost Fan’?

Thank you very much for your help, you can keep up-to-date with the progress of this dissertation if you follow my other blog: fal108-themediastudent.blogspot.com

Real Bad Luck Friday 13th

It's really late and I have work in the morning at 11, and I don't finish til six. But I really don't care. Hey. That's what pro plus is for, right?

I used to scoff at the idea of Friday the 13th being a day of bad luck. But after today, I've definately changed my mind.

Firstly, my morning dream was about someone trying to try and murder me. In fact, to be more specific, it was Logan's dad in 'Veronic Mars' that was trying to kill me. I'm not really sure why. But there you go. I woke up and realised I wasn't dead. So maybe I was lucky in that way. I mean, imagine waking up dead.

The next thing that went wrong was waking up and realising how late it was. Half 10. I was meeting a member of my single camera group later that day, at half one, in our uni pub called 'The Shed'. Just for a few drinks and a gossip before our Horror and Fantasy lecture. We were both quite excited as we had some college students auditioning for some parts we had on offer for our single camera production of Harvey Dwaynne, a detective set in his 50s ways, but living in present day. Myself and my group are really excited about this production. We've yet to come up with a name for our production. You can visit our blog if you are interested to find out more. Just click Dirty Shed Productions and it will take you there.

Ok, next bad thing that happened today....probably was taking a motivational group email the wrong way. Made me feel like I hadn't been putting as much effort into a group thing when I had. Luckily I got that straightened out though.

Then after that, after nipping to the Spa shop for a drink and some ciggs, I realised that the ten pounds cash back I asked for from The Shed, I did not recive. Humph. So I have no idea if I lost it, or forgot to retrieve it from the bar tender. So now I'm ten quid short. Not good when you have less then 20 quid to live on before the 23rd of November, when I get paid. I suppose I can always go to student services in desperate need when I do run out of money.

The next bad thing - I find out majority of house mates and friends have been out at the Glass House tonight, and didn't think to invite me. Friends who I haven't seen in a while, and the pub is only a two minute walk away from uni. Nothing but not recieveing a text would stop me attending. Ok, I'mm skint, but I don't have to drink. I'd just go to socialize. As I haven't properly in a while.

Okay, the next bad luck thing is kinda embarrasing. I went downstairs to laundry room to do my laundry, and after making a couple of trips to and fro from flat to laundry room, I didn't notice that my keys went in with the laundry, to let after pressing the 'colours' button, activating the washing machine beyond the point of being able to stop it and open it. I had to go see the security staff to give me some temporary keys until my washing was done. Bare in mind, this is at like 2am, and I have work at 11am. So the early bedtime went out the window. It's twenty past 3 in the morning as I write this. I should go to bed, but I am too stupid to go.

And on top of all that, I see Kristina (if you're reading this, you may know her as italktosnakes) on twitter keep tweeting about this thing called 'omedgle' all day, and curious to know what it was, I decided to check it out. So I did. Apparently it's this chat thing where you go and chat to a random stranger. First guy I talk to, after he says hi, and I say hi, he asks 'asl?'. I didn't know what that was at first, but vaguely remember seeing it somewhere before. Apparently it means age, sex, location. So immediately after I put 20, female, England, he disconnected the chat. How rhude!!!

Anyway, that's all of the bad luck stuff. Oh, I forgot I tried to reply on facebook to a group facebook message on my phone, and after replying a long message, my phone turned itself off - twice this happened, and I gave up.

So yeah, I hope Saturday to be a better day. Maybe even a lucky day to make up for this one. We'll see.

Night for now.

Rants to Vent

Ugh, having such a frustrating day, and I'm not really sure why. It's all down to a supposed best friend, and I probably really shouldn't be made about it, but I always am in a funny mood.

Basically, the gist is, I created a little pet nickname for him last year. Ja-Lo, cuz he is quite a kamp guy, my mate Jason. As I know back at home he sometimes got called Ja-Fo back at home, I decided more like Ja-Lo, similar to the singer JLo, but my own way of spelling it. Basically, I'm calling him a girl, but NOT the real JLo. Ok, he says he didn't like the nickname when it first came about, but it's just one of those things that you accept that a friend does, right? Like when Dr Cox calls JD girls names.

A year later, and Ja-Lo and all his friends are sure that a girl called Kate started the nickname that never caught on. Just because she continued to call him the name after I invented it. Which she didn't. I don't even often call Jase 'Ja-Lo'. I often forget. In fact, I only ever call him Ja-Lo on my phone, in which his number is saved under, so I don't get what all the fuss is about. Just because 'brownbear' 'caught on' amongst the rest of his friends because my nickname for him is 'stupid' and 'doesn't make sense'. It's not even the right nickname! The nickname was taken from scrubs, and it's actually CHOCOLATE bear, not brown bear. But of course, he only likes it for the racial humor.

Also, aparently, my spelling is unacceptable. Oh, and these are the comments from when he put up a facebook status saying "bout time I added Brownbear to my name", when I replied "you'll always be Ja-Lo to me" these were the responses from supposed friends:

Jason: spelt J.LO and its the worst nickname in the world it just doesnt make sense and is crap hence why it didn;t catch on... you douche! It never caught on just you and kate... DOES NOT COUNT... and im guessing they dont teach you how to spell?

James: "Ja-Lo" would be pronounced "Jah-Loh" and, therefore, sound nothing like the Jay-Loh" what you're aiming for.

Not only did it not catch on; your phoenetics are lacking at best.

So thanks, supposed best friend of mine, for making me feel so small, insignificant and retarded.

I guess I just hate being ganged up on. I dunno. I can't explain my frustration and ARRRGH and the need to punch things. I shouldn't take it all so seriously. Maybe cuz it's only a name and they are making a big fuss about it. I've been called far worse nicknames by my friends. Can't see why they can''t get over such a pathetic little thing to fuss over.

Rant over. Ended up finally replying after deciding to let them sulk "haha can't believe what a fuss has been made over such a silly insignificant little thing. Quite pathetic really."

BBC Scriptwriting Talent Competition

I've just updated my uni media blog for first time in MONTHS. In fact, it maybe my first ever post - huuray!

Follow following link to get to my uni blog so you can read more about the BBC Scriptwriting Talent Competition and my interest in it as well as possible involvement.

BBC SCRIPTWRING TALENT COMPETITION

Ferrero Rocher Challenge

In celebration of my birthday, I decided to take up the recent raging world record challenging of eating as many ferrero rochers as possible, with the current record being 7, and the guy whom took up the challenge in this year's 'Britain's Got Talent' got up to 4, and me being cocky thought it would be easy to get past 7 of these nutty chocs, certainly 4. So I streamed the challenge live, and here it is:



Lol, this is my first attempt, and I plan to try again later. People are right, this is a lot harder then it looks!

Almost Third Year Student!!

It's been a very full-filling year, my second year at university. A lot has gone on, I know I've definately put more effort into this one in terms of my work ect, and now third year awaits me. Graduating year. This time next year I will be finishing University for good. This time next year I will be doing my best to search for a job. Scary stuff. Student loans gone (well, 'cept for paying my loan back!), mortages, bills etc here I come! Argh, why can't I be a student forever? LOL.

I am going back to my hometown at the weekend - where I will be out of internet! Argh! So don't know how I am going to cope with that! I am going to have to beg my mum to get internet! At the moment though, I seem to be doing my best to avoid packing my room, ready to be picked up at the weekend. My room is a tip and I need a big sort out in crap I don't need! I have to decide what stuff to keep in Lincoln and what stuff to take back home, just too much to do in the space of a few days!

This weekend just gone, I was in Yorkshire on a photography work experience, taking photos of Landrovers who were on a off-road experience, and I would take photos of them splashing into mud, it was great fun, I had some photos on my digital camera which I was going to put up on here, but unfortunately on a birthday night out with one of my best friends, I re-formatted my camera, not realising that it deletes my photos in the process! Which is really frustrating as I had some nice photos with my dad on a day out in Skegness too! Never mind....I'll get hold of copies of my work somehow.

Then there is my youtube work - I am so behind, and I know there is no-way I am going to get majority of what I want done, done by the time I have no access to internet. The second part of my 'Deception' video, completing my John Locke 'omg I can't believe it' as well as other projects I've yet to start.

I don't start third year to the end of September, so I have a long summer ahead, and a couple of things in this summer to look forward to. Midnight walk in June, LOST convention in August and a holiday in the Lake District early September. In between all these events I need to find paid work and plenty of work experience to contribute to my experienced in the media as well as looking flashy on my CV.

Next year at university I am studying single camera, so hopefully this means I can display more regular work I do at uni online on youtube. If my vids are good enough! Hehe.

Fal out xx

My Best Friends Birthday

It is my best friends birthday. Officially today. But I was meant to write this earlier, cept I couldn't get logged on and I was busy most of the day.



So what have I planned for his eternal sunshine of the spotless mind? A birthday cake and a present, big present which I've arranged to go fifths on.



The birthday cake is amazing. See, he has this crazy obession with the Dark Knight - in particular the Joker. So I made him a chocolate cake, and covered the top with icing before drawing the Joker's face on it. Had to take some pictures before it got demolished too. If you are reading this, you'll have to let me know what you think.



I've also yet to make the birthday video. Don't know what song to put with it though. He is obessesed with this Paramore song at the moment. "Misery Buisness" but I don't think that is the direction to go in. Need something birthday-ish. I'll work it out sooner or later and upload.

Anywho, gotta go!