Claire's Quote

"Well if it's not safe for me, then it's not safe for you, either."

This quote is said by Claire, one of the main characters' sister. For some reason I find this quote to be really . . . profound. It wasn't mean to be until I just read it to myself, and I realized that it applied to everything these two characters have been through. Just sort of wanted to share it with everyone.

Why I Write

I guess a lot of authors or writers are asked that question from time to time, why they write.  The answer is pretty simple: I like to write. But it also goes a lot deeper than that.

I've been writing a lot . . . I've always had this great imagination (well, at least from what I've been told. Compared to others, I feel like I'm still living in a box) and wanted to explore the worlds I've made up in my head.

But also, I like to read. I like to become immersed in what somebody else made up. The problem with that, however, is that no one is writing what I want to read anymore.

It used to be so simple and great. I could pick up most any book and love it from the get-go. But now as I'm older, I find that I can't seem to find that "perfect book." Perhaps I need to not be so fickle. But it's like every time I go to the bookstore, I keep pouring through all these books that just don't seem to have what I want. Whatever happened to adventure/fantasy novels that weren't all about war? I hate reading about war. Some is okay; I mean, you can't have a good fantasy without a little war. But when all you do is just thrust the main character into a battlefield and call it a book?

Ugh.

And then there are all these books that try to teach a lesson. Listen, when I read fantasy or sci-fi, I don't want a lesson. I just want to be entertained. So many books now try to take themselves so seriously.

And please do not get me started on paranormal romance novels. 

So, one day, searching through all those books and, once again, not being satisfied, I decided that I needed to do something. I wanted to write what I wanted to read.

That does not mean that what I write does not have some sort of underlying moral or theme. But when I write, I write to tell a story. A fun story. A story that does not need massive explaining. Something that is fun and light and captures your attention with a fair amount of adventure and perhaps even passion. I don't want to try to get everyone to think about implications. I want to entertain and have everyone be excited for a character, or gasp over an action. I want to pull someone into my world. If someone can pull out a moral or two, then that is perfect; by all means, please. I try to make the characters as real as possible, and a book can not be a book without some sort of theme beneath it all. But listen: when I write, the story and the characters are what matter to me; themes and morals come second.

I'm just sick of the sad state of books out there. I find barely anything worth reading anymore, and it's upsetting as a writer to want to read something, but can't find anything remotely interesting. I don't know what changed in fantasy and sci-fi, but it's in a general direction that frankly, I'm disappointed it went in. I'm not trying to change fantasy as we know it. I'm just trying to put something out there that I myself am missing. And if you guys all are too, then what's not to say more books like what I'm attempting to write will be produced?

A Writer's Thoughts

So today I was thinking today about how I'm super close to finishing my first novel. It's been quite an experience, to say the least. After this, I know that I have major, major editing work. Then starts another story, which I just imagined this past weekend on my drive home (I'm pretty excited to start it, so now I'm excited to push with my first). Then after that, I have no idea. I'm still super infatuated with my "Airilie" kingdom. I definitely want to come back to it. Like I stated in one of my previous posts, I had this one idea for this series, and that this first novel was more or less the start/catalyst type novel for the main attraction, a la "The Hobbit."

Anyway, I won't say too much more, because a lot of what I'm thinking is pretty preemptive. I could change my ideas tomorrow. I want to get back into writing super soon, but sadly homework is starting to put its cold grasp on me. I have this huge assignment due this Friday that I haven't really worked on. Ugh.

I'm pretty excited about the fact that I don't need surgery now. That means I can be on track with my program! It's pretty awesome, to say the least.

Well, I didn't really have much more to say. I guess I just wanted to blog so I don't forget about this thing.

Songs of the Month - March 2012

So today I was sitting here, thinking about something I could blog about (because I just absolutely enjoy putting off my homework until the last minute), and I thought of a decent idea, something that will carry over from month to month.

Music has a huge inspiration on my writing. It's one of those things that makes me think of new ideas and characters and events. From the moment I wake up to the time I fall back asleep, there is not one moment when a song is not running through my head.

so, I have decided that I will lost about 5-ish songs once a month that either I am crazy for at the moment, or have influenced me at some point. This may be brand new songs that have just came out, or it could be a song from the 1920s. Who knows, who cares?

A lot of authors like to put in a "playlist" of things they listen to. Frankly, I'm upset that it hasn't happened sooner. Music is an inspiration to everyone, and if you say it's not, you are kidding yourself.

What I'm going to do is list the songs and then give a small explanation about them (aka why I like it, what it did for me, etc.).

Without further adieu, here are the songs:

1. "Masterpiece" - Madonna. Not really an inspirational song for me, but it's just a super pretty song that sets a great tone. It won an award (the one it won escapes me at the moment). Classic Madonna, it's sure to be a crowd-pleaser when "MDNA" comes out later this week.

2. "Birthday Cake" - Rihanna ft. Chris Brown. Yeah, I know, a lot of people really hate the fact that they collaborated, but I have to say, this is a gritty, gritty song to get down to. I could probably dance to it all night, and I can't tell you how many "cake cake cake" references I've made since this came out last month.

3. "Crystallize" - Lindsey Stirling. This is probably one of the most epic songs I have ever heard (well, not EVER, but lately). It's just a straight up violin with backdrops of wub-wub dubstep. Such beauty with such grit ... it's like a character. It just goes to show you that not everything is black and white. Would YOU have ever expected the two together? I think not, sirs and madams.

4. "Never Grow Up" - Taylor Swift. This reminds me of a few of my characters. I won't go into too much detail, but it definitely has to do with growing up (shocker). It's probably not as cute and simple as what T-Swizzle coos about, but it's definitely along the same lines.

5. "Blue Jeans" - Lana Del Rey. Pure darkness. That is all. If I focused on love and lost relationships and crazy people in my "Airilie" story more, this would be my go-to song. But as it were, I don't. Instead, this has inspired a shorter story of mine. I tend to write short stories that are character pieces, and then my novels are definitely more story-driven. Anyway, hopefully I get to that story ...

So, that's it! I hope that everyone checks out these songs and finds something that they like! Since this is my first one, everyone will probably think I'm this "pop" kind-of guy, but that's not entirely true. Give me like 3 or 4 of these things, and then you'll get a good sense of what I like (hint: it's everything that ever existed). Let me know what you think of the songs. Comment below. Promise I'll respond back. Like I said, I don't bite ... hard.

Vliar Excerpt

 Here is an excerpt from my "Airilie" novel. This is probably one of the most visceral things I've ever written. Comments and thoughts?      

"Suddenly he thrust forth and was atop Flynn, who was kicking and screaming – begging. But there was a ripping sound, and suddenly he was silenced and the entrails of his throat were displaced and thrown aside. Mad with an unexpected rage that shot up from the very core, Vliar couldn’t stop himself as he continued to tear at the helpless man – a man that had now become a corpse. And there it was, after digging and scooping and dirtying his hands with crimson, his prize, the curse and affliction that was his plague: the heart. The hunger he had quelled for what seemed like an eternity burst from his stomach upwards until he was salivating. Was this why he had kept hearing the heartbeat? It seemed so natural, so instinctive to eviscerate this body and retrieve the life-giving organ. It was nourishment for the soul – no, he had no soul now; it was nourishment for the body and the body only.  And as he ate it, quashed the meat in his mouth, ecstasy like a star burst rushed through his body as though it was the blood he no longer had coursing through his veins. He felt alive.

 Corpron stood there, too shocked to move. He wanted desperately to pull out his sword, restore balance, order to the scene before him, but such primal blood-lust froze him with fear.

And then Vliar, too, looked down upon the body – his victim – and the primal instinct embedded within his brain was replaced with reasoning. His eyes widened. Horror pulsed through him, replacing the ecstasy. His hands were coated with sweltering red guilt. He cowered away from the body on all fours, sliding to the corner of the room. Rocking back and forth, he muttered strange syllables, the likes Corpron had never heard before. And then something coherent: “Save me, Corpron. I don’t know what’s happening to me.”

But it was all too late, for then Corpron became the next victim in a string of unforgivable transformations and deaths that tore away at the very foundations of humanity."

March 19th and other things

So, today is one of those days when you are so bored that you find a new hobby or something. And I can't find a new hobby, so instead I write a blog post.

Like I said, I have nothing going on in my life.

Well, tomorrow I have a DMol meeting with the counselor person. I will talk to him/her and see what I can do if I have this surgery this summer (which is pretty much a given that I will). I will be double majoring (I think I mentioned that already), but I don't know what other degree to get. Plus, I'd have to do speech, and I will kill myself if I have to take another speech class. I seriously hate speech with a passion. It might even be the only reason I DON'T do a double major. Yeah.

Let's seeeee ...

Oh, writing. I plan on doing that today as well. I have been a little caught up with some things (like the prospect of surgery as well schooling and, shamefully, pokemon tower defense) to get on that. But I promised myself today I will. I mean, I even did homework waaaaaaay ahead of time!!! That's not like me at all. I really, really, really, really want to get done with this Airilie story and get to the next "chapter" of it, so to speak. Can't wait for what's in store. Also, definitely have to fine tune some things, but I have a friend currently working on that. Her input is golden. Hope she's gotten a little further in the correction process.

Reading: I'm currently reading a book called "The End of Alice" for my class. It's rather disturbing, and fairly interesting. I'd recommend it, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart.

Not sure what else to say. Like I said, not much going on right at this moment. Well, off to procrastinate, collect my thoughts, and then begin writing. Perhaps I'll post a cool little excerpt later. I haven't done that in a very, very long time. Well, 2 weeks. But still.

St. Patrick's Day

Let me start this blog off right: I HATE St. Patrick's Day.

Yup. You read that right. And no, my language was not harsh. I could go a lot harsher, but I reserve that for my birthday, which holds a special place of complete contempt in my heart.

"Why?" might you say. "Why hate this holiday?"

Because of pricks, that's why.

Yes, I'm Irish, but by a small margin that seriously might not even be considered Irish at all. I am more middle European (from Bohemia, and if you don't know what that is, think gypsy country, but now extinct), with some northern such as Denmark and Sweden (I take pride in the Swedish part). But yes, there is some Irish in there. In fact, I believe that I am like most people in America. Most Americans (and I do generalize quite a bit, because I just know that someone is going to hit me back with a statistic on how only 40% of Americans are actually part Irish and blah blah blah go awaaaay), are only a small part of Irish. I don't think I've yet met someone who was 50% or more Irish. This holiday is supposed to be for people who have Irish heritage. And yes, even though you do have SOME Irish in you, in my eyes, it's not really enough to be considered Irish.

Hell, do any of you people actually know what St. Patrick's Day is all about? It was about how a man (shockingly named St. Patrick) brought Christianity to Ireland.

I bet there are some atheists out there freaking out now and trying to take off their green. Or they're too drunk to do it.

Fun facts about St. Patrick: the legend goes that he banished snakes from Ireland while on a fast. He also used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (which is why the shamrock is a symbol for this day; previously, however, it was a pagan symbol in early Ireland that represented immortality/eternal life). AND he also spoke with ancestral warriors who could not have possibly been still living.

Bet you guys didn't know that, huh?

Want to know why you guys don't know that? This is the part that really gets me.

BECAUSE EVERYONE TURNED IT INTO A TIME WHERE ALL YOU DO IS GET DRUNK.

There is no praising St. Patrick and his accomplishments, and if there is, then it's in a drunken stupor to say, "hey man, thanks for this wonderful day of beer where it's beer and beer and socially beer acceptable to drink beer ... beer."

No. Just no.

See, the problem is is that I'm not really just analyzing St. Patrick's Day as well. I'm lamenting the sad state of all holidays. They have been overly commercialized and have far strayed from their original meanings.

Go ahead; get drunk. Just understand WHY you are instead of just doing it because you can. In all honesty, today IS supposed to be a day of celebration (per the Catholic religion dictates). I just don't find it acceptable to do so without actually understanding the history and reasoning. Especially if you aren't Irish. That's what really irks me: not being Irish and "celebrating" just because you can. Or people that are all like, "Man, I'm sooooo Irish" and it's like, yeah, you are, but only 5%, and when else do ever mention your Irish heritage except for today?

And while I'm thinking about it, what's with the people that always ask: "Why aren't you wearing green?" and then they poke you, or pinch you, or whatever the stupid "punishment" is. Uhm, maybe because I'm not Irish? (Like I said, I am, but there are lots of people who aren't, so why would they be forced to wear green? Think about it.)

 And then last night I was talking to a friend, and she said, "I'm getting a whole bunch of alcohol right now for the special occasion. Preparation. It beings." And I asked: "For what?" And she as like "St. Patrick's Day tomorrow! Omg how did you not know that?"

... Seriously? You're going to inquire as to why I don't know what day it is tomorrow when all you are going to do is tell me about how you are going to abuse alcohol for a holiday that you have no idea why you are actually celebrating?

Please.

So, the point of this is to not be a downer. I'm all for a party and celebration and what not. But it's for the right reasons, not this crappy over-commercialization aspect.

asdfghjkl;'

Yes, that title is pretty much my finger going over every single key on the middle row of letters.

Anyway.

Today is a writing day for me. I plan on doing some homework later today because the prof said to get it done pretty early and not wait until the last minute. Normally all profs say that, but I believe this one. He has the most difficult test/quizzes/exams/homework. I got a B on his last exam, and I was actually pretty happy with it. I took one of his classes last semester, and pretty much you need to regurgitate EVERYTHING he says in order to get full points. It's kind of awful.

So. Today I will be finishing up a chapter of my "Airilie" novel. Super excited for this one. I don't really know how I'm going to approach the chapter afterwards, however. I actually had this plan where the characters go off and stop something (I'm being extremely vague for a reason), but my novel is already over 100,000 words. I read that most fantasy novels (especially from unestablished writers such as myself), should not aim for more than 125,000 words, 150,000 at most (even for 150,000 words most authors/publishers shy away from that). If I do this side-quest type thingy, then it will for sure put me over 125,000 words, and the total novel will probably be over 150,000.

I know it seems easy to just say "don't go there." But you have to realize that these characters have formed into real people in my mind. They have a sense of extreme justice. I can't envision them not going.

Oooooh the trials of being a tortured writer.

I also read that authors should not plan on sequels and movie deals and who plays the characters and what not. To be honest, I have not even thought about any of those at all, except for perhaps sequels, but only because I'm finding it impossible to say everything I want in one book (so in other words, it's a series). I used to be one of those people that thought They just want the money; that's why they have 5 books when it could have been condensed to 3. I literally don't believe that anymore.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I am thinking that I have to write a series. To be honest, this book I have is . . .  okay, let me back up. You know how The Hobbit is one book, and then The Lord of the Rings has 3 books in that series? That's sort of how I feel this is ending up. This particular story is like a prequel to a MUCH BIGGER happening later on.

I seriously didn't plan it like this ... It just ... did.

Anyway, I need to get on to finishing this story. But for now, lunch, and then I'm not sure what. Woohoo.

On Names Pt. 2

So, I love how I said that I was going to do the part about names I hate "sometime later this week" on my last post, and it ends up being the next day. Anyway, doesn't really matter; I was going to get to it eventually.

So, to continue where I last left off. There are certain names that I just can't stand. I think we all have that feeling sometimes when someone tells you their name, or you overhear one, and you think to yourself, "Ew. Really? I feel bad for you. . . ." We can't help it. It's human nature to like some things, and dislike others.

Anyway, as a creative author of the fantasy genre, I find myself creating odd names (re: last post). As mentioned also, I do like a lot of pretty mundane names as well, so I'm not incredibly blinded by my ignorance . . . just a little.

I enjoy names that sound like they come from the 1920s, '30s, or around that era. Margaret, Mitchell, Joshua (Not "Josh," I do actually like the full name), etc.

It's so strange how names morphed from the previous decades to this current one. Biblical names seemed to be the hot commodity "back then," and still they are pretty prevalent today, but more and more kids are being named something extremely unique. Like actually being named "Unique" (FYI, don't name your kid Unique).

And it's not like I completely dislike that. Like I said earlier, I make up my own names all the time. It's just . . . some of those names are so strange. They are portmanteaus of their mother's and father's names. So if the child born is a girl and the the mother's name is Becky, and the father's is Shawn, the child might be named "Beshawny."

WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD NAME THEIR KID THAT?!

Excuse me as I do my deep breathing exercises. 

...

Done.

Anyway, as a writer, I tend to stray away from portmanteaus of names. They just don't ever come out right. And maybe that's just my preference (actually, it IS just a preference. But it's a pretty darn good preference if you ask me). I know that that sort of name is supposed to be a "tie" to the parents. And as cute as that sounds, it's just that I feel like you are holding back your child from certain aspects of life. The problem with society and culture today is that we are constantly trying new ways of being our self and expressing who we really are. There is nothing wrong with that by any means. But also as a culture, we were always, and will continue to be always, extremely judgmental of others. If I were an employer and I saw such a strange name, I would immediately (and begrudgingly so) think bad thoughts of that person before I even met him/her.

... How did a talk about names I dislike somehow morph into this attack on names and society?

Anyway. I think the point I was trying to make with that is that when I create a name, I try to have it fit the story, but also be respectful and not completely wacky at the same time. There's an "air of Latin" to my names. In other words, strange, but it looks good, and sounds good.

I'm actually a huge fan of changing around spelling of a name. But there are tacky ways that it can be done, and there are definitely great ways it can be done to enhance a name. Sometimes it's better to add letters to a name than take them away. An example: Jessie looks weird spelled Jessi (I know, only one example).

I think that this is all I have to say right now. Keep in mind, my ideas and thoughts are ALWAYS changing. Right after I publish this, I may just change my thoughts on a number of these things. But also keep in mind that a lot of beliefs take several years to change. For example, I once hated the name Sebastian, probably since 8th grade when I first saw a book and wanted to read it, but couldn't pick it just because the main character's name was Sebastian (I know, shallow, right?). Well, just recently, I've gained an affinity for the name. It took like 6ish years, but I can finally appreciate it.

Anyway, so don't take what I say as the golden standard: it's not by any means. It's an opinion at one moment in time. Who knows what one's beliefs are in the next few seconds?

Certainly not I.

On Names

I didn't really plan on doing this until someone asked me how I picked out the names that I use in my stories. It got me thinking. I wonder how a lot of other writers pick out names for their characters. So, in response to that, I am writing this (hopefully short) response.

Most of the names I actually use come straight from my thoughts. Seriously. I just pick out what letter I want the name to start with, and then I just put different sounds together. If it sounds like something that fits, I use it. Rarely have I ever gone back and changed the name of a character (Although I did in my Airilie story ... His name was "Lee," and then I decided to change it to "Reed" for absolutely no reason whatsoever).

An aside to that is this: I once read that Stephenie Meyer changed a bulk majority of her "Twilight" characters' names, so much so that when she wrote the first few drafts, she would get calls from the people editing saying, "Who the hell is this? He just randomly appears." And then she'd explain.

(I know. A "Twilight" reference. That's two now. Hate me yet?)

The fact of the matter is this: there is actually a lot of conscious thought that goes into picking a name out. We don't just go for "the pretty sounding word." And sometimes, for purely editorial/appeal concerns, the names of certain places and characters have to change. So to the world, a character might be known as "Bob," but to the author, he will always be known as "Jim." And so we type "Bob" down when writing, but sometimes a "Jim" slips in there. We can't help it. Now, I'm not sure if this is totally true (same for the above reason), because I've never been edited, but sometimes a name just doesn't fit and that's why it has to change, but that doesn't mean the first-called name doesn't stick with the writer forever.

Sometimes I'd overhead a conversation, or watch television and they'd say a name that sounded great and had a ring to it.

However, there are also times when deliberately picking out the name to mean something must be done, aka not just putting stuff together to make it sound good. you know, actual research. I like to go to http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/ to look up the etymology of the names, meanings, and how popular the name is in the world. Also, the Social Security Administration keeps records on the most popular names of the year (like the top 100 of both boys and girls), and I believe it goes back well into the 1930's, if memory serves me correct.

Most characters I write, however, are in need of a completely made-up name; not just because I love seeing people struggle with pronunciation, but because, well, I write fantasy. It's my job to think creatively. That does not mean, though, that I don't like original, worldy names as well. In fact, I'm quite partial to old-fashioned names. Jasper, Casper, Gretchen (yes, seriously), etc. In fact, I plan on my first child's name to be something completely quote-unquote normal, if not mundane and trite.

That said, whenever I come across a name that I really like, I have a document that I have open at all times, and I place the name in there for future use. Perhaps I'll never use that name, or perhaps the next character that enters my realm calls for one of those names (or maybe even a different one altogether!). Who knows? It just has to fit the character.

And then there are names that I just can't stand. And that, my friends, is a completely different post. In fact, I'll rant about it probably sometime later this week.

Getting the hang of it

Seriously, I've posted 3 days in a row now. I'm doing pretty awesome at this whole blogging thing.

Anyway, today, since I have very, very little to do, I plan on writing a bit to my Airilie novel. Finally! So excited to get back to Eaghan, and Saoirse and all that. Don't tell, but someone major and important is going to die. Yeah. It just got real.

Later, or perhaps before I write, I will do the online quiz I didn't do today. Ugh. I really need to get on that. It's not due until next Monday though, so I'm still ahead of the time, like, majorly, but I hate having this whole entire thing just hanging over my head saying, "Tyler, do it. Doooo itttttt."

I also plan on going to Qdoba's today for lunch. That place is full of so much win. I get the same thing every darn time I go there. Because it's delicious. And because no one else ever tells me to get something different. And because I don't know why else, but you have to believe what I said previously.

Perhaps I'll do some reading as well. Get back into my "The Swan Thieves" that I started over break. Ugh. I bought that book like 2 years ago and just never got around to reading it. It's an okay book, just not usually up my repertoire that I normally read. I obviously most like to read what I write, although a fun fact is that I don't really read much sci-fi, but have extreme sci-fi undertones in my work. And strangely enough, my favorite novel is considered the first sci-fi novel EVER. I'm quite strange.

I shaved last night and accidentally cut myself (like usual). The only reason I mention this is because right now that cut is sort of -what's the word? - pulsing. Like, I can feel it. It's bothersome.

Okay, well now I must get back into this writing thing, and whatever else it was that I planned on doing today. American Idol is on tonight. Perhaps I'll blog about that later. I'm not sure. Probably not. I'll forget.

DMOL

So, just got wind of some bad news.

If I take my surgery during the summer, fall, or winter of this coming year, it's going to put me back a whole year no matter what. I pretty much have to have the surgery next summer in order to not be put behind. Sigh. Nothing ever works out for me.

So, what I was thinking about doing was double majoring. Like, take a semester off and then come back and take classes that apply to my other major (because I pretty much am already accepted into the DMOL program anyway and have all that stuff done), then by the time I leave Ferris, I'll be all set and ready to leave with one degree under my belt! Woohoo!

I wish it were that exciting. Lol moment.

Anyway. I have been doing some thinking. Isn't it strange to completely love somebody and want to be with them, and then it's like things fall apart and that person is then a stranger to you? It makes me sad. I read that Tauruses are the kind of people that make a friend and never let go - Yeah, that shiz is so true. I still talk to all of my old high school friends, with the exception of one, because no matter how much I try to talk to her, she just never responds back. I love seeing people change. Although sometimes it makes me sad to know they aren't heading in the right direction. Or maybe it's not a bad direction, it's just not a direction I thought they would take in life. Anyway, I say this because I find myself thinking at night about love and life and what people mean to me. How my life would be different without certain people there. And in all honesty, I got pretty melancholy over a select few people not being there, even though they now have reduced roles in my life. I hope that one day they will play a bigger part of my life like I want them to. But who knows until it really happens? No matter how many times I beg and plead with them to come back, it doesn't mean a thing. They have to do it for themselves, not for me. And I understand that. It would make me sad that they wouldn't want to be in my life like I wanted to, but I would understand it and wish them all the happiness in the world -- because they deserve it.

I said "sad" like 5 times in that paragraph. I need a new word.

Anyway, that's all I have for the day. I'm going to play some video games now. Just got done with an online quiz that I honestly probably didn't do very well on, but that's okay, because one is dropped at the end of the semester. I have one more online quiz to do, but I'll save that for later tonight. "New Girl" is on tonight. Totally in love with that show.

I need to get to bed earlier tonight. This time change is screwing up my sleeping schedule. I have been up until 1:30 AM the past few nights (which was originally 12:30 AM). I wish I lived in Texas or something where they didn't have those time shifts (or do they? I don't really know. I think Florida did when I was there for Easter once ...).

Okay. For real. I'm getting off. Watch me.

Two in one day?!

Yup. I'm posting again. Although admittedly the first post was an excerpt of my space opera idea. I don't know if I'm ever going to continue with it, but if I do, I'll be sure to say so. So, if you like what you read there, tell me! It might actually sway me to continue. Dooooo ittttt.

I'm currently watching "100 Greatest Women in Music (from the past 20 years)" and I have to say it reminded me of a lot of awesome songs that I forgot about. Jewel, TLC, etc. So many awesome songs.

Dooooooooon't go chasin' waterfaaaaaalls!

............... Anyway.

Today I watched Fringe. I love that show with a passion. I'm on the last disc of season 3. Ugh. What am I supposed to do until season 4 comes out?! Nothing, that's what.

Mac and cheese was for dinner; sad thing is, I had it for lunch today, and dinner last night as well. Yeah. Mac and cheese overload. It happens.

I'm in a Lady Gaga mood. That also happens.

Okay, I'm starting to ramble ... I didn't really have much to say, I guess. But, eh. The point of a blog isn't really to have much to say besides what enters your mind at any given moment, and that's totally what happened just now.

Space Opera Excerpt

His fingers glided across the trackpad as he input the passcode for the door.

A robotic feminine voice called out his name: “Glion Bernathen.”

“Correct,” he droned, and then the same voice indicated that it was analyzing Glion’s tone before the door suddenly slid open.

The room was freezing. Glion was immediately reminded of the ice planet Zarath XII and shuddered. That was a place he cared to never return to once more. He looked back and called someone forward with his hands.

In bobbled in two people, each holding the end of an object that was swathed in cloth. Their heaving breaths seemed to crystallize in the air. They set the precious cargo down gingerly and began to unwrap it. The cloth unraveled, Glion took a step forward.

Staring into his eyes was a pair of green eyes, the hue of which Glion thought of as pine. They shifted back and forth, wide, as though fearful. The eyes belonged to a human girl. She could be no older than ten, but Glion did not want to produce his Analyzer and find out. He felt a pang of guilt stabbing at his heart, but he reminded himself to resign his sentiments.

If I were her, I’d be afraid, too, he thought, and that was that.

“Hello,” said Glion, falling to his knees. “You will be staying here for a bit. I hope you don’t mind. We saved you from them, and we just want to do what’s best.”

The mouth of the girl did not move; it stayed transfixed, as though the cold from the room froze it in place – but Glion knew that this was not true. The girl had been given a shock treatment that paralyzed everything but a few fine motor functions. Speaking was not one of the functions saved.

“We will take very good care of you here. Now, you know that you aren’t completely out of the clearing yet, right?” He did not wait for an answer. “But you soon will be. We are working very hard at that here on the Falcotrix. So, you must go away for a little bit, but don’t worry. You will be free in a few months to, oh, a few years, okay?”

The girl’s eyes widened even more. Glion knew what she was thinking – years?

“You will be good as new, and then you will be able to live life as it was intended, free of harm and safe and with your family.” He pursed his lips. He wondered if she already knew that there were no detectable signs of life left in that city. That bastard destroyed everything to get to her. “Now, up you go.” And then he picked her up, and the girl’s golden blonde hair hung down to the floor like a waterfall. He placed her in a tubular bed and then smiled – he faked it, but it was a smile nonetheless. Then he pressed the button and a film of thin glass rotated around from the bottom of the bed and fell seamlessly in place, enclosing the child. His hand on the button, he thought about how the child would soon be free from the shock treatment; but that wouldn’t matter. By the time it wore off, she would be frozen in place, pristine, for she was lying in a cryochamber.

“Welcome, Number 3,” he said beneath his frozen breath and then pressed the button.

Today

So today is my last day of break. I headed home, and now I'm just sitting here in my apartment, alone. Watching "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

Today, on my way home, I had a great idea for a story. Okay, well, I lied. More like last night. But I developed it on the ride back to my apartment (I know, probably not safe).

Anyway, don't want to say TOO much, because what's the fun in that? It's going to be like a space opera type story. More sci-fi than I'm used to doing, but not completely out of the question. I don't really want to break ground in the business; I just want to flesh out a great story with great characters. I'm more for the entertainment value of books.

So. Not much else to say. I'm going to watch "Desperate Housewives" tonight. Someone is going to die! Kind of excited - in a morbid way, that is.

Well, that is all. Woohoo. I'm just so exciting. . . .

Short Story Contest

So, I'm just sitting here on the bathroom floor. I have no idea why. There are plenty of other much more comfortable place. But alas, I'm on a tile floor next to the toilet, which smells neither of filth nor cleanliness. Odd.

Anyway, rambling aside, the dog is in the kitchen, sleeping. I'm supposed to be watching her. I will after this post. I'm going to Buffalo Wild Wings today and to see Ashley and then watch a movie afterwards. I just recently sent out my short story to her for correction. I'm super excited because I rather like this story.

Anyway, to give some information on it, I'm not even sure how this story came about. It just ... appeared. Then again, don't most great stories? Stephenie Meyer, of Twilight fame, claimed that the scene where Bella and Edward are in the forest lying there, him glittering away, came in a dream. I'm wondering if she created him from imagination, or she actually saw his face before. I read somewhere that the brain can not make up a face in a dream, you have to have seen it somewhere: in passing, every day, etc. So, if she didn't see it in real life, she must have created it from thought. But if she didn't know who he was until that dream, then that means an ACTUAL EDWARD exists.

Just a passing thought.

Anyway, tangent aside, I sent my story off. It's more or less a comment on the modernized society and how most people never seem to "stop and smell the flowers," or they are too caught up to try something new. I'm a lot like this man, whom I named Sam, in some regards. I'm not very adventurous unless it comes to food. but Sam isn't adventurous in that regard, either. He's very strictly regulated by time. I think that people should really enjoy life, because once it's gone, it's gone. Anyway, Sam doesn't even seem fazed that there is anything wrong. In fact, it's as if all emotional attachment is to time. Everything slowly falls around him, but he's so caught up in himself and time and managing it, that he fails to keep up relationships and enjoyment.

Anyway, I didn't mean to pretty much give you the synopsis of my story. In fact, I may have just ruined it for you all. But, oh well, the people who will be reading it don't even have a blogger account, and it's not as if more than 2 or 3 people read this anyway. So. I'm safe for now.

Well, I must attend to the dog and continue to get ready for the day. She's cute, but that cone ... I call it the Cone of Shame, and every time I walk by her I whisper "shaaaaaaaame." I'm sure she hates me now.

Oh. Yeah.

Forgot to mention. I'll post an excerpt later in the week. I feel bad I haven't done so lately. I just was so busy this past week with exams. I actually did pretty good on them, so no complaints. I suppose that means now I have to actually study, considering it works (who would have thought?).

So. I'll get around to it, readers, whomever you may be.

Tender is the Night ... Well. Morning. Afternoon?

Like I said, I knew I was going to be god-awful at writing and keeping up with this blog. It's just not my thing. I have to literally push myself to write on it. I even forget about it until my friend reminded me that I had one last night because she has one. So. Ugh. Promise I'm trying to keep up!

On a different note. Today I'm taking care of my mom's dog, Onna. There's supposed to be two dots over the "O," but I'm too lazy to copy and paste that type of "O" in here. She's right now attacking my computer bag. She has a cone over her head so she doesn't bite at the stitches. Poor girl had her uterus taken out.

Let's see here ... Writing.

Yes, that small thing.

I'm currently writing a short story for a contest at Ferris. I'd like to tell everyone I know who's a writer to get involved, but it's only open to Ferris students, and sadly, I know like no other Ferris students who are writers. It's sad being in a scientific program. I feel like my creativity is stifled because I'm surrounded by "exact" people, if you know what I mean. More of the analytic kind, as opposed to creative. I, however, feel creative everywhere. In fact, I love that I am in a science program; it easily influences me. But I doubt any one else appreciates science like I do in that program. They view it as just that - science - opposed to me, science and creativity. In other words, being creative isn't welcome in this program. Oh, the joys of being left and right-brained.

Ah well. Not like it's really just that big of a deal. It was just a small observation.

Okay,  think that that is all I have to talk about right now. I need to get back into my writing and taking care of the dog. Oh, and listening to Adele. If you ever want to write about a break-up, listen to  the "21" album by Adele. Guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings. Currently playing: "One and Only."

Peace and stuff.