Thoughts 6.1: June

So, wow, it is June. As per usual the year is flying. I read once years go quicker when you are older because you have more time behind you. For a young child the year takes ages simply because its ratio is so much larger than the ratio older people have to the 365 days. (Totally random, but forgive me – my brain is fried)

I have to say this year has been a mixture of good and bad so far, with plenty of learning curves thrown in. Work and life has been challenging, but definitely worth it. I have achieved most of my new year’s resolutions, so GO ME GO.

By the way, thanks for all the reblogging of Friday’s Quote For the Week! I truly appreciate it 🙂 This site, this site  and this site  all were kind enough, so go take a look, maybe you will love them too!

Rob’s Genre Grandeur for June is such a cool topic – Comic Book movies. You might have noticed in the past I have an affection for Comic Book Movies, so I am really excited. Go have a looky!

This is a bit further down the road (it starts in July), but Eric of the infamously cool IPC blog is hosting his Shitfest again. Everyone has seen a shitty movie (there are so many), so go take a look and see what is cracking over there. And check out my awesome Best Friend In The Universe, Zoe, did on Eric’s blog last week.

Unisa  

I will write my last exam for the first semester on the 3^rd of June. YAY! I have good hopes so far that I will pass everything. The second semester will mean some very difficult shizz for me, but I hope to actually stick to my schedule and manage it all. I will someday post a post about what it means to be a part time student, because it is so challenging and I think so many people can relate.

Movies and Books, Series

This week The Fault in Our Stars is opening in cinema. I have anxiously waited for this movie since reading the book by John Green, which is one of the most amazing and beautiful books I have ever read.

Speaking of books, I am once again attempting Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. I have read some pages sporadically, only to be side-tracked by other material. The worst is this book is actually good and an excellent successor to Eat Pray Love, but I just keep stalling and stalling. Do you have any book that you can never finish?

Game of Thrones

I am hoping to post the review of season two up within the next few weeks. Season one’s review is here and I can say that season two was just as entertaining and shocking as the first season. I can’t believe I stalled so long in watching this. It is AMAZING and I do still not trust ANYONE because so many deaths have been spoiled for me.

The Mentalist season six has some truly heart stopping moments in. I had a very true Eomer moment in here with one of my favourite characters and nearly started smashing things around. #emotional

I saw That Awkward Moment and Springbreakers recently. TAM was not good at all, but at least had some saving graces and a few fun moments. Springbreakers, however, will now forever be remembered as one of the shittiest pieces of shit I have ever watched. IT WAS SO BAD. WTF man. WTF. You can expect a scathing review on it soon.

To round off this completely random post, here is something funny:

Have a good Monday 🙂

PS: I lost the source to the pic above while writing, so if it belongs to you, please let me know and I will link it back!

June 2, 2014June 1, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Movies, Quotes, Reviews, ThoughtsTags: Committed, Elizabeth Gilbert, Eomer, Game of Thrones, June, Quotes, Reviews, Springbreakers, That Awkward Moment, Thoughts, Unisa 7 Comments

May – you better be good to me.

Happy May.

Firsly, April was so crap I am only too glad it is over. When I say everything went wrong, that really is the truth. I got sick, then got an ulcer, which felt like someone was drilling into my mouth at a high speed and very often. Work was insane, petrol was fucking expensive (still is, FYI), and my brand new laptop broke, and my bank balance is sadder than Zimbabwe’s.

So, May

I really hope you are good to me. I am writing exams this month, but I will take it in the hope that I 1) pass and 2) anything will be better than April. I really want to start reading constantly again. I love books and reading helps me relax. It is really the best escape valve there is because it takes you to another world completely.

I want to finish Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. I do not know why it is taking so long. The book is well written and interesting and I don’t understand why I can’t just finish it.

I want to read my third Karin Slaughter book. She is an amazing author who I am still surprised I enjoy so thoroughly.

I am rereading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for the millionth time. It is so good and entertaining and sad and funny.

Walking slash running.

I am finally doing frequent exercise and I just want to continue in May because it leashes the crazy. I am still going a bit slow, but I am definitely improving. I already feel much better than a few weeks ago.

Movies

I love watching rom-coms and chick flicks and I am not afraid to say it. BUT, I want to start watching some decent stuff too. I can’t wait to explore and see what I love and hate.

What are your plans for May?

May 1, 2014April 28, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Books, Movies, Thoughts, UnisaTags: April, Committed, Elizabeth Gilbert, exercise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Karin Slaughter, May, Reading, Running, Walking 16 Comments

I’m April’s fool right now

April, so far, really hasn’t been my month. Truly, it has been sucking. From insane work deadlines to people stealing my parking space (THE WORST CRIME) to my online orders not going through, this past week was not fun.

However, April is supposed to be one of the best months for South-Africa. We have Good Friday, Family day, Freedom Day AND workers day in the span of three weeks. Even if you have to work it is all about enjoying the super short weeks. I think the government realises we need this month’s laziness because since it’s the quarter of the year it means people are ready to commit murder without provocation. I certainly am. A combination of slight flu and internet problems and everything mentioned above is making me the grumpiest person to be around right now. everyone else, I am sorry.

What I achieved in the three first months of 2014

Car. Nothing beats that

I upgraded from my crapberry to what I believe was a very good choice, the Samsung S4 mini.

I GOT MY LAPTOP. It has Windows 8 on (not a happy place for me to be working on) but I love having it already. Sorting out internet hopefully by the end of the week and then I will be the happiest.

Basically, I already achieved at least 50% of what I wanted to achieve this year. The rest seems pretty doable considering I never thought that I would get three tasks done in one year.

Lover’s Rock, the pleasure resort

Was quite pleasurable without the bow-chicka-bow-wow its’ name might imply. Had the best long weekend I’ve had in ages, and I really, really didn’t want to return to work.

Music

I can’t imagine how I ever liked Daughtry’s music. EUGH.

Lotto

I won R10.50. I’M RICH!

Bones

I’ve started watching Bones and so far I am enjoying it completely. And I have serious lab envy.

Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert

Yep, still on it. On a serious reading go slow, but I am really enjoying the book so far. It is like a very excellent textbook on marriage traditions. I love the way Gilbert writes.

Divergent, the movie

Firstly, it isn’t supposed to be like the Hunger Games. It is a completely different story. It was enjoyable but not the best adaption I’ve seen.

Candy Crush

I am fully in its clutches #Addiction

Autumn is approaching in South-Africa. It has been so blisteringly hot lately that I welcome it. It would be incorrect to say that I love summer – it is so hot and I dislike heat. Winter is very cold so I will say I’m a moderate temperature person – Autumn and Spring. I need to do some serious shopping for winter because I apparently have no clothes. Where they all disappeared to is a secret I will never know.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark was better for me, but Temple of Doom still had the wow factor although Winnie was the most incredibly annoying heroine possibly ever created.

#nomakeupselfie

I think raising awareness about cancer is amazing and important, but I also think that actually doing something so support research is much more important. I honestly think that this craze is just about getting more attention than anything else. And really, I don’t deserve to see your makeup less face when I go on Facebook before my first cup of coffee. I have done nothing bad enough to my life to be so frightened.

News

I used to haunt news sites, desperate for information about what was going on in the world. Now, I just don’t go on. When did the world become so horrible and full of despair? Ugandans are getting slaughtered in churches, the Ukraine vs. Russia vs. the United States is still going on, Oscar Pistorius is still in his court battle and the petrol price is still going up. So pardon me for steering clear from such depression. I hate that there is a craze about something and after a few months the world forgets while the citizens of a ravaged country has to struggle on.

Being Healthy

I really don’t want to say this too quickly, but it would seem I have a moderate control over my taste buds again. I am working hard at eating things that are good for my body, and exercising at least three times a week. It is an ongoing thing this healthy lifestyle, with ups and downs and irritations that wants you to swallow a box of chocolates with a glass of Coke, but I guess the thing is to never give up.

The Bane(s) of my existence

The eternally “sick”. There are people in the world that copes better with cancer and Aids than somepeople do with a bit of flu.

People who are incapable of closing a door and leaves it to slam close.

People who don’t know how a door buzzer works.

People who are rude and have no social etiquette.

People who don’t understand sarcasm.

People who are incapable of seeing the viewpoints of others.

People who think they are the best in everything.

And the worst?People who manages to be all of the above

Oh, and slow internet. Luckily annoying people can’t be slow internet, because then I would be wearing an orange jumpsuit by now.

And people who stink. MEH

Links I loved the last few weeks:

Barry Roux is taking over the internet

Some Pretty Little Liars Data

This blog post has the PRETTIEST shoes on EVER! BUY all the shoes!!

April 8, 2014April 6, 2014 by Natasha Categories: UncategorizedTags: April, April's Fool, Books, Car, Committed, Divergent, Elizabeth Gilbert, Healthy, Laptop, Samsung S4 Galaxy Mini, Thoughts, Weight 4 Comments

Weekend Fun and Happiness

I was so frustrated Friday Night. My BlackBerry was quite clearly on its last breath and my upgrade was only due at the end of March. My brother in law suggested I check the dates out because our service provider had pushed up some of the upgrade dates. I checked, and I could! So I went  in to Vodacom, with my patience fully in place (Good service is a bit of a myth in SA) but was so surprised with the efficient service I received – I was in and out in 40 minutes at the most! So I tweeted them my thanks – I fully believe in letting companies know when they are doing something right – and now my deed is done by putting it up on the blogosphere as well. I upgraded to a Samsung S4 Galaxy Mini. I am SO happy with it. Happiness forward!

Saturday night I went to a braai at a friend’s house. We had lost contact for a few years so the last few months had been the awkward getting to know each other thing again. It was much better than previously this weekend and I had loads of fun. She also has a dachshund puppy.  It is so incredibly cute and fluffy and wiggly! I WANT ONE AND I WANT IT NOW.

Fast and the Furious 6

It took me two days to finish it, but it was so worth the watch. I am always so entertained by the franchise and its latest instalment didn’t disappoint. I think the reason the sequels work so particularly well is because the cast is so much a family now. Their insults and interactions flow effortlessly.

Car

Still not over the complete freedom!

Karin Slaughter

The woman is probably the ballsiest writer out there. She leaves you horrified at the world she creates and unable to put the books down. I finished Kisscut, and although the ending irritated me (it was a realistic end but not the one that would have satisfied me). I took a while finishing the book – I think that last bit of the reading challenge exhausted me so much and I am taking time to recuperate.

Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert

Started on the sequel to Eat Pray Love. It is just as well written as EPL, and I can’t wait to see where it goes. Books by Gilbert are always so full of knowledge and having just read about fifty pages I already have some extra facts floating around in my head.

Black hair

Dyed my hair black. Now it is the color of my soul. Kidding.

Sort of.

The Iconic Book Scene

Email me your favorite book scenes at natashastander@gmail.com!

And a quote:

Source

Enjoy your day!

March 17, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Books, Movies, Quotes, The Iconic Book Scene, Thoughts, WeekendsTags: Car, Committed, Elizabeth Gilbert, Fast and the furious 6, Karin Slaughter, Kisscut, Qoute, Samsung Galaxy, The Iconic Book Scene, upgrade, Vodacom 3 Comments