Raine Neal
Bio
Just trying to make it through the days - writing is a great way to stay distracted and refreshed.
Stories (72)
Filter by community
Deserted Island Disc
I recently heard of the Deserted Island Disc. This is exactly what it sounds like -- a 'disc' of eight songs that are the only eight songs you can take with you to a deserted island. As a lover of all things music, this sounded both impossible and like a super fun challenge. After a week of diliberating, listening to songs over and over to make sure my selection wasn't going to get old quickly, and even conspiring with my friend over an Applebee's 2 for $20, I finally pinned down a (tentative but pretty great) Deserted Island Disc.
By Raine Neal4 years ago in Beat
Songs That Make Me Feel Alive Again. Runner-Up in Melodic Milestone Playlist Challenge.
Music is a direct line to my soul. Follow the notes into my ears through my brain and down into the very core of me. It fuels me. It is the moving force, the tide of my ocean of emotions. It can open my eyes, soothe my soul, conjure my laughter, conjure my tears.
By Raine Neal4 years ago in Beat
The Fun of the Fae
While I have always respected and been intrigued by the magical otherworlds of Hogwarts and Wonderland, I was never truly bitten by the fantasy bug until the 'A Court' series wormed its way into my life (bug/worm pun intended). When I used to think of faeries, I would think of Tinkerbell or Cinderella's godmother or even the Fairly OddParents. But oh, no, no, no. These iconic characters are fairies, not faeries. A faerie, at least according to a quick google search, is simply something that is imaginary or mythical. In the world of the Fae (pronounced: fay), created by author Sarah J. Maas, faeries are heightened, otherworldly creatures. Some are powerful, like the High Lords and High Fae; others are not, often dictated by the derogatory term 'lesser faeries'.
By Raine Neal4 years ago in Geeks
'Til the End of Time
It had been a year since Darren had talked to her, and it had taken him that long to get over her. But when the endtimes came, he didn’t want to leave with any regrets. He regretted too much already that could not be fixed, so if this could be fixed, he had to do it. It seemed the whole world was getting their final ducks in a final row, so shouldn’t he, too? At midnight, the world would combust in a burst of…what exactly? Would it be an instantaneous explosion, fire and smoke, a chemical reaction, blinding lights holding you captive by their rare beauty as they took the world down once and for all? Whatever it was, it would be, and that would be the end.
By Raine Neal4 years ago in Fiction
The Mole: The Best TV Show That No One Remembers
As a child of divorce, there aren't many childhood memories I look back on that involve my entire family. But, don't feel too bad for me because The Mole fills the void. One memory that I can always look back on without fault is watching The Mole. The Mole, believe it or not, was a smash hit television show from the early 2000s. Anderson Cooper hosted the first two seasons, and the show brought a never-been-done-before kind of action and drama to that era of reality TV. My family and I would gather on the couch and watch the madness unfold. My dad would immediately call someone out and they would usually end up being The Mole -- I'm still not sure how he knew. But it's no small gesture to say this show is nostalgic heaven for me and that I still harbor an obsession with it.
By Raine Neal5 years ago in Geeks
Mind Cleansing
The year-that-shall-not-be-named taught us better than anything that mental health and self-care are beyond important. Social media influencers and celebrities endorse products to help us "stay fit", "get skinny", or "obtain that hourglass figure". They always push this agenda that physical health and appearance take precedence. But where are the advertisements and endorsements for a clear mind?...positive thoughts?...good mental health? Fortunately, mental health issues are beginning to be taken more seriously in our culture and society, and there are more and more resources to help us conquer our mental struggles and fight the stigma. But, even then, it can be difficult to know when, where, and how to practice self-care.
By Raine Neal5 years ago in Psyche
Scream: The Best Horror Series That No One Takes Seriously
What's your favorite scary movie? This is the question that my favorite scary movie begs. With huge stars like Drew Barrymore and Courtney Cox, Scream was bound to be a hit from the beginning. But its star-studded cast isn't the reason that I and so many others go straight for this classic when spooky season starts. Scream is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
By Raine Neal5 years ago in Horror
We Can Pass As Twins, Right?
Imagine yourself standing in a Spirit Halloween, fiercely googling and wildly pacing the aisles. Your past Halloween costumes have earned you quite the reputation and you know you have to deliver this year. You and your costume-partner-in-crime (who also happens to be your older male cousin (for context, I'm female)) have done everything from Jack and Rose (no romance scenes were reenacted here) and Lydia and Beetlejuice to Gomez and Morticia (wow, another couple? yikes) and Yzma and Kronk (an ambitious journey that ultimately ended poorly). As creepy and line-crossing as it sounds, it's all too innocent. You've just about given up. You know you want to be something scary, not too complicated but unique. Suddenly, it hits you. Well, actually, you can stop imagining if you'd like. This is about me. It hits me. The terrifying Jack Torrence and one of the spooky Grady Twins. 'But wait', my cousin expresses, just as I'm thinking it, 'you can't have just one twin.' So, through a burst of wheezing laughter, it's decided. We'll both be the twins. We can pass as twins, right? I, with my 5'7, 150 lbs frame, alongside my stocky, 6'0, heavily-bearded cousin, posing as twin little girls in flouncy dresses. The thought was beyond comical to us, and we knew, then, that it was the one. The winner for our costume of Halloween 2020.
By Raine Neal5 years ago in Horror
A Serious Review on 'Halloween' (2018)
Halloween was seriously hyped-up, and also seriously trashed for me, before I even saw it. However, James Charles and Kenzie Ziegler both said it was good, so I decided to take their expert opinions into account and go see it. I’ve seen pretty much every previous Halloween adaptation, sequel, or alternate universe movie (even the questionable Rob Zombie version), so I had pretty high expectations for this.
By Raine Neal7 years ago in Horror
