Category: My thoughts on paper.

I’m So Judgmental: Movie Review- The Shallows.

Leave a comment

I don’t know why I watch movies or read books where people put themselves at risk, I’m so judgmental. My empathy ends where the character’s stupidity begins. I feel like I need to conquer this in order to be a better writer. Without risk the story is boring. The same can be said for the opposite, if there is too much risk, or the character never wins, the story becomes overwhelming and boring.

SO ANYWAY, This post is about the stupidness that is The Shallows. I live blogged this so bare with me as I type my thoughts.

  1. Why are you going to a place where you don’t speak the language heading off of the beaten path and barely letting anyone know where you’re going.
  2. Anywhere that someone takes you which is considered a secret and local territory is NOT FOR YOU.
  3. When the guide advises you that it will be getting late soon, why do you continue to place yourself at risk by doing dangerous activities when it’s late?
  4. UBER is not available in secret remote locations. Failing to plan is planning to fail. Especially with something as basic as transportation. This is where I knew this movie was gonna get on my last damn nerve.
  6. Why do people do dangerous activities with their hair flailing around their face. Ever hear of hair ties?
  7. Big ass dead ass animal means get the fuck out of there. Curiosity is said to have killed the cat, I’m pretty sure that the cat was a damn human. If a dangerous animal didn’t kill whatever you’re looking at then chances are that the area that you’re in is probably toxic, either way, Get your ass out of that area, STAT.
  8. Credit for utilizing your brains and medical skills to patch yourself up.
  9. God or The Universe or Karma do not like ugly. Whatever you do will always come back to you.
  10. I’m not going to speak on the impossibility of the battle but kudos to you for winning.
  11. So, you saved yourself as we suspected you would and this taught me that risk makes for a story. No risk, no story. I’m still not heading out to any remote locations to surf without letting anyone know any time soon.

Overall I appreciated a few things about this movie but for me the premise is weak. I don’t see any good reason for her to have been out there in the first place but then again, I don’t have the privilege of being that willy nilly with my life. I’d give it 3 Stars.

images.jpeg

Truth Is: You Don’t Do It All

2 Comments

 

Frequently I’m asked how I do it all and usually I spout of a myriad of people, things, and skills that I utilize to get ALL of the things done. I don’t intentionally lie but I don’t think I ever really say that you don’t get it ALL done. It’s not possible. All of the money in all of the world will not ever buy you the ability (I should mention here that AB just interrupted me to find out where the money from my book sales is. This is my life.) to be able to get ALL of the things done.

You can Shipt your groceries, Amazon your household goods, Mango your Laundry, Hire Nick to train you, hire the other Nick to clean your house twice a month, hire Aaron to fix your lunch, subscribe to TWO calendars to keep you on track, use lists to help you maintain your daily tasks… you could even have Jesus himself come down on more than one occasion to help you submit things on time for your writing career, and you still won’t get it all done. b99a87795377f13fc3d5dd3d5cb2994e.jpg

There will still be text messages on your phone from friends waiting for responses that you swore you sent out weeks ago. There will be flagged emails in your inbox with important tasks that you may or may not have completed. There will even be a few family game nights that you let fall to the wayside because, even though you weren’t that busy, you were too tired. That’s a cop out but it’s true.

The trick is to realize that you’re not getting it all done, to do your absolute best to use your resources to get the most important things done, to never starve your family or run out of toilet paper, to forgive yourself and to keep moving forward.

Pic via Pinterest.

I Can’t Do It All: Just venting

Leave a comment

Today was an interesting day. So interesting that my car is still (prayerfully) parked in a parking space in Downtown Tampa. I only minimally freaked out, after I couldn’t find my keys. For a back story, I went to a coffee shop in downtown Tampa to work and kill time in between meetings. After leaving and going to my car I realized that my keys were not in my purse. No big deal. I walk back into the coffee shop thinking that I must’ve simply left them on the table. Nope. No such luck. Not on the table. Not by the cash register. Not in my bag which I emptied out in a corner very calmly. Not anywhere on the street. Possibly in the pocket of the homeless guy who asks for change everyday only for me to tell him my stock excuse “I never have cash.”Anyways long story short, my keys weren’t anywhere to be found, Ashley showed up out of some weird stroke of luck, and the vehicle that we’ve been having outfitted for my new business just so happened to be ready for pickup. So I took her car and she ubered over to pick the other one up.

But, back to the weird day or more appropriately, the day that I started saying that I can’t do it all. Without my car which contains all of my work data I could only work on following up on things that I needed to and getting a much needed filling.

Protip: when you decide that you want to be a real live girl and get your nails done with acrylic, you are signing up for upkeep. With what time? IDK either you will 1: Pull it out of your butt. OR 2: Use the new time you’ve been given since you can’t hold onto your car keys like a proper adult. 

After the filling I went to the grocery store to try my new favorite thing that my family hates: Buy precooked food to doctor up at home. Once home with food doctored up and placed in the oven DJ informed me that he didn’t have time to watch the food because he had to take a shower. In my head I saw a very clear image of Homer Simpson choking Bart

200w.gifor at the very least the mother from Everybody Hates Chris slapping the hell out of him, but I didn’t.

200.gif

Honestly I’m too busy and too tired to entertain certain things. My idiotic teenager making stupid comments about time and food that he is going to eat? Nah. Not a battle I wanted to win today.

Of course, he ate before AB and I could get into the kitchen and of course, he didn’t like the chicken.  Since I let he and AB in on my little Greenwise Publix Precooked food doctoring up secret they’ve complained about the taste of the food. Neither of them realize that for months at least once a week they’ve been eating this food with zero complaints. Nor do they realize just how fucking hard it is to write, sell books, run the shops, do all of my admin work, build a new business, run the house, cook, spend hours a week working for my BNI chapter, and and and. But when I finally said the thing that I have been thinking for months, that I can’t do it all and still cook, AB tells me that she doesn’t want me to totally stop cooking. She likes my cooking and can’t I at least do it once a week. To which I do not respond with the first thing that pops in to my head which is, How Sway?

maxresdefault.jpg

The Thing I’m Obsessed With.

Leave a comment

Friday was the Book Release Party for my new Poetry Book Brownish Green Female  Sheep. It was my first book release so I have nothing to compare it to but to me it was the most amazing Book Release ever. The venue, Ybor City Barbering Company Barbershop and Bar, was beyond perfect. The atmosphere was ELECTRIC. My best friend since 7th grade snuck in the night before which made the night even more special and I was surrounded by friends, family, and associates, the majority of whom all bought the book!!

I was on cloud nine the entire time. Electric from my frazzled nerves and the endless supply of Mimosas the fabulous bartender kept sending my way. My wife, in true AB fashion ensured that the guests were having a great time, my best friend managed me and the book purchases, Sheree L. Greer my mentor/dear dear friend/cohost along with the ridiculously talented Samira Obied hosted the show in epic fashion. So when I tell you that it was the dope show, I mean that in all caps. DOPE SHOW!

I don’t know that I would’ve asked for anything more… Except while taking pictures with my family one of my brothers said to me, “you’re fat you need to work out.” To which I replied “I work out at least twice a week”. To which another sibling replied “you need to work out more than that.” I’m not going to go into anything about how I don’t need their help to lose weight, how I’m struggling with candida, or how neither of them is an authority on weight loss. I’m just not.

For some background, I’m the oldest child and my siblings don’t really know about my eating disorder. They don’t even really know me like that. So I’m not even mad at them  for saying what they said. They don’t know how I hate my body most days. How I work out with my trainer and feel super happy with my progress until I stand in front of the mirror naked. They hadn’t read the book so while they knew that the book was about love, they don’t know that the longest poem in the book is dedicated to Anna. One of my most secret friends. Or she was, I haven’t seen her in years, though I’d be lying if I said I don’t think about her daily.

They don’t know. They couldn’t know. So I don’t fault them for taking one of the best days of my life and dampening it a little by talking about my weight, they’re humans, and one thing that humans are good at is offering criticisms and critiques as if we would die without doing so. But, If I had one wish, it would be that  we as a society  stopped commenting on things like weight. We have no idea what the other person is truly struggling with.

If you or someone you know is struggling with food obsession you can speak with someone in your local community or at Eating Disorder Hope.

To read Anna You can purchase Brownish Green Female Sheep from my publisher Vital Narrative Press or from Amazon.

On Parenting: Go To Bed or Else

Leave a comment

Parenting ProTip: if your child won’t go to sleep just start asking them to do things. 

Child of mine who thinks that sleep is an option and would rather read than rest, Please:  
Bring me the remote. (It’s next to me but so what. 

Pass me that towel. (I really don’t need it but whatevs)

Get me a glass of water.

Go to the car, look in the backseat and bring me my bag.

Oh it’s not in there? Check the office. 

Not there either? Look in my closet. I appreciate your help.

Grab me that ice pack out of the kitchen.

By the time you get to the third or forth ask their bed is looking mighty nice.

#ThankMeLater 

Bonus Points if you get them to do things that actually need to be done like laundry, dusting, or washing dishes. 

Randomosity 1.15.17

Leave a comment

My right hand is itching. According to my grandma that means that I’m going to get some unexpected money. I’m all about that life.

Last night  I gave the Mohegan Sun 6 x more money than I’d budgeted. I’d do it all over again to sit next to my grandma, listen to her throw shade, and laugh at the world. Operation come to CT at least every other month is shaping up to be the best money and time I’ve ever spent.

I’ve worked most of the time that I’ve been in CT. At my grandma’s dining room table while watching her shows and laughing at her antics. As difficult as it is being an entrepreneur, being in charge of my time is worth all of the stress and early mornings.

Yesterday was my publisher’s monthly conference call. I leave those calls knowing that I chose the right publishing house and grateful that they chose me.

The next book that I publish I’m hiring a social media manager. I know that I am in my own way as far as promoting my book is concerned. The nerves that come with the creation of each post are worse than the ones I felt when I used to slam in competitions.

Decisions are made by those who show up.

Every time I’m around a bunch of children I remember that one is enough. I have no idea how people have more than one. I give people with a bunch of kids all of the kudos. And wine subscriptions. I’m sure they need wine more than they need diapers.

2017 is shaping up to be the best year of my life. #ClaimingIt
My book is being released on January 27th. That’s legit less than two weeks away. You can preorder it here: Vital Narrative Press

5 Random Things 12.28.16

Leave a comment

5 Random Things: 

Having employees is like having a shit ton of children. I never wanted kids. 
Don’t get offended when someone tells you a great idea that someone else told them, even though you told them first. We often don’t hear things until the fifth or sixth time. 
Jeans, T-Shirts, and a dope ass pair of sneakers. I’m creating a life where this is my uniform.

2017 is going to be a fucking amazing year. It just is.

Dunkin Donuts coffee is probably not worth the price I pay but it makes me feel good. And really that’s all that matters.

Letters to My Past Self 12.23.16

Leave a comment

Baby Adrien, 

When you’re 12 you’re going to catch daddy’s van on fire. You’ll run away in terror and leave your backpack with all of your journals inside of the van. The three seconds it’ll take to get them out of the van won’t kill you. Get them. 32 year old writer Adrien will be extremely grateful. 

Period Brain. Stress. Anxiety. Something

Leave a comment

Something is going on with my brain. Lately I can’t remember much of anything. If I sit and think about it I can come up with a myriad of reasons but it’s probably because in the Land of Adrien there is A WHOLE LOT happening. And when I say a whole lot. I mean exactly that.

  • Cancer Ridden Declining Grandma
  • Business Ups and Downs
  • Book Release
  • Kid’s Birthday
  • Kid going to CA with his dad for Christmas
  • Oral Fixation Anthology Deadline
  • Fantastic Ekphrastic Deadline
  • New Business
  • And. And. And.

Add if we’re fiends I know you’re probably Like Adrien, girl,  your life is always a lot-but seriously this lot is the most ups and downs I have had in quite a while. I’m not complaining. I’m blessed and I know it but… I ‘m so nervous that I’m thinking of asking my doctor for something to calm me down.

I’m so nervous that I’m starting to forget things. Like, Why did I come into the kitchen? Did I pay that bill for the shop? I know I went onto the website. Did I call my aunt back about my grandma? I know I picked up the phone.

I’m so nervous that I pick up my phone to promote my book and I have absolutely zero ideas of where to even begin. Ask me how you should promote yours and I’ll spout off a list half a mile long. Ask me what captions to write and I’ll give you a weeks worth. Now go and read my latest captions promoting my book and then tell me if you would ask that person for advice.

I know I should try to meditate but my brain will not hush long enough for me to do anything but fall into stress induced sleep.

What do you do when you’re overstimulated to help yourself calm down?

 

 

 

SHAMELESS PLUG: My Poetry Book Brownish Green Female Sheep is being released on January 27th you can get it here: Vital Narrative Press

 

Save the date.

15621764_1200220100054920_3614810811079576428_n.jpg

Gratitude List 12.13.16

Leave a comment

Today I’m thankful for you. For contrast. For warm blankets and my salt lamp. For going with the flow. For resisting the bull. For discerning thoughts that help me decide what’s real, what’s fake, and what’s worth my time. 

For books. For love. For my parents who instilled a work ethic in me that helps me deal with my current entrepreneur/writer/mom/wife/all other duties as assigned lifestyle. 

For sleep. For great wine. For pie, wine, and ice cream for dinner eaten in the kitchen in the corner besides the fridge because I have no more in me for that day. For insane workouts that keep the aforementioned from catching up with me.  (I know I said wine twice. I’m extremely grateful for wine.)

For Darian. For Ashley. For everyone who’s always checking for me. For light and love. For my breathe and my heart. For leather driving shoes, red blouses, and comfy yet professional jeans that I can wear to networking events when I’m too tired for anything else. 
(Photo courtesy of MadKittyMedia)