Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Wreck This Journal: Color Outside The Lines.

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Wreck This Journal: Color Outside The Lines.

Sometimes I'm quite surprised, what weird/funny/different things my brain produces! In any case, WTJ is very inspiring!

Almost instantly I've seen the moon in that circle and for quite some time I intended to make a city skyline ... but after using that idea for WTJ: Cut Through Several Layers. I had to change that. I finally came up with some romantic beach scene! Aloha!

Monday, May 30, 2011

One-Minute-Writer: Practice

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Saturday, May 4, 2011
Practice: Write about something in your life that you've put a lot of time into practicing.



FOR

"I'm a perfectionist, but as we all know, life isn't always perfect. I'm still practicing to accept imperfection, see the beauty in chaos and enjoy the possibilities of spontaneity."

Friday, May 27, 2011

Friday-Fill-In: 2011-21

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Friday Fill-In
  1. This week I re-discovered one more time my fascination for Stephen King books.
  2. The horror returns.
  3. It's all about to find that inner part, that makes the hair in your neck crinkle.
  4. He makes you wanting to look behind you if someone is following you, even in the sun.
  5. I demand ...what? Stop reading his books? I wished I could, but...
  6. Once started you simply have to follow his path, it's filled with addictive words!
  7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading how Paul Sheldon escapes Annie Wilkes (Misery by Stephen King) - am I really looking forward to that? Honestly, it's rather creepy!  Tomorrow my plans include thinking about a blog post about Stephen King (there were a few interesting cognitions I had during the last 4 books) and Sunday, I want to think about the fact, if I'm mad to read some more Stephen King!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

WQ-18. Favorite Antagonist.

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30 Days Of Writing Questions

18. Favorite antagonist and why!

Like last week, where the question was about the Favorite Protagonist, I'd like to extend the question a second time.

FAVORITE ANTAGONISTS TO READ
Lash, Son of Omega
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward
He was the first I had instantly to think on. His character has everything I hate about a person: he's arrogant, a show off because of his wealth, cruel to others for no good reason and simply disgusting! I didn't like him from the very beginning and began to hate him when he was given even more powers. I didn't want to read his passages, because all he planed and did was against my beloved characters ... but of course I HAD TO read on! *sigh* When he finally was defeated I was satisfied, but somehow not really. I thought, his dead was much too easy. I guess, I hope and I fear, he's coming back somehow. He wouldn't be the first Lesser coming back!
And all those loathsome reasons make a good antagonist, because you truly hate him from your deepest soul!

IT & the (un)known evil
IT and other evil in the books by Stephen King
My first acquaintance with Mr. Stephen King was at the age of 14 or 15. Since then his books became my constant companions. To say, that I love his books would be the wrong word, not when you're sometimes too scared to continue reading or even get nightmares from particular scenes. It's more of a morbid fascination. He knows so well to tickle that inner part, that makes the hair in your neck crinkle or want you to look behind you or leave the light on during shadowy nights. He finds the unnatural and scary in every ordinary subject, may it be a car, a dog or a picture. I guess, he's the reason, why I don't like maize fields or shiver at the look of a clown. So, for me Mr. Stephen King is the true master of creating the perfect antagonist. Period.

FAVORITE ANTAGONIST TO WRITE
Well, when you write about cats, the most scaring subject is a big red ball of yarn! And in my other stories I have more physical and inner obstacles to overcome. Speaking, compared to those, who I adore, I have to admit, that I haven't created a true villain or antagonist. Not yet. BUT for instance Indian Jones or Lara Croft had - beside their hunt for treasures - always someone to conquer with. That for I had to give my poor demented Davis a bit more of action. I have to think about that!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Wreck This Journal: Draw Lines With Your Pen. Smear The Lines.

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Wreck This Journal: Draw Lines With Your Pen Or Pencil. Lick Your Finger And Smear The Lines.

Like so many times before I found my own way to follow the instructions: I moistened the page with water (my own spit wouldn't have been enough *g*). Then on the wet page I simply draw lines with ink.

And voila: Groovy 70th-Hippies-look! PEACE! :-)

Friday, May 20, 2011

Friday-Fill-In: 2011-20

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Friday Fill-In
  1. I see the love when I look into your eyes.
  2. We belonged together, I knew that from scratch.
  3. They begin registering that irrevocable love in the moment they saw us together.
  4. I wished we'd met so many years earlier.
  5. This I know: You bewitched my body and soul and I love, love, love you.
  6. I wish to tell you something special tonight, so please accept my invitation for dinner.
  7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a cold drink and some chitchat with my buddies, tomorrow my plans include writing an overdue letter and Sunday, I want to hopefully do nothing, maybe a little sunbathing and reading!!

I'm quite romantic, am I not? Must be spring feelings! :-)
HAPPY WEEKEND!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

WQ-17. Favorite Protagonist.

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30 Days Of Writing Questions

17. Favorite protagonist and why!

I know these questions are supposed to be about writing, but I'm free to extend my answer a little to make it more interesting:

FAVORITE PROTAGONISTS TO READ
Edmond Dantes
The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas
I've just finished rereading the book, so it's the freshest in my mind. Frankly speaking, the first time I had quite some problems, I was confused by all those different names, titles and disguises for/of the same person and different plot lines, which seemed at first view to have no connection to Edmond's story ... but in the end everything made perfect sense. From the second time on I could enjoy the full capacity of the whole adventure. Especially Edmond's development and his experience living through the whole palette of emotions. That's intriguing!

Edward Cullen
The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Here I have to make perfectly clear, that I speak of the character IN THE BOOK!!! Not a whiff of the movie actor ... sorry Rob, but you do so NOT fit to the image in my head! I truly love the character described in the book, even more in 'Midnight Sun', where Edward's POV of the story is described. He's just wonderful. This old soul, given with so many talents, struggling with the monster inside him, fighting against the forbidden love ... *sigh* Just wonderful!

Elizabeth Bennet
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Lizzy is just wonderful, she's beautiful, smart and so full of life. Her wit and humor are intriguing. She dares to say 'No', but also is strong enough to confess her faults and change her mind. She's definitely one of my most favorite characters. Well, and I dare say, in that case the movie from 2005 might have influenced my opinion a little, because Keira Knightley playing Elisabeth Bennet is just wonderful to watch!

Lea Goldstaub
Die Goldhaendlerin (The Gold Merchant) by Iny Lorentz
Another strong female character, who does everything to protect and care for her beloved ones. She disguises herself and hides her feelings, fights obstacles, goes on big journey until she gets her well deserved happy end. You can't help, but continue reading, you live, love and suffer with her!

For sure there are many more characters, who are just great to read, but those four came instantly in my mind!

FAVORITE PROTAGONISTS TO WRITE
You might already guess, I have a favor for strong female characters, not only to read, but also to write. Characters like Elizabeth Bennet or Lea Goldstaub can be considered as my role models for my most favorite character. My Cathryn is also a young woman with a strong mind, who tries to find her way in a men's world, but her flaws and imperfections and fears make her loveable and simply 'perfect'!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Wreck This Journal: Collect The Stamps Off Of All Your Mail.

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After the shocking weekend disaster with my missing blog, I'm getting back to business as usual! *sigh*

Wreck This Journal: Collect The Stamps Off Of All Your Mail.

Took me a while to finish that page ... but *sing* with a little help form my friends *end-sing* I could finally complete it! Yeah!
Thanks a lot to all those wonderful people!

The stamps are from 4 countries: US, UK, Malaysia and (most of them) Germany! ... and my most favorite then? *thinking* I guess it's The Poor Poet Stamp.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Friday-Fill-In: 2011-19

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Friday Fill-In
  1. I know unconsciously, but now it's official how much I'm addicted to blogs!
  2. I try to remember life before internet and blogs ... was there something like a life if at all possible?
  3. This weather has been great for having the first BBQ of the year this weekend. This might distract me from my online obsession ... just a little!
  4. My internet addiction seems to be kind of a problem.
  5. I'm really happy I have the ability to live in the age of networks, blogs & co.!
  6. Please, give me some FFI, or something to that effect. I NEED IT!!!
  7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finally do my Friday Fill-In, tomorrow my plans include ...well, I won't call it a plan, but I really have to do some paperwork and Sunday, I want to do nothing but some relaxing reading!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Wreck This Journal: Make Prints Using A Ink Pad And Cut Vegetables.

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Wreck This Journal: Make Prints Using A Ink Pad And Cut Vegetables.

A quick one, where the preparations took more time than the print! I used: A leaf Chinese cabbage, tomato, bell pepper, carrot, ginger and a cauliflower floret.

Monday, May 09, 2011

The Versatile Blogger Award

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Some drum rolls, please! I've been given this wonderful award!



HERE'S WHAT YOU GOTTA DO
  1. Thank and link back to the person that has given you this award.
  2. Share 7 things about yourself.
  3. Award blogs you feel deserve the award.
  4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.
7 THINGS ABOUT MYSELF
  1. I have one significant mark, a long scar on my right leg, where I broke my ankle.
  2. The second book of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series is my favorite - Rhage rocks!
  3. There are three pictures hanging in my living room.
  4. From Harry Potter book four on I had to buy the English edition first, because I couldn't wait for the German edition to be released. Oh and btw: Of course I've bought later on the German edition, too!
  5. I currently drive my fifth car.
  6. The sixth book of the Warrior Cats series made me cry.
  7. Currently I can't think of any seven of importance in my life.
BLOGS I AM PASSING ON THE AWARD TO
  1. Journal Artista
  2. Langley Writes
  3. One Significant Moment at a Time
  4. Random Thoughts
  5. Random Writings
  6. Snapshots of Bombay
  7. Writer Revealed

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Writing Exercise 15: How Fables Can Help Your Characters

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A fable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, that features animals, mythical creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature which are given human qualities, and that illustrates a moral. (by Wikipedia)

Some might say, the time for fables is gone. But they can also be a wonderful tool to work out your own characters. In addition you can use the 'story's moral' as a guideline for working on your plot. The simplicity of fables makes you think over the basic structure of characters. Add an 'animal' to your character's image and it can help you to stay true to the character. True to the motto 'A clever fox would never to that!' you can avoid unbelievable actions or unsuitable characteristics.

THE CHALLENGE
Take your favorite book or the book you're currently reading or any kind of book. Create a list of the main characters. Ask yourself, which animal would suit to those main characters. You can add to your list, which animal would be the complete opposite of characteristics.

Then, mull over the plot and try to find, which moral the story could have.

MY OUTCOME
I tell you, I had to nibble on that task. I better have claimed that 'Robin Hood' is one of my favorite books, because thankfully Walt Disney was already so nice to create the fable version. While reading the challenge I had instantly think on that movie! Oo-de-lally!

*sigh* But that would have been too easy, right?!?

You know, I've come to the cognizance, that it's NOT so easy, to press actual novels into the fable's scheme! At least I had quite some difficulties! But then a couple of days ago, I've started rereading a classic and it was surprisingly easy: 'The Count Of Monte Christo':

Edmond Dantes = lamb
As sailor, young and innocent, naively and defenselessly set out to the bad intrigues of his so called friends. He stays a sheep, but during his imprisonment he develops his inner wolf. That's what he is in the rest of the plot: a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Mercedes = lamb
Edmonds fiancée, she's beautiful as well as young and innocent.

Monsieur Morrel = badger
Ship owner and Edmonds employer, calm, eager, good at heart.

Caderousse = madge
The greedy neighbor, who grabs everything shiny, even when it doesn't belong to him, later on his greed becomes his doom.

Fernand = peacock
Mercedes' cousin, later husband, conceited, more illusion than reality.

deVillefort = lion
The prosecutor, proud and mighty because of his position and also dangerous, when somebody gets in his way and danger his reputation or his professional ambitions.

Abbe Faria = owl
The wise man in prison, teaching Edmond everything.

Luigi Vampa = fox
A robber and bandit, clever and sly.

Jacopo = dog
Edmond's reliable companion, the only one who sometimes carefully dares to speak as his conscience and remembers him on his own humanity.

Now, speaking of the story's moral:
  • Revenge is best served cold, but it soothes your pain only to a certain degree.
  • Every action has consequences, even when we become aware of them years and years later.
  • For some experiences there is no healing und no happy end (even if all the movies make you believe, the book doesn't have such an end!).

Friday, May 06, 2011

Friday-Fill-In: 2011-18

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Friday Fill-In
  1. 'Main Hoon Na' is my favorite Bollywood movie, because it's a great story with lots of fun, action, love and smashing songs, not to forget that Shah Rukh Khan is a blast!
  2. Go to page 45 of the book you're reading or of the book closest to you; go to the 6th paragraph and make a sentence out of 7 words from it: When we were in the south of castile, we'd tried a typical seafood dish including all the gourmet's desires, delicacies like langoustes and mussels.
  3. I am currently reading 'The Count Of Monte Christo' and the words are taken from Edmont's engagement party.
  4. After eating such a rich dinner, the best help is a long walk.
  5. Take some time to watch a Bollywood movie, they are much better than their reputation.
  6. A good Indian dish needs a bit of sharp spices (at least).
  7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing on my couch and continue with my 'Monte Christo', tomorrow my plans include thinking over a present for a friend's birthday I (to my shame) have forgotten and Sunday, I want to cook an Indian dish!

Thursday, May 05, 2011

ABC, Bonus: A-Z Favorite Booklist

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For 26 days we'd tried to find alphabetical topics to write about. Some of us even had a theme. Mine was writing. When writing is one side of the medal, than reading is the other.

No, I don't want to start the challenge all over again, I just want to find out, if my reputation as a passionate reader is justified. Can I make a A-Z list of my favorite books sorted by book title? If there's more than one choice for a letter, I've picked the most favorite book. Here's my A-Z FAVORITE BOOKLIST:

  1. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
  2. The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, J.R. Ward
  3. The Count of Monte Christo, Alexandre Dumas
  4. Dead Poets Society, N.H. Kleinbaum
  5. Emma, Jane Austen
  6. Felidae, Akif Pirincci
  7. Die Goldhaendlerin (The Gold Merchant), Iny Lorentz
  8. Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowling
  9. I'm Off Then: My Journey Along the Camino de Santiago, Hape Kerkeling
  10. -
  11. A Kite's Eye View: India between Earth and Sky, Nicolas Chorier
  12. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
  13. Millennium Trilogy, Stieg Larsson
  14. -
  15. -
  16. The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett
  17. -
  18. Ramses Series, Christan Jacq
  19. The Stand, Stephen King
  20. The Twilight Saga, Stephenie Meyer
  21. -
  22. -
  23. Warrior Cats Series, Erin Hunter
  24. -
  25. -
  26. -

That was fun ... and quite interesting! I should try that on my favorite movies, too!

What about you? How much can you fill an A-Z list of your favorite books, colors, sweets, names, movies, what ever? Go, have a try and share it with us!

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

WQ-16. Romantic Relationships.

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30 Days Of Writing Questions

16. Do you write romantic relationships? How do you do with those, and how "far" are you willing to go in your writing?


The only romance you can find in my fairy tale writing is the kiss in the happy end. Everything very nice and innocent before they live happily ever after.

Next, you don't even find a kiss when your main characters are cats. =^..^=

And then there's my current big WIP. In this story my focus is more on adventure, fantasy and mystery. Also growing of age and overcoming your fears play their parts ... but no romance. Well, not in this book! But there lures something like a sequel in the back of my mind, nothing in detail, only some possible shadows, including that my heroine has to find her love or better love has to find her!

So, for the moment I could only give you some hypothetical answers. I'm a highly romantic person, but I don't like clichés and kitsch. I say, that would reflect in my writing. You know, romantic scenes, very decent and elegant, which hopefully makes you sigh, too! As much as I like to read hot scenes, like in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I can hardly imagine myself to do the same. Okay, I've never tried, but that for I should first find a strong cover story, just like in the BDB books!

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Wreck This Journal: Glue In A Photo Of Yourself. Deface.

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Wreck This Journal: Glue In A Photo Of Yourself You Dislike. Deface.


TRANSLATION OF THE LEFT PAGE:
Name: Nofretiri
Age: Unfortunately old enough for water, fire, scissors, light and other tools.
Person: Human or Na'Vi or whatever?
Caution: Subject might be armed with at least a pen and dangerous! Don't let her close to your journal!

*hmm* I think the page speaks for itself! ;-)

---
These are the pages I've used to deface myself:

Also very cool are:

ABC Challenge, Epilogue.

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It slowly seems to become habit, that every time writing a A-Z blogpost I hear a certain song in my head. This time it's 'Time To Say Goodbye' by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman:


Yes, it is a Goodbye, but a bittersweet one, isn't it? At least for my part, my experiences were mostly positive!

AMAZING PARTICIPANTS
From the start I was intrigued by the idea of A-Z themes ... obviously not just me! Somewhere after 1.200 bloggers joining in the challenge I've lost track! That's mind blowing! With that incredible list at hand I just picked up the blogs with promising, strange, interesting names and some by coincidence, too. It's hard to say, how many blogs I've visited in the end, but quite a few found their way on my reading list! I truly wished to have more time to stop by on every single blog!

What I wished for A-Z Challenge 2012: I would really appreciate to have something like an additional sentence or some keywords, what all those wonderful blogs are all about. I don't like the thought, to have missed some good blogs! *sigh*

Speaking of Nofretiris Dream Of Writing: Within this one month I could gain more new followers than in the whole year my little blog exists! I'd like to thank and welcome all the new followers here on my blog! You're awesome!

TOP 5 OF MY FOLLOWERS
  1. F for Freewriting
  2. S for Show Not Tell Crusader Challenge
  3. C for Checklists
  4. N for NaNoWriMo
  5. L for Linguistik (linguistics/language)

MY PERSONAL TOP 3
I'd say my most fun post was Y for Yarn: Yo, Ho, Haul Together. Even if this double translation wasn't the easiest part (Pirate language à normal English à German), I had a blast of a time to cover A-Z Blogging Challenge into a little pirate story! Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!

The dediCATed cat fan I am, I loved to write those two little cat view stories: T for Tiere (Animals) / S for Show Not Tell Crusader Challenge =^..^=

MY PERSONAL ACHILLES HEEL
Surprisingly not one of those most feared letters X or Y ... despite or just because of the limited words I've instantly got an idea what to write about. No, my personal Achilles Heel was the letter U!!! After quite some obstacles I've landed with the very little elegant U for Urlaub (Holiday)!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Would I do it again? - Yes!
Would I recommend it others? - Yes!
But, please don't get me wrong, for now I'm happy it's over!


Monday, May 02, 2011

ABC, Z for Ziel (aim, goal, end, last chapter)

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This is the end.
Beautiful friend.
This is the end.
My only friend, the end.

Of our elaborate plans, the end.
Of everything that stands, the end.
No safety or surprise, the end.
I'll never look into your eyes...again.
by The Doors



Z- we've reached the last letter of the alphabet. 30 days ago, who had have thought, how fast the end is here. And with this last letter today we want to think a little about the last chapter in a book, the big finale, the end.




In the Book Meme I've been asked: Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
I decided for cliffhangers, but frankly speaking, that's only half of the truth. First, my Top 100 favorite books contains mainly stand-alone books with a tidy ending. Second, I'm a huge fan of book series, like The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. Each book tells the story of one main character and brings it to a proper satisfying happy end, BUT she also continues with different subplots and leaves them open. So, at the end of each book you simply can't wait to get the next book in your hands. That's what I meant with my Book Meme answer 'cliffhangers usually mean, that the story continues'.

Honestly, I'm much better with beginnings than with endings. But I've realized the significance of a good ending, when Jamie DeBree fooled us on 1st April with a very sudden, very unsatisfying end of her weekly blog series 'The Bikers Wench'. So, what can be said about endings?

POSSIBLE ENDINGS
  • Hollywood Ending: This is the happy ending where the hero will get the girl or win over a villain and bring peace to the planet.
  • Ironic Ending: This is the bittersweet ending when the hero may win with a loss with a sort of Pyrrhic victory or may win in losing. Sometimes, stories in literary and mystery genres use this type of ending.
  • Tragic Ending: The hero loses and the antagonist wins or they both die, but even if the conflict is resolved at the hero's expense, the argument in the story idea is confirmed.
  • Surprise Ending: The surprise lies in a twist or a revelation that changes the understanding of the trajectory or the spirit of the story. If skillfully carried out, this type of ending is the most successful.
  • Vague or Undefined Ending: This is when the story is left open-ended, leaving the reader imagining what could happen. This type of ending is not very effective with most genres, except for horror.

TIPPS FOR ENDINGS
  • Identify the ending of your story.
  • Consider when is the best time for a story to finish.
  • Link the story to a larger theme to end on a high note.
  • Ask yourself "what is the main conflict in my story?"
  • You can surprise the reader but you must also satisfy them.
  • Don’t use sappy extraneous contemplation.
  • Don’t cheat and suddenly have everything work out fine.
  • Some genres have an expected ending that you can’t mess with, e.g. romance.
  • Don’t forget to end the book (or explain it is a trilogy/series!).
  • The resolution comes after the climax.
  • Ask somebody else to read your ending.
  • Revise, revise, revise!

So, this is it: The end of A-Z Blogging Challenge?
Yes, because we've reached the last letter of the alphabet.
No, because there's one more thing to come: A to Z Challenge Reflections Mega Post A to Z Challenge Reflections Mega Post

Stay tuned! :-)

Sunday, May 01, 2011

ABC, V for Veni. Vidi. Vici?

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Veni. Vidi. Vici. - I came, I saw ... but did I conquer? Obviously not yet. The A-Z Challenge is almost over. Delete the 'almost'. It's 1st of May, veraciously it's officially over! And me? I'm still struggling with that vicious letter V!

I veto! I'm not ready to vacate and go on well deserved vacation. This whole mission shouldn't have been in vain. I have to be valiant, stick to my values and vanquish the venomous thought! I have to verify the verifications and try some new varieties. It's me versus the vacuum in my brain. Maybe I should listen to my inner voice and take some more vocabulary into consideration?

It's like voluntarily going on a voyage and finding of my own volition the new vigorous point of view. I swear, I stick to my vow, fight the villain and get my vengeance. Victory is mine!

So, in the end I hope verses will be made to my venture and the last words would be: Veni. Vidi. Vici.
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