Do Your Best For the Black Belt

Today at the cafe, I walked passed a table with several young children at it. I heard one of the girls tell her younger brother "in karate we do our best, otherwise we will never get the black belt." I wanted to stop and tell her to keep that attitude through the rest of her life.

I was feeling lonely today. The weather is overcast and cloudy, and it's been raining off and on, not normal for this area. It didn't help my mood. Then I kept running into people I know, and even if they just waved hello as they walked by, I realized I knew more people then I thought.

Honestly, I wasn't even intending to write a blog post. I was going to work on my outline for my NaNo novel this year, but then I realized the outline I already have started is in a notebook, at home, under my bed. I can't go home to get it until later tonight after I get off at Gymboree. I suppose I could just wing it, considering I'm just going to write the whole thing over again, but I actually don't remember the majority of what happens in this novel. Despite the fact that it's part of a series I've been working on for the majority of my writing life.

Speaking of my entire life, I turned 20 last week. That was weird. Not really, it doesn't feel any different then 19. It just feels weird that I'm 20 now, and all my friends are getting engaged, or married, or joining the military, or have kids. At what point did we all grow up, and why do I still feel like the child, left behind because her legs are to short to keep up? 

Life Doesn't Have a Mute Button

My one rule in blogging. Only do it when I want to, not when I feel I have to. Unfortunately, sometimes this results in extended periods of time where I type not a single word for you to read. Shame.

Actually, one of the very few reasons I'm back, writing this now, is because of my Sam. You've heard me mention her before. It's not that she's told me repeatedly that I should start blogging again *cough, cough* (she has), it's more the posts I've seen on her own blog recently. Please, go read them. They've inspired me, maybe they'll provide you with the same favor.

Today was one of those days where I just wanted to turn and tell whoever was talking to me to shut up. I wish I could say I would have said it in a nicer way, but truth is, if I'd actually done it, that's exactly how I would have said it. Shut up.

Question. Does adding please to the phrase "shut up" make it any less rude? I feel not.

The weird thing about days like this, for me, is that I'm really not in a bad mood. On the contrary, I could easily describe today as a good day, yet I still just wanted the world around me to be silent. No, not silent, I just wanted the words to stop flowing. From everywhere.

I guess maybe sometimes I overwhelm myself with to many words. To many spoken, to many written, to many to read. They're everywhere, and on days like today, I just don't want them anymore because I can't think anymore. My brain is suffocating. Let me breath. 

I can't though.

You don't have the option of turning words off at work.

You don't have the option of turning words off at home.

You don't have the option of turnings words off with friends.

Turning words off is not an option.

So, on days like today, I bite my tongue, and I nod and smile at the appropriate moments. Well... maybe sometimes I don't always smile.

Today was good. Today I envied the deaf man.

"Where was I when the rockets came to life..."

Just when you feel like something inside of you has died...

A fuzzy puppy, and a breath of spring air comes your direction. Despite the distractions of life, you realize you are alive. Very much alive. 

Someday...

I want to take a massive road trip. When I say massive I mean, across the United States. My family kind of already did that, except we were in a motor home. I don't want to do it in a motor home. I want to do it in a 1960 convertible cadillac. Blue. With fins.

I'm going to find a country road in the dead of the night, and someone else will drive while I lay back and watch the stars roll by. The radio will be playing ever so quietly, and I'll probably fall asleep, but that's okay. Also, it won't rain, despite what my pessimist of a sister says.

That is all. 

I'm Yours, and Writerly Musings

First of all, I love this kid. 

This video has 53,468,658 views. 20 of them were probably me. 
I haven't been doing a lot of writing lately, although I should be. My plan is not only to convert my NaNo novel of 2010 into a film script for Script Frenzy, but I would also like to participate in Camp NaNoWriMo this year. Both times. Thus, on top of the rewrites I should be doing to The Way We Think, I should be outlining. Ha. 
By the way, if you go to the Script Frenzy website and use the Plot Machine on the main page, you'll probably laugh. I did. 

While drowning in the Caspian Sea a wedding photographer with Tourette's puts his life on the line to save the ant colony. 

The great thing about writing is that nothing is really impossible. The other great thing, is everything you can put the characters through. You would think drowning in the Caspian Sea was rather life threatening, but just wait till we reach the ant colony. That's where you'll find the real danger. 
I have been working on a bit of a short story. It's based off of a quote Fin and I found on the internet. You can read the entire thing here (it's rather long). It inspired something along these lines. 

He reached the little shop within twenty minutes. A sign on the door warned him to step down as he entered. The first thing he noticed was the air. Not just the smell of an old book, or turning pages, but that thick air that surrounds them and makes them feel that much different. The second thing he noticed was the cat, sitting next to the cash register. Perhaps he'd chosen the place to rest, not only because he could easily keep an eye on those who entered, but also because every other surface on the counter was covered with books. Piles of books. The long haired creature blinked lazily, as if Reed held no interest for him, and yet the soft green eyes remained locked on him. Watching his every move. Reed found an uncertain smile on his face and a few words stuttering from his lips. "I... just wanted to... to look around." He stopped when he realized he was talking to a cat. He wasn't sure if there was any other human in the building. Not only could he hear no evidence of it, but he could also see none. 

I'm sure I'll get to my outlining eventually. The week before Camp NaNo begins perhaps? 

I'm the Kind of Girl Who...

... cuts herself on barbed wire because she was distracted by singing the Indiana Jones theme song.

... really does enjoy sitting on the sidelines.

... has an opinion on everything.

... gives her dog a theme song.





... loves all things Robin Hood. 
... sets herself impossible writing goals. 
... tends to fall in love with the villain. 
... will most certainly fall in love with the rogue. 
... visits IMDb to many times to count in a day. 
... is learning to laugh in difficult situations. 
... watches bull rider documentaries. 
... can't whistle. 
... would fly around the world in a hot air balloon if she could. 
... isn't crazy about Jane Austen. 
... doesn't like snakes, but wishes she did. 
... doesn't like her feet touched. 
... calls french fries her comfort food. 
... can count her close friends on one hand. 
... isn't understood by many people. 

Thanks to Mr. Nolan

It was a little over a year ago that I watched Batman Begins for the first time. I loved it. It was unlike anything I've ever seen. Coming from a Batman lover, and a complete film credit, I knew it was different. I just couldn't figure out why. There was a new element I hadn't expected.

"If you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, you become something else entirely." -Henri Ducard

Fast Forward several months to when I first saw The Dark Knight. It impressed me more than the prequel. That sense of something new had doubled. A story hadn't just been told. It had been told well. This was when the name on the case started popping out to me a little more. Christopher Nolan.

Since then, along with many Dark Knight fans, I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of The Dark Knight Rises. I've been waiting, and I've been expecting a lot. I've been expecting to see the same thing I did in the first two movies.

Over this past week I've watched, for the first time, two Christopher Nolan movies. The Prestige, and Inception. With each one I started to realize it wasn't just the Batman movies that were different. It was Christopher Nolan. It was the result of the touch from a master's hand.

Christopher Nolan makes movies that seem to completely transport you into another world. The world of the characters who's stories you are being told. He weaves a tale you weren't expecting, but that's not all he does. He gives you the characters to love, the journey they must survive, and the eyes you see it through. He gives it to you, but to thoroughly enjoy it, Chris expects something back. Some thought.

I admire Christopher Nolan's directing skills. I salute him for making his movies the way he wants to make them, the way they should be made, not the way  the world would like to see. I mostly admire him for asking just a little in return. Please don't sit down and watch his movies expecting to relax your brain. With each new film, he gives you a new puzzle to solve.

Directing film is an art I believe Chris Nolan has mastered. Then again, that's just the opinion of an abnormal teenager.

Seasons Thoughts

I was going to write this awhile back, but my book was calling out to me. I'm reading Bleak House and once again Charles Dickens has been showing me what an amazing artist he is.

So, I tried again a few days after that, but work got in the way. I'm a barista at a malt shoppe. Well, I should be at least. Service is kind of slow at the moment, so I've been more on call than anything else. Here's to hoping it picks up soon!

That brought me to tonight. I was really going to write a blog post. The page wouldn't load though. I almost gave up, but an hour, or so later, the internet connection seemed to improve. Here I am, writing this, and not even sure where I'm headed with it.

I can't believe it's almost Christmas day already. I used to think December was the longest month I ever had to live through. Now I feel as if it's been the shortest of the year. I'll be having a very quiet Christmas this year, but I'm perfectly okay with that. It gives me more time to think, which I've been doing a lot of lately. So much, it's been keeping me up at night. Not always the best thing.

I feel like Christmas day is one of the best days to think. It gives you even more to dwell over then you've already got. Well, the entire season does really. The people who rush about, the cars that are all over the roads, making you realize you may have a touch inner road rage after all. Maybe not rage, just frustration.

The gifts. Fin and I kept telling ourselves we would get out and do our shopping before the holiday rush closed in, but somehow we never really got around to it. Thankfully we managed to do most of it in one day. I'd like to think I'll enjoy giving more then receiving this year, but I know whatever I find inside my own packages will please me just as much as the looks on loved ones faces when they see what I've packed in theirs. I haven't quite decided if that's the point, or not. I guess I'll have to think on it longer.

Naw, in all reality, the gifts are great, but as we all continue to remind each other. It's not what it's all about. I think everyone knows it really, some people just don't like to admit it. Others purposely shove it to the back of their minds. Some of us tell ourselves we remember, and isn't it all wonderful, but we don't really care. I guess it's just part of that human nature that was given us.

I know you've heard it a million times already this year, but don't forget His name. Don't forget the reason you breath in and out. Don't forget He granted you mercy. Don't forget the true story of Christmas.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

Hi Guys

It's seven minutes away from midnight and I'm writing this post to say that this blog is not dead. Let's just say NaNoWriMo has sucked practically ever intelligible word out of my system. On that note, I reached 50,000 three days before Thanksgiving. Now I've just got to finish the novel.

For those of you sitting around waiting for something to happen on this blog, sit back and get ready. My Sam, Fin and I are working on some crazy stuff. At least, it sounds crazy when you're this tired.

I've also discovered you will laugh an insane amount at this video when you're tired. If you're anything like me that is.

I also must say a hint of steampunk has started to show up in my novel. I am okay with this. In fact, I find it rather enjoyable.

Authentic Me

I'm participating in Abigail Kraft's Authentic People Blog Party.

So, for newcomers to my blog, this is me.

I'm a daughter of the most high God. I'm an aspiring theater director. I'm an opinionated film critic. Mostly, I just write words. Especially, during the month of NaNoWriMo.

1} What's the nerdiest/geekiest/weirdest think about you?

Let's see... I have a crooked face. Seriously, if I put on any pair of glasses they will sit crookedly on my face. Unless it's my glasses, those were made to look straight.

2} If you could live in a fictional universe from any book, movie, or television show, what would it be?

Aanoor. That would be... my own fantasy land. Almost all of my fantasy novels/stories are set somewhere in Aanoor. It's been growing considerably over the years.

I made this map several years ago and it has changed a bit since then, but it gives you a general idea.

3} Little or big, practical or frivolous, what is one of your favorite items in your house?

My book shelves. A fairly recent addition to my house, but my favorite none-the-less.

Reasons love to them? 1. My Daddy made them for me. 2. They hold awesome books. 3. They're green.

4} Do you like animated movies? If so, what's

your favorite?

Oh yes, I love animated movies and my all time favorite is Lilo & Stitch. How could you not love a cute and fluffy mutant alien?

5} What is your favorite household chore?

Sweeping. I used to hate it, but after years of doing it every day, I actually kind of like it now.

6} What's your favorite thing to get at Starbucks (or your favorite coffee shop)?

In my case, that would be my favorite coffee shop. I don't visit Starbucks much. Anyway, my usual, memorized by two different baristas in town would be a 12oz white mocha. They're also pretty good and guessing if I want it iced, or not by how thick a coat I'm wearing.

7} What is your favorite pizza topping?

Pepperoni. I'm pretty basic when it comes to pizza.

8} Waffles or pancakes?

Uh... I don't really like either of those. Especially for breakfast. Then again, I'm not much of a breakfast eater in general.

9} Do you like to play games? If so, what is your favorite?

I actually don't really like to play games. I get weird looks whenever I say that, but it's the truth. The only games that I'll actually be in the mood to play are card games. My least favorite is probably charades.

10} Have you ever let anyone win a game?

I don't remember. I doubt it.

11} Have you ever dyed your hair?

No, although some people find that hard to believe when they see my natural red highlights.

12} Do you make your bed every morning?

Ah-ha, let's just say, I try.

13} Picasso or Norman Rockwell?

Norman Rockwell. I'm actually not crazy about him, but I find Picasso disturbing.

14} Do you like carpet, tile, or hardwood floors?

Hard wood, but it's all carpet in my house.

15} If you could put one thing in a safe under your bed, what would it be?

I'm not really sure. My favorite books?

16} What's your favorite condiment?

Barbecue sauce. Yes, I hail from the west.

17} Have you ever thrown up on someone (excluding when you were a child)?

No... I don't even remember the last time I threw up.

18} What was the last thing that made you laugh.

My brother playing charades last night. It was rather comical.

19} Think fast... what's the first song that pops into your head?

Blessed Assurance. I was just playing it on my guitar. One of my favorite hymns, especially when sung by Alan Jackson.

Just The Right Words

I am totally live blogging right now. I've never done this before, but I'm in love with it already.

At this very moment I'm sitting in my very favorite coffee shop. I've already spent many hours at this table, and I'm sure there will be many more. It's got the perfect atmosphere for writing a novel.

People come and they go. I can look out the window to the road across the street and see people that I recognize. The majority of the people sitting around me are people I've seen here before. Their faces familiar from days past.

I really should be writing right now. After all, it's the first day of NaNo and even though I've already got the suggested word count for the day, that's never enough for me. I know I can reach above and beyond that. I'm going for 5,000 before the day is done.

I start working at a new job tomorrow and while I'm totally excited about it, I'm also a bit nervous. Okay, a lot nervous. This is my first "real" job. What if I mess up? I guess that's the same question everyone has when they step out and do new things. I'm no different from those who have succeeded. Why shouldn't I? This quote keeps running through my head.

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." -Walt Disney

I don't think I'm exactly curious, but it makes me feel better anyway. Maybe because Walt Disney has just always been awesome, and you know if he was sitting next to me right now he would have just the right words to say.

Awesomeness

Guys. I'm not a fan of Glee, or The Glee Project. At all. However, I am a fan of this guy.

It also makes me pretty happy to hear this guy sing.

This guy has just always been awesome.

In other news, I'm sick. Therefore, I've posted music videos instead of racking my mind for words to type. I feel no shame.

Weakness

I just finished making the cover for The Way We Love. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, despite the complications I had while making it. You all probably want to see it, but you'll have to wait. It'll be on my updated Current Writing Projects page, after NaNo starts.

I'm sitting on Fins bed at the moment, listening to Celtic Thunder. It's hard to believe that it's been almost a year since we went and saw them in concert. It was the kickstart to NaNo last year for me. This year I'll be taking a trip to the best bookstore on the face of this earth. Powell's. Books on my list to look for? Oh, you know, the usual. Charles Dickens, Ted Dekker, John Keats, C.S. Lewis... the list goes on. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find one, or two books to lug home with me.

Someone shared a verse with me lately. I love it when that happens.

And he said unto me, "my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I think the world overrates the wrong kind of strong. Who cares if you've got abs. Until you are weak in Him, you will never be truly strong. I think I need to work on that more. Much more.

Braindead

I haven't been writing much lately. I've been reading. I actually haven't been doing much of that either though, so it's a lame excuse. Oh well, I just keep telling myself you've gotta have a break before the big bust, right? I would certainly call November the big bust of my writing life, and it's coming on fast. At this point, I'm not even really sure what I'm gonna write either. I've got ideas, but there's no saying that won't change. Like it already has three times.

I've got to get up early to go to work tomorrow, so I'm not even really sure why I'm taking the time to write this post. This could be one of those moments when I could be writing, or reading. I'm writing a story about gypsy's, a highwayman, and poor villagers. I'm reading Wuthering Heights. I'm enjoying both.

I guess I decided to post because I felt like I wanted to, the only thing was, I didn't know what to post. So, I decided to follow the example of My Sam and not think about it. Just write, right? We won't go into how much she inspires me right now, just know that she does.

Speaking of being inspired, I'm in love with music right now. Oh wait, I'm always in love with music. Let me rephrase that, I'm in love with Barrage right now. This is one of my favorites. It's called Allen's Bar.

This ones pretty good too. Until We Meet Again.

I'm in the midst of refurbishing my room. Well, I have been in the midst of it since we moved into this house, but it's getting closer. My Daddy is going to build me some awesome bookshelves so I'll be able to get my books off the floor and I'm hoping to find a nice, big, comfy chair to stick in the corner. I love big comfy chairs. Especially when surrounded by books.

"Sometimes the Questions are Complicated and the Answers are Simple."

I played with a seven year old today. He told me he was a doctor and promptly pretended to cut my knee open. When I told him that there was nothing wrong with my knee, and asked why he had cut it open he simply shrugged and said,

"I'll fix it... somehow." 

Gotta love the confidence of a child.

Gumbo

You know that moment when you realize your blog posts have been fewer to non-excistant in the last three weeks? You feel like you barely have time to sleep, let alone blog.

I wonder if I'll ever get back into the groove of typing out my thoughts in this little box, or if this blog will slip away and become one of the thousands that have been abandoned. Don't worry though, I've got far to many thoughts banging about in my mind to give it up entirely.

While I have forgotten my blogging, it seems others have not. I was given the same award three times. I'm to thank Katie, Mirriam, and Charity for awarding me the Liebster Blog award. I shan't be passing it on, but I'm very flattered for the appreciation you've bestowed upon this speck of speck in the internet world.

For those of you who haven't seen this months Beautiful People post, be sure to check out the new questions, there are some great ones!

I shall end this strange, mash up of a post with this.

Expect a post on them in the future, probably not in the near future, but possibly sometime beyond that. Kudos to those who know who they are.

Random Bursts of... Random

Hi. Remember me? I'm the author of this blog. This sadly, rejected blog. I'm actually okay with it though, when I decided to start a blog again I told myself it wasn't going to be a priority. I wasn't going to worry about gaining more followers, or posting regularly. I was just going to write. Strangely enough, I've enjoyed authoring this blog more than any others I've ever written.

Summer has been moving rather quickly for me. I just wanted to post a quick update of what's going on for me.

• My family just got back from a spur of the moment camping trip. Spur of the moment as in, my parents woke up Monday morning with the idea, and we left that afternoon.

• I am now an official homeschool graduate. The party was smashing, even for a crazy introvert like me.

• In two days I'm going to see someone awesome. I haven't seen this someone for two years, which is far to vast a time. Fin and I have a mutual best friend who we just happen to think is crazy amazing. She moved awhile back, but she's coming back to visit. For five days. We've got to make up two years, in five days. Life is about to get crazy.

• Beautiful People is coming. It had totally slipped my mind until today, but never fear! We'll hopefully have a new variety of questions posted soon. Speaking of BP, if you have any suggestions for questions, please feel free to comment on either mine, or Sky's blog letting us know what they are!

• If you're looking for a blog to fall in love with, may I suggest Dancing Again... authored by the beautiful Lynette Kraft. I absolutely love reading about her adventures as a mother of nine. She inspires me to embrace the little things in life.

• I've been meaning to really start outlining for draft 2 of Ash Valley for weeks now, but I think I'm finally really getting ready to start for sure. I've had almost the entire summer to break from serious writing, but I'm ready to get back in the groove. I'm thinking 750words and all. Enough casual, I want to get something done.

Before I Kick the Bucket...

Bucket List. A list of experiences a person would like to accomplish before kicking the bucket. I think everyone has one. Even if it's not written down, or viewed as such. Everyone has something they want to do before they die.

I give you, a small section of my constantly growing bucket list.

1. Visit Broadway.

2. Learn to play rare instruments. Like pan-pipes, and a concertina.

3. Direct a play, or movie. (If not both)

4. Ride in a hot air balloon.

5. See Australia, and Ireland. (Strange contrast, I know)

6. Say, "You, you, and you, COME WITH ME!" In perfect context.

7. Publish a book... that I wrote.

8. Leave a bouquet of flowers on someone's doorstep for May Day.

9. Leave someone totally speechless.

10. Write the script for a tv series. (At least the first season)

11. Write a novel entirely on an old fashioned typewriter...

12. Acquire an old fashioned typewriter.

What's on your bucket list? Let the amazing Polka Dot know to enter a huge giveaway!

Life Has a Pattern

I've noticed events in my life tend to take on a pattern. Luckily it's an easy one. Everything seems to happen at once, and then nothing happens at all for a day, or three, and then everything happens at once again. As exhausting as it sounds, I like it.

The play is finished now. The cast party was a mixture of sad and happy. Saying goodbye to some people I knew I wouldn't see for a while, but enjoying getting together to just hang out for once, instead of having to worry about rehearsals. Epic water fights ensued. Future plays were discussed. Awesomeness abounded.

The next day I executed a plan I had been working on for exactly one week. A surprise birthday party for my dear Fin. She turned 18. Aside from showing up ten minutes late, the plan worked flawlessly. You can read about it HERE.

I've finally reached my few days of rest, which means I had time to read Owl City's latest blog post. Strange, I hadn't realized just how much of an introvert I really am. If you ever have trouble understanding me and my ways, please use this post as a guide line. It fits me perfectly.

For those wondering how my writing is going, the amazing, wonderful, unbelievable Sky finished editing The Way We Think the other day. I have not sent it in for my free proof copy from CreateSpace. Just didn't have the time. As for other writings I haven't been doing anything serious. I keep telling myself as soon as things settle down I need to work on the outline for Ash Valley, but maybe I just need to get myself to do it now.

Even now I can see more of life's events piling up in my future. Some are new, some are exciting, I'm praying all of them will be approached with my heart in Christ Jesus.

I leave you with this video. It has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but it does have Dick Van Dyke.

Fin

Just in case you didn't know, I've got an awesome friend. This awesome friend is kind of like a sister. Just in case you didn't know, her name is Fin.

She makes me laugh. She lets me call her dorky names that are not in the least bit flattering. I don't have to explain to her that, "no, I don't mean 'like, like'" when I say, "I like him."

I know when I have nothing to say, I don't have to talk. She doesn't care. I love the fact that she knows just how I feel when I can't figure out how to tell anyone else. I love the fact that people sometimes assume we're twins.

Most of all I love her. Her unselfish willingness to serve. Her awesome writing talent, and her love for the Lord. 'Cause in Him, we really are in the same family, and that's the best part.