Marvelous Marvel

Growing up I loved comic books and the whole aspect of superheroes. Watching the Batman show starring Adam West was how this love began. I was drawn to Batman because he was human, no worldly powers, just a vigilante saving lives. Then I came upon the world of Marvel.

X-Men (Storm is my favorite), Hulk, Thor, Black Panther, Fantastic Four, Spiderman, Dr. Strange, The Avengers, Captain America and of course Iron Man.

These superheroes were more than just awesome characters in a storyline or sparks of creativity and imagination, I found a sense of confidence within their heroism.

Those comic books, those characters, those movies were and still are an escape for me. And yes, sparks of creativity still pop. Stan Lee is a legend, a genius who had an invincible reputation. It’s crazy to know that he has passed away. I think that we place our heroes on a pedestal of immortality, it’s only when a tragedy such as death do we realize that they too are human.

Words escaped my mind this morning when I had saw online that Mr. Lee had passed. He will be greatly missed, especially his infamous cameos.

“Are you..Tony Stank?” 😂

Thank you Stan Lee for creating a world that will live on eternally.

*Said in Tony Stark mannerism* I am Derra Nicole 😉

You were one of those classic ones traveling around the sun… -Twenty One Pilots

Questions and Pasta

1. How long have you been blogging?

I began blogging Dec 2015, so rounding the three mark year here soon.

2. Do your friends and family support you in this?

My family supports my writing, but they don’t read my blog lol. My friends read my stuff all of the time. One of my best friends and I enjoy collaborating on blog topics.

3. Which is your favorite time of the day?

Definitely the evening/ night. Cooking dinner while dancing in the kitchen, being in comfy clothes aka hoodie and yoga sweats. Then a coffee (hot or iced depending) and watching either a movie or food network (dude, Halloween Wars! Zesty Zombies or Candy Cadavers guys?).

4. What would be your dream vacation?

No specific location, just to travel the world, soak in different cultures, taste the delicious eats, be in awe of all the beautiful architecture and get lost in the different genres of the local bands.

5. What genre of movies you like best?

Thriller, horror, comedy and yes even a romcom every now and then. (Certain movies I watch solo because there are certain scenes that make me cry) lol.

6. What do you wake up to?

My alarm clock which plays the hook to Stat Frosty Royal Milk Tea.

7. Are you a morning person?

Depends on how the night played out. I’m not grumpy though, it’s more of a “I’m up, but I’m not awake” situation 😉.

8. What motivates you?

All of the negativity in the world. Sounds weird, I know. Oh, and a bowl of Reese’s Puffs (without milk)

9. How do you think your friends see you?

I think they see me as someone who loves her squad, knowing that I will always have their backs, no matter what.

For you I’d go step to a dude much bigger than me… -Twenty One Pilots

Someone who knows she’s not perfect, but she tries her hardest everyday. Someone who never gives up. And, as someone who has the ability to always make you laugh.

10. What would be your idea for saving the environment from pollution ?

Creating an environmentally sustainable fuel that doesn’t put out toxic emissions. Fuel used for any vehicle.

11. Happy or peaceful, what is more important to you?

Well, I find peace within my contentment so…

What’s your most prized possession?

I try not to place too much value in possessions, but I’ll say that my 5th Generation U2 iPod. That amazing piece of technology got me through some of the darkest times in my life. It definitely had a well lived life, I drained the battery listening to that little guy for a few years, every day. Still have it. That little black life savor filled with thousands of songs.

Do you believe in ghosts? Tell me why or why not.

Yes, but if I told you you’d think I was crazy 😉

I’m friends with the monster that’s under my bed… -Eminem

Deep dish or thin crust pizza?

Depends…fan of both. 🍕

If you could have dinner with any celebrity or public figure, who would it be and why?

Since this doesn’t specify alive or dead, I wish I could have dinner with Robin Williams. The man was a legend.

What are your top three places on your travel bucket/wish list?

China….during the spring when the cherry blossom trees bloom

Ireland…I’m part Irish

Australia…for the beaches, kangaroo and koala sanctuaries and to see the sites.

Where’s your favorite place in the world?

New York…it’s a beautiful melting pot.

Are you a dog or a cat person?

I haven’t met an animal I didn’t want to hold, pet or play with. I love all the furry creatures.

Let’s settle this once and for all: Which is better, McDonald’s or Burger King?

Ewww…neither lol. Ever heard of In-N-Out 😉

What would your dream job be?

I’m working on my dream job now…Writer 🖤

Do you think your personality aligns with the traits associated with your zodiac sign?

Yes and No… I’m a Scorpio chick 🦂

What’s your favorite chore and your least favorite chore?

Ok listen, chores are a love hate relationship.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

People that tag me in clown pics even though they know I HATE CLOWNS!! 😉

Where did you get your name?

My biological father chose it…

If you could change your name, what would it be?

I actually like my name..it’s different and pretty cool.

What was your favorite TV show as a kid?

Tales From the Crypt on Nickelodeon.

Do you have any weird habits?

Let’s just say that there isn’t always music playing even though I’m wearing my headphones 😉

Do you like fall scents/tastes?

Pumpkin spice world baby! Get on my level!

What is your favorite holiday and why?

As much as I love Hallowthanksmas (yes, you read that right) Christmas is my ultimate favorite. There is just something calming, almost magical in the frost bitten air. Yeah, I know…cheesy.

Do you prefer writing it down or typing it up?

Both…I love writing it down then recreating it as I type it out.

Cable or Netflix?

Both…

If money didn’t matter what would you do with your life?

Write…travel..create my own foundation…try the house coffee at all the local coffee shops when traveling…help those who deal with suicide ideation…

What is your favorite thing about yourself?

There’s this immortal program embedded into my brain that doesn’t allow me to give up. So, no matter how gnarly the storm, I’ll see it through and come out the other side. A little worse for wear, but a little wiser.

Rubberband

Upon my right wrist used to live a rubberband…

This rubberband’s daily mission was to snap a sharp sting that would shoot up from my vein all the way up to my brain…

That sharp sting would annihilate the current toxic thought of wanting to murder my name…

All through high school this rubberband fought tirelessly to save my existence…

Today, that rubberband has been replaced by this life line embedded underneath this scarred skin. This ink’s purpose is that of a promise made to another human that I would never again attempt to take my own life…

Upon my right arm lives the memory of a rubberband.

Neon Gravestones try to call for my bones… -Twenty One Pilots

Cinnamon Sugar Toast

Saturday afternoon…sitting at the table rewriting/ editing a few pieces from my current project and watching Triple X, my stomach suggests that I take a small break to grab a snack. While my eyes peruse every option on each shelve of the fridge, I pause my glance at the loaf of brioche bread and decide to make a couple of pieces of toast. I’m not sure why, but it just sounded so good.

Lightly toasted and buttered, I begin the process of selecting what to smear on this deliciously toasted treat. Cream cheese & strawberry jam…? PB & honey…?

Then out of the blue, my taste buds shifted into nostalgia mode…Cinnamon and Sugar.

As a kid, my Mom would sprinkle my toast with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. It was that perfect little accompaniment to my scrambled eggs and fruit. Add a glass of juice and voila. This was one of my favorite breakfasts growing up (besides my Mom’s killer baked French toast).

So, I grabbed the container of sugar along with the jar of cinnamon and conjured up a perfectly balanced ratio of sweetness. Now, I am not one who likes a “punch you in the mouth” treat so I didn’t make it rain cinnamon sugar, I made it sprinkle.

That first bite…dude, let me tell you…crunchy buttery cinnamony sugary goodness… *yeah, I get a little excited about food lol*

For a moment I was 7 years old again….

Back to reality.

Ok, laptop…check, iced coffee…check, deliciousness on a plate…check, Vin Diesel kickin’ ass and blowin’ shit up…check.

Yep, this is my kinda Saturday afternoon.

You have a bazooka! Dude, stop thinking Prague Police and start thinking Playstation. Blow shit up! -Xander Cage

Life’s No Fun Without a Good Scare

If you were to ask me what my favorite childhood movie is my answer would be The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Not just because of the fact that it’s an awesome movie or because it was created by the legendary Tim Burton, but because I resonate with the main pumpkin king himself, Jack Skellington.

Even though Jack was the man, the king of Halloween, he felt like something was missing, like there was something more to life. He felt as though he didn’t fully belong in Halloweentown, he needed to find himself, he needed to venture out. Thus the insanity that spiraled out with the kidnapping of Sandy Claws and Oogie Boogie causing chaos with the help of Lock, Shock and Barrel.

In the end of the Christmas madness, Jack realized that while his intrigue was ignited by all the magic of Christmas, he was the best pumpkin king there was. He always belonged in Halloweentown amongst The Mayor, Sally and his adorable ghostly dog Zero. By venturing out he found himself.

I lost myself and had to become someone I wasn’t in order to truly find myself.

I love my family, my friends, I love my life and have found a contentment within myself I didn’t think I’d ever find.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched The Nightmare Before Christmas, but I can tell you that I watch it every year during Halloween and Christmas.

My favorite song from the soundtrack is What’s This? And the rendition done by Fall Out Boy is insane. Go give it a listen.

Detox just to Retox

12;17am… the major rain storm has officially rolled in, the sound of Spring’s downpour carries a calming effect that my eyes fall in love with every time. No ambient sounds are buzzing during this midnight hour. The storm caused all of the crickets to silence their songs. The storm has hushed nature’s night life.

12:24am… the headphones have been placed atop my sleepless head, Spotify opens and the 5 minutes playlist has been selected. Certain songs are being skipped over for they have a way of pulling at my heart strings while releasing a small stream of stubborn tears. Tonight my ear drums won’t be soaking in Space Bound by Eminem or Unsteady by X-Ambassadors. Those memories will not resurface tonight. Instead they will detox to Believer by Imagine Dragons and then retox to Church by Fall Out Boy.

If you were church I’d get on my knees, confess my love, I’d know where to be… -FOB

12:57…these buzzing thoughts in my mind are beginning to softly overbare their noise against these therapeutic lyrics, so now the pen and notebook make their debut. My mind won’t let go of these x’s and o’s thoughts. These thoughts detox with the image of Jamie’s infamous speech at the end of Love and Other Drugs, hopeful words that cause this distracting dream of one day finding a guy who will see me for me, someone who will notice my heart, my soul, someone who’ll look past my outer shell. Then within a single breath my mind will retox back to reality with the aid of the heartbreaking scene from Wonder when Auggi tearfully asks his mom, “When will the staring and hurtful comments stop? Is anyone ever going to see me for me?”. Questions I used to constantly ask my young self, questions my grown self sometimes loses sleep over. PS. Love and Other Drugs, Wonder and Collateral Beauty…all movies I have to watch by myself because they make me cry. Every time.

1:27am… all of this detoxification and reroxification has somehow made me hungry… coffee ice cream it is .

1:31am… Hold Me Tight or Don’t begins to play and my heart begins to retox once again.

Ticking Time Bomb

If science advancements were able to pin point the exact moment that you would die, would you want to know?

This thought popped into my head while watching “In Time”, a movie based on the theory of paying for life’s materials with our alotted time instead of currency. Future payment exchanges with the hours, minutes and seconds of one’s life. Your life’s clock digitally stamped on your wrist, visible 24/7. Countries populated with ticking time bombs. I guess it would definitely make the shop-aholics of the world think twice before swiping, especially if your not born of rich blood.

Damn, to constantly watch the seconds of your life tick away every time your flesh barcode is scanned, literally.

Back to my original thought bubble… would you want to know the exact moment that your last breath would exhale from your chest. The exact second that your red stained ticker would tick it’s last tock.. I know, it’s a heavy and deep thought to ponder at 11:30 at night. Personally, I wouldn’t want to know because I know myself and 100% of my attention would be solely presented on my life’s countdown clock. Resting in peace would be the only thought that all of my concentration would be awarded to. I have too many dreams that I’m in the process of breathing life into. I have too many unthought of ideas to create. I am too preoccupied with engraving my mark on this spinning sphere that I reside on. Being born with a rare genetic disorder implants death’s essence in my mind enough as it is. Grim reaper’s shadow has been filed in the back allies of my over crowded mind so that I can live life fearlessly. These hazel eyes of mine would be glued to Big Ben otherwise.

I’m sure some Curious Georges out there would be checking “yes” on their ballets, but this curious little monkey checks “no”. I am curious though, what box would all of you out there in the big bad world check?

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