Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

A few little updates. Christmas was awesome. We went over my aunt's house, hung out, ate, hung out, talked, ate again, waited, then ate. Notice a pattern? She makes amazing food and deserts. Plus she has a coffee urn! That's like a keg in my world. From my dad I got a Pullip doll, Lunatic Queen. She is absolutley beautiful. My parents (mostly my mom) got me all kinds of books and pjs and an Alfonse Mucha calendar. From my nanny, I got a Blythe doll, Very Vicky, she came late (and I need to tame her hair), but she is a beauty as well.

I've also been writing a bit. Got the beginning of the story started, but I'm having a hard time working with my female lead character. Seriously, Eilian and the butler have more chemistry. I may have to rework her or make a new female character to take over. She's too short, too personality-less.

Happy New Year's Eve everyone and Happy New Year (tomorrow)! Have a healthy and happy vacation and holiday!

Bridalplasty?

Seriously, who thought of this ridiculously self-centered, shallow show? Brides being sneaky and manipulative to get plastic surgeries and a dream wedding. How much plastic surgery can separate my real self from ideal self? I can't imagine the incongruities that these plastic surgeries cause. I understand that 2 of the contestants have had issues that have changed their bodies for the worst, so I understand their need for surgery to correct it, but other perfectly normal women, who already look beautiful, are getting half a dozen procedures to look more like Heidi Montage. People all over the world who have disfigurements can't afford surgeries that are needed to make them FUNCTION normally and have a better quality of life. Why can't the money used to make this ridiculous show be used for something like Operation Smile or to get prosthetic limbs to amputees that can't finance it on their own. I just wonder how much more plastic people can get. What makes them want to change themselves so drastically when they look better than average?

Calyx 2011

At Caldwell there's a literary magazine published each Spring, and submissions are already being accepted, but I don't have anything ready yet. I have something I might send it, but it isn't perfect yet -shift eyes-. It's the first few pages of the story I'm working on... Peaceful airship... CRASH... a fiery escape from wreckage.... fever dreams

A lot to condense to a few pages =)

Steampunk Revolution

As per my last post, I have been working on a new story. I never finish anything, but as of right now, I have 3... now 4, partially worked on stories. This new one is based around the sci-fi genre of Steampunk. I love the romance of the Victorian Era and the allure of Jules Verne-ian science. After not finding a Steampunk story I really enjoyed, I decided to create exactly what I wanted to read. The story takes place in a more technologically advanced Victorian England. The story begins with the young, promising mechano-archaeologist, Eilian Sorrel, as he takes a zeppelin back to England. His life is changed in an instant when the zeppelin crashes during a storm, trapping him within the fiery bowels of the ship. While he escapes with his life (barely), he wakes up surrounded by doctors and realizes he is missing most of his right arm. After months of recuperation from his burns, he calls upon a local puppet maker to create a uniquely life-like prosthesis. Hadley Femice arrives disguised as her dead brother, afraid that if it was known she was a woman, she would be turned away. Eilian accidentally discovers her identity, but it doesn't phase him. Over the course of several weeks, Hadley comes back to work on the prosthetic arm, which is moved by the muscles of his upper arm and the fingers are controlled by his other hand, mimicking its motions. Eilian is invited to a newly discovered archaeological site and asks Hadley to come along. After that, all my ideas are fuzzy because I haven't thought that far out yet.

My Passion

Ahhhh, I love the beginning of a new story. The small epiphanies where a character or scene just suddenly comes to you. Creative writing is one of the only places where your imagination can run wild, and no one will tell you to stop being childish or imaginative. The small miracle of giving birth to a character that grows into one of your best friends or most hated enemies has always thrilled me. Getting to know these characters is like creating new neural connections until suddenly you're inside their head and know exactly what they will say. The adrenaline rush as you bang out a scene with nearly no conscious thought. Somehow, all this makes the long runs of writer's block and frustration worth it, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Not Wheelchair Friendly.

Today in school, I found out the true nature of others, and frankly, I'm appalled. There's a girl at the college, who has cerebral palsey or something along those lines and is in a motorized wheelchair. As I came out of the building where my Anatomy room is, I saw her by the elevator exit. She was calling out for someone to help her with something, but the twenty or so kids that made it out before me, just walked past her, not even looking at her. I couldn't believe it. I mean, I'm not the nicest person in the world, but I'd rather help a disabled person than an able bodied one. I went over and asked her what she needed. All she needed was for someone to pick up a paper she dropped because she couldn't reach it in her wheelchair. Everyone ignored her. She sat there for several minutes waiting for someone to help her reach a piece of paper. It's appalling that people, supposedly educated people, would just ignore her as if she wasn't there when she was obviously in need of some help. I know there are some people at my school who would willing help and most likely have in the past, but when I see my own classmates ignore her, it makes me sick. I hope my kids don't turn out like them. Recently, I've been trying to be a bit of a better person, and it made me feel good to help her. I just wish others had before me.

Oh my god! She posted!

Wow, last post was in February? That went fast. Anywho, this is basically a b.s. post. I had a long weekend off from school, was wonderful, got to sleep late.... but I didn't get anything done. Now, I'm scrambling to get everything done. I have a organic chem lab report (Orgo is the bane of my existence, I HATE chemistry), I have to study for my Literature and the Arts midterm (haha didn't really do it), and a psychology test (I'll study at lunch). I really should have done the report sooner. Oh well. What can I do?

PS- Don't ask, don't tell was repealed for the time being. A victory for our gay servicemen/women. It seems like a blessing and a curse. I'm glad that they're able to freely serve their country, but since in so many countries being gay is punishable by death or other forms of violence, I feel that it may make them a target if they are captured by enemy soldiers. I'm glad that we're taking a step toward sexual equality in this country.

Life on Hold

I haven't posted in a while, but no one looks at this anyway, so it doesn't matter. I have had next to no time for myself since school started, and I feel burnt out from having multiple test in one day as well as a writing assignment to do that night. I'm productive but comatose. What's also somewhat annoying me is that my favorite shows aren't on during the relaxing time I do have. It sounds stupid, but I miss the Biggest Loser and Castle, it's like a pocket of air when drowning. My procrastination skills have been coming to the surface as well, it's like my brain shuts off during the weekend, and I forget everything I need to do. Though I haven't missed any assignments yet, it worries me. I've been reading the Swan Thieves, it's pretty good. A little draggy at times though. It slows down to the point that I lose interest, which is what caused me to stop reading her first book x.x I hope it picks up soon, otherwise I'm going to switch back to Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Their new book is coming out in May 8) That is something I'm eagerly looking forward to.

Operation Smile

All over the world, there are kids suffering from a birth defect called a cleft pallet. Their lips and soft pallet have been malformed and causes them to be teased and ostracized by their peers and may even impact their speech and eating. These children needlessly suffer from something that has basically been eliminated in America and most developed countries. It's believed that this birth defect can arise from lack of nutrition during pregnancy or merely genetics. A group of doctors are now traveling the world performing free surgeries for the kids that desperately need it. Thousands of kids come from all over to get medical treatment, but due to time and money many are regretfully turned away. These kids need medical help. Why should anyone be turned away because there isn't enough money to pay for the equipment? This is a not for profit organization and all the money goes directly to the treatment of the children. $240 pays for 1 surgery for 1 child. If we could raise $2,400, we could pay for 10 surgeries. That means, 10 more children won't be turned away, 10 children will get a new life, 10 children will be accepted. Please, if possible donate, even if it's just a dollar or two.

http://www.operationsmile.org/

Anticipation is a killer XD

Okay, well, I sent in a sniplet of a story I've been working on for a while now to Calyx, the school's literary magazine. I wish I hadn't sent it in so early, the wait to know if it's getting in is kill me. The story was very dear to me, so I hope they take it. It's kind of a taboo subject to some people, but suicide is a huge issue to teenagers. It isn't about killing yourself, it's how it effects other people. God x.x I actually liked how it came out after my teacher helped me do a little editting and trimming. I just hope they take it, fingers crossed

A Sad Day In New Jersey

Recently, gay marriage was put up for vote in New Jersey and was voted down by the NJ Senate. I'm very saddened by this event. I know so many people who are gay, and I know how a vote of yes would have effected their lives for the better. I don't know how we can continue to be so prejuidice to our fellow man. What are we teaching our children by telling people that they cannot have right that everyone else has? We can say, "yes, gay people are okay", but then, we decide that we have the right to tell them that they aren't allowed to get married and have all the rights a straight couple could have. I never understand people's problems with gay marriage. We all feel the same love when we look at our partner. Some will say, "well they already have civil unions, so what else do they want?". The truth is, civil union isn't the same as marriage. It may be a ceremony, but it doesn't give the same rights. Some hospitals won't let people see their partners if they're in the ICU when a married straight couple would have been able to, or some adoption agencies won't let them adopt a child even though they wouldn't be able to have their own through natural means. How can we take away the right to happiness? Everyone deserves to be with the one they love and be able to show the world that they will be with them forever. In church a few months ago, when gay marriage was first going up for vote, the bishop sent out a letter saying that we should pressure our legislators into voting no. Then, they gave flimsy reasons that made little to no sense, like economic problems [how? 1 gay couple +1 lesbian couple= 2 straight couples], family problems, confusion, against basic church ethics, and some other bullshit. It makes no sense. I love this, I heard someone preaching in high school against gay marriage saying it was against religion and the bible and such, but when I asked them why THEY were against it, they had no answer. Many people have no reason, and I don't understand why they have a problem with it. I say, live and let live.

We WILL try again, and we WILL win.

Because... all you need is love, love is all you need

Insomnia, Writing, and Hazelnut Coffee

I don't know if anyone is still reading my blog, but what the hell, I'll post. I've had such a hard time going to bed at night recently. I wake up at like 7.15 and go to bed at 12.45 to 1.00 AM. God, it's horrible because as soon as it's midnight, I feel like writing. I've had a bit of writer's block, but more so, a lack of ambition to write. I sit and stare at microsoft word processor for an hour and write more than a sentence though I know what I want to say. Has anyone else had this problem? I wish I could trick myself into thinking that it's 12 at 9 that way I can actually get some writing done. I'm going to use the piece I sent in to Caldwell's literary magazine as the first chapter of the story. I already started chapter 3, but I haven't done chapter 2 yet XD Oh well, it'll come together. Below are some writing quotes I liked for whatever reason.

"If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."
-Toni Morrison
"Writing is easy: All you need to do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead."
-Gene Fowler

This one takes the cake XD: "If you want to get rich from writing, write the sort of thing that's read by person's who move their lips when they're reading to themselves." -Don Marquis (I think Stephanie Meyer must have read this... If you don't know, I loathe what Twilight has done to this generation's taste in literature... if you can call it that x.x)