Not Enough Hours in the Day

I believe 'Not Enough Hours in the Day' will be the montra for this semester. I seem to be incredibly pressed for time lately: not only in trying to accomplish all my required school, but also having some liesure time. There has to be some kind of fun throughout the day, otherwise one gets in a bad mood. Or, I get in a bad mood. Like today.
I woke up not really in a bad mood, just a bit out of sorts. I wasn't my usual perky self. Well, I insisted that I would just shake out of it as the day went by but when it hit 1:30 and it had yet to shake out, I made a big decision. I would put off my school to take a nap. I set my alarm to go off after a half hour of sleeping 'cause I knew I'd fall asleep fast. Well, my alarm went off, and I cracked my one eye open enough to shut it off. I awoke for real when Mom came home.

(My dream was that Dad had gotten home from one of his work-related road trips at midnight. We'd all gone outside to help his unload the car when he found a small kitten in the front yard. It's body was clear and it's head was blue and around it's neck were this wavy/spiky things like a lion's mane. Well, we took it into the garage and it talked to me and told me not to pet it 'cause the wavy things would give off an electric shock. Well, the "next morning," there was this random girl staying with us who everybody seemed to know but I knew that it was the kitten changed into a girl. I asked her her name when we were alone...and I woke up.) Why couldn't have told me her name faster?!?! But, an incredibly weird dream.

My reading has been lagging behind because of the limited time and having to choose what I do. Still, I'm trying to get through a book called Crossed. It's the sequel to Matched which is a fairly popular trilogy which the third book has yet to be released. For any of you who read The Giver, Matched was a good deal like that and so was a bit boring because it seemed like I'd read everything already. However, about half-way through Matched, it got much better and ended really well. Crossed has been excellent so far. It would probably have already been finished but...you know why.

My classes are going fairly well. At the college I'm taking, Algebra, History 2, and Eng. 2. History is fairly uneventful but the teacher, while a bit strange, is 10,000 times better than my Hist. 1 teacher. Algebra is more enjoyable than I expected, so that's a plus. My Eng. class is pretty funny though. I have the same teacher as 1, because I thought she was great. Well, she's still great but the funny part comes from the reading assignments. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've had to read! And, really, there's nothing technically funny about them, but it's because they contain such random, creepy, and inappropriate stuff that makes me laugh.

Recently, I watched two movies at the Drive-In theatre that's in Tomball (The Showboat Drive-In). My family really enjoys going because it's $5 for two movies, and it's an altogether different experience than simply going to a regular theatre. The movies that we saw were Joyful Noise and War Horse, both new to us. We'd heard so many good reviews about War Horse that our high hopes fell quite a bit as we were confused. In fact, I was bored through a good portion of the movie: the portion that I wasn't crying heavily in, that is. Joyful Noise was unexpectedly hilarious. There was a little more language than I would've liked, and one REALLY random and slightly creepy story bit that if you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about. Still, it was a really fun movie.

Analyzing myself

Every once in awhile, Kathryn and I will have deep discussions. Shocking, I know. Still, it's true. Well, in the discussion of tonight I happened upon something about me that I hadn't really thought about before. It's no secret that I talk constantly, without breathing, without letting anyone else speak. I have endeavored to rein in this chatter because people who talk like that to me...bother me. And while I've improved to some extent, I still have miles to go.
Anyway, the interesting fact I happened upon was the reason for my ceaseless talking. I want to share. I have so many stories about my life, about other people I know, about things I've read...I just have stories swimming around in the ocean of my mind, and I want to share them with people. I want others to live my experiences, to know what I know, to see what I see. When I stand amidst conversation, hundreds of stories pop up that relate to something that was just said. I open my mouth to share my experiences that "of course others want to know," and that's when I realize that I need to not hijack the convesation. This is someone else's chance to tell their stories, and they have just as many as I do.
The irony is what I am, and what I wish to be. I am a writer and wish to be a published author. I have stories in my head that I want to share with others. In my novels, I have full reign of the conversation. I can talk as much as I wish through my characters. I can express my views. I can share my experiences, my feelings, my ideas.
In the back of my mind, I always know that God is perfect. I know He has a perfect plan for my life, but once and awhile (as in tonight) something will hit me with the "perfect-ness" of God. He gave me an urge to share my life and my stories and then gave me a gift to express this urge. We are the children of a marvelous god. I am the child of the Almighty who knows me inside and out and has chosen to allow my passion to seep into multiple areas of my life.

Ripples

Another stab at random poetry. Enjoy!

Just a touch

Tiny impression

Spreading outward

Wrinkles growing

Interlocking spheres

Twisted patterns

Ripples

---

Just a touch

Tiny impression

Brushing heart

Gentle words

Lasting thoughts

Building feelings

Ripples

I Shall Endeavor

A fellow blogger and friend, Bethany, posted not too long ago saying that she was going to try to get into a routine of blogging once a week. This intrigued me greatly as I really love blogging but never seem to get around to it. So, thanks to Bethany, I shall endeavor to blog once a week.
After a not very good yesterday from many varrying things, I was hoping for a good day today. Well, after dreaming that I rode on a tractor over bleachers to get a look at Brad Pitt on his farm....and then I was in a dark building with about 30 others while someone chanted the intro to The Twilight Zone, I thought it would be at least a funny day. I know, I know, my dreams are the worst!!!
So, my day was going well: school playing out easily, a good lunch, watched an episode of N: LA. For those of you who don't know, that's my own personal abbreviation for the TV show NCIS: Los Angeles. See why I shorten it? Well, I'm pretty obsessed over NCIS at the moment but decided to watch an N: LA episode since I'd only seen one other of those. Like I said, stuff was going well.
Que computer malfunction. Que the loss of my recent revisions in my Nano book. Yeah, plummit to the afternoon right there. I still quite understand what happened 'cause even going into the Recycle Bin couldn't retrieve it. I mean, it's not the end of the world because I still have the whole file. Believe me, that would be the absolute worst! Still, I'd just finished revising a really difficult section that was driving me crazy. I was so happy with the new product, of how I'd ironed out all the problems, and how much better it flowed. Now, I'm back to where I was. Needless to say that after this, I will be meticulous with making sure everything is saved properly in light over another glitch.
So, I'll be working on making up the lost revisions soon because I've decided to enter my manuscript in a competition. Click Here: http://www.amazon.com/b?node=332264011 It sounds super cool, but I need to finish the revisions in ten days and that's a pretty quick to revise, roughly, 40,000 words.
Our next door neighbors are holding a garage sale tomorrow, and we're carting over the things we're scrounging up to get some quick quarters. :) It's rather fun to rifle through the things you own and say, "Why do I still have this? **tosses item in sell pile**
Side note: Don't you think "I shall endeavor" is a cool quote? I think so. I think it can be applied to everything. In another sense, it's simply "I'm going to try," but "I shall endeavor" just sounds so much cooler.

To the Asphalt

For quite awhile I've been a bit uncontent with my body. It's not like I hate it or anything. There are just some areas that I would like to change. A week ago, I decided that the only way to make that change was to start exercising. So, that's what I did.
I woke up, donned my sweatshirt and gym-shoes, and hit the road alternating between jogging and walking. (Side note: whenever I work out, I wear shorts) Because of this attire, I was freezing. Well, I went out again the next morning and upon returning, I saw that my legs had a rosy glow. I promptly asked Mom if we could go and try to find some long work out pants. :)
For the next two morning, I jogged/walked, now clothed in long pants, a long sleeve shirt, jacket, gloves, and one of those headbands to keep my ears from having that rosy glow. Also, the cat that hangs around our house, Peter, followed me down the street like a little dog. He's so cute, and I enjoyed the company until he got scared by a car.
For Fri, Sat, and Sun, I took a break. However, this morning, I went back out to pound the asphalt with my shodden feet. (Is shodden a word? *shrugs* I like it anyway.) Peter took off with me again, but this time I'd also brought along my iPod. Yes, I had lots of fun going down the street with the brisk wind in my face and singing multiple Disney songs as loud as I wanted. I intend to go out tomorrow morning the same way.

"So hit the road...and DON'T trample the Pansies!" -- Father of the Bride part 2

What's Been Goin' On

     Whoah, my last post was the 2nd of November when Julianne was born! That month leapt away from me. It's hard to remember a lot of it. Thank goodness for my daily journal keeping!
Anyway, so I thought I'd come back to my loyal fans and let everyone know about what's been goin' on.
     The biggest news would have to be that...I finished my book for Nanowrimo!!!! **Runs around in tight circles while making "jazz" hands** Yeah, I'm kinda stoked about it. It's 45,969 words long which makes it the longest novel I've ever written. I wrote the whole thing in 30 days, and I finished it at 10: 30 at night...so I was cutting it close to the wire. The book, 'cause I don't remember what I've already told you guys, is entitled Elsewhere. It's really a hard story to lay out in a brief summary, though, so I won't try. It's definitely my best work as well as my favorite of what I've done! If any of you are interested in reading my book, just post on here; I'll add your name to my waiting list. (Yes, I do have a waiting list.) :D

     My niece is doing very well. Pictures are posted constantly on facebook, and she just gets cuter with each new one. I'm dying to see her and enjoy seeing the days roll by until I can meet Julianne. Here is a recent picture!  

     I'm really disappointed in myself at the moment. Usually, the Saturday after Thanksgiving every single Christmas item we own has been unwrapped and stashed somewhere. However, because of my writing so much, I knew nothing was going to happen until December 1st. Well, something else happened Dec. 1st, but I don't exactly rememeber. Anyway, it's now the 5th and not one thing is up in the house. I do have the outside lights up, but nothing inside. What makes it worse is that for years I get on people's backs for not being prompt in their decorating. This year, I've finally had to shut up and commend others for being dutiful. I might end up pulling out a few boxes of stuff tonight, but I doubt it. Oh well, we'll just have to squeeze a lot of holiday cheer into a small span of time.

     My choir that I've been a member of for five years gave it's Christmas Concert on the 2nd. It was really great, but sad because it's my senior year. Today was our Ministry Day where we go to nursing homes and sing them selections from our music. It was the probably the most fun I've had during the actual singing part.

     My school semester at the college is nearly completed. I have a week left of classes and then finals. AHHH! No, I'm fine. I'll be ready. It's not really stressful for me, 'cause I see it as just another test.

     For dinner, we're having Pulled Pork Sandwiches. Yum! It's soaked in root beer and "crock-potted" for several hours. Don't you love how I make up words? :D Oh, and there's coleslaw on the side, 'cause who can really eat Pulled Pork without coleslaw?

     I'm extremly happy with the weather right now. I prefer colder weather to warmer weather most of the time. I don't like freezing cold, but cold enough to pass off a scarf, hat, and coat down here is perfect for me. Again, most of the time. ;)

     I'm not really sure what else to say, but I promise to be a better poster and keep you up on life here. I would like to sprinkle some holdiay cheer into your mood right now and encourage all of you in your writing...even if you don't write. (You should!!!)

Julianne Helene is Here!!!!!!

Julianne Helene is here!
Wonder and Joy surround us.
Radiant sun streams from her smile;
Glorious Happiness squeezes out
from between Her tight shut eyes.
---
Julianne Helene is here,
unknowlingly the center of attention.
Endless, unbroken love winds around her.
Such a tiny infant,
Already so strong in her family.
---
Julianne Helene is here!
Excitement is at it's peak.
The precious girl is held in all our thoughts
As she's held in the arms of her parents.
Pure joy is the only emotion.
---
Julianne Helene is here!

7:28 am, 8bs, 11/2/11