New Writing And Stuff!

Hello, all,
I AM SO SORRY.
I know I've been gone a very long time.
HOWEVER.
Please know that I have some swell blog posts planned!
Unfortunately, I will not be able to write them for a day or two...
Until then, I hope you enjoy my latest piece of writing. It is a screenplay I had to write for a class in school. I wrote it in an hour. I sort of procrastinated, a bit.

Here it is:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15taQ1ChicabQpqsYGcSbDdqji1AswjPKJ6PxXRgnnic/edit#.

In order for it to work on GoogleDocs, I had to convert it from CeltX, a software program used for novel writing, screenwriting, etc., to a Microsoft Word Document, so it may be a bit difficult to read. It took forever to go through and get it to look script-ish and therefore legible again. It doesn't have a proper title, I've just been calling it "Elevator," so if anyone has any clever title suggestions, please do comment below.

I have to go now, but before I do, here is something delightful to brighten your weekend:

I watched the film "Funny Face" last week. I am a huge Audrey Hepburn fan... and I mean huge. This, however, was my first time seeing a film with Mr. Fred Astaire, and what a swell guy he is. Seriously, he is my latest obsession. Up next? "Royal Wedding," his only film currently on Netflix. Anyway, this is a lovely song and dance clip that really shows off Freddy's magic moves. Oh yes, I know how cheesy that sounds, but to be honest there is little other vocabulary I can use to describe his dancing. Watch and you'll know what I mean!

And one last thing:

Look! It's a kangaroo! He/she is lounging about in a very human-esque model pose. I love it. And yes, I know it's random... but it's wonderfully so.

I lied, here's something else:

Because how could I not?

If ever I was to refer to someone as a "BAMF..."

it would the Dowager Countess and Dame Maggie Smith.

Toodooloo!

(Does anyone really know how to spell that?)

Love,

Susan D. Holmes

The Black Sheep... But, Like, Nerdy.

Howdy.
Sorry I've been gone so long. It's been quite a week. And by that, I mean, of course, that it's been a totally uneventful and therefore depressing week.
Anyway!
I've always been annoyed by some aspect of my family, and today I was finally able to identify it. It's more in reference to myself that the rest of my family.
I have two younger brothers close in age to me and two parents. A mom and a dad (as these days, that deserves clarification. Woo, equality!). One of my brothers goes to school with me, and is one of the so-called "jerkish popular kids." I feel mean saying that about my brother, but I feel it must be established, and honestly. Anyway, a lot of the kids in our school call me the "Black Sheep" of my family. Some say it in a good way, and some in a bad. Today, though, I realized that I am, in fact, the Black Sheep, and the reason why. I am the only NERD in my family!

Last night my mom felt bad for me, so she pretended to seem interested when I said I was going to watch Doctor Who. We watched Blink, which everyone knows is an INCREDIBLE episode. Despite my knowledge of this, I felt self-conscious throughout. I kept explaining things in a really defensive manner, and writing off potentially-lame aspects of the episode with comments like "it's not really like this anymore." Why? When I have just stated, with confidence, that Blink is freaking amazing?
I also find that I feel uncomfortable discussing other typically "nerdy" or "odd" things with my family, such as Discworld novels and other science-fiction-y books, Portlandia and other "offbeat" shows,  and even my own writing.
I don't like playing my music out loud in case something weird comes on, and I don't like watching most of my TV shows when other people are home.
I went to my friend's house a few days ago. She is a fellow nerd, but, unlike me, she comes from a family of nerds. And, to clear up any misconceptions, even though they like science fiction etc., they are still fully-functioning, socially-adept members of society. I walked into my friend's house and was greeted by the sounds of a Star Wars movie playing in the family room as a test of the new surround sound speakers. My friend's little brother, not much younger than my own, said "hey." He was clad in a Star Trek t-shirt, and asked my friend earnestly about a chapter in Fellowhip of the Rings. My friend's parents were sitting together in the living room, drinking tea and reading. I followed my friend around her house in awed silence. It didn't seem real.

Anyway, enough of that. My family is a good one, even if I do get a tad lonely among the cool.

-Susan D. Holmes

P.S. On a side note, my dear friend Alice Adler and I discovered a wonderful website while searching for each other's best-friend-day gifts (yes, we invented a holiday specific to us, more explanation to come). One of the tradition's of our holiday is to send each other an awesome t-shirt. However, no matter where I searched, I just wasn't able to find a satisfactory Doctor Who or Sherlock tee to send my dear friend. Then, I stumbled upon the website redbubble.com. This site is AMAZING. I typed in my searches, and THOUSANDS of witty and adorable designs popped up for my shopping convenience. The products, which are usually t-shirts or stickers, are very reasonably-priced, and ship within 24 hours! And you can choose any color t-shirt, and they will print the design for you! It's really quite lovely. Do check it out.

I adore this shirt!

This is irrelevant, but, when I was posting the picture, I accidentally, out of habit, clicked "paste" instead of "insert picture." What, you ask, popped up on my screen? This Doctor Who quote, which I must've copied at some point for some reason or another:

"She said that you were a Mr. Hottie...ness. And that she would like to go out with you for...texting and scones."

How awesome is that?

Try Saying "Peculiarosity" With An Irish Accent

It's fun. Seriously. I made an entirely new blog post to tell you so.

It's Super Bowl Sunday!

...And that probably won't be acknowledged at any other point in this blog post.
I don't have anything against football, but I am the only person in my family who isn't obsessed with it. I will spend the evening doing make-up homework with classical music blasting in my headphones to drown out the party noise.

Oh would you look at that, I did reference it!

Anyway, I have a lot of miscellaneous, unrelated things to post about today! That's always fun, I think. First, I found this magical video online. A friend posted it on Facebook, and I had to share it. It's beautiful and riveting. I also love the music that accompanies it.

I just love things like this. It's such a powerful way to use media to unite us. I wish we as humans could see ourselves on a global perspective, rather than a country-by-country or person-by-person perspective. We'd see how close we all really ought to be, and what a fantastic people we really are, and the potential we have to be great.

Next up is a random quote from The Great Gatsby that I stumbled upon while re-reading the book this morning:

"High over the city our line of yellow windows must have contributed their share of human secrecy to the casual watcher in the darkening streets, and I was him too, looking up and wondering. I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life." -The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald is a beautiful writer. His writing is so lyrical. I wish I could use words the way he did.
There is a new movie version of The Great Gatsby coming out next year. There's lots of buzz about it, because of its stars. Personally, Carey Mulligan is one of my favorite actresses, and I love Leonardo DiCaprio (in Catch Me If You Can, of course; never seen Titanic. Go ahead and gasp), so I can't help but get excited about it. However, one of my very literarily-knowledgable (is that a word?) friends pointed out that movie versions of this book never seem to work well, because the novel is so character-driven rather than plot-driven, and the filmmakers struggle to engage a wide audience by adding in action and events. We shall see!

Well, it certainly looks snazzy. I'm rooting for it!

And finally...
I couldn't resist sharing this, especially after my lengthy Downton Abbey post back in January.
This clip is the digital short from last night's episode of Saturday Night Live. I'll be honest, I forgot to record it and didn't even think I would be missing much (except of course for the brilliant music of Bon Iver), but, according to my friends, Channing Tatum proved to be a pretty good host. My friend texted me as soon as this short started. I laughed so much. Perhaps my favorite quote: "Like eavesdropping? Then this show is for you. Anytime anyone says anything, a third person hears it in the doorway." I also loved that they dropped the "Down-town Abbey" line, because any faithful fan of the show knows the aggravation experienced whenever someone inevitably calls it by that name. I suppose this digital short may've been pretty odd to those who have never seen Downton, as all of the jokes were directly related to its characters and content. Well, maybe this will encourage them to watch! The more, the merrier.

Love,
Susan D. Holmes

Introducing... Sim Susan!

That's right!
I've created a Sim version of my blogger self.
I will briefly introduce her here, but, so as not to clog up my blog feed with Sims stuff, you can get full information on her shenigans in the page labeled "Sim Susan."

...As soon as I figure out how to find my Sim Screenshots... I will edit this post and include them.

For now, enjoy this image in their place.

Oops! We're experiencing technical difficulties.

Once Upon A Time With Benedict Cumberbatch...

Bet that got your attention.
As this is now primarily a writing blog (I'm trying to hold to that decision!) here is another story for you.
I didn't write this one.
Really, it's not polite to loudly exclaim in glee at that fact.
Anyway, I thought this would be a nice goodnight. This is a video of Benedict Cumberbatch, the lovely star of Sherlock and one of my favorite actors in the history of ever, reading a bedtime story. Need I say more?

They should box up his voice and include it in the book packaging.

Love,

Susan D. Holmes

P.S. Go ahead to page 2 of my blog posts if you'd prefer more "fun stuff" and less "reading/writing."
I assure you there will be a mix henceforth!

Here's To You, My Blue Chinese Teapot

Sincerest apologies, first of all. I know it's been a few days. I've been incredibly busy, and also incredibly bad-mood-ish. So that's that. And now I'm back, with another brand-new writing piece!
I'm not sure exactly what it is. It might be non-conformative (is that a word? we'll find out) poem, or an ode or something, but I prefer to call it "The Paragraph of Writing That Is About My Blue Chinese Teapot."
And no, I'm not "being racist by referring to it by its heritage." It is a certain style of teapot. Yeesh. I respect all teapots of all cultures. I just want to make that clear.
Anyway, here it is. I'm writing it right now and on pure whim, so do bear with me:

My Blue Chinese Teapot


Sometimes, I am sad. It's been a common occurence as of late.
Last week on a whim, I bought myself a beautiful blue Chinese teapot.
I haven't used it yet.
I just like to look at it.
When I'm particularly sad, it serves as some kind of comfort.
My blue Chinese teapot came in a big, beautiful, ornate Chinese tea set box. The box is gold and black and red and has little characters and flowers and symbols all over it. Sometimes I run my fingers over the characters and pretend I can decipher their meaning.
When I'm particularly sad, I open up this big, beautiful, ornate Chinese tea set box. Inside, nestled in golden satin cushions, lie my blue Chinese tea tray, my blue Chinese teacups, and my blue Chinese teapot.
The lucky things, all cozied and luxurious.
I admire all the pieces, but my favorite is the teapot. It's the only one I lift from the burrow. It's very tiny. It's very cute. It's baby blue with dainty, fragile creeping vines of bright blue curling all around it in erratic but somehow perfect little branches.
It has a tiny polished lid and tiny knobs on the side that you grasp and tilt, ever so slightly, to pour the tea.
Of course, I haven't actually used the blue Chinese tea set yet.
I just like to look at it.
It's somehow comforting to see this little piece of perfect that's all mine, cushioned and pampered in a pretty box that gives an aura of great importance. It's my blue Chinese tea set, and it's special and hidden away for my eyes only.
Perhaps I just like the thought of it. "I have a blue Chinese tea set."
It's very fancy. I feel very fancy knowing it's mine.
Perhaps it's vain and superficial. But can't we all be subjected to a bit of vanity, now and then?
I don't think it's any big crime in moderation.
Especially when you're particularly sad.
Though now that I think about it, the same argument could be used for drugs or alcohol.
So it may be best to disregard my previous sentiments.
I love my blue Chinese tea pot. It's pretty and tiny and important. And it's mine.
And when I'm particularly sad, I need only lift it from it's gold satin cushion and cradle it in my hands, knowing but not truly believing that it's mine to keep.
I can only take a moment, though, and savor it. The novelty of the prize can only last so long, and it's fastly fleeting with every reveal.
You know you've got a special teapot when it can cure your sadness, if even for a slippery moment.
So here's to you, my blue Chinese teapot.

Love,
Susan D. Holmes

P.S. Pray note that the teapot pictured above is not my actual teapot. I cannot reveal the actual teapot, as it is sold exclusively by a small local shop in my town, and doing so would reveal my location and probably my identity. Can't have that, can we?
But really, the one in the picture doesn't even have the little knobs on it. It very clearly has a handle. And it's not even light blue. Be more observant.