Some Things Aren't Always What they Seem...

Greetings and felicitations

Today I'm going to talk about a few people who really touched my heart, even though I've never even met them. It started on Netflix... I saw this lovely lady  and was drawn in by her beauty.

This is RuPaul - and she is actually a man.

You're probably wondering what this has to do anything - well RuPaul here presented a show called RuPaul's Drag Race which was some kind of awesome.

It's a game to win a lifetime's supply of MAC cosmetics, $20,000, the winner was featured in an LA Eyeworks campaign, and they would join the Logo Drag Race Tour. Nice.

The only drawback for me (if I wanted to enter), is that you have to be a man. That can impersonate a woman flawlessly - to become the next Drag Queen Superstar.

'So what?' I hear you ask. Well the show was very interesting, personally when I have come across Drag Queens in gay bars I have been very intimidated by them. They are loud, very self confident and most of all... They can sniff out fear at 20 paces.

So for me at least, this was a way to marvel at these really creative and flamboyant people without in fact getting terrified that they will latch on to me and shame my awful makeup.

I loved their outfits, I loved their style and I really loved their names!

Bebe Zahara Benet - Originally from Cameroooooon.

The contestants were picked by an online public vote and the top nine ladies with the most votes were put on the show! The successful candidates were (stage names and real names):

• Bebe Zahara Benet - Nea Marshall Kudi
• Nina Flowers - Jorge Flores (I really wanted her to win)
• Rebecca Glasscock - Javier Rivera
• Shannel (pronounced Chanel) - Bryan Watkins
• Ongina - Ryan Ong Palao (the site for this does have sound so beware!)
• Jade - David Sotomayor
• Akashia - Eric Flint
• Tammie Brown - Keith Glen Schubert
• Victoria "Porkchop" Parker - Victor Bowling

These ladies all had to get through a number of 'challenges' throughout the day to win extra little goodies (along with immunity in the first three episodes) and in episode 4 there was a mini challenge to become the next face of MAC's Viva Glam campaign.

Viva Glam is part of the MAC Aids Fund which raises money to help people who are affected by HIV and Aids. There is some more in depth information about this fund here. 

The challenge involved creating a 30 second 'advertisement' for Viva Glam, and it should include why the Drag Queens thought that they should be the face of the campaign, as well as advertising what the campaign is all about.

There were some heartfelt personal stories, Bebe (as I have pointed out is from Cameroon) and she felt that this was a cause close to her heart because she had personally witnessed suffering at the hands of HIV / Aids, Rebecca's best friend was suffering with HIV; and there was one more revelation to come.

Watch the video here if you don't have Flash Player

There was one Queen however, that really stood out for the judges was Ongina (the first lady in the video) and her message, 'Celebrate life!'

She actually won the challenge, and what happened next was jaw droppingly shocking. Ongina had this to say...

ONGINA: “I just wanted to say, and I've always been so afraid to say it, that I've been living with HIV for the last two years of my life, and this means so much to me. I didn't want to say it on national TV because my parents doesn't know. Oh my God…”

You could have cut the air with a knife I imagine. I sat watching this with the other half and my jaw was on the floor. As this poor human was baring her soul on national TV, all I wanted to do was reach inside the screen and give her the biggest hug for being so brave. She had kept this secret from everyone involved and when she won the competition she was overwhelmed, as many people would be I bet.

Her passion for life was clearly apparent and to be honest, none of the other contestants deserved the privilege more than Ongina to help others in her situation.

So, what I'm trying to say is - treat people with respect and compassion. You really don't know what they are going through in their own lives.

"I'm a Mac Viva Glam woman because like you and many others, I care. Educate, Donate & Celebrate, because life is a celebration!" - Ongina

All Couples Should Have this Convo at Least Once...

Greetings and felicitations

Now, my fiancé and I have been together for 7 years in a couple of days. And thinking about inspiration for something to write about I realised that we had never had that important conversation... Who is in your top five? Who are your celebrity crushes that if they came up to you in the street and tried it on with you, you just wouldn't be able to say no to?

We also discussed who our embarrassing crushes are too - but that is pure cringe material for another blog!

I'm going to share with you what we came up with, and I must tell you, that some of the names that we threw out in this conversation shocked and made us laugh at each other. I hope you enjoy our crushes and the reasons why they are on the list!

Top Five Lists

For the boys

Alicia Silverstone

Because she has pouty lips
(and big boobs).

Lacey Turner

Because she looks like a 'dirty girl'.
(Sorry Lacey, his words, not mine!)
She also has a rather large rack.

Nigella Lawson

It's because she's posh...
And she's got massive waps

Holly Willoughby

'Cause she's got big knockers.

Katy (Perry Zooey) Deschanel

I think it probably is the big peepers,
 they might make it look bigger

For the Girls

Gerard Butler

Just look at those eyes...
And if you watch 300, look at those abs...

Ewan McGregor

That playful look - and I LOVE his hair
in Moulin Rouge (I have a major thing for good hair).

Ryan Reynolds

I love his parted hair, and his teeth (I'm a teeth fan too);
and those cheeky brown eyes just say, 'love me!'

Leonardo Dicaprio

Now, I'm not going to lie.
 This hairstyle is unbelievably sexy to me.
Mr Dicaprio pulls it off splendidly.
The hair as well.

Cristoph Waltz

Oh look! There's that hairstyle again.
This man has glorious teeth, and eyes that could melt hearts.
(I had to have a silver fox in here somewhere!)

I must admit, I am glad that I have put all of these people down on paper (so to speak) so I can see what we are both into.

Clearly the other half likes boobs (and sultry poses), and I like old fashioned hair and well aligned gnashers. At least we both know where we stand!

What is YOUR top five? And can you see any trends within your choices? Put your answers in the comments!

"There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness." - Lady Blessington  

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Video Game Music Gems

Greetings and felicitations

Yesterday evening I was in the bathroom having my evening toilet trip before bed,  and a familiar piece of music cropped up on the television downstairs.

This piece of music was on the Russell Howard's Good News Show or whatever it's called but that is not the first place I've heard this music. The first place I had heard this music was in fact within a little known (yeah right!) multiplayer game called... 

Little Big Planet 

This is a fun filled game (aimed at children may I add) that helps you while away the hours playing as the main character, Sackboy. 

Here he is, in his naked and cute glory.

This game is by no means normal. In fact because it is so strange is what attracted me to it in the first place. It has bizarre world through which you have to navigate whilst doing problem solving tasks,  and you are greeted by some strange looking and sounding characters.

But the thing that struck me the most about this particular children's game,  was the music. It filled me full of glee and made my heart flutter because although in essence it was made with simple pan pipes and pizzicato, along with some fun lyrics added in in places; it was so deliciously joyous. The different levels that you work your way through all had different styles of music which I thought was great too, and these styles really reflected what was going on. No matter how irritating the game got - usually down to me not being very dexterous - it was the music that kept me playing. If you've never heard music from the game I'm talking about, please watch this video. 

Isn't it lovely?
Watch the video here if you don't have Flash Player

Now, I'm not exactly a seasoned gamer - but I have played quite a few different games in my time - usually because they are brightly coloured and had caught my eye. But this next game (which I really would like some nice person to buy me the soundtrack for; my birthday is 20th December FYI), is a game which I would normally have glazed over as it looked a bit complicated for my liking. But due to a mess-up by Tesco I managed to get this game for £30 instead of £50 where everwhere else was selling it - score!

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Now to cut a long story short(ish) here is how things go down in good ol' Skyrim.

You are the Dovahkiin (Dragon Born) and you are on your own most of the time (occasionally with a helper / hindrance depending on who you end up with) and you travel around the province of Skyrim slaying various beasties; fulfilling large and small tasks - which also involves joining different groups of people.

This is a female Dovahkiin. Fus Roh Dah!

I really enjoyed playing Skyrim - I seem to have mislaid the disc so that is why I am talking in the past tense! I played almost 300 hours of this game and didn't even get halfway through it as there was so much to explore (if you have a lot of free time, give it a whirl).

I digress, as usual.

The music from this game is outstanding. It was nominated for a couple of awards, but sadly lost out (boo!) However the game's main theme Dragonborn, won the Game Audio Network Guild's Best Original Vocal (Choral) Award. The only way to describe it is a mixture of some sort of macabre choral arrangement, to what can only be described as 'adventure music' - which when you're traversing over mountains chasing down sabre cats gets your heart beat going! There is what I would call 'boss music' when dragons and meanies are coming to get you, which not only lets you know that something is coming - it also gives you a chance to get your weapons out. Which in my case, would be some sort of bow as I like to think of myself as an archer...

Anyway, you came here to see the Video Game Gems that I like - so please see this video of the music that won the award. I like the 'HU-ARGH!' bit.

Watch the video here if you don't have Flash Player

It's very raw isn't it? I love it. Probably the only home screen that doesn't so your head in if you leave it on while you go and make a cup of tea. Unlike Call of Duty Black Ops...

I wanted to share with you three different games that have really made an impact on me musically. The final one is the very first game I was ever bought.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Seems you were either a Mario kid or a Sonic kid when I was about 5. I remember that I was a Sonic kid and I used to go around to my friend's house two doors down who was a Mario kid. I remember that we would spend afternoons in my bedroom playing on Sonic and when I would go around to my friend's house we would have to share the SNES with her two brothers and most of the time we didn't get a look in!

My (late) dad bought me my Mega Drive - my parents were divorced and I must admit he did spoil me when it came to electronic items. Not without my gratitude though, my mum is great, but when it comes to technology, she stalls. 

I remember every week my dad would come to see me and we would always go to the same shopping precinct, we would go and have a McDonald's and we would go to Currys and Dixons (now amalgamated) and look at the new games for the Mega Drive.

I loved it.

I had (and still have as I couldn't bear to let them go) quite a few games for this new-fangled electronic object, that provided me with colourful creatures that I could control on the screen. And no matter how many games I got for it, I would always come back to Sonic the Hedgehog. Not Sonic and Tails, or Sonic Three. The original. With no spin dash and no other players. I didn't even mind sharing the controller because I enjoyed watching other people who were better at this game get to new levels!

Even then, as a child of the age of about 5-6 the music affected me. I mean, it was almost definitely designed to, but even now any composition that is similar has the same effect on me. I get hot and sweaty, and my heart rate rises - it feels like its going to pump right out of my chest. You got it - it's the Labyrinth Zone death music.

Watch the video here if you don't have Flash Player

Just so you know, this music still made me panic. Even the music for the game level panicked me because I knew the person wouldn't get the bubble quick enough! Wow. old habits die hard clearly!

On a nicer note though - I had the Green Hill Zone theme tune as my ringtone for a while because it really made me smile (and unfortunately inadvertently ignore the poor soul who actually called).

Watch the video here if you don't have Flash Player

It's like a secret portal to 20 years ago to listen to that music. I will always hum and whistle along nonchalantly as if it were second nature.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you liked my first 'real' blog. please leave comments below as to what your favourite game music is and why.

'What is better - to be born good, or to overcome your evil nature through great efforts?' - Paarthurnax (Skyrim)

Ah, how a-MUSE-ing...

Greetings and felicitations

I thought I would tell you a little about myself and what I want from this blog, being a first episode - for want of a better phrase, I feel I should give a little.

I'm a 20 something female with her life ahead of her, a life that I want to try and live to my fullest.

I think about things a lot, not so much in a theological way, or even simply a logical way - however when I think about certain things, it creates feelings within me that possibly shouldn't get that far... Like extreme heartburn.

I am not sure how I will set my writing out, but I may pose a question and then go through my thoughts on it. Then again I might not. Indecision is a character flaw of mine. 

I think I am going to try and keep my personal life away from this blog, as I'm sure people in the interwebs don't really want to know about the ins and outs of my days at work, and whether I'm poorly or not (however, I can feel this is an empty promise as I type and will probably last until the next blog!)

I like to be inspired - hence the interesting and original name for these musings so please feel free to join in on any of the topics I may dicuss here. Don't let the pressure of being inspiring get to you, I can get inspired by the most simple of things.

With this blog I hereby decree that I will chat rubbish and meander on; going this way and that way, an most likely ending up at the same place that I started. Such is life.

“Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, or worn. It is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace & gratitude.” - Denis Waitley