8/22/06: Milk is disgusting when it's not completely cold.
Plugs: uh... Frodo

So I'm sitting here multitasking and realizing it's been a rather looong time since I last blogged. By multitasking I mean glowering at my pot roast because it smells better than it looks, getting ready for a tutoring session on thursday, checking out the latest pics uploaded at TLKFAA and simultaniously typing and warding off the impending avalanche of stuff that is my work area. Also smelling bleach that lingereth in my nostrils from cleaning Grandma's house earlier, and hearing strains of "Wishing you were somehow here again" wafting from my stereo, which is not helping my concentration.
Speaking of concentration, there was something about Persia I was going to look up while on the internet, but I've gone and forgotten. Why am I looking up Persian stuff? Because I'm writing yet another short story. Even if I haven't finished editing my other recent one or even gotten halfway through my long epic one, I'm doing it anyway. Because I do that. Because I wanna be a published author someday. But I'm sitting here wondering if I have what it takes. Admittedly, I'm probably not much better than the average bear, but I have a real passion for it. I'm not one that's easily deterred, however. Maybe I'll write nonfiction. Because I stink at dialogue.
You know that show on MTV (I don't watch MTV, ever, but I have seen part of this show) called "Made"? Well, if you were "made" what would you choose? I would have a hard time choosing between author, singer/songwriter and equestrienne. Well, we all dream. But only those of us who really work hard at it attain it.

In other news, I still don't have my lisence. There was this one week where I had nothing going on and I was gonna have the time to go take the test, but I discovered my permit was expired, and now I don't have time to go take the test. So I'm still stuck. HOWEVER, I have finally been freed in one other area: I have finally decided to wait a year after graduating before going to college. Or at least a semester. Why? Because if I do, it will eliminate nearly all of my present stresses and worries. Just thinking about college not being so close makes me sag with releif. Oh sure, something may happen to make me change my mind, but I really think God wants me to wait. Because I asked him one night recently what He wanted me to do, but I fell asleep before he could answer. However, I woke up in the middle of the night, and the only thought in my mind was: wait. Needless to say, I slept well that night. Honestly, the only reason I don't want to wait a year is because I don't want to be so much older than all the other freshmen. But that's silly. And all the reasons to wait are so much better than the reasons not to. So there.

In still other news, school has started. Private school, I mean. Along with volleyball. Tomorrow public school starts, and that's why I have to go to bed in, like, less than an hour. Pssh. On that note, by brain has suddenly died, and I cannot write anymore without sounding idiotic. So, my dear readers (or lack thereof), I bid thee a good morrow. And thanks to those who bother to read.... Je suis heureuse a cause de vous...

7/8/06: We are gaining speed/I can barely breathe/'cause we're caught in suspension...
Plugs:Frodo

Been forever since I updated. I blame the thing I'm trying to record. Thing called life. So I'm updating. Jon inspired me. Or rather, the fact that when I yelled "and update your blog!" when he left the theater yesterday and I felt like a hypocrite. Yeah. I've not really got my thoughts in order, so prepare to hear me ramble. Or read.
I think the highlight of my week was showing up early for Pirates 2 at the theatre and bumping into some of my favorite people. Like the ones who yelled "Heather!" and ran to give me a hug. Suddenly I forgot how tired I was from just getting off work. Then those who laughed with me and asked how my summer has been. Yes, even the one who casually reached in his pocket and drew out his driver's license to show me, causing me to froth at the mouth. OK not really. I'll get that license this summer, by golly! I feel confident enough to drive anywhere but the freeway now. But I've got it all figured out: I get my license, and then my first three or four paychecks go to buying a delapitated beater of a car, so the rest can go toward college. I don't think I spelled dilapitated right. But that's OK. I went to a late showing of Pirates and then had to get up early and go to work. So I'm tired.
My job: I work at Fashion Bug. I'm getting used to it now. Most of it was easy to get used to; it's a small store. But the cash register hates me. I'll get there eventually, I hope. I've had two friends stop by and say hi while I was there. Made my day. ^^ My first day, I remember I ran around like a lost puppy. But now i'm a bit more confidant. Mostly because I'm not the newest member. For awhile I was, but now I get to watch others go through the training I did, and I don't feel so bad. I'm still the youngest, though.
Accomplishing a good deal this summer. I've accomplished 2 1/2 of the 4 things I meant to so far. Major things, I mean. The other, less important ones, like making a new layout for TNITB, and writing more, I'm still working on. Well, the writing bit is going better than the layout one. I sat down and am working on writing a fairy tale I began last year and didn't finish. I wish I could get it published as a childrens's book. A chapter book, I mean. Ages 8-12 or something like that. Almost finished the first draft. Then I'll type it up while I edit. Fun stuff. Wow. My brain is turning off. I better go now. Thanks to those who read my ramblings. I have great respect for you.

6/9/06: Flats to Vans in 2.24 seconds. Or, observations at the mall.
plugs: Gloria, Frodo

It's been a punk rock day. At least, off and on. I woke up with "Head On Collision" by Hawk Nelson running through my head. I've been sitting around reading a story about an Amish chick. Wait, that's not punky. Oh well, it's a good book. Tutoring at the library wasn't so punky either. My student gave me earrings she made. They're awesome! My grandma drove me to the library, and on the way she picked up a friend of hers so they could hang at the library. It was an Italian lady, and she looked at me and was like, "What size clothing do you wear?" I told her, and she said, OK. Later when we dropped her off at her house she told us to wait and came back with a couple skirts. One was real suede. That was cool. On the way back to my grandma's house I was stuggling with a gaseous pain. Not that you needed to know THAT, but I have to say that I had a root beer from a glass bottle at the library. Half one. It has been around a year since I had a soda, but I adore root beer and couldn't resist. I forgot how painful and acidic sodas were. It hurt going down and caused my stomach to fizzle, but oh, it was good.
When mom came to pick us up, we were driving back home, when suddenly I pipe up: "I coulda driven home..." She nods. "Yeah, I just thought of that too." You see, I'm so used to getting in the passenger's seat that I forget I can drive if I want to. It's just that 75% of the time I ask if I can drive, mom glances at her watch and says, "no, we're in a hurry." I have, however, driven twice this week. But that's not punky, so I'll stop babbling.

We later went to the mall with the express purpose of letting me look for some cute flats to wear at my future job. Only an hour 'til the mall closed, too. I wasn't feeling punky then. I was feeling cute trying on adorable flats. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything that fit my criteria: fits nice, goes with a lot of outfits, and adorable. Oh, and not too expensive. I went to many stores and ended up at JC Penney's with about 20 minutes before it closed. I was looking for flats, scanning the rows. Flats, flats, heels, flats, flats, vans, flats.... wait, Vans? Half off? In my size? Adorable? Comfy? Oh yeah, I tried them on. Like a sports car going 80MPH and suddenly slamming on the brakes, my brain screeched to a halt and the flats were forgotten. I went from eh to ooh, cute to punky, flats to Vans in 2.24 seconds. And that's why I'm listening to Hawk Neslon while I type this. Instead of, say, the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack. Although, when I was looking at CD's at Barnes and Noble later, there was a guy not far from me browsing too. A few minutes later I hear "DUN, dundundundun duuun..." and I get goosebumps like I did the first time I popped in my POTO soundtrack and heard the beginning of the Overture. Then the guy pulls out his cell phone, pushes a button, and says, "Hello?" Ending the song and leaving me humming the rest as I walk out of the CD section.

6/3/06: Mr. Weston was Musing.
Plugs: Maggie, Jon, Frodo, and I'll Eat You Soon.

So I was at a birthday party yesterday, right? We had extra time between pizza eating and swimming to go to the mall. I happened to have money. As we walked around I came up against several things I wanted to buy. I mean really wanted to buy. They all -the shoes, jeans, shirts, and books- all screamed: BUYMEBUYMEBUYME!!! But no, I thought, I'm saving my money to buy Le Petit Prince soundtrack. No spendy! Little did I know that mere hours later my bag would get rifled through, my wallet opened and my money stolen in the locker room at the pool. Oh, you cannot imagine my anger! I didn't voice it, of course. I'm not like that. First I was mad at the theives and then I was mad at myself. Why did I bring my purse in in the first place? Why did I not get a lock for my locker? Why did I not buy those adorable Vigoss jeans while I had the money??? That sort of thing. In my defense, I was with a group of noisy teenage girls talking so much I couldn't think straight, I was so distracted. And I was also assured that everyone just put their stuff in a locker without a lock, and no one ever stole. What was I thinking when I beleived them? I dunno. But I wasn't the only one of the group to get robbed. Our stuff was found on the toilets in the stalls with all the bags open. My cousin got money stolen. It's not so much that the money was a big deal; I didn't NEED LPP soundtrack. It was just the thought that someone had the audacity to go through my stuff. I felt violated. If those people were starving homeless people and they asked me, I would have used it to buy them some groceries. Who am I to grudge them money that God gave to me to use for His purpose? I just wish they hadn't stolen it. They'll have to face God someday for their actions. Later, I was reading my Bible, looking for a verse to go with what I was feeling like I usually do when I'm upset. I found Isaiah 26: 9-11. Specifically verse 10. Go read it, and you'll see what I mean. It got my thoughts going on this line: I worked for the money, right? Because I did, I gained not only the money, but the chance to serve someone else, a reason to tithe, some extra muscle, and a chance to learn the value of hard work. Good stuff, right? Well, by stealing, the theives gained money, but also guilt and the burden of sin. So they gained once, and lost once. I gained twice. Or I should say thrice, because I also gained a lesson on thinking more clearly and not acting like an idiot, and also a lesson on learning to let it go and forgive those who wronged you. And that is why, right now, I am at peace. So if anyone reading this has the intention of stealing or doesn't think it's such a bad thing to do, don't do it. You will gain NOTHING.

On the completely opposite hand, I got a call this evening from the Fashion Bug where I had a job interview earlier this week. They want me to come in for the personality test, and so I'm practically hired. Wow. My first job. And the funny thing is, I worried over whether I would find a job at the place God wanted me to work. I picked up over a dozen applications, but not until last coming back to the one place I had thought all along I would like to work at. Since I was 15, it's always been speculated by my family that I should work there. So why did I wait 'til last to get an application there? I mean aside from the fact that they didn't have a Now Hiring sign up until recently. I honestly think God wanted me to go through the filling out of applications at so many other places so I could best learn how to rely on His will, and to teach me patience to wait on His timing. Isn't God awesome? He teaches me something everyday.

5/26/06: Put a smile on your face/make the world a better place
Plugs: Frodo, Heather
Ah!!! The dreaded orange and red sticker!
My local library has these obnoxious orange-with-a-red-heart stickers they put on the binding of any and all romance books. Even those that aren't so romantic. Take yesterday, for instance. I finished my tutoring session at the library and, after waiting for my pupil's mom to pick her up, I went to look for some books. It was my intention to borrow Emma by Jane Austen and maybe a book by Georgette Heyer. I found them both, and to my chagrin, the Heyer had the dreaded sticker stuck on its binding. Turning a little pink, I hid it beneath Emma on the long trek from the adult fiction section on the second floor to the check out desk on the first floor. Fortunately, there were no cute guys behind the desk. I might have died. Why this overreaction? Because I don't want to be thought as the type of girl who spends her free time lost in some mushy paperback that's likely rated PG-13 or worse. Yes, THOSE books, the ones with the sleezy covers, deserve the obnoxious sticker. Georgette Heyer writes historical fiction and mysteries. She wrote them from the '20s to the '70s, and the only reason they have the sticker is that her imitators have started this genre known as "Regency Romance". HER books are amazing, and not at all mushy. She's been compared to Jane Austen. You know, it's all about the witty dialog, the characters, the adventure and the soul-searching. Tone down the soul-searching and add more action and you've got a Heyer. Her books are a blast. Sure, they were written about a period of time where marriage was practically what life was about for women, like Austen's books (late 1700's and early 1800's). So there's a smidgen of romance but not enough to make you gag. It's... how shall we say it?
Intellectual.
Adventurous.
The dialog, the characters... oh, that I could write so well! There's swordfighting, mystery, kidnappings and fun stuff throughout. Is there enough romance to deserve the sticker? No. Decidedly no. Emphatically no! But before I get accused of ranting I want you to know I am NOT the sort to read mushy books. Much. I may read Christian romance. Once in a loooong while, but... OK, I'm backsliding. But I'm really not that type! Especially when I'm in one of my cynical moods where I start yelling at the book: "Woman, would you get OVER yourself!"
That sort of thing.

I have always wanted to write fiction. Some tell me I have a way with words. It has given me hope. And then I write something, and I reread it, and I hate it. I think my worst problem is dialog. My descriptions are fair, but my conversations are often stilted and not very realistic. So when I feel uninspired, I read an Austen or Heyer novel, and my brain starts working again. That is why I love Heyer's work. Here's a toast to the woman that wrote some of the best fiction in the world!
I was truly tickled when I won "most likely to be a bestselling author" at my school's formal banquet. Because that's one of the things I want to be! Will I, someday? That's up to God. But it's nice to have such encouragement.
Summer is here for me. Still trying to get a job. Got an interview lined up. Also been working on those subjects which I need to get caught up on. (It's great to be part-time homeschooled!) And that is how my summer is so far. Just to let you know. Since I wasn't sure I could think of much else to say on the subject of paperback romances. Although, a parting word from the wise: girls, don't waste your life reading trashy romances! I've never read them, but they can't be worth it!
Speaking of worth it, was this blog entry worth typing? HAHA! We'll never know!