Numbers

06 – 11 – 2012; flew home from London

4; number of movies watched on flight

2,012; amount of pictures/video I have from the trip

1,090; emails waiting for me to go through

319; emails I actually care about (most of them blogs)

2; time in the morning I went to bed last night

12; time I’d like to make it to bed tonight

3; number of limbs in my side right now (little sister in my bed)

So that’s my lazy way of saying I have a ton of pictures and emails to go through, so I’d crave your patience as I sort out just how I’m going to post about the trip and how many pictures each post should contain, what you’d most like to see, read about, etc.

But I’m back! And already restless for some goals. Like buy a new computer, learn some Korean, and have a major event planned for each milestone birthday. 25th is get a pixie cut!

ABC Award!!

“When you read, you begin with…”
“A, B, C.”

Do, Re, Mi is now in my head. Which makes me think it’s time to listen to the Hieroglyphics song again! *

Am I distracting myself? Do, do excuse me. (Movie quote alert!)

Charissa from Joy in the Moments afforded me the great pleasure of receiving this award! Her blog is always a delight to visit, so please take a peek at it.

• Passing the Proverbial Torch (people I’d love to see make lists)
  

-Marie of Adventures in a Grown-up World
-Timbo of The Creative Juicer
-Picco of Spoonlighting
-Elana of Cartoons & Creative Writing
(…who just so happens to be searching for blogs to nominate for all the awards she’s won and needs to pass on! So if you fancy getting recognized, do leave her a nice comment. Because she’s a crazy cool cat and deserves it. )

Now for the cream! (And that is the second line I’ve quoted from the same movie.)

I’ve decided to make my ABC‘s a list of all time favourite books. See, I even changed my blog theme to match! What I love about this theme is it utilizes the “excerpts” so each and every post doesn’t take up so much room!

You tagees are welcome to make an alphabetical list of whatever suits you and your blog theme. Books, movies, fictional boyfriends, food dishes, fish breeds… you name it. Just have fun!

If I put the title of one book in a trilogy/cycle/series, this means I highly recommend the entire set of books but for the sake of space was forced to put one.

• Loveliness that are books…

Anne of Avonlea -L.M. Mongomery (Book 2 in the Anne of Green Gables series)
Belle: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast -Cameron Dokey
Chalice -Robin McKinley
Dracula -Bram Stoker
Eldest -Christopher Paolini (Book 2 in the Inheritance Cycle)
Fondling Your Muse -John Warner
Goose Girl, The -Shannon Hale
Howl’s Moving Castle -Diana Wynne Jones
Inkdeath -Cornelia Funke (Book 3 in the Inkheart Trilogy)
Just Go To Bed -Mercer Mayer
King of the Middle March -Kevin Crossley-Holland (Book 3 in the Arthur Trilogy)
Lord of the Rings, The -J.R.R. Tolkien (Yes, the entire set.)
Maid Marian -Elsa Watson
Nancy Drew Mysteries
Outlaws of Sherwood, The -Robin McKinley
Phantom of the Opera, The (Lowell Bair translation; Bantam Classics. Get a hold of it if you can.)
Question of Time, A (I can’t find the author. It’s a really old kid’s mystery that always spooked me.)
Rose Daughter -Robin McKinley
Scarlet Pimpernel, The -Baroness Emma Orczy
Taran Wanderer -Lloyd Alexander (Book 4 in The Chronicles of Prydain)
Uglies -Scott Westerfeld (Entire series.)
Vampire Lestat, The -Anne Rice
Woman in White, The -Wilkie Collins
Extras -Scott Westerfeld (I know, sort of cheating. But honestly, what kind of a letter is X?)
Year of Disappearances, The -Susan Hubbard (Book 2 in the Ethical Vampire trilogy.)
Z -I have nothing. There is a retelling of Rapunzel called “Zel” that looks promising, but I’ve yet to read it and therefore cannot add it to this list.

*You may ask how many times I’m going to slip that video link into a post. The answer is: As many times as it takes for every one of my subscribers to memorize it. *maniacal laughter*

All we ask for is thank you

The holidays are upon us.

Thanksgiving has passed, Christmas is fast approaching, and through the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, a short young woman who works as a cashier wants just one thing to shine this year.

Gratitude.

It’s two little words that make all the difference. Two little words and a sincere tone.

“Thank you!”

Whether I packaged twelve pastries, six bagels and four loaves of bread, or pulled out one paper take-out cup for your coffee, taking the time to appreciate it does a world of good. It’s amazing how rude people can be during this season, and I blame the ugly monster of Ingratitude.

Thanksgiving shouldn’t be confined to one day of the year. It should be a consistent state of mind. God didn’t just protect a handful of Pilgrims nearly four-hundred years ago and then leave the rest of us to rot. We’ve been in His thoughts since before the invention of time and He’s been looking after His people all the while. Knowing how rude I find it when a customer fails to say thanks for the effort I put into their order makes me realize how disappointed God must be when we don’t take the time to thank Him for the overflow of blessings granted by His hand.

And even if you don’t believe in God, being unthankful just makes you a jerk.

That’s why I’m making another thankful post right now. It’s been far too long for one thing, and I think this transition period for the holiday season is the perfect time to start back up.

1. Sight
   Believe it or not, I am not talking about a sixth-sense or magic perception. I mean quite literal eyesight. How many of us wear corrective lenses of some sort or another? How many have had or plan on having laser surgery? How often do we stop and not take for granted the fact that we can see? When I was a little girl and first heard about blindness I used to walk around the house with my eyes closed to test how well I could cope. I didn’t do very well. I cry sometimes when my glasses go missing. I can’t be thankful enough for modern inventions in the way of lenses, without which I could barely function.
2. Panera Trainees
   I know I mention work a lot but there is so much to love about my job, I must persist. The fact that we are still growing enough to start new Paneras is a reason to be thankful in itself. The new trainees are another. I always wanted to be a teacher, and with all the new hires, I am. I love passing on knowledge, seeing someone’s face light up when they grasp a new concept; to have a tired, but happy face at the end of a shift say, “Thanks so much! I learned a lot with you!” That is why I wanted to teach, and God put me in the absolute best place for it. And it doesn’t hurt that I get to call them minions and padawans.
3. Europe Plans
   Making it to Europe the first time was surreal. I’m unfathomably blessed to have the opportunity to go again with my best friend and to have the job and therefore the funds to do so, even in this wretched economy.
4. Write or Die
   The Site That Scares You Into Writing
   This thing is pure evil genius. I’ve written (collectively) 800 words in 20 minutes so far where normally I’d take a whole week to do as much. Of course the stuff I plunked out needs heavy editing assistance, but those are some drastic number differences. I’ve found that setting a goal of 200 words for 5 minutes at a time works best for me, but you can mess around for a while to see what time limit and word goal combination works for your own self. Read the “About” section right under the web app. It’s fantastic.
5. Finding $20 I Thought Might Be Lost
   Thank God for safe pockets. Twenty dollars is a lot to lose, even temporarily.
6. The New Intern on Bones
   Totally in love with the new squint, Finn, and his oh so Southern accent. <3 He looks like Dr. Chase with a baseball cap, but talks like Jasper Hale incarnate. And yeah, I always did love Jasper. There’s something about that homemade-snickerdoodle-haystack-frolic-and-fresh-lemonade-after-church-service drawl.
7. Babies
   There’s nothing like a toothless grin or outright laughter from an amused infant. Or fat, rosy cheeks, soft to the touch. Or a little one falling asleep on your chest while their tiny hand curls up and their mouth makes the perfect ‘o’ shape. And baby pj’s are darling! Especially the feetie ones! *sigh* I miss babies. I haven’t got to hold a baby in so long!
8. Sleep
   Do I need to explain this one?
9. Hats
   Aren’t they beautiful!?! Mara’s Mama made the three hat-hats, and then the ear warmer/headband in gray and purple was knitted by my darling friend “Mosie” as a birthday present! I love them so much! Eventually I’m sure you’ll see some of these on me, but for now you’ll have to enjoy them unmodeled.
10. Monsters
    But only the Rehab! Yes, yes, I need “Rehab,” I know. There, now I made that joke and you can’t. If you’re in the workforce, you understand!

How To Write Like a Pro

Step 1.

Open document. Stare.

Step 2.

Remember you didn’t brush your teeth yet. Brush them.

Step 3.

Open a new document to put down notes about a mermaid story your teeth brushing inspired.

Step 4.

Write 400 words of mermaid story.

Step 5.

Text your Beta to tell her how well writing is going.

Step 6.

Feel good about the amount of words you wrote and start watching Phantom of the Opera.

Step 7.

Be reminded of your Phantom fic. Open that document. Commence writing.

Step 8.

Remember you have half a chocolate chip muffie in the cupboard. Retrieve it (with milk) and consume.

Step 9.

Be inspired to write a blog about how effective your writing methods are.

Step 10.

Write blog post.

Step 11.

Return to Phantom story. Realize that none of this qualifies as “original work” and look to finish something “original.”

Step 12.

Gaze at Mara’s Weekly Writing Challenge picture. Deliberate on whether or not to write something for it.

Step 13.

Promise yourself an episode of H2O for every 200 words you write.

Step 14.

Sign up for Netflix and finish that Dr. Who episode that wasn’t buffering on your other streaming hosts.

Step 15.

Open the document for the chapter due Friday.

Step 16.

Find pictures of friends’ Switzerland trip and comment on the majority. See puppies in one and be reminded of Equilibrium.

Step 17.

Look for the puppy scene in Equilibrium on YouTube. Watch it.

Step 18.

Answer texts from best friend asking how writing’s going.

Step 19.

Come back and add more steps to blog post.

Step 20.

Miraculously write 2,000 words in one day because you failed to finish your goals on two previous nights since you were busy completing all the other steps of how to write like a pro.

On a Desert Island

When I get lazy I do surveys.

That’s a poor excuse. I do these for fun whether I’m lazy or not.

If You Were Stranded…

I think the rules are pretty self-explanatory so I feel no need to post any.

DVD: Lord of the Rings
I count the extended boxed set of the trilogy to be a “DVD.” It’s only fair. If I have to choose just one, I’d take The Fellowship of the Ring. Not sure why. Probably because I like beginnings. And Sean Bean.

TV Series Box Set: Teen Titans
I do love my crime dramas, (Psych, Bones, Criminal Minds…) but Teen Titans can be watched over and over and still hold the same joy as the first time around. Also, it wouldn’t make me paranoid to be alone in the dark on my island.

CD: Phantom of the Opera [Extended 2 Disc Soundtrack]
Since I suppose making a mix CD would be cheating. But if not, it would be part Broadway musical, part 80′s music, and part classical. With a bit of country.

Book: Chalice
Robin McKinley needs to publish a “Complete Works” edition, because choosing between Chalice and Sunshine is like choosing between your thumb and your ring finger.

Song: I See The Light -Tangled
My favorite song changes every other day pretty much, but since I used up my only movie to bring, I need this song to play the best scene over and over in my head.

Board game: Risk
Because if I’m playing by myself, I want something that can be used creatively while solo. (Is there a dinosaur version of Risk? That would be awesome.) And maybe I’d actually master the real rules in the meantime.

Drink: Horizon Chocolate Milk
This is assuming I have clean drinking water. Hm. Maybe assuming things is bad. Well, this is all hypothetical, so I’ll leave it be. These things are my drug. I would use them sparingly, even if I had an endless supply. I’d use them as self motivational tools and rewards for things like building a shelter and killing the giant bug I found in my shelter.

Electronic: Laptop
Even if I don’t get internet, at least I can type my stories. And all my music is on here, as are a few downloaded movies, so what do you have to say now, previous questions!? HAH!

Beauty Item: Razor
So I don’t become Dr. Zira.