Another fun word!

Word: sycophant

Part of Speech: noun

Definition: A person who seeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; a parasite; a toady.

Sentence: The praise Oxford received as a poet may simply have issued from the mouths of sycophants hungry for patronage.

I was sitting today, just thinking about some of the ways I go about trying to be a better writer. I think the most important way that I accomplish this, is by reading. And reading, I do a lot of. I am the girl in which when you pull up my library card information, have twenty three books checked out, seven sitting on the shelf at the library waiting for me to come get them, three in transit, and four waiting to be filled. I read EVERYTHING. Even magazines.

However, my obsession for reading has expanded beyond the walls of the library or our local bookstore. In fact, it has gone beyond magazine subscriptions and junk mail. It has now landed on the Internet. In the form of blogs. I have become a hopeless addict and born stalker to several blogs currently active. I even get upset when I go to read one, and there has been no update for awhile. Not upset, mad. Just upset, “I wish there was something new to hear about”.

I’ve also discovered that by reading others blogs, I develop new styles of writing, new vocabulary, and often new statements or cliche’s that I utter from time to time. Interesting really.

I was thinking about all this today, because I have been talking to my daughter, who wants to be an author when she grows up, about ways to improve your writing and learn more about what your style is. I told her everything I just shared with you.

She was curious about the blogs I read, and thankfully I am proud to say, with the exception of small handful, I can share most of them with her. They are clean. So she has been browsing blogs since yesterday afternoon, learning about everything from scrapbooking, ADHD and parenting. It’s been rather enlightening, but mostly she just giggles when she reads it.

If you are looking for a way to improve your writing, and find a “voice” that might be slightly hidden within you, just start reading other people’s blogs, and then sit down and write your own blog entry. You might be surprised what pops out.

Quote of the Week this week is, “People can be divided into three groups: Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened.” - John W. Newbern.
I really don’t know why I love this quote, except it really speaks to me. I have this above my writing area, except now that I have the laptop, I have to reassign where it is. I might write it on a post it note and stick it on my bathroom mirror. Just to remind myself, that nothing will get accomplished if I don’t MAKE it happen.

It’s that time again.

Let’s talk about a past love. 

Tell us about your first love. What did you learn about yourself from  that relationship/experience? What kind of life do you think he/she is living today?

Well, this is one I have no idea where to go with. My first “love” was probably Chris. I think he was the first time I realized that there was an actual “feeling” that went along with love. I don’t know how much I learned from the relationship and the experience at the time, but I do know that in restrospect, a lot came out of it. I learned to love myself more, not to accept being “second best”, and I learned to appreciate myself more. I learned that my feelings do matter, I learned that you have to commit and make time for a relationship and not just post a “when I have time” attitude.

Guessing where Chris is today, was hard. After some serious consideration, I would have to imagine that he is married, more than likely with one child only. He was going to school for engineering, so they are probably living well, comfortably and if I had to guess, they are somewhere in Texas.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out where he really was?

Inspired by the recent bio changes on my favorite scrapbooking website, here is the scrapbooking me:

my name Nicole Humphrey, Nikki, Nic
scrapbook size 12×12
camera Digital - Kodak Easy Share Z650 which we just got, but I am already ready to upgrade! (really, really want a Nikon Digital Rebel!!) And for Film - Nikon N55 SLR Camera, Pentax ZX-M Manual Focus Camera, and a Canon EOS Elan 7E SLR Camera. (isn’t merging families great!)
music Country Girl all the way.
work space currently a large portion of our basement, but we are having a room built just for scrapbooking in our new house!
style simple, clean, photo and journaling nut
1 or 2 pages 99% 2 pagers - I rarely EVER do 1 pagers.
color preference addicted to color. especially blues. love natural colors like kraft, tan, oatmeal, and outdoorsy colors - greens and blues.
favorite product type has to be patterned paper, hands down
childhood ambition to be a writer (I guess I am living it)
fondest memory hmm…my memory isn’t what it used to be, but my fondest memory so far I think, is our Louisiana trip a year ago. It has special meaning. It was long and boring, but there was more to it.
soundtrack well, I’ve been subjected to hours of High School Musical, so I actually enjoy that. I also seem to really enjoy the soundtracks that accompany the Shrek movies. LOL
retreat If I could find time to go on a scrapbooking retreat, I’d absolutely be there.
wildest dream to have a whole book series published.
proudest moment august 17, 1994 and march 13, 1998
biggest challenge finding a balance between work time and family time
alarm clock 5:30AM - except I don’t use one, my internal alarm clock works like clockwork (honestly, no “pun” intended)
perfect day with my family
first job retail sales at Chocolate Soup (a children’s clothing store)
indulgence frozen mocha with whipped cream. Yummy! or Ben and Jerry’s - several flavors!
last purchase scrapbook related - papers and this awesome and enormous sized tag punch I had wanted for awhile. non-scrapbook related - aside from groceries, the laptop
favorite movie The Notebook
inspiration My family, all of them.
my life is better than it has ever been. I am getting paid to do what I love, I have the big family I always wanted, and didn’t have to go through all the pain, I am with the best man I have ever met in my entire life, and God has truly blessed me.

Well, that was fun! Tell me about you!

Rumors spread fast about Jennifer Aniston and her nose job. According to a rep for 37 year old, Aniston, the procedure was done to repair an old botched deviated septum from several years back.

However, the rumors begun flying, and the speculation was that Jennifer Aniston had a nose job. There were all sorts of rumors. Supposedly she did it to correct her nose that she has been unhappy with for a long time. She also supposedly did it because of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. *sigh* I don’t really care why she did it. I don’t care if she got one or not. I just wish we could leave famous people alone. Can’t we just watch them on the big screen and leave it at that?

Apparently not. Regardless, Aniston came clean and admitted that she did indeed have a nose job.

Dr. Raj Kanodia, is the plastic surgeon, who performed the surgery for Jennifer Aniston, and also in less recent months, on Cameron Diaz, as well as Ashlee Simpson.

Personally, I think Jennifer Aniston looked great before the nose job. I also think she looks great now. You be the judge.

Before

After

Well?

Appetizer
If you could take lessons to learn any musical instrument, which would you want to learn?
Violin. I’ve always wanted to learn.

Soup
Have you ever mistaken a person for someone else?
uh yeah. Can someone actually answer no?

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets?
nine. I hardly ever tell secrets to anyone, but I have been known to tell Mike a secret or two.

Main Course
What’s the closest you’ve ever been to a dangerous animal?
A place nearby our home has a lion. I’ve had the chance to pet him several times, as have my kids. (he is however, behind bars).

Dessert
When was the last time you lost your patience?
ha! This morning? At breakfast I’m sure some kid ticked me off. LOL

Thirteen of My Favorite Movies of all Time
(in no particular order - and remember I *am* a mom)!
(and this is only a list of the ones I could think of in five minutes -
I am a major movie buff so this list could stretch hundreds long!)

1. St. Elmo’s Fire
2. Eddie and the Cruisers
3. The Notebook
4. The Sixth Sense
5. Harry Potter (yes all four so far!)
6. Losing Isaiah
7. Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken
8. Water World
9. The Rainmaker
10. Hope Floats
11. Titanic
12. The Day After Tomorrow
13. Any film by Kevin Smith!! (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, etc.)

 Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

 View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

As much as I try not to get caught up in the whole voting process or decision making process for any of these competitive music shows, like American Idol and Nashville Star, it’s hard  not to.  In fact, from the first fifth season episode of Nashville Star, I had an instant favorite.

When Angela Hacker opened her mouth and began to sing, I could have sworn she was a star already. Her voice is raspy, deep and southern. Three things I had no idea I loved, but I really do.

The 29 year old hopeful, had me from her first words of the familiar Patty Loveless song that I adore. What an incedible voice. Nashville Star knew what they were doing putting her through!

From a small town, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, she didn’t begin singing publicly until she was thirteen because of her shyness, which I find particularly sweet.

The proud mother of a very handsome little boy, Angela is finding it difficult to be away from him, but thankfully he loves his mom and wants to see her be a big star. I really think her son, might just get his wish. Angela Hacker has my vote. Period.

As a huge Reba McEntire fan, I own every single album, I see Angela as following in her big star footsteps! Soo cool!