Wednesday, April 16, 2014

What's Up Wednesday and A-Z Challenge: N

Today I'm going to split up my two posts, but try to keep them both as brief as possible.
 A-Z Challenge: N is for North and South (and Other Period Films)
I heart historical movies as much as historical books. North and South is one of my favorites. When I first heard of it, I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't all that interested. Industrial age? Cotton-mill workers? A strike? A vicar's daughter? Meh. I'm more into Jane Austen's love stories than  strikes and dreary industrial towns.

WRONG WRONG WRONG. It is sooo good. If you're a fan of period films, definitely watch this one if you haven't. I'm not going to go on anymore about it because I've already waxed obsessive about it in the past. Watch a clip instead:
This is a pretty awesome fan-made trailer
What I'm Reading
I finished The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier which was awesome! And now I'm reading Inheritance, the final book in the Eragon series. I will be happy when I've finally finished and know how it ends and can move on.
What I'm Writing
No writing this week. I finished beta-ing one manuscript and did some work on another.
What Inspires Me Right Now
See above movie clip!
What Else I've Been Up To
It was my birthday on Sunday. Woo-hoo, she said droopily. I usually get kinda depressed on my birthday. Coming up to this one, I was perfectly fine. But then Sunday hit. Boo. It's not just the getting older part, it's the getting older and still not accomplishing my goals that sucks. Ah well. There were some great things about the weekend. I saw Captain America: The Winter Soldier which was awesome. (Steve Rogers and his muscles make up for anything sucky, IMO). And I ate at East Side Mario's, one of my fave restaurants. So yay for that!
What have you been up to?

20 comments:

  1. Congratulations on another year of life, Melanie! You're a year wiser, a year more experienced, and while you may not have yet achieved all your goals, look back at all you accomplished over the last year, and celebrate everything you did manage to achieve. Not a moment has been for nothing, I'm sure. :)

    Have a great week!

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  2. I found this on netflix knowing my wife would enjoy it, but man, I didn't expect it to suck me in, too. It's another side of the time period that Jane Austin books just never showed. :)

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  3. I didn't know it was on Netflix. I will have to watch:)) Looks really interesting!

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  4. Happy Birthday! Don't let the aging process get you down. Just remember, you can't always be young, but you can always be immature!

    Have a great week, and a great year.

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  5. Glad I'm not the only one who finds birthdays a little depressing! Hope you had a great week, anyway!

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  6. It's great to hear The Lost Sisterhood is worth reading! :) I still haven't read North and South, but I did watch the series on the BBC and I loved it. :D

    Happy Birthday! Have a lovely week. :)

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  7. I love all the Winter Soldier love. It was so good! I've seen it twice now :D North and South is a classic and one of my all time favorites.

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  8. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I do know how you feel though, about getting older and not feeling like you are accomplishing your goals. I choose to look at it this way. I'm not dead, which means I have at least 1 more year to get that much closer to where I want to be. (I'm choosing to have a glass-half-full kind of life)

    And I loved North and South. Never has Richard Armitage been so swoony. (Unless you have a thing for dwarves. Which is cool. I'm not judging.)

    Hope your week is marvelous!

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  9. Happy Birthday! Forget the age and enjoy the presents and food and the wonder that is life :D

    Have a wonderful week ^_^

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  10. Happy Belated Birthday! I know what you mean about the getting older and not accomplishing what you want thing. I'm so right there with you, Melanie. I'm happy that Steve Rogers was able to cheer you up, though. (He's my favourite Avenger by far.) And I will never stop being inspired by NORTH AND SOUTH. I love it so much, particularly Richard Armitage in the role. Love! Have a great week, Melanie!

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  11. Oh, Richard Armitage was so mmm in that TV programme, masterful and tender (sounds a bit like a Mills and Boon but luckily nothing like them really).

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  12. I LOVED North and South too! Thanks for making me thing about and remember it again. I have enjoyed reading several of your posts. Found you through the A to Z Challenge. Happy blogging! www.dianeweidenbenner.com

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  13. East Side Mario's is one of my husband's favorite restaurants! We haven't been in over sixteen years--and that just makes me feel old. ;) Happy Birthday!

    I loved North and South, but it has been so long since I read it. Maybe I need to add it to the TBRR list.

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  14. Happy Birthday :) Have a great week.

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  15. Happy belated birthday, Melanie. Can I just tell you, I had the *exact* same feelings when my birthday passed in February. Blah. Nothing had really changed for me since last year, so the whole day just felt... anticlimatic? Oh well. All we can do is keep striving, right? Hope you have a great week, lady. :-)

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  16. I love NORTH AND SOUTH! I saw the movie first, but when I read the book I was impressed at how perfectly cast (and deliciously brooding) Richard Armitage was in the role of John Thornton. I need to treat myself to watching it again sometime soon.

    My feelings on birthdays are exactly the same as yours. They're basically a day when all the regrets surface, and trust me, there are many. Time goes by way too fast. Happy belated birthday though, and be encouraged that you have blogger friends who can relate.

    Also, I agree on Captain America. He's definitely a "specimen" to quote the movie. ;)

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  17. Happy Belated Birthday! I can relate to the regrets thing on your birthday but, look! A shiny new year! Just think of the possibilities. :)

    I have GOT to get to Captain America this weekend! I just keep hearing awesome things about it. Have a great week, Melanie!

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  18. Hey, don't let aging get you down! Happy birthday! :) I think going to see the Winter Soldier was an excellent idea to lift your spirits, haha.

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