Crushing on Fictional Characters

So this week is fictional crushes. And it’s late Tuesday night while I try to cobble this post together. Trust me, when I tell you that’s it’s been an exhausting week (yeah, I know it’s only Tuesday) but I’m gonna try not to phone this in. Mostly because I’ve haven’t missed a Wednesday blog post since we started doing this way back in January, and I’m not going to start now. 

So…bring on the characters. 

These are in absolutely no particular order because I can’t choose like that. I love these imaginary people. I love them so much I would want to be friends with them in real life… Or something.

Charlie Bradbury – played by Felicia Day in Supernatural. Part of it is that I just fucking love Felicia Day. No really. Adore her. And Charlie – Charlie is a brilliant computer hacker, LARPer, and all around badass. I love that she’s a strong character with her own set of moral guidelines.  Massive crush. Plus she’s adorable.

Neil Elwood – hero of The Boss series by Abigail Barnette aka Jenny Trout. Normally, I *hate* the bazillionaire trope in romance novels. I hate it just as much as I hate cowboys, ranchers and sheiks. They’re just not my bag. At all. However, Neil turns every bazillionaire boss stereotype on its head. He’s not a douchey asshole. He’s funny, smart, sexy as fuck and wait…what’s this? Genuinely kind? All while being a savvy business man. Now, Neil is not without flaws. But that’s what I love about him. He’s not a cardboard stock character. He’s a real human being that I could never speak to because I would be a stuttering idiot in the corner. Did I mention he’s British? And also looks like Buffy era Anthony Stewart Head? And likes to spank? And…do other things? There you go. Tie - er...sign me up.

Will Graham from the TV series Hannibal. Dear lord. I have no idea if TV Will is like book Will because I haven’t read them. Someday… But (and yes, I *know* how dysfunctional this is) there’s something about broken characters that call to me. Maybe it’s the “fixer” in me that wants to take them home and make everything better for them. There’s something about razor sharp intelligence and unwavering intensity combined with vulnerability that gets me every time. Also? Hugh Dancy. 

Galahad  - from…everywhere in Arthurian legend. Okay, I really love this character. He’s always trying to do the right thing and he’s always being beaten the hell down. Yeah, I know. Dysfunctional. That’s me. But the thing is about Galahad is that he never stops trying. He might be clawing his way across a battlefield, bleeding and broken, but he’s not going to stop until his quest is completed. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Jess Jarman’s Albion’s Circle series. Her Galahad is, by far, my favorite. He’s been beaten down life after life, hiding who he is and sacrificing everything. Even though he’s damn near broken, he will not give up. Although, I think he sometimes wants to. But that’s part of the beauty of Galahad. He’ll keep going forever because he’s always going to do what’s right. Even if it kills him in the end. (This isn't Galahad...but I do so love the cover of this book.)

Jareth the Goblin King from the movie Labyrinth. It’s no secret that I love Labyrinth. LOVE IT. To the point that it’s one of my top five favorite movies. It has been for like thirty years – I don’t see this changing. And I adore David Bowie’s portrayal of the Goblin King. Yes, he wants to turn babies into Goblins. Yes, he wants Sarah to fear and worship him. But you know what he wants most of all? Love. Jareth is broken. Probably a little crazy. And if I’m utterly honest with myself and you all, definitely emotionally abusive. But you guys…it’s Jareth. I can’t help but love him in all his epic fuckedupness. 

Other characters I love that I’m too tired to write about?

Dean Winchester – Supernatural

Sean – The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Daryl Dixon – The Walking Dead

THE DOCTOR!!! – Particularly the 10^th Doctor – Doctor Who

River Song – Doctor Who

Donna Noble – Doctor Who

Cassidy Ryan – Ricochet by Kris Norris

Cyrus – The Turning and all other Blood Ties books by Jenny Trout

Giles – Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Willow – Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Wash – Firefly 

Okay – that’s probably enough for now. Who are your favorites? Be sure to click the names below to see who the other bloggers picked. I’m guessing most of them are probably more emotionally stable than my choices. 

Jess

Gwen

Kayleigh

Kellie

Jenny
Kris

A Few of My Favorite Things: Songs

Ha! Trying to pick favorite songs is a lot like trying to pick a favorite book. Or favorite kid.

In order to tackle this post, I decided I needed to break it down into categories.

So…in no particular order, here are my favorite songs in their handy dandy categories.  And yeah, you’ll probably see a lot of repeated artists. Because that’s how I roll. 

And this is in no way all the categories – I just realized that I needed to dial it back otherwise this post would be Neverfuckingending. Because music.

Depression Combating Songs

Send Me on My Way – Rusted Root

Gang of Rhythm – Walk Off the Earth

Secrets – Mary Lambert

Let It Go – Indina Menzel

Summer Vibe – Walk Off the Earth

Safety Dance – Men Without Hats

Little Plastic Castle – Ani Difranco

As Cool As I Am – Dar Williams

I am My Mother’s Savage Daughter - Wyndreth Berginsdottir

I Won’t Be Your Yoko Ono – Dar Williams

Maps – Hey Ocean

What’s Going On – 4 Non Blondes

Flinty Kind of Woman – Dar Williams

SuNu – Rising Appalachia

Wait it Out – Sarah Blackwood

Ojos Así – Shakira 

Angsty Songs

Rain King – Counting Crows

Rootless Tree – Damien Rice

In the Sun – Joseph Arthur

Hallelujah – Rufus Wainwright/Jeff Buckley/Damien Rice

Collide – Howie Day

Say Something – Great Big World (also really love the Sarah and Gianni cover)

Blank White Page – Mumford and Sons

Walk on the Ocean – Toad the Wet Sproket

Both Hands – Ani Difranco

Rumour Has It – Adele

Iowa – Dar Williams

Landslide – Fleetwood Mac

Turning Tables – Adele

Who Will Sing Me Lullabies – Kate Rusby

Ghosts That We Knew – Mumford and Sons

Angels Will Fall – Melissa Ethridge

The Chain – Fleetwood Mac

Goodnight Elisabeth – Counting Crows

Broken Crown – Mumford and Sons

Wonderwall – Oasis (love Ryan Adams’ cover)

Something’s Always Wrong – Toad the Wet Sprocket

Celtic Folk Songs

I am Stretched on Your Grave – Kate Rusby

A Mháire Bhruinneall – Susan McKeown

The Kiss – Last of the Mohicans Soundtrack

Brittonick – Circa Paleo

Calling Me Home – Kate Price

The Old Ways – Loreena McKennitt

Fiona – The Secret of Roan Inish Soundtrack

Siúil a Rún – Kate Price

The Queen and the Soldier – Kate Rusby and Kathryn Roberts

Dark Black Clouds – Circa Paleo

The Cobbler’s Daughter – Kate Rusby

The Knight at Dublin Castle – Darby Devon

Jamie – The Secret of Roan Inish Soundtrack

Santiago – Loreena MeKennitt

The Ships – Circa Paleo

Evacuation  – The Secret of Roan Inish Soundtrack

A Nighean Dubh – Susan McKeown

Peaceweaver – Kate Price

Cruel – Kate Rusby

Anachie Gordon – Loreena McKennit

The Road/The Dancing Mast – Circa Paleo

Bonny Greenwoodside – Susan McKeown

The Unquiet Grave – Kate Rusby

All Soul’s Night – Loreena McKennitt

Tideland – Circa Paleo

Eedjit – The Secret of Roan Inish Soundtrack

Hunting the Hare – Kate Rusby and Kathryn Roberts

Click the names below to see the other Wednesday Random Bloggers’ favorite songs.And below that, here are some of my favorite videos for some of these songs.

Jess

Gwen

Kayleigh
Jen 
Kris
Kellie