Jasmine + Mr. Buzz: Real Love

Love is always patient. Love is always kind.

It is never jealous-
It is never boastful or conceited.
Love is never rude or selfish-
It does not take offense-
It is never resentful.
Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins,
but delights in the truth.
Love is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope,
and to endure whatever comes.
Poem interpreted from 'The Bible'- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Jasmine: "I'm just a cat, standing in front of a bee, asking him to love her."
Mr. Buzz: "Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at hello!"

Hello, Christmas Trip!

Hello, LaForge!

Hello, Gruene(TX) Antiques!

Hello, Boot Display!

Hello, Gristmill Restaurant!

Hello, waiting for a table!(with my Cousin, Justin! Hello, Justin! :)

Hello, view of the Guadalupe River from tables at Gristmill!
Hello, better view of the Guadalupe River!Hello, GINORMOUS Onion Rings!Hello, Jasmine!

...more to upload.... :)

I never expected to be saying this, but...

I went to see 'Avatar' yesterday, and I LOVED it!

I'm not a huge fan of crazy creatures and such in Sci Fi movies. Don't get me wrong-I saw 'Lord of the Rings, I love 'Harry potter', and I'm gonna be in line to see 'Alice In Wonderland' soon, but I did NOT think I would connect with full CGI blue characters that had tails and wore loin clothes.
I thought that the animation wouldn't look real-I thought I'd HATE the script cuz...let's face it...I was dying for one of those Heart of the Ocean blue necklaces after I saw 'Titanic' in all my pre-teen glory back in the day, but the dialogue and love story written by James Cameron left something to be desired. I didn't feel emotionally connected with the characters.
But, James Cameron, I have to give you my two thumbs way WAY up for this movie! After the first ten minutes, I had completely forgotten that I was watching a computer animated film-It looked like live action, and even the alien planet of Pandora with all of it glow in the dark foliage and baby jellyfish like floating seeds was incredibly believable. The expressions...movement...heartache-It got to me. Every second of the almost 3 hour movie was important and worth seeing. The 3D way not kitchy, and worked like I've only dreamed of 3D working-You were very much a part of the story.
Here's a short plot summary without spoilers:
When his brother is killed in battle, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid "Na'vi" in order to mine for the precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake gathers intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri...what will happen?!
I would say the movie was an Action/Adventure/Fanstasy/Drama. It pulled in classic themes of native people living in symbiosis with the land, and unexpected love seamlessly with a plot line that was one of the first I've been unable to predict in a long time. It took what I knew, and challenged it.
I laughed, I jumped, I bit my nails, and I got teary too.
The ticket cost more since it's in 3D, but if you can go and get to a matinee, or are willing to pay for it-I believe it's worth it. It's a movie you want to see at least once on the big screen, so think twice before saying, "I'll wait till it's on DVD."
I heard mixed reviews from friends before seeing this, but-as a writer and lover of movies-I would put my word behind the movie. If it's not for you, I can respect that....but...FYI...you're WRONG! It was worth EVERY Penny...and if you're wanting to see it, but have nobody to hand you the tissues when you tear up , this Penny would love to see this again and bogard your popcorn! :)

Bravo, James Cameron!! I officially forgive you for offing Leo DiCaprio.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...Eve.....day....

Well my dear friends, it is upon us!
The night of nights
The carolers trek

The snow covered...well...not in Houston...winter's eve

The night before the birthday of a guy you may have heard of-Jesus-tho he wasn't REALLY born on Christmas day, was he? I don't think the 25th was his real b-day...
Either way, I believe that by my rough Wikipedia calculations, he is celebrating his 2013! Everybody stand back and hold onto your kittens! Those candles are gonna torch all of Bethlehem!
I want to thank everyone who has come by my blog this year-It's incredible to get to know each of you, and I hope our blog fun will last a long time! You mean more to me than you know!

Hug the ones you love today!

XOXO Penny

Serendipitously Schubert!

Well...Serendipity implies the "luck of the draw", but "hard working" didn't really work with Debra's name. :) What I meant to say was, "The fabulous, serendipitous, AND hard working Debra Schubert has a literary agent!!!!".

These are pics of Debra signing with...

Ms. Bernadette Baker-Baughman of Baker's Mark Literary Agency after Ms. B liked a comment Debra made on Twitter about queries and then looked at Debra's blog. She discovered Debra had queried a while back with her novel, MURDER ON TWILIGHT CIRCLE. She invited Debra to re-query and the rest is history! Magic, Happy Dance, Sugar Plum History!

And yes, Twi-hards-She lives on Twilight Circle-real street name.

*tear* Mama Bear is SO proud!

CLICK HERE to read more about it and to view the actual e-mail Ms. B sent to Debra! :)

RIP Brittany Murphy

Brittany Murphy died early this morning after she went into full cardiac arrest and could not be revived.
She was 32.
A 911 call was made at 8:00 AM from a home in Los Angeles that is listed as belonging to her husband, Simon Monjack, the Los Angeles City Fire Department.
We're told Murphy was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her time of death was listed as 10:04 AM.
Murphy starred in such films as. "Uptown Girls", "Clueless," "8 Mile," "Girl, Interrupted", and "Don't Say a Word."
UPDATE 3:11 PM ET -- Brittany Murphy's mom discovered her unconscious in the shower. We're told when paramedics arrived, they quickly determined Murphy was in full cardiac arrest and immediately administered CPR. They continued CPR in route to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center -- several miles away -- and Murphy was unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
We're told the LA County Coroner's is picking up Murphy's body from Cedars later today and will launch a death investigation.
Brittany Murphy is one of my favorite actresses, and I cry every time I watch the end of 'Uptown Girls' when her character watches Dakota Fanning dance to the song that Brittany's character's(Molly) father-a rock star who died in a car crash when she was young wrote about her-'Molly Smiles.' Here's a video of it.

She was also in "Girl, Interrupted' and gave an incredible performance as a sexually abused and mentally disturbed young woman in a sanatorium.

I'm so sad! She was always so full of excitement and fun. If there was ever an actress to play me in a movie, I would have wanted it to be her. She was and will continue to be one of my most loved actresses. Take care of her for us, Angels! :(

Christmas Ornament Cupcakes by Penny

I made these last night for a Christmas Party.

I recorded each step on video, and will be uploading it as a tutorial to Youtube and putting it on my blog as soon as I finish editing. I'm going to include the recipes and supplies I used as well.The cake is a simple white cake and I made Vanilla Meringue Buttercream Icing. The ornaments are Lindt Chocolate Truffles dipped in white chocolate and decorated. I used gum paste for the hook holders.
"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup." -Elf

I also made these "snowballs"- which were basically crumbled cake mixed with icing that was rolled into a ball, frozen, and then covered with white chocolate and then granulated sugar.

And- Son of a NUTCRACKER, they were awesome!
Merry Christmas to all! :)

SHHH!!!!!!

"SHHHH!!! I'm sleeping so Santa will come, and I WANT my diamond collar! He doesn't come if you're awake."
"...Christmas is still 9 days away."
"ssshhhhhh."

Don't ALL writers produce at least one manuscript like this at some point in their career?!

Clip SAFE for kittles-only thing scary is the music.

Is it really so crazy?! ...and does this mean the time I recorded every word I heard while hiding in the broom closet at school and then distributing it in bound form to everyone under the title 'The Closet Diaries' is crazy too?! ...cuz I just don't see it... I just don't see it.

The Closet Diaries

"I hate math." "You threatening me?" "The abortion went well." "I'm going to take a pillowcase and fill it full of bars of soap and beat the shit out of you!" "So, what do we do now?" "We could hug?" "You have the voice of an angel. Your voice is like a combination of Fergie and Jesus." "I'm so scared right now. I'm just gonna to do what's sensible, I'm gonna file for unemployment. Then I'm gonna try to get a job at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, because they got an excellent corporate structure and they... *they* give *you* the tools to be your own boss." " I'm not gonna call him Dad! Well I'm not going to, *ever*! Even if there's a fire!"

Guess What!

It's National Cupcake Day!

(First- I want to dedicate the song playing to a couple close to me that are dealing with some tears, fears, and hope right now.)

Here are some of the cupcakes I've made this year!
Candy Cane Cupcakes
(Vanilla)
Confetti Cupcakes
(Vanilla)

(This one is by Amanda) Lady Spice Cupcakes

(Pumpkin/cream cheese frosting)

Poison Lemon Cupcakes
(Lemon cake/flooded vanilla icing)Mint To Be Cupcakes

(Chocolate cupcakes meet with Mint Chocolate Milano Cookies)

Marlowe Cupcakes
(And I will make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies;
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroider'd all with leaves of myrtle.
-"The Passionate Shepherd To His Love"-Christopher Marlowe)

Bloomin Cupcakes
(Chocolate cake/fondant roses)

High Note Cupcakes
(Rainbow vanilla/vanilla icing/chocoate decorations)

Close Up

Go pick up some cupcakes-or make some of your own tonight to celebrate this holiday!

What was the BEST cupcake you've ever eaten?! If it came from a bakery, please share the name!

"Penny, Go make me cucumber sandwiches and get me the unpublished Harry Potter manuscript before 3:00, or don't bother coming back!" - Jasmine

Walking is for peasants. Ms. Chikadee must be carried! HAHA! "Do as I say commoners!
Bow to the power of Siam and my disarmingly sweet face!" :)

Snow Falling on Kittens!

This is footage from the snowfall at our house in Houston, TX. last Friday(12/04/2009). It was AMAZING!! It NEVER snows here!

NyQuil. Popsicle. Chicken Soup. Kleenex. Thermometer. Sleep.

Yep. I'm Sick. Somebody pass the Nyquil.

The Grinch: "What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

It snowed in Houston on Friday!! It was INCREDIBLE! I've never seen snow like that, and it's not something many of us get to be a part of here in South Texas.

Marshmallow World in the Front Yard!

My sis, Emmy, tastes some snow! YUM!

From the garage!

Blanketed Back Yard!

Emmy and Jasmine posed for me before it starting coming down TOO hard. You can see some snow on Jasmine's forehead tho-Snow kittens! :)