Blue Lyra Review

Okay, I lied. I haven't been writing once a week like I wanted to. Graduate school keeps me busy. In addition, I've become the web editor for Blue Lyra Review. It's an online literary magazine showcasing 3 issues of poems, stories, essays, translations, and art pieces a year. If you think your writing fits what BLR is looking for, I highly encourage you to submit your work to the respective editors we have on board. All information can be found on the website. Today we've just released the second issue (1.2). Please go and read the great pieces we have in store and tell your friends. As a community of writers, sharing is key.

Blue Lyra Review

Blue Lyra Review Issue 1.2

Happy reading!

Delays

I'm just letting my fellow followers know I've started graduate school last week, therefore most of my time is being spent on reading for class and doing other related assignments and activities. One of my courses is Social Media for Public Relations, so I've created a separate blog and twitter to explore using social mediums more professionally for the semester. I now have more social networks to keep track of in addition to this tumblr, my casual twitter, deviantart, etc. What does this mean? This means I have less time being creative for the sake of creativity and leisurely pleasure. As I always say, I have many things I want to write, but I just can't find the time. I'll try to hit at least 1-2 entries a week, but I refuse to completely disappear. Please stay tuned!

I believe this to my core: follow your dreams. They may not lead you where you expect to go but they'll always lead you someplace good.

J.M. DeMatteis via twitter.

Comic-Related Crushes

Comic writer Scott Snyder posted the below tweet last week. I meant to post it here sooner, but with graduate school starting, I haven't had the time:

1) Character: Green Lantern Kyle Rayner

Reasoning: He's an artist, with a big imagination. I believe his imagination is what makes Kyle the perfect Green Lantern, considering he can will anything he desires out of light. I never read the 90s version of Kyle, but I've read everything he's been in since Rebirth. Because he's an artist, I relate to him a lot as an English graduate. He's all about finding his purpose in life and making everyone happy. He's supposed to be not just an average guy, but the underdog who comes to possess a lot of responsibility. It helps that his character is sweet and witty too. I always say I'd date him if he was real.

2) Best Actor Portrayal of a Character: James McAvoy as Charlies Xavier in X-Men: First Class

Reasoning: I only wanted to watch X-Men: First Class for one reason, and that was to watch the character relationship between James McAvoy's Xavier and Michael Fassbender's Magneto. McAvoy does a wonderful job as a young Xavier: smart, cunning, caring, ambitious, and a little full of himself. I can't describe it... He just does some really good acting--vocally, emotionally, physically--and I think it's because he and Fassbender have such great chemistry. McAvoy very well captures the close, but strain relationship Xavier has had with Magneto for decades. I admit I was hesitant of him being cast as Xavier at first, despite me liking him beforehand, but he exceeded expectations.

3) Creator: Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire

Reasoning for Scott: Okay I cheated, I chose two! The decision was difficult. I know many people say this, but Scott Snyder is incredible. He's my writer crush  because he writes the most dark and twisted stuff, as seen in American Vampire, Detective Comics, Gates of Gotham, Batman, and Swamp Thing. I haven't read Scalped, but I'm sure that's dark too. I'm a fan of mysteries, psychological thrillers, and gothic novels, genres that he definitely brings forth into his comics. Just seeing his subtle references to the likes of Edgar Allan Poe makes me all giddy because I know he knows his stuff. I like to think of him as the Prince of Darkness... he does such messed up things to Dick Grayson and Batman. He's a writer I wish to one day be like, if ever.

Reasoning for Jeff: I knew of Jeff way before Scott when I first started to read comics two years ago. The funny thing is, I didn't hear of Jeff due to his famous work on Essex County or Sweet Tooth. It was from picking up pre-52 Superboy #1 out of the blue. Jeff Lemire is a good example of a writer who thinks way into the future about his story arcs. In Superboy, I could tell he was setting up for something bigger... a lingering mystery yet to be solved. Unfortunately his run was cut short due to the New 52 (boo!). What I love about Jeff is that his characters have a lot of development and he focuses on building relationships, especially the concept of family. His characters feel real and he's able to evoke emotional feelings from readers. We only received a small glimpse of that in Superboy, but it's obvious in Essex County and Animal Man, the only works I have read so far. Jeff Lemire is a writer I always want to try to follow when he brings something new to the table.

...And those are my picks! Here are runner ups with no particular order:

Character: Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, Supergirl (Kara Zor-El), Barry Allen

Actor: Michael Fassbender as Magneto

Creator: Geoff Johns, Francis Manapul, Kurtis J. Wiebe (Geoff was great up to about Blackest Night, but he's lost points for continuously dragging all the Green Lanterns into mediocre events that have Hal Jordan --eh-- always being the victor. It's annoying. Use a different Green Lantern for once! Though he's gained some points for Aquaman/Mera.)

So what are your picks? 

SDCC 2012 Recap, Part 2

In my last entry, I recounted the positives and negatives of my Thursday experience at San Diego Comic-Con. I now finish off my recap of Sunday.

SUNDAY:

(-) I didn't see the Fringe or Supernatural panel as predicted, but it's okay because I've become immune to always missing the latter panel. Besides, I'm convinced I don't want to wait in the Hall H line for hours just to see a one hour panel of actors from afar. I did want that Fringe fedora everyone was wearing though.

(+) After a failed attempt at just checking out the Hall H line, I went back into the Convention Center. By chance, I saw the Supernatural cast signing at the WB Booth. I was able to snap some quick pictures. They're not that good, but I'm content.

(++) While walking by myself, I ran into my friend from home who I had planned to meet at some point on Sunday. She knew artist Dustin Nguyen personally, so I had the courage to ask if he was selling the print of the Bat family he had on display. My boyfriend, who couldn't make it on Sunday, had really wanted it. Dustin said it was, and gave me a deal by throwing in the print of the Bat rogues. Two for one. To top it off, while my friend and I were chatting with him, he pulled out a print of Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy capturing Batman, signed it, and gave it to me for free! Three prints total. He's so sweet! :)

(+) I met writer Tony Bedard, who writes my favorite Green Lantern, Kyle Rayner, in Green Lantern: New Guardians. I mentioned I liked Orange Lantern Glomulus and he told me how surprised he was that Glomulus became such a fan favorite. He really hadn't expected the positive response and it was fun listening to his explanation.

(++) A favorite part of my day was meeting Kyle Higgins, writer of Nightwing. While in line, I saw Kyle waiting besides the signing booth since it was not yet his turn. I looked up and down the line to see if anyone else noticed him, but no one gave any indication they did. At that moment, two possibilities occurred to me: 1) People generally never know how writers/artists look like. Only I did because I'm such a fangirl. 2) People DID notice him but didn't care much. Only I cared because I'm a huge fangirl. Whatever the reason, I guess I'm still at fault for being a fangirl. What do you think? Anyways, when it was my turn, I got my brother's Nightwing #1 signed and got a picture with Kyle. He was sweet, and asked if his hair looked okay because he was having a bad hair day. Look at the following picture. How could a looker like him have a bad hair day? :p

(+) With signings done and no more panels that interested me, I walked around with one of my friends, buying stuff here and there. I got a decent haul of what I hope will be useful merchandise.

And that was my Sunday at SDCC! I know it doesn't sound too adventurous and exciting, but I go there to see writers and artists and maybe attend a panel or two.

I figured this would be my last SDCC for awhile since the event is just too big and crazy, but my boyfriend informed me a few days ago that he got us 4-day passes for next year, so I MUST go. I fear my internship for grad school will kick in next summer, but here's to hoping they let me off for two days. :)

SDCC 2012 Recap, Part 1

So I know San Diego Comic-Con was over a month ago, but I've been awfully busy traveling almost nonstop that I haven't had the time to share my experience. I went to southern California to meet college friends and attend SDCC, went to Santa Barbara for a bachelorette party, then I went to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for vacation. Busy, busy, busy. It's best I write this entry now before I leave for graduate school next week. I attended SDCC on Thursday and Sunday with my boyfriend and two friends, but I'll only focus on Thursday in this entry for conciseness, highlighting the negatives and positives. Lets begin!

(-) I began the car ride from Irvine to Qualcomm Stadium in a sour mood because my two friends were complaining about how early it was (we left at 8am) and decided we would leave much later on Sunday. Long story short, it meant I had no chance of seeing the Supernatural panel, something I wanted to see badly for the last two years, but missed because I never had the right day. Basically I was already angry about Sunday on a Thursday. Petty I know, but I waited so long.

(- -) I always stay at my boyfriend's place in Irvine (I live in NorCal) and take the 1 hour drive from Irvine to Qualcomm Stadium to take the 20 minute train ride to the Convention Center. It's no big deal, but this year, due to heavy traffic and a ridiculously long line for badge pick-up, I did not enter the building until after 11am. I was devastated because I missed the 10am signing of 1 out of the 2 writers I waited almost a year to see: Scott Snyder. Just ask any of my friends. I don't shut up about how excited I am to meet him, so you can imagine how crushed I was, knowing he wouldn't be attending SDCC on Sunday. If not, very, VERY crushed.

(+) My boyfriend and I attended the Batman: Beyond the Night of Owls panel, which was a pick me up. I got to see a bunch of the Bat family writers talk about their upcoming stories (the Joker!), such as Kyle Higgins, Gail Simone, and Scott Snyder himself. To top it of, we all got owl masks, which were all the rage. When I walked around with it strapped to my purse, I had a bunch of people come up to me and ask where I got it. I felt lucky and special. Great panel. :)

(+) I went to the Top Shelf Booth and met Jeff Lemire. I met him the year before, so it was okay if I didn't meet him again this year, but I wanted to try and get a copy of his new graphic novel, The Underwater Welder. He made a sketch in the copy I purchased and signed my Animal Man #1.

(+++) The highlight of my Thursday was meeting Kurtis J. Wiebe, the second writer I wanted to see just as much as Scott Snyder. Unfortunately I came at a time when he received some personal bad news, but he happily welcomed me anyways. I was ecstatic and probably had lots of things to say, but didn't say it as I was awestruck (I never got to ask him how to pronounce "Panzerfaust"). Why do I admire him so much? He's newer in the business and I find him inspirational. He also has such diverse works, a reflection of a very imaginative mind. I got my Peter Panzerfaust and Grim Leaper signed, then bought the Intrepids from him, which he also signed. Meeting Kurtis was a treat. He was really nice and I had a small conversation with him. I pointed out I was Laura (on twitter) and he acknowledged me, but whether he really remembered is a different story. Regardless, I was happy (EDIT: Kurtis read this entry and pointed out he did remember. :p). I got a picture with him and he hugged me goodbye. My boyfriend was jealous that I was even able to talk to a writer. It was a good day and I left giddy.

Overall, Thursday was a decent day. So I didn't see Scott Snyder like I wanted to, but at least I met Kurtis Wiebe. If you're reading this Kurtis, thanks for being my highlight! Stay tune for Sunday's recap.

What Do You Do with a B.A. in English? / It Sucks to be Me:

What do you do with a B.A. in English? What is my life going to be? 4 years of college, And plenty of knowledge, Have earned me this useless degree! I can’t pay the bills yet, ‘Cause I have no skills yet, The world is a big scary place! But somehow I can’t shake, The feeling I might make, A difference to the human race!

Why Comic Book Writers Are Amazing

I have great respect for comic book writers. Not just any comic book writers, but the ones that write superhero stories for the big two: DC Comics and Marvel. Now I’m not disregarding writers who have their creator-owned series because my god, they are JUST as amazing in their own right. But today, I focus on superhero comic writers and this is why.

Superhero stories get tedious and redundant. Why? Because they’re iconic, copyrighted characters that have existed for decades; they are characters drenched in ever accumulating mythos and baggage. Superhero stories follow the same general formula: An evil threatens the world and the hero saves the day, or the hero’s morale is crushed, but the hero prevails and triumphs all obstacles. This is the ultimate expectation. This is the only route the superhero can go, unless they get killed off for a few years (in Barry Allen’s case, 23 years) or become temporarily evil (Green Lantern Hal Jordan). Whatever the case, they come back stronger and better than ever. And why not? They’re superheroes that we all root for. Good must be the victor! Always.

That’s when my respect for superhero comic writers come in. To be able to spit out a comic month after month with a new story arc that engages readers and spans from 2 to 12+ issues is no easy feat. Keeping stories fresh by adding a twist here and there into a story in which we already know the hero will win, is a difficult task. There are high expectations, yet a lot of writers are able to push through and “wow” us so many times.

Take Scott Snyder, writer of the current Batman, for example. We know Batman’s story. He’s an intelligent bad ass detective, immersed in melancholy, who doesn’t have any meta powers. He will always prevail in a crisis because he is JUST. THAT. AWESOME. But how does a writer write the usual “Batman will win” story? Snyder shows us how in his most recent story arc, the Court of Owls, in which he introduces new villains: The Talons and the Owls who have been lurking and watching over Gotham in the shadows since the beginning, before even Batman’s time. In essence, Snyder has not created new villains, but villains who have been around forever. It creates chills… the idea that Bruce Wayne has always been watched… the idea that Gotham never really belonged to Batman… the idea that Gotham has never really been safe. To top it off, Snyder makes Batman even crazier and more paranoid, turning this arc into a psychological thriller.

Now that’s some good writing! Of course, Scott Snyder is one example of a writer who can make things new, without really making anything new. There are some writers who spill out the same cliched formula without anything exciting or fresh. Instead, it falls flat and readers will complain how bad it is, me included. But that’s my point, really. Even though I don’t think a story arc is good, I will still respect writers for trying. Because honestly, writing superhero stories all the time is hard. To write something new on a deadline, month after month, and months in advance is amazing. The stories they come up with are better than I’ll ever concoct myself in a short period of time. So thank you comic writers for both wonderful and not so wonderful stories. Keep up the good work and I hope to join your ranks one day.

I'll Be Back!

There have been many things I've wanted to write, mainly reviews that people don't care about but I do because it allows me to practice writing. That, and to spread my joy of books and comics. I've meant to also post about other writing related topics and start on another story, but I've been held back doing some content writing for my aunt's beauty college site. I guess you can say I've been a busy bee to some respect.

Anyways, I'll be out of town for the next two weeks on mini-vacations. I'll be in southern California meeting friends, beaching it up,  and attending SDCC. After that, I'll be enjoying a bachelorette party weekend. Both events are unrelated. Hopefully I can write something here the week I return, but the week after that I'm on a full blown vacation. Worst case scenario is that I won't write in this for a full month, but that only affects me and my writing progress. Regardless, I wanted to let my followers know why I might disappear for a long period of time. :)

Happy summer, followers. I'll be back in a Flash!

...but not really, because Barry Allen is ALWAYS late.

(Art and color by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato)

Supergirl #10

Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson, Illustrated by Mahmud Asrar

"You hurt my friend, monster! You stole my power! And now--I'M TAKING IT BACK! -Supergirl

In this issue of Supergirl, Kara has been sucked into the nightmarish world of the Black Banshee. Here she relives through her past memories, which have been slightly altered to bring out her fears. Realizing that what she's experiencing aren't memories, but actually nightmares, the Black Banshee appears to confront her and end her struggle against him once and for all.

This issue which ends the three-issue Black Banshee story arc, is a step up from the last two issues. Frankly I've found this arc to be very slow and unimpressive. The Black Banshee is kind of a ridiculous villain with no real motive but to suck up people's souls and powers. He's one dimensional and I was hoping he'd disappear as soon as we readers were introduced to him, but alas, we had to put up with his outrageous threats toward Supergirl and his daughter Siobhan for at least three issues. Yay...

Despite my dislike for this story arc, this concluding issue makes up for it by returning to the roots I so much enjoyed in earlier issues. We're finally getting more background on Kara's past and more development on her character, which is explored in the memories of and conversation with her mother. I especially like the introspection narrative in this issue, which shows her rationalization and strong willpower. She's definitely not a hero that relies merely on raw strength. This issue is also great because it introduces another potential supporting character (maybe even love interest), which I believe can turn the story around.

What I really love without a doubt is the art in this issue. Mahmud Asrar is amazing! In fact, he's the reason I've stayed on this series for the past 10 months. With Kara having been sucked into a nightmarish world, Asrar had the chance to go crazy and illustrate some dark and epic panels. For instance, Kara in a battle armor and the portrayal of Black Banshee as a Flamedragon. It's a really fun issue, art-wise. The only problem is that Asar can be inconsistent with faces. Sometimes Kara's expression looks off and it gets difficult to tell the difference between Kara and her mother. Regardless, it was enjoyable. I give this issue a 3/5.

**********

With all this being said, I unfortunately have decided to remove this comic off my subscription list. This recent issue re-piqued my interest, but it is not enough. It has been a difficult decision, with me holding out for quite some time because I like Supergirl. When I first picked up #1, I felt Green and Johnson had a lot of potential. I still think they do, but the series has been too slow. The mysteries just aren't getting revealed. Where are the Worldkillers? What happened to Krypton? If the pacing were only better. The biggest reason I've held on for as long as I have is because I can't get enough of Asrar's art. However, there really has to be a balance between story and art. Supergirl doesn't have that balance I desire, so I must say goodbye for now... But I'll be keeping a close eye out for me to jump back in again in what I hope is the near future.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

By Stieg Larsson

"I admire Lisbeth Salander. She's tougher than I am. If I had been strapped down for a year when I was thirteen, I would probably have broken down altogether. She fought back with the only weapon she had available--her contempt for you." -Annika Giannini

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read The Girl Who Played with Fire, the second book in the Millennium trilogy, don't read this general summary and review.

**********

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is the conclusion to Larsson's Millennium Trilogy. It picks up from the the cliffhanger in The Girl Who Played with Fire where after confronting Zalachenko, a mastermind criminal and Russian spy who defected to Sweden, Lisbeth Salander is shot three times (once in the head) and left for dead. Found by the ever resourceful Mikael Blomkvist, Salander is whisked away to the hospital; her fate unknown.

It is no surprise to say that at the beginning of this third book, Salander is alive, but fighting for her life in more ways than one. Though the bullet has been removed, it is uncertain if she'll fully recover. She is physically incapacitated, leaving her vulnerable to the world around her, which isn't good when she finds out Zalachenko, the man she swung an axe to the head at, is still alive and in a hospital room a few doors down. Can she defend herself and get to him first, or will Zalachenko finish her off once and for all? To make matters worse, if Salander recovers, she'll have to stand trial for three murders, not to mention charges for assault and attempted murder. Things are definitely not in her favor and she can't do a thing about it, but she's determined to try anyways. Lucky for Salander, she has Blomkvist and his staff at Millennium, Milton Security, and a few private investigators on her side. One way or another, the conspiracy that has subjugated people like her to abuse and violence for decades will be cracked wide open and she will have her vengeance. She swears on it.

Stieg Larsson is very good with details. He knows how to set the mood and makes his reveals worth it. However in this third book, his detailed setup gets old fast. Readers already know what all the characters don't, and waiting for each and every character to figure it out gets tiresome. To add to the tediousness, Larsson keeps adding new characters from the beginning to end. There are so many characters that it's difficult to keep track of what side of the spectrum (good or bad) they're on or who they even are. We even see less of Salander and Blomkvist, who we have been following for two books, which is unfortunate because personally, they're the reasons why I like the trilogy. And don't get me started on the love story that Larsson throws in out of thin air near the end of the book.

Despite the many characters, the weakest point of this book was the side plot involving Erika Berger, editor-in-chief of Millennium. In this book, she leaves Millennium to become the editor of the prominent newspaper, SMP. There she gets a stalker who sends crude emails and threatens her well being. I found this story to be a waste of space, considering it's irrelevant to the Salander case. I can see that perhaps Larsson wanted to emphasize the ongoing theme of unjust violence against women and show that women like Berger (and Salander) can be strong and fight back, but to me, the story fell flat. The resolution was anticlimactic and dull. I never cared for Berger's character and this made me care for her much less.

As a whole, the Millennium Trilogy was a fun read and gives me a lot to think about in terms of the violence perpetuated toward women. I highly recommend the first book, which can serve as a standalone thriller. The second book is not as good, but still engaging. The last book would have to be the weakest, but I assume this is because Larsson had an untimely death and never had the chance to fine-tune it. I give The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest a 3/5.

As a closing statement, I'd like to say that after reading all three books, I can't help but think that Swedish people like to eat lots of sandwiches and drink lots of coffee.

This looks very useful for writers. Check it out! :)

Heads or Tails?

As mentioned before, this tumblr template doesn't show my italicized words if you read this post straight from my blog. The dashboard should be fine. You can see the full format here: Heads or Tails?

**********

She turned the 27-year old quarter over and over again in her right hand. Exceeding even her lifetime, it exhibited wisdom within its miniscule scratches and thin layer of rust, having been in the hands of one pupil to the next over almost three decades. She stopped and clasped her fingers around this artifact of destiny. She had dreamed to be a writer for so long and was determined to be one at all cost. She stared at Washington with a look of helplessness, pleading for answers. She was at a loss.

Heads or tails?

Heads was the rational and practical choice. If she chose path A, it would guarantee her a job. It wouldn’t be the job, that is, the writing job, but it was a job. It would mean work experience and financial security. It didn’t mean she could never be a writer. It just meant it would take time—if she was willing to wait— before she could get where she wanted to be. And she needed that security.

Tails was the ideal choice. Path B represented the possibility that her real dreams could come true. It would give her the relevant background to succeed as a writer quicker, assuming everything went as planned. But it was a risk with no security and no guarantees. She wasn’t sure if it was a risk she could take. Only Mr. Washington could push her to take that leap of faith.

Heads or tails?

Little did she know her fate was already sealed. She would, regardless, become the writer she had always wanted to be. It wasn’t a matter of how or if she would get there. It was a matter of how much she wanted her dreams to become a reality. The journeys presented to her were dependent on her choice, but the endgame was the same. It had already been written. She would succeed because she had always had the will. The determination. The ambition. Still, the only thing she really knew was what the omnipotent coin could and would decide for her.

Heads or tails?

She swallowed her fear and tossed the coin into the air, her paths fickly changing before hitting the ground. Dear Washington was ready to make his call.

So heads or tails?

It made no difference.

The Canvas

Cecelia tightened the knob in the shower and reached for a towel for which she used to dry herself off and wrap around her body. Stepping out onto the mat and out the bathroom door, she grabbed her cell phone to check the time. It was 6:30pm; she was going to be late for her 7 o’ clock date with her boyfriend Jack. He was coming to stay for the weekend.

She hurriedly got ready by first applying moisturizer all over her face and blow-drying the roots of her hair. She left the rest to air dry. Taking hold of her makeup bag and positioning herself in front of the mirrored closet, Cecelia stared at herself, lost in thought as if she were a blank canvas.

Beginning with liquid foundation, she pumped a small amount onto her forefinger and blended it evenly over her face. She shifted her head left, and then right, making sure she had concealed every redness and blemish. Her masterpiece was now underway. She applied primer to both her eyelids and then burrowed through her bag to find her favorite eyeliner. It was expresso colored; a cheap brand, but efficient. With her left hand, Cecelia used a q-tip to lightly stretch and hold down her left eyelid in place as she glided the eyeliner across her upper lashes with her right. When she got to the outside corner of her eye, she made an upward maneuver, creating a slight “wing-style” effect. But to Cecelia’s disappointment, it was sloppy. She wiped away the poorly constructed wing and attempted it again, this time with success. Just as she was about to start on her other eye, her phone rang. It was Jack calling to say he would be ten minutes late. It was already 6:50 and she was nowhere near finished. Cecelia took this as the cue to speed up.

She picked up her eyeliner and resumed applying it to her right eye. Once again, she messed up on the wing. Then again. And again. The time constraint was making her clumsy. After the fourth time, it was perfect. Content, she moved on to eyeshadow, taking care to blend and work in the natural tones delicately. To finish off her look, she moisturized her lips with chapstick and applied a pink tinted lipstick, smacking her lips together and using tissue to clean away any imperfections. Cecelia paused briefly to admire her work in the mirror until she heard a knock on her apartment door at 7:10. Still wrapped in a towel, she peeked her head outside her room to ask her roommate to get the door. Her roommate obliged and in entered Jack.

“Hey you,” Cecelia said endearingly to him. “I’m still getting ready. I’ll be out there in a few more minutes.”

She retreated back into her room and plugged in the hair straightener. As it was warming up, Cecelia browsed through her closet for the optimal outfit. She became set on a dark green flowing summer dress, which she decorated with brilliant accessories. Now dressed, she took sections of her hair and carefully straightened each one, making sure not one strand was out of place. She then lathered lotion all over her body, the aroma filling up the room. Finally ready, she opened her bedroom door to find Jack in the living room. Cecelia stood before him, a masterpiece well done. He grinned.

“I almost didn’t recognize you,” Jack said to her.

Cecelia took this to be a huge compliment, returning a smile and kissing him on the lips. And at last, at 7:30, they embarked on their date.

It wasn’t until the couple returned to the apartment that Cecelia’s perception of the evening would be turned upside down. While Jack sat on her bed playing with his phone, she removed all her makeup and changed into a pair of basketball shorts and an oversized tee in the bathroom. Upon seeing her emerge, Jack gave an even bigger grin than he had before.

“Oh, there’s the beautiful girl I fell for! I was wondering where she had gone off to.”

Cecelia stared at her boyfriend with astonishment, for she was but a blank canvas once more.

**********

See the full format and story description of The Canvas.

"I'm running a small marathon."

Lets deviate from my usual writing-and-literature-related entries for today and talk about my other love: running. Running has become a big part of my life. To family and friends, I've become synonymous with running. Not that I'm a speedster or expert on the matter (I'm not), but because I don't shut up about running and wanting to do races. Ever since I joined track and field and cross country nine years ago in high school, I've never had the urge to stop running. Sure there will be a month of not doing so here and there, but I always start up again because I can feel it in my blood. I have to run. Not necessarily for fitness and health, but something I can't really explain. I don't know, it just makes me happy. It's been my source for motivation and inspiration for awhile now as I live by Peter Maher's saying:

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"

Now that I've gotten my explanation out of the way, lets get to the good stuff: races. I've only ran 5 races since graduating from high school. In fact, I didn't begin to really enter races until my third year of college when I signed up for a half marathon. To be exact, I've done two 5Ks, one 12K, and two half marathons. I'd do more if they weren't so expensive and my right knee wasn't killing me.

As I said, I'm not a running or racing expert, but I do consider myself an experienced runner. And as an experienced runner, I can't help but fall into a running mindset and be bothered by minor statements from non-runners that irk me sometimes. I don't know if anyone else gets a little irritated too, but I dislike it when people tell me things like the following:

Friend: Man Laura, seeing you complete races makes me want to run a race too. 

Me: Oh yeah? That's great!

Friend: Yeah, I'm thinking about signing up for a marathon.

Me: Wow, a full on marathon?

Hm, can anyone see why I'd be bothered by a statement like that? It's all about word choice. I don't know if it's the writer in me that magnifies my distaste for wrong word usage, but boy, it drives me insane. A marathon is about 26.2 miles. Don't say you're running a marathon unless you're running an actual marathon. There are no "small" marathons. If you're running a 1/2 marathon, say HALF. Don't drop off that first word because they're not the same thing. If you're running a 5K, say it. If you don't and you tell a runner something different, there's a chance he/she is blowing up your head with his/her mind. I probably am. I don't want to, but it's a reflex.

Another thing that bothers me is when a friend tells their own friend that I run "marathons" while I'm standing there. This one troubles me because I haven't run marathonS nor have I ran a marathon. I'm flattered, but I feel I'm taking credit for an accomplishment I didn't achieve and I'm offending real marathon runners. If you talk to me, I'll always say I've run a half marathon. I will never lay claim to the word "marathon" until I actually complete one.

I'm not saying all this to be a running snob. I really don't want to be one. Honestly, I'm pretty modest and if I point out anything to new runners, it's only to help, not to offend. I love inspiring people to run. It's a great life-style.

This is the first time I'm really expressing this thought, which I've internalized for the past few years. It's just that the statements I've mentioned really rub me the wrong way. I'm sure half the runners out there agree. To me, it has to do with pride and modesty. I only claim what I've already accomplished myself. I don't want to falsely take away from another's accomplishment. Hopefully all this made sense.

If you have a running friend out there, be forewarned.

Grim Leaper #1

Written by Kurtis J. Wiebe, Illustrated by Aluisio C. Santos

"No one tells you about the part that comes after death. Probably because you're not supposed to come back. You get one shot. That's it. Do what you can with that little nugget of time. Do something good before a giant truck tire rips your fucking face off." -Lou Collins

Grim Leaper is a four-issue Shadowline Comics miniseries following Lou Collins, a man inflicted with the peculiar curse of dying violently and waking up in a new body in an endless cycle. Lou believes he's getting second chances for a reason and that it is the key to breaking the curse. But constantly dying has its limits, as he is on the verge of apathy... until he meets Ella. And well, as described by its catch-line, it's "A love story to die for".

This new comic book series is a gruesome, romantic comedy. The first issue is very well done. It sums up Lou's affliction quickly and briefly, then jumps straight to the core of the story: Lou's new dilemma of falling in love with a woman with the same curse and what to do about it. The concept is fresh, clever, and witty. Wiebe flawlessly executes this first issue, drawing in readers from beginning to end, leaving them asking for more. Santos's art is fantastic. It's quirky and fun, complementing Wiebe's dark humor. In addition to the art, Santos's choice of blue, orange, pink, and shadow tones for his colors is amazing. It creates an ominous, yet light feel to the story.

Despite the positive points I mentioned, the one thing that I zoned in on was how Lou knew right away that Ella is inflicted with the same curse. It felt just a little too easy, but perhaps Wiebe will provide that tidbit later. Then again, it's only four-issues long and therefore understandable why he may have wanted to get to the point. Regardless, it's not very important and I can definitely look past it. What really worries me is how Wiebe will tie all loose ends and conclude the story in just three more issues. The story appears rich in concept, so it baffles me how he'll finish. Though I am confident he can do it.

Overall, this is a must-read series. It costs $3.50, but worth the buy. It also comes with a short backup story written by Joey Esposito and illustrated by Jeff Mccomsey, which was a joyful and endearing read. Besides, it's only four-issues long, which will have you looking for spare change around the house for just four months. After, you can be at ease. Or it will minimize the guilt of adding yet again, another comic to your list because it's a "temporary buy" which will soon be opened for other "temporary buy" excuses. I don't know about you, but when Grim Leaper ends, I'm replacing the slot with Wiebe's Debris. The world balances out and independent creators are supported. I give Grim Leaper a 4.5/5.