A to Z - Y and Z posts

YA Zombie Novels

You wanna check out some great Young Adult Zombie novels? Go to …

www.goodreads.com/list/show/5059.YA_Zombie_Novels

Zombieland

Duh! Of course this is where I was going to go for the last day of A to Z. A mutated strain of mad cow disease has turned most humans into cannibalistic zombies within two months after the initial outbreak. Unaffected loner college student "Columbus" meets "Tallahassee" another survivor who seems driven solely by his desire to find Twinkies. Entering a local grocery store they encounter "Wichita" and her younger sister "Little Rock". As survivors of a zombie apocalypse, together they take an extended road trip across Southwestern United States in an attempt to find a sanctuary free from zombies.

Just call me “Wayne”. Is this movie worth watching? YES! Does it have everything I need in a Zombie movie? Of Course!

Yours, Mine, and Ours

High school sweethearts Frank Beardsley and Helen North are reunited when Frank and his family move back to his hometown of New London. After unexpectedly encountering each other at a restaurant while on separate dates, the pair run into each other again at their 30-year class reunion. Rekindling their old sparks, the two quickly decide to marry in a private ceremony. They are quite cognizant of the fact that Frank already has eight children from his first marriage, and Helen has ten from her first marriage (a mixture of her biological offspring and adopted children). The family moves into a new home, on the same property as the lighthouse where Frank and Helen shared their first kiss, joined by the North children's numerous pets and Frank's housekeeper, Mrs. Munion.
Yes I thought this movie was cute and made me laugh all the way through. This might be the one movie out of my movie post that is the lamest, but I still liked it.

Zoolander

The short films and the movie feature a dimwitted male model named Derek Zoolander, played by Stiller. The film involves Zoolander becoming a pawn in a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia by corrupt fashion executives.
Oh. Em. Gee! This movie cracked my shiz up! Ben Stiller is the best at what he does. I don’t know how the guy can keep a straight face.

Tally Youngblood

Tally is the protagonist of the books, first appearing in Uglies as a young, 15-year-old girl, waiting for her 16th birthday so that she can be turned pretty. Throughout the series, Tally undergoes significant changes physically and mentally from Ugly, to Pretty, to Special, different classes of citizen in her city. Tally is also known as Tally-wa, Tally-sama, Agent Youngblood, Sayshal, and Goddess YoungBlood throughout the series. Tally endures many changes throughout the series in both appearance and personality. Each changes according to her status as an Ugly, Pretty, or Special. Loving David then falling for Zane, then sharing her love for both.

Zoey Redbird

Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird lives in a world where vampyres have always existed. New vampyres, called fledglings, appear through a biologic process that takes place in some humans, the Marked, at puberty and lasts four years. At the beginning of the book, Zoey is at school when she is Marked by a Tracker. Throughout the series: Zoey loves Erik Night and human consort Heath Luck. Zoey cheats on Erik with Loren Blake. Erik breaks it off. Zoey then falls for Stark and still in contact with Heath. Zoey is also being tormented by Kalona and Neferet. Meanwhile Zoey befriends a herd of other fledglings: Stevie Rae, Erin Bates, Shaunee Cole, Damien Maslin, and Jack Twist. By the end of book 2 Zoey and her nemesis Aphrodite (who is my fav character) befriend one another. Erin and Shaunee are considered twins even tho they are far from being so. Damien and Jack are boyfriends. Aphrodite and Darius are pledged to one another. Neferet kills Heath, shattering Zoey into the afterlife. Stark has to go to the beyond and saves her.

Are you confused yet? Yeah me too and I read the books. Maybe you should too.

You-know-who

In the series, Voldemort is the archenemy of Harry Potter, who according to a prophecy has "the power to vanquish the Dark Lord". Almost no witch or wizard dares to speak his name, instead referring to him by epithets such as "You-Know-Who", "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" or "the Dark Lord". Voldemort's obsession with blood purity signifies his aim to rid the wizarding world of Muggle heritage and to conquer both worlds, Muggle and wizarding, to achieve pure-blood dominance. Through his mother's family, he is the last descendant of wizard Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. According to an interview with Rowling, "Voldemort" is pronounced with a silent 't' at the end, as is common in the French phrase "Vol de mort", meaning "to flee from death".

Zonko’s Joke Shop

Zonko's Joke Shop has jokes and tricks that can "fulfil even Fred and George's wildest dreams." It closes down in Half-Blood Prince. Fred and George had planned to buy the shop, but decide against it when Hogwarts' students are banned from visiting Hogsmeade due to heightened security after Voldemort's rebirth.

Yggdrasil

An immense tree that is central in Norse cosmology, on which the nine worlds existed. In Norse mythology there are "nine worlds" each joined to the other via the "World Tree" Yggdrasil. A list of these worlds can only be deduced from the limited sources given to us in the two eddas. A complete list of the nine worlds is never mentioned entirely, in either of the eddas.

A summary list of the worlds, with an example reference to where they are mentioned, either in the older Poetic or younger Prose Edda. (in no particular order) -

·         Ásgarðr, world of the Æsir

·         Vanaheimr, world of the Vanir

·         Álfheimr, world of the Álfar (Elves)

·         Miðgarðr, world of humans

·         Jötunheimr, world of the Jötnar (Giants)

·         Niðavellir, world of the Dvergar (Dwarfs)

·         Múspell, world of fire and the Fire Jötnar

·         Niflhel, world of ice and mist, into which the wicked dead are cast

·         Hel, world of the inglorious dead, located within Niflhel and ruled over by the giantess Hel

Z
Ummm I have nothing for the letter Z in Norse Mythology so my FINAL post for the A to Z Challenge is going to be zilch, zero, zip, zippo, and any other nothing realated words that start with Z.
Until the next A to Z peeps!

No A to Z post today... Bloghops & Blogfests

I will be doing both Y and Z posts on Monday. Why? Today I am in need of relaxation and warmth. I'm getting a cold and its plain ol freezing outside and I can't turn on the fireplace because some damn robin planted her nest right on top of the exhaust outside (or whatever it's called). Not only that but ALL of my A to Z posts are at work and I have some good ones for Y and don't want to eff it up.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

See you all Monday for the last A to Z Challenge post.
::sad face::

But don't cry... Sara McClung is hosting a month long Monday - Friday blogfest for the month of May. Called ...

I know you are all thinking... Are you serious! Another month long bloghop? Yes I am. This one is very different from the AWESOME A to Z Challenge. It's more personal and a get-to-know your fellow blogosphere bloggers.

Then May 3rd, 5th & 7th is another bloghop

We've all had those manuscripts that we poured our heart into, fell in love with the characters and still think of them at random, but unfortunately had to shelf. Now it's time for a little spring cleaning. Take out those manuscripts and Dust It Off!

May 7th is A to Z Reflection day.

The following is from Blogging fron A to Z blogpage:

You can tell us what you thought were the highlights of your April Challenge, what you learned, what changes you might make next time, or what surprised you most. Let us know about special bloggers you met in your A to Z journey or about a post or posts that especially moved or impressed you. There are no limits as to what your Challenge experience might have been so tell us in your best way how you felt about the April A to Z Challenge of 2012.

We do ask that you keep your posts no more than a thousand words. There will probably be a lot of blogs to read so we don't want to bog anyone down with exceedingly long posts.

As I've said, the Blogging from A to Z Challenge Reflections Posts of 2012 will start on Monday May 7th. The Linky list will go up on that day so you can enter the link for that post on the list. For those who already have blogfests or something else planned for that day, don't worry--the list will be open for the entire week so you can publish your Reflections post anytime that week and still participate. That list should also be accessible until the end of the year along with the A to Z Master List.

Oh you think I'm done? Well I'm not.

May 9th is the...



Post pics, tell funniest stories, and there are prizes!

No, oh no, I'm not done.
May 14th is...

It is what it says... Post about your firsts.

If you want/need the deets on these bloghops just click on the banners and BAM!

Oh, My Hero! Bloghop

Victoria Smith of Confessions of a Twenty Something Fiction Writer and Jaycee DeLorenzo are co-hosting the Oh, My Hero! Blog Hop!

On April 27th, post a picture of your hero with a character interview that has at least 5 questions.  You can check out the sample questions, or come up with your own, since you know your hero best and what you'd like to reveal about him.

So without further ado...

Terrick Morrissen...

A young looking man walks in, steps to the side of his chair, and bows in the most royal of ways. “Hello, I’m Terrick.”

The breath I exhale catches in my throat. “Hi! Thank you for coming in to speak with me.”

He nods.

“So, uh, let’s get started, shall we?” His eyes beam a blue so translucent it’s literally breathtaking. He sits in the overstuffed chair, legs spaced evenly apart. Feet planted firmly on the hard wood floors. His long leather duster fits loosely enough to know he’s comfortable but tightly enough to show his muscular structure. His ripped jeans and faded v-neck tee makes my pink parts throb. His lips are full and pouty, almost fixating. If I stare any longer I might have to get up and feel them caress my own just to prove to myself that they’re real.

“Are you ok?” His velvety voice pulls me from my rapture.

“Oh, yes, sorry.” Really, I’m a professional. Pull yourself together woman. Readjusting in my seat, I reach for my note cards sitting on the side table. I can’t tell if it’s me or these damn lights, but I’m sweating like I’ve had a seven hour session with him.

“Let’s start with something easy. How would you describe yourself in one word?”

“Intricate.” A small sign of life plays in the corner of his lips.

My heart flutters. “I bet you are. How would you define your perfect love interest?”

A tap, tap, tap comes from his fingers on the faux leather chair. “Strong,” he pauses, “she needs to know how to harness her powers.”

“Her … powers?”

“Do you know anything of Scandinavian Folklore?” He retorts.

“Uh mmm, no.”

“Then let’s move on.” His hand flicks at the air annoyed with my ignorance no doubt.

“Ok,” I stumble through my cards trying to find some fun questions. “How about – what’s your favorite movie?”

Snickers escape his lips no doubt laughing at my naive question. “I have several but my top two favorites would be Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings but not because they are brilliant but because they are ridiculous.”

“Really? I love those two. May I ask why?”

Terrick stands, bringing heart palpitations with every step he takes closer to me. “Don’t you think the passion between the characters should be stronger?” He asks still coming towards me, “Don’t you wanna feel the sparks of chemistry flow through your blood and experience what they are?”

I nod, noticing his chair trailing behind him like he’s its master.

He stops, leaning down so close I can feel his breath on my face, placing each one of his hands on the arms of my own chair. “Maybe you and I can answer that at a different time,” he proposed.

Straightening out, he grabs both sides of his duster, and fans them so each side spreads out before me then quickly, yet gracefully, falls into his chair again. “Do you have any more questions?”

“Sure,” I slur. “I hear an accent in your voice. Can I ask where you’re from?”

“Now you’re talking. I hail from Sweden.” A big smile spreads across his face.

“Sweden? I bet it’s so cool there.” Relaxation finally.

“The – people there are very special to say the least.” His eye flutters into a wink.

I must have missed something. “Do you prefer cold weather or hot?”

“Lukewarm. I’m quite fond of the water and prefer it to be lukewarm.”

“Are you a surfer then?”

“No, I just love to be surrounded by water all the time. Waterfalls, lakes, ponds, oceans, It’s all home to me.”

“Do you believe in wa –”

“Terrick,” a low voice interrupts from the back of the room. Standing by the door was an equally gorgeous man whose looks were very similar to Terrick’s.

“This is my brother Cain.”

“Oh,” was all I could manage.

“You’ve been summoned. They need to speak to you down at the counsel.”

Terrick stands. “Sorry but I must go. It was a pleasure answering your questions. Hope you got what you needed?”

My heart fell silent. “Don’t worry about it. I can manage with what I got.”

He walked away leaving me with faded kisses on my cheek and enough emotion to make a thousand army men happy.

My feet slowly sauntered the rest of my lifeless body into my make-up room. On my chair was a note:

Crap! I need a translator stat!

What's your hero like?  Is he the strong and silent type?  The wounded bad boy?  A man on a mission, not looking for love, but captivated by your heroine?  Whoever he is, we're sure he's swoonworthy, and we want to learn more about him!

A to Z - Xorn vs. X-Men

Xombies

By Walter Greatshell

http://waltergreatshell.com/books.php

The books open us up to a world where the Agent X virus has taken most of the human race and turned them into the undead. I’ve only read the first one and dying to read the rest. Most of the stuff isn’t new concepts but it is still a great read.

X-Men

The X-Men are a superhero team in the Marvel Comics Universe. They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1 (September 1963). The basic concept of the X-Men is that under a cloud of increasing anti-mutant sentiment, Professor Xavier created a haven at his Westchester mansion to train young mutants to use their powers for the benefit of humanity, and to prove mutants can be heroes.

Xorn

Originally depicted as a Chinese mutant with a "star for a brain", he is eventually revealed to be the X-Men's archnemesis Magneto in disguise at the climax of Morrison's run. After Magneto is apparently killed in the "Planet X" story arc, he appears alive and well a few months later in 2004's Excalibur (Vol. 3) #1, which established that Xorn never was Magneto. Marvel has presented several partial explanations, both in the comics pages and in the press as to the true nature, identity, and motives of Xorn.

Xenophilius "Xeno" Lovegood

The editor of The Quibbler magazine, the husband of Mrs. Lovegood, and the father of Luna Lovegood. His wife died when their only child was nine years old, and he raised his daughter by himself. He is likely the source of his daughter’s eccentric beliefs, although he is often correct in his assumptions. He believed in the existence of the Deathly Hallows and explained them to Harry and supported Harry in The Quibbler when few others would.

Xtras

Alfheim ("elf home"), in Norse mythology, is one of the nine worlds. It is located on the highest level of the Norse universe. Also found on this level are the worlds of Asgard and Vanaheim. Alfheim is the palace of the god Freyr and the homeland of the elves of light. Neither the elves of light nor the elves of darkness, who live in Svartalfheim, participate in any of the events described in the Norse myths. Elves do, however, have active roles in the literature of quite a few of the other branches of Indo-European mythology.

A to Z - Weasley's & Wights

The Walking Dead

Based on the comic book series of the same name, The Walking Dead tells the story of a small group of survivors living in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. Most of the story takes place in the Atlanta area, as the survivors search for a safe haven away from the shuffling hordes of predatory zombies (or "walkers," as they are referred to in show) who devour any living thing they catch, and whose bite is infectious to humans. The plot is focused primarily on the dilemmas the group faces as they struggle to balance their humanity with their survival. The group is led by Rick Grimes, who was a sheriff's deputy before the zombie outbreak. At every turn they are faced with the horror of the dead walking again, the changing dynamic of their group, and hostility from the scattered remains of a struggling human populace who are focused on their own survival now that the structures of society have collapsed.

Now if you have followed me for a while now, then you know I LOVE the comics and the show. Obsessed is more like it.

What Dreams May Come

While vacationing in Switzerland, Dr. Christopher "Chris" Nielsen accidentally meets artist Annie Collins, with whom he has an instant connection. They marry and have two children: Ian and Marie. Their idyllic life comes to an end when the children die in a car crash, and while things are at first very difficult with Annie mentally breaking down and the risk of divorce hanging over their heads, they manage to pull through. However, on the anniversary of the day they decided not to divorce, Chris is involved in a car accident that kills him. Initially confused as to why nobody can interact with him, Chris lingers on Earth, watching Annie cope with the loss and attempting to communicate with her, until he understands how this harms her, and he decides to move on. Meanwhile, on Earth, Annie is unable to cope with the loss of her husband and commits suicide. Chris, who is initially relieved that her suffering is over, quickly turns to anger when he learns that those who commit suicide are sent to Hell, as it is their nature to create "anti-fantasy" worlds based on their pain. He is adamant that he will rescue Annie from Hell

William Golding

A British novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate, best known for his novel Lord of the Flies. He was also awarded the Booker Prize for literature in 1980 for his novel Rites of Passage, the first book of the trilogy To the Ends of the Earth. In 2008, The Times ranked Golding third on their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".

His fictional works includes: Lord of the Flies, The Inheritors, Pincher Martin, Free Fall, The Spire, The Pyramid, The Scorpion God, Darkness Visible, The Paper Men, To the Ends of the Earth; Rites of Passage, Close Quarters, & Fire Down Below, also The Double Tongue.

Weasley’s

One of my favorite families! Surname of a pure-blood family (though the most recent generation has many non-pureblood members. The Weasleys are related to many other wizarding families, including the Blacks, Prewetts, Longbottoms, Crouches, Delacours, and Potters, as well as the Muggle Granger family. All members of the Weasley family (except one: brother of Septimus Weasley) are red-haired and sorted into Gryffindor house upon attendance of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The family home, known as the Burrow, is located just outside Ottery St. Catchpole, in Devon, England. The Weasleys live near other magical families such as the Diggory, Fawcett, and Lovegood families.

The Weasleys, unlike many other pure-blood families, willingly associate with Muggles, Muggle-borns, and half-bloods and do not consider themselves superior to others because of their blood status.

• Arthur
• Molly
• Bill
• Charlie
• Percy
• Fred
• George
• Ron
• Ginny

Extended member

• Septimus Weasley — father of Arthur and his two brothers
• Cedrella Weasley née Black — mother of Arthur and his two brothers
• Weasley children's cousin - Son of one of Arthur Weasley's brothers
• Arthur Weasley's two brothers - Arthur Weasley's brothers
• Fleur Weasley née Delacour — wife of Bill Weasley
• Audrey Weasley — wife of Percy Weasley
• Angelina Weasley née Johnson — wife of George Weasley
• Hermione Weasley née Granger — wife of Ron Weasley
• Harry Potter — husband of Ginny Potter née Weasley
• Victoire Weasley — eldest child of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour
• Dominique Weasley — middle child of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour
• Louis Weasley — youngest child and only son of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour
• Molly Weasley II — older daughter of Percy and Audrey Weasley
• Lucy Weasley — younger daughter of Percy and Audrey Weasley
• Fred Weasley II — son of George Weasley and Angelina Johnson
• Roxanne Weasley — daughter of George Weasley and Angelina Johnson
• Rose Weasley — daughter and older child of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger
• Hugo Weasley — son and younger child of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger
• James Sirius Potter II — eldest child of Harry Potter and Ginny Potter née Weasley
• Albus Severus Potter - younger son of Harry Potter and Ginny Potter née Weasley
• Lily Luna Potter – daughter of Harry Potter and Ginny Potter née Weasley

Wights

Nature spirits in the Norse religion. These nature spirits divide up into 'families', including the Álfar (elves), Dvergar (dwarves), Jötnar (giants), and even gods, the Æsir and Vanir, who are understood to be prominent families among them. The term 'families' (ættir) is often translated as 'clans' or 'races'. These families sometimes intermarried with each other, and sometimes with humans. Sjövættir (sea spirits) are guardians of the specific waters. The tomte or nisse is a solitary vätte, living on the farmstead. He is usually benevolent and helpful, which can not be said about a mischievous illvätte. However he can cause a lot of damage if he is angry, such as killing livestock.

Dont forget to sign up for the First Fight / First Kiss Blogfest June 12th & 14th. Click on the Button below for the deets!