Let's get scared...

Halloween...

One more Halloween...

Comes around each year...

And each year is the same thing...

I watch movies.... Scary movies!

Let's start the list with ...

To begin... I'll go fun...

#1. The Nightmare Before Christmas from Tim Burton.
A bored Halloween pumpkin king kidnaps Santa and takes over Christmas. This isn't going to be pretty.

#2. The Addams Family
Stepping out of the pages of Charles Addam's cartoons and the 1960s television series, members of the beloved, macabre family take to the big screen.

Let's get a little scary now...

#3. Jaws
When an insatiable great white shark terrorizes Amity Island, a police chief, an oceanographer, and a grizzled shark hunter seek to destroy the beast.

#4. Tales of Halloween
Ten horror shorts set in one suburban town capture the insanity of Halloween, from trick-or-treating aliens to kidnappers in way over their heads.

#5. A Dark Song
Grieving the death of her son, a woman hires an occult to expect to lead her through a psychologically grueling ritual to contact her child's spirit.

#6. The Shinning
A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and the future.

#7. The Evil Dead
Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.

#8. The Others
A woman who lives in a darkened old house with her two photosensitive children becomes convinced that her family home is haunted.

#9. Let Me In
A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian.

#10.Carrie 
Carrie White, a shy, friendless teenage girl who is sheltered by her domineering, religious mother, unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated by her classmates at her senior prom. 

Halloween is all about parties, dressing up, drinking and scaring people on purpose to many, but me. I don't like being scared, dressing up is far from what I'm into, and I try to stay as far as possible to parties! Can't deal with them! So for me, Halloween is another fun night in front of a good horror film, a hot chocolate, and candies, warm blanket and having a blast without having to deal with drunk people... If you are like me, I encourage you to stay yourself. 

On the other hand, if you are supposed to go party, or go a bar... Please, be careful! Don't drink and drive! 

"For Halloween, I've decided the easiest thing to do is give up caffeine. If that doesn't scare the hell out of everyone around me, nothing will."

~Bella

New schedule

I know I changed my schedule around, but since two jobs and having a social life is quite difficult to balance, writing blog posts are becoming harder.

You can comprehend how difficult it is to be a responsible adult who balances social life, work life, and some alone time until you live it yourself. I never understood until I started doing it myself.

Since I'm struggling to write, to keep up with my writing, and my ideas for a second novel, I decided that only one day a week would be best, each Wednesday. It sounds pathetic, and I apologize in advance, but like I said, balancing life itself is tough so don't blame me for wanting to write less on the blog. I'll post each week, try to make better content and hopefully, I'll be able to get back to my normal schedule, two days a week.

So I'll see you all next Wednesday for a new post!

~Bella

Europeans aren't perfect...

As you know I'm quite the mixture of different origins, so full European in other words. I currently live in the United States, California to be precise. It's not easy to live in a different country but continent... I feel the change even after 10 years. It's complex, a little too tough on me as I still don't always understand how Americans or Californian works. 

Even if I enjoy expressing myself on my observations regarding Americans, Californians, I have to admit Europeans aren't at all perfect. To be fairly honest and giving myself some excuse, it's easier to talk about people who you deal with on a daily basis. If I was back home, any country in Europe, I would be doing the same thing, almost. 

Let's start off with the drinking. As far as I'm concerned, we are doing it right because we keep the drunk moment a long time. We keep it going instead of rushing it and enjoy only a good hour before blacking out. Sadly, many of you, Americans, see us as alcoholics who drink throughout the day... I can't blame you, we are alcoholics in some ways. 

They believe what's on TV. Like most of the people everywhere in the world. We do not have a great view on Americans in general. Can't blame them for Americans actions but still... I have amazing friends who were born and raised in California and other states. Not everyone is the same. The culture, "morals", "values" of the country is still the same though. 

You will never hear a European say soccer. Everyone will say football or something similar to that. I'm guilty of getting pissed off a couple times for hearing the word soccer thrown out there, but I can't do much about it. Sadly, many Europeans will take it wrongly, get even worse than me. Be ready to say football before you get a bloody nose. 

They know it all... Europeans love to be right about everything and try to let everyone else know about it. They will tell other countries how to rule the government but let's be honest deal with your continent and each single countries in before going across the ocean or anywhere else. We are an old continent but that doesn't make us know it all. 

We aren't as bubbly or open compare to Americans. It could be taken wrongly. We don't smile as often, we don't open up easily, in other terms we are reserved. Not everyone appreciates the way we are, sorry. We come off as rude for not trusting and not being as friendly. Even though, if you start a genuine conversation with us, we are amazing people. It just takes time. 

The comforting idea... We, disappointingly enough, have small portion we when it comes to food. And comfort food, depending on the person, tend to learn more on the fatty, greasy choice and yet, we don't have much of that. I mean we do have amazing food but the smaller portion and greasy, not so much our thing. 

Finally, we write too much against Americans. That's my thing, I'm supposed to cut short on that but I don't understand how they, you work. I'm just observing and asking myself questions. We come off as rude and obnoxious for being so against America. It's insane. 

"Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy." -Margaret Thatcher. 

~Bella

I'm Golden...

It's officially Autumn! Summer has finally died to leave me in a better mood. 

Alright, that's not all true, I can't say summer hasn't gone just yet since the weather isn't rainy, windy or cold enough for big sweaters and scarves. No beanies yet... Even though it is Autumn, it does not feel like it in California... How could it be this perfect season when all you have is the constant sun, bright blue sky, and the unbearable frustrating warm temperature... How? 

So much anger towards Summer, the hot sun burning our skin, the humidity making us sweat... I cannot stand Summer except, for one simple tiny thing... Autumn is here now... 

Favourite season...

I know I've been obsessing with the season but when you don't have the chance of living in a city where my sweater weather comes every year, you start missing it a lot. I have been having a long love story with sweaters, and despite the terrible fact that I cannot always wear them makes me depressed.

What makes this beautiful season so fabulous in many ways is simple. Really simple.

Autumn has gorgeous colours. Come on, the golden red leaves on the trees, falling on your head as you walk on the sidewalk to your work.
The smell of pumpkin spices, the firewood, the smell of rain in the air... Can't get better than this.

For me, the season has always brought something good in my life, and I'm beyond excited for the little boots, the scarves and sweaters to be back. The rain, first tattoo, traveling by myself, falling in love, making new friends... I could go on with the list, but it would be too much to write about and too many details I won't be able to remember. So it would end up being a boring reading for you!

This year, this season isn't going as plan, single, 21 so bars, working, and trying to get everything in my life organized. I'm still planning on getting that tattoo before the season end, planning on seeing a friend but never get it done. My life is a little bit more of a mess than ever before which makes me a little frustrated, but it is also why I started watching films, lots of films.

Let's starts off 'with Harry Potter, yes, I have to watch them every year, no matter what, I will find the time to watch them! They are too good to miss out on.

Now, it's Indiana Jones... I know the soundtrack, but when it comes to what it is about, I have no clue what is going on with anything. 

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels... Recommended to me by British friends, I can't wait to spend two hours in bed with chocolate and hot tea. There is always something interesting about crime, gang-related films. 

Hocus Pocus
One of the best movies to watch in Autumn and no one can argue this! It's a classic that everyone wants to watch and yet... I still haven't watched it. I'm a real winner here. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas! One of the best Tim Burton's films after a few others... This movie may seem childish and yet it is such a good one, the songs, the parody, the whole script. Autumn means Halloween to many of us, and despite the fact that it is not yet Halloween, it's a preparation for both this coming day and Christmas which I cannot wait for any longer. 

Sleepy Hollow, another Burton's movie. I had to watch it for a class back at school, but this time, I want to watch it with another eye, not so critical and judgmental. It has some special actors such as Deep. The costumes, the way they talk, the jump scares will keep me up for an entire night. 

This year's Autumn isn't full of movies as I work two jobs, and trying to keep track of my blog, my novel, and my new draft that is coming slowly into life, at least the whole idea is. 
Autumn isn't all about scary movies, romantic walks in the park, or waking up to the sound of rain. It's about the hot drinks that you get to finally drink such as Pumpkin spice latte (not my thing), hot chocolate,  extra coffee for the frisky mornings. The cuddles are back on especially on dates, and that I cannot resist! 

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." - Wiliam Cullen Bryant.

~Bella

Just don't -

Living in California for over nine horrible years, I've got to be an expert on Californians or Americans in general. What I mean by that is... Well, let's start with... 
Just don't tell me ice cream and gelato is the same. It's not. I'm from Europe, I'm part Italian, I know what my gelato is like and what ice cream is like. Two different things which happen to be in the same category of dessert. If you won't say frozen yogurt is the same as ice cream don't bother arguing with me about gelato. You will lose. 

Just don't show up half-naked at the bar to then complain how guys are real pigs. Have you heard of common sense? I don't think so since you can't even realize how provoking it is to be half naked in front of a guy or lady. If you don't want guys to look at you, don't dress like trash, they will treat you as such... 

Just don't try running in heels when you have a mini skirt on. I mean if I were a man or attracted to women I would have probably not minded it but it's not the case. It's actually embarrassing and quite uncomfortable. No one has to see your underwear or your butt. It doesn't make you beautiful, attractive. 

Just don't pretend you are a proud American. You've got a terrible puppet as president. If it was the movie IT, your president would be the clown. Plus if being American means ignoring your origins as well, then... I don't know what to tell you cause most of the population has some European blood, Mexican blood, African blood... If being proud American means acting like Nazis have acted in the past, then I've got nothing to you except to start having a heart cause your humanity has been lost. 

Just don't come up to me with a bloody idiotic speech about how I should be an American citizen. I don't feel like America is my home, I don't understand Americans, I don't have the same culture ( that's if they have one), and your president isn't helping me want to become a citizen. So please keep your speech to yourself. 

Just don't act like your friend. Friends aren't fake people who only talk to you when they need something. They talk to you because they feel like checking up on you or just need to talk, to vent, to hang out. I feel like most people are just acquaintances who are only curious about my life to gossip afterward. No need to pretend a friendship, I don't like fake people anyways. 

Just don't tell me how I should eat! Look at yourself first before attacking me. I'm not the one eating fast food every day. I'm not the one eating chips all hours of the day or drink soda whenever I have something to eat. I'm the one who should be attacking you, and tell you how you should be eating, healthy. Keep your comments to yourself, last time I check I was good with my weight. 

Just don't drive in the rain! I'm not going to be an evil person who tells you do not drive at all. Just in the rain for now. I understand how Californians aren't used to rain, we all see how dramatic they get after a fifteen-minute shower. It's not like Texas... So driving in the rain is tough, I shouldn't know since I don't drive and yet, being in the passenger seat, I can tell people panic when there's rain. For everyone's sake, just stay indoors and try not to drive anywhere. 

Just don't show us your big ring. Who cares how big the diamond is... It doesn't prove how much he loves you, or she loves you. It's  shiny, yes, some people love them, I don't, but I don't believe they want to constantly have to hear, " Look how big my diamond is. He loves me so much. We are going to grow old together." And then two years later... Divorce. That ring doesn't promise you a lifetime with that person so keep your ring to yourself and don't show it too much. 

Just don't tell me " You should smile more". As far as I'm concerned, life isn't all rainbows and smiles. Life isn't all pretty and pink. I'm from Europe, and there, it's more common to see someone look " normal", not a fixed smile who looks fake half the time. If you are not getting spit at or being mistreated, then there's no harm committed. Smiling nonstop doesn't make you trustworthy so maybe lay low on it or stop complaining about Europeans not smiling as much as you would like. On the other hand, if you love to show your pretty smile, go ahead, no one will stop you. 

Just don't think you're intelligent when you come up with, " pizza is American" or " you can't be African, you are not black". The ignorance is above average. If there was a prize for how dumb a country is, The United States would win without even fighting for it. If you are trying to convince yourself I'm wrong on the subject or you believe Americans are smart then explain to me how white people or Arabs cannot say they are African? I mean, in geography you should have learned that Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and others are African. These countries are in Africa! And you may have heard about a lot of white people in the south of Africa? They can't say they're African though cause the colour of their skin isn't black so it obviously means not African. Americans don't do enough geography if they can't even believe Africa is a continent just like Europe, Asia, North America... 

Just don't greet me with a "Yo" or a "Hey". I don't know you, we are not friends, and we certainly haven't gotten a drink together. Last time I checked I didn't pee in front of you as well. Why not be respectable and say "Hello". Does it hurt you to say such a respectful word? 

Just don't tell everyone how rude Europeans are when you can't even be polite yourself. Europeans are blunt compared to Americans, I think we all can agree on that, but usually the "Hello", " please", "thank you", and " bye" is common to us, Europeans. While it seems like Americans are too lazy to even reply to a simple "Hello". Who's ruder? 

It seems like I can go on and on about the just don't... But I'll stop there cause I don't believe everyone will be open to criticism. After all, the truth is known to hurt and be the one subject Americans will try hard to not hear. Despite the fact that I'm having really difficult times with Americans, I live there and I'm started to also see the good in America unless it's political, health, education, food... But other than that, America has lots to offer if the president and people would calm down with their beliefs which are destroying the country and everyone in it.

" Great countries are those that produce great people." - Benjamin Disraeli 

~Bella 

Let's be honest....

I don't specifically share anybody's post as I never really read anything which I could completely relate to.  Nothing seems to fit with my style until I browsed my facebook page a couple of weeks ago... 
I came across this post about an Irish person talking about Americans.

http://www.thisisinsider.com/17-cultural-clashes-this-european-had-in-america-2017-6?utm_content=buffer65d42&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer-travel

Now you'll say I hate America, I always have something to say against it, but in fact, I don't have a place where I do not have any complaints about, yet at least. Everywhere I go, I seem to see the negative side but that usually changes cause I do see the positive as well. Despite the fact that there's more to talk about the USA on the negative side of things, especially right now with the current president, I also know it is good in this country. Sadly, when you are from Europe, you have a tougher time understanding Americans and this post clearly states my own opinion and shocking things I still cannot comprehend to this day. 
It is well written, but like they said, do not read it if you are easily angered. It's an opinion given to you for you to either try to comprehend it or ignore it. Don't think you have to agree, but for once I agree with someone's opinion and it feels good to know I ain't the only one thinking a certain way. 
Hope you have a good read... 

"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is perspective, not the truth."- Marcus Aurelius

~Bella