tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755289191756420322024-02-19T18:05:42.175-08:00Big Myth We LiveHome of the Memoir Project • two aspiring authors on a mission to record the mundaneAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683363661775383474noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-21439345119312317252011-12-24T01:02:00.000-08:002011-12-24T01:02:12.279-08:00Thoughts on Facebook and People Needing to Grow UpI have always been really tolerant of people and their opinions. If they strongly believe in their religion, power to them. If one of my guy friends loves guys, power to him for being happy with who he is - self-acceptance FTW.<br />
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But what I don't have a tolerance for is people that come onto my Facebook wall when I've posted something and state their opinion so rudely. Congrats to the fact that they have an opinion, but did they ever listen to their mother? If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all.<br />
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Basically, this happened on my wall:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeK7D8VYxOeIGJ3e5C-LvWTBa3syc-x46vJm87wdIjaXlz641SyLCMHp54-3ZoNqlFJzM4LBcie0F-6u6Dxgmw3fUyvXnbFIT639rO60lvjKO9zrwnB5jRUJbPaEyMa0J6f-deZIr-OVX/s1600/Face+book+capture+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeK7D8VYxOeIGJ3e5C-LvWTBa3syc-x46vJm87wdIjaXlz641SyLCMHp54-3ZoNqlFJzM4LBcie0F-6u6Dxgmw3fUyvXnbFIT639rO60lvjKO9zrwnB5jRUJbPaEyMa0J6f-deZIr-OVX/s640/Face+book+capture+1.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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I'm glad Tyler is comfortable sharing his opinion. He's an adult and should be prepared for any consequences of this. However, he should also not be ignorant and at least put more understanding into what he's trying to state so poorly.<br />
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Yeah, I believe in God too. But I also believe that God loves everyone. I don't go around bible-thumping people with my beliefs. And the people that make all Christians look bad are the ignorant extremists that take things out of context and ignore the rest of the teachings. Acceptance and Love. But most of all love. Which of course makes me think of the whole "if he who has no sin shall cast the first stone" thing. <br />
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I support my friends that are in the LGBTQ community because they're my friends. It doesn't matter to me who you love. People should be more open minded. Every other creature on the planet has same-sex relationships, isn't it strange that humans are so against it when homosexuality is so natural?<br />
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Anyway... Tyler needs to grow up. What he did on my wall was immature and he should have just kept the comments to himself. He has obviously since been removed from my friends list and blocked. I toyed with the idea of reporting him, but knew that would be bad form.<br />
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Either way, people should be more accepting.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-88117276724033990842011-12-15T23:21:00.000-08:002011-12-15T23:21:41.452-08:00Thoughts on Disappointment, and Youtube Song!I really get tired of being rejected. It seems to be a major, reoccurring theme in my life.Yes, it's a terrible idea for me to be a writer if I don't like being rejected, but I file that under a different type of rejection.<br />
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But every time I try to better myself, my life, or my career, things never seem to go my way.<br />
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I don't know whether or not I'm just "doing" life wrong, or that I don't have any luck or good karma on my side, but obviously, someone karmically doesn't like me. I feel like I must have angered someone somewhere to make it so that nothing ever goes right.<br />
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And it's tough to look at rejection and try to move forward. Especially from something I so desperately want. All I've ever wanted was to have a normal life. A life where I didn't always have to work so hard and still get no where or at least have a bit of luck; enough luck and good things my way that I didn't doubt myself. At some point everyone at least gets a few good moments or things they can be proud of that keep them going.<br />
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But I'm running out of steam. It's hard to always have to pull myself up by my bootstraps and keep moving forward like I didn't just take a blow to my self-esteem. You'd figure that everyone would just suffer through these issues in middle and high school where we could all be miserable together. But no. Instead I support others and now feel somewhat on a cliffs edge now that I'm 21 and going through a lot of self-doubt. Now I'm starting to get tired of getting back on the horse and trying again.<br />
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Yes, everyone suffers some amount of disappointment, but it's just frustrating to have to go through so much of it all at once and never catch a break. /rant<br />
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I've been playing a lot of Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword recently. Besides it coming out a few weeks ago, it's one of the first Zelda games that has legitimately kept me playing. I hear a lot of complaints from a few people about it, but for some reason, there is something so magical about this franchise. And the soundtrack came with a lot of great songs from the series.<br />
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But I magically stumbled upon this on Youtube. I played percussion instruments in middle school and high school, and our dream was to always do something similar to this. Marimbas rock.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FWhOZM5WyPA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-30866643967499662562011-12-07T19:00:00.000-08:002011-12-07T19:00:47.049-08:00Thoughts on November's End, Anxious Days, Drink of the HolidaysWhen NaNoWriMo is over, I get really sad. I get so used to writing endlessly on my laptop, that when December rolls around, I have no idea what to do with myself when I sit at my laptop. It just feels so weird to think that this happens.<br />
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Sure, I start planning for next year - especially since it's a Post-Apocalypse novel - but I do that in notebooks and with some research. I don't sit and actually put a whole lot of physical words on the page.<br />
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So, now, here I am sitting with a few other members from my write-in, back at our coffee shop. We're mostly writing, or working on other projects. But we're getting together for the <i>community</i> of writers and the comradery of hanging out with fellow writers. I'm really glad this is continuing. It's a fantastic way to break up the week and just spend time relaxing somewhere in an environment that isn't my home.<br />
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All of my application stuff is turned in. I'm <i>so</i> anxious to get things in the mail. This is getting ridiculous. -___-<br />
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For most of NaNoWriMo, when I sat at Tully's, I'd get a specific drink. Normally I just get plain ol' hot chocolate. Nothing special and basically what I can make at home, only with chocolate sauce and steamed milk. But this year I started to get adventurous - at least for me.<br />
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So my drink of choice became a Grande Peppermint Hot Chocolate with Whip Cream and Peppermint sprinkles. BEST. IDEA. EVER.<br />
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Not to mention, it's weird that now I'm more interested in drinking peppermint and don't mind the taste so much. It used to be that it really bothered me because it was so strong. But now, I'm happy to have it included. I basically look forward to it.<br />
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Weird.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-81470883586327691662011-11-17T23:57:00.000-08:002011-11-17T23:57:16.467-08:00Thoughts on Write-ins (again), College Apps (some more ), and PlottingI've met a lot of great people this year at the local write-ins. Yeah, there have been quite a few that are utterly scary beyond all belief - but really, aren't all writers? However, there are some that truly take the cake.<br />
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I'm sure all writers are in their own way, socially awkward. Yet somehow, we get along with each other fantastically. It's always tough to find people in the "real world" that you can converse with about anything and everything, and it still all relates to writing. We all come from different walks of life, but we all hold the same passion for writing and creativity that we just click.<br />
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It's a surreal sense of camaraderie that you could only experience on sports teams, or basically any "team" situation. But it's why we're all drawn together like moths to a flame in order to converse about our stories, our characters, and this shared passion that is a complete opposite of our lives.<br />
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And here's to hoping it won't end come November 30th.<br />
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Everything has been mailed in on time. I've got nothing left to do now but wait and apply for scholarships.<br />
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There have been some exciting moments since the last envelope left my house. For example, I picked up the mail and found a large envelope from Emerson. Completely forgetting the date, I raced home and tore it open! Only to discover it was that brochure I had requested <i>months</i> ago. Well played, Emerson. Well played. You got my hopes up. <i>I see what you did there</i>.<br />
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So here I am waiting on pins and needles with so much anticipation, dread, worry, and everything you could think of, because I'm so nervous. Anxiously asking my mom every day if she got the mail or if I need to sprint in the rain to get it, is starting to annoy her. I can tell. But she understands my excitement and my need for wanting to know if I'm getting out of here or if I'm trapped in the land of perpetual rain forever.<br />
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Seriously. I can't believe I'm plotting for next year already. There's some amount of ridiculousness in the fact that I'm working on ideas for 2012. And perhaps the idea will never see more than my computer screen because the world is ending shortly after November 30, 2012. But it'll be worth it to write.<br />
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Over the years I've come up with several ideas to write about for NaNoWriMo. But not all have panned out or been worth while to plot. Among them are:<br />
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-Powerpuff girls meets the Disney Princesses, written as a novel where each chapter is an episode with an overall plot arch. Your same basic princesses with super powers and lots of awesome to be had.<br />
-Steampunk novel based off an epic dream I had. And no, this one does not include sparkles, vampires, or glitter of any kind. They are not allowed.<br />
-A roleplay idea from a few years ago. Narnia meets LotR with a dash of the modern world. Not to mention a crazy chef and lots of red hair.<br />
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So I've come up with some rather strange ideas. But that is what November is for. Next year will be the Post Apocolyptic novel of the century. Current title suggestion has been "Steel Rainbow." I'm still mulling it over.<br />
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But damn... it's too early to be plotting.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-69231022940597373972011-11-10T23:03:00.000-08:002011-11-10T23:03:16.930-08:00Thoughts on Write-ins, Shuffle, and Next YearIn previous years, I could never make it to a write-in. There were plenty of them out there, but I never had a means of traveling to them. This year I can finally drive to write-ins and hang out with fellow writers. There are definitely a lot of great people I've met so far.<br />
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That's the best part about NaNoWriMo. The community of it all. There's nothing more thrilling than writing during a word sprint and succeeding in getting the highest word count of the group. Well, not always. I have a terrible habit of backspacing and fixing the typos. Any writer does. So I've been adjusting to that while writing during sprints for 10 minutes. And wow, I can type really fast when need be.<br />
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But actually, I tend to type much faster when writing dialogue. Suddenly my story is full of ridiculous amounts of dialogue that has nothing to do with the plot. Thank you, brain.<br />
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And I'm getting a lot written in a write-in. Like, easily 3k in four ten-minute word sprints. It is truly awesome. What's even better, is that I don't realize how many words I've written until the night is over.<br />
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I didn't used to use shuffle when listening to music on Windows Media Player. Often times, I'd just listen to the list I'd made in order and do that over and over and over again. And yet now, I've found that shuffle does have it's good points.<br />
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So far, I've enjoyed getting random songs to come up that have something to do with my novel, or perhaps aren't right for the present mood.<br />
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A coworker started suggesting things that he was interested in me writing. Of the things he's read of mine, he really wanted to know what my take would be on a post apocalypse novel. And so now, I've been plotting the novel and figuring out what I should do and what I shouldn't do based on what's already been done.<br />
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Next year will be interesting.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-61166562829911649422011-10-30T18:17:00.000-07:002011-10-30T18:17:11.063-07:00Thoughts on Flash, NaNoWriMo, and Epic Halloween CostumeAs some of you know, I write a lot of flash fiction. In fact, I pretty much love the idea. But currently <a href="http://flashparty.weebly.com/index.html">Flash Party</a> isn't open for submissions - and hasn't been since the summer.<br />
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So I've been mulling over the idea of starting a flash fiction site. I like the idea of writing flash fiction and having somewhere to submit it to. I suppose the only problem would be I can't submit to my own site. That would be unfair.<br />
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But I would call it "Flash" and have the Queen song "Flash" playing in the background. Or at least in a small portion of the site. Tis just a dream though.<br />
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NaNoWriMo! Holy crackers it's nearly here. And this is the first year that I'm hosting a write-in at the nearby Tully's. I'm excited because there are a lot of write-ins to attend in the area. Mine on Wednesday and then the one at Panera on Thursday.<br />
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This is going to be a great year. My goal is 50,000 and an ending. The story must have an ending written or else I can not stop writing.<br />
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Time to build my playlist for this year!<br />
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This <a href="http://blastr.com/2011/10/pint-size-rocketeer-rende.php">kid</a> is my hero. And has inspired me to make my own Rocketeer costume for Sakura Con. Time to get working on that and Ash Ketchum.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-72489549236583230162011-10-19T00:04:00.000-07:002011-10-19T00:04:40.222-07:00Thoughts on Hope, Sites, and Lady Is A TrampI grew up attending church. In fact, it was common for me to attend every Wednesday and Sunday with my mom. Not to mention participate in various activities put on by different groups within the church body.<br />
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But as I got older, it became less and less a "thing" for me. It's not that I was sprinting away from the idea of a higher power. In fact, that is something I do still believe; along with the other morals I grew up with. However it's that I've been continuously losing faith in just depending on a giant spaghetti monster on the dark side of the moon that would answer my prayers. I'm not just going to sit around and wait for things to happen for me; instead, I'm much more of a do-er. I'd rather put my own effort behind what I want done than just have faith it will happen because of karma or blah blah blah.<br />
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However, the one thing I haven't lost, is hope. The idea that tomorrow will be a better day, or that things won't always be this hard financially. It's that silver lining or the light at the end of the tunnel -- and no, that's not a train. But it's seeing the glass as half-full instead of half-empty. It's all about staying optimistic and hopeful that another day will come and it will be brighter than the last.<br />
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I've been a member of <a href="http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/">Gamers With Jobs</a> for about four years. And yeah, it seems weird for a young woman like myself to be on a website outwardly deemed by many as a "sausage fest." But this is a website that I've felt a great sense of community. When they say it takes a village to raise a child, this is most certainly the village I would trust my kids to - if I had any.<br />
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But in comparison to many social sites where usernames abound and people chat away about the forums, this place is different. There's that sense of camaraderie; friendly compassion and support that you would really only think to find in close friends. However these people care about each other and the members of the website like we had all grown up together. Sure, there's site jokes, healthy competition and even requests for advice (which I've done a lot of), but it's more than that. We're involved and interested in each other's lives because we understand that on the other side of these monikers, is a human.<br />
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It's why I'm so happy to read a thread like <a href="http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/110057">this</a> in which one member comes out of the closet, and inspires another to do the same. Complete strangers able to help each other and support each other because they both want to be honest with themselves, their friends and their families.<br />
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Humanity can sometimes truly rock.<br />
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If you haven't given this a listen yet, please do. The song is fantastic, and it truly exhibits Lady Gaga's talents as an artist singing a true classic song.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZPAmDULCVrU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-89607000344244770602011-10-13T22:56:00.000-07:002011-10-13T22:56:46.921-07:00Thoughts on Anxious Waiting, Essays, and NovemberSorry for my serious lack of posts. I'm trying, but lately I've been super anxious.<br />
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Perhaps it's that the deadlines are approaching for all the applications. Basically everything is due November 1st. And I'm just frantically checking the Emerson application portal to make sure all that needs to be submitted is there. I'm ridiculous.<br />
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One of the applications I'm submitting, is for Emerson's Honors Program. So with that, I need to write an essay. And that makes me nervous. I love writing essays. I always have. They're thrilling to write and think about and plan. But I can't figure out why I'm struggling with choosing the right subject for this particular essay. Yes, I have a prompt. However it's so open-ended that I want to choose the right subject under that umbrella that it expresses what I need to express.<br />
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November is approaching, and I'm preparing for NaNoWriMo. This will be my 5th year, and it should be another great year. I'm going to try and participate in more write-ins, and just hang out with fellow writers.<br />
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It's true. The community of Seattle and just WriMo in general is amazing. I can't think of anything else I'd rather spend my November doing - Thanksgiving turkey aside.<br />
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So my goal this year is to once again reach/surpass 50,000 <i>and</i> write an ending for my story. In years past, I've written well past the average goal, but a lot of those stories weren't <i>finished</i>. I would just stop writing after getting to a basic stopping point, or where I had written myself into a corner and wasn't sure where to go. Hence the aforementioned goal.<br />
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Plus, the Seattle region <i>rocks</i> at WriMo. The goal is to make this be year 5 in which we pawn the entire world in both overall word-count, donations, and in individual word count. We've creamed cities that have challenged us, and <i>entire</i> countries.<br />
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Bring on November.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-20388608275361870412011-10-05T21:59:00.000-07:002011-10-05T21:59:38.858-07:00Thoughts on New Shows, Donating Books, Steve JobsNormally every season I find another show to add to the list I follow. Of course, I have my staples: <i>Castle</i>, <i>Grey's Anatomy</i>, <i>Private Practice</i>, <i>Parenthood</i>, <i>Rizzoli & Isles,</i> and <i>Glee</i> (yes, I know, I do follow that show, but I have my reasons). But of course, there's all the new shows that crop up and turn out to be really fantastic. This year I have fallen in love with: <i>Raising Hope</i>, <i>Necessary Roughness</i>, and my most recent addition, <i>New Girl</i>.<br />
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Plus, there are still shows I have yet to see because they have a later debut; or they've already been cancelled. But I still need to check out <i>Pan Am</i>, and once it comes out, <i>Once Upon A Time</i>.<br />
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But the star rookie of the new shows is definitely <i>New Girl</i>. With Zooey Deschanel as a recent single, she's a new roommate to three guy friends who are just trying to find "the one", get a job, and get over an ex. While coping with her own break-up, she's helping them with their problems, mostly by accident and also gaining friends that are helping her. She's quirky, geeky, and just loves being herself, Jess, is definitely one of those characters I relate to automatically.<br />
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Maybe it's the fact that she's comfortable being herself, but will try and fit into a different shape when her friends want her to. However even after a while she needs to break free and dance to the beat of her own drum/kazoo/instrument of your choice. So this show is certainly a keeper for me.<br />
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Here's a plus: geeky references and Miss Deschanel's whimsical singing included.<br />
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A while back I had done some cleaning out of my room. Mostly getting old books off the shelves and storing them in boxes. I planned on having a garage sale for them to try and get some spare cash in hopes of getting us either a <i>real</i> couch or replacing our slowly deteriorating television.<br />
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My mom inquired about all the books - two boxes worth - and asked if some people at our church could look through my books and pull stuff out for donation. They needed things for specific grades to send to China - why China needs our books, I don't know, but do they honestly need them?<br />
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Well, a few weeks had gone by, and I asked my mom if she got the books back. Anything that they weren't going to send to China, was supposed to be returned to me. Because those <i>were</i> my property. It was my choice what I wanted to do with them.<br />
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Low and behold, I inquire about it today, and find out the person collecting the books took all my extras and turned them into Half-Price Books. So essentially, I just lost out on extra cash on items that <i>should</i> have been returned to me because they were my property. Those books were in my collection for 21 years and many were even older than me. A simple apology won't do in my mind. Cause honestly, we had <i>said</i> the extra books needed to be returned to us. And it was agreed upon that I would get them back. So since they're long gone, I at least deserve the money from them.<br />
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That's the last time I <i>ever</i> donate to some stupid church thing my mom tries to convince me is for a "good cause." Humanity continues to disappoint.<br />
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I'm not a fan of Apple products. Well, mostly just the company and how they are with their products.<br />
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However I can't say anything bad about Steve Jobs. He was a true innovator, inventor, dreamer and creator. Many of the items we rely so heavily on today were innovations from him. Continually pushing technology, he really knew what people wanted.<br />
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A true visionary, I'm sad to see him go, but happy to know that he passed peacefully with family nearby. I'm sure he's already working on how to make improvements to heaven. Can anyone say iPeter?<br />
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Rest in Peace, Steve Jobs.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-88766839416953176612011-09-21T22:58:00.000-07:002011-09-21T22:58:01.380-07:00Thoughts on Affection, Justice, and Writer's BlockI always feel really weird about affection.<br />
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I'm not someone that acts a particular way to entice guys, or be a girl that knows what she's got and how to use it. Honestly, I'm just being myself.<br />
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I'm basically my own Mary-Sue. I don't see myself as attractive, popular, or anything you would associate with a person who has all the guys fawning after her. Granted, I don't have guys fawning after me, I do know that much. Cause honestly, I'd probably have some amount of a love life if that were the case. <br />
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But it's weird knowing which people at work want in my pants. I try to ignore that fact, since well, to some of these people I'm a step up from them on the work hierarchy.<br />
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And looking at myself, I'm probably a <strike>pretty</strike> <i>very</i> naive person. That's probably due to the fact that I just assume a lot of people are genuinely friendly. I work on being polite and respectful to everyone, hoping to make someone's day better by being at least a small glitter of hope in humanity. Of course then I figure everyone else is the same way. Because honestly, the world would be even a tiny bit better if we all worked on treating others as we want to be treated.<br />
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I swear my life is written around the golden rule. <br />
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That however is a crazy utopian idea that would probably cause the world to implode if everything went perfectly. We don't live in a land of unicorns where everyone eats rainbows and poops butterflies.<br />
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So all this weird affection I've been hearing from a few of my coworkers about other coworkers and supervisors is <i>very</i> strange. Plus, it doesn't help that whenever someone says something pointedly at me, I just laugh - yay automatic nervous response...? <br />
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Recently, there's been a lot of issues with the Justice system. I'm surprised the country hasn't broken into a giant riot over how crazy some of these rulings have been.<br />
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Between Casey Anthony and Troy Davis, there's been a lot of cases that the general public has disagreed with. It makes me wonder if our forefathers are rolling in their graves because they see that the justice system has failed so many. <br />
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I haven't written anything in a while... I'm only slightly concerned. Because I'm pretty sure this happens every year around this time.<br />
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It's almost a month until WriMo, which means I'm plotting for that and striving towards getting the "need to remember" information on paper before I plunge once more into literary abandon.<br />
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So I suppose not writing a random short story happens. Maybe in previous years I didn't notice because I was so focused on November, NaNoWriMo and all that both entail. But even still, I'd like to be able to update my writing blog more than once a month. I want to have new content that draws in readers, subscribers, and perhaps people that would provide constructive criticism. Complete strangers giving feedback and helping me as a writer is awesome!<br />
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But of course none of that can happen if I'm stuck in Writer's Limbo waiting for a lightning bolt of a short story to strike me with even a brief amount of inspiration.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-66448976058043618232011-09-19T20:24:00.000-07:002011-09-19T20:24:51.473-07:00Thoughts on Social Outings, Pronunciation, and CastleI've never been comfortable around people that enjoy drinking. There's a wide variety of ways people express their drunkenness. Most people I know laugh a lot, or get really loud. And honestly, I don't care if friends of mine drink while we're hanging out, or over dinner. It's common in most countries to drink with dinner. That doesn't bother me.<br />
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I suppose what bothers me is the extreme spectrum moods can be. Then how everyone else must deal with said person. Certainly, when I've been in such situations, I vacate asap. I mean, if you're uncomfortable, the automatic response is to take flight.<br />
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So when it comes to social outings, I tend to not drink. Some say it's me being a stick in the mud, or just having a straight dislike for alcohol, but I think it's a combination of things.<br />
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I'm not a fan of alcohol. It smells sour and rotten. My rule with food has always been that if it smells bad, it's probably not something I would enjoy consuming. And I'm always right in following that choice. But I've also witnessed how alcohol can change a person. Not to mention how a few bad decisions can lead to consequences for everyone else.<br />
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So friends can go and enjoy their alcoholic beverage of choice, but I'll pass on the experience of getting drunk, buzzed, and then the aftermath of being hung over. None of that is attractive. <br />
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There are some words I could care less how they're pronounced. Every person will say a word differently whether it's how they heard it originally or that no one has corrected them. There really is no "correct" way to pronounce a lot of words.<br />
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It's like when I hear people pronounce tomato. Either it's to-mah-toe or to-may-toe. But either is correct. So why does it matter to correct someone? They know what they're talking about, and with something simple like that, others would understand too.<br />
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I can understand correcting someone who didn't grow up speaking English. I help a lot of people at work who didn't grow up with English as their first language. So when they explain stuff to me, they might not know the right word. But if they pronounce it in a different way, I don't mind. It's just how they can say it and understand it.<br />
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I'm addicted to the ABC drama, <i>Castle</i>. Being a writer, I can't help it. A part of me wishes that the experiences he goes through for his muse and research could actually happen. The fact that a writer is following a detective around as she goes to solve cases, and is put in compromising, dangerous situations is <i>awesome</i>.<br />
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I'm so invested in this show, that it's crazy how often I'm watching my favorite scenes on Youtube, or resisting the urge to read fanfiction - because honestly that site is tough to get into with all the ridiculous ads - and snooping around the interweb searching for scoops on the upcoming season.<br />
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I spend a lot of time plot predicting, thinking about how I would write to tie up threads, and perhaps start others. So this show takes up a great deal of my thoughts when it's on and when it's off air. There's a lot of shows that I think about, but <i>Castle</i> is by far the show I watch the most.<br />
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Plus it helps that I love Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-17542993620373824012011-09-14T17:47:00.000-07:002011-09-14T17:48:07.980-07:00Thoughts on the College LifeIt's a lot of little ideas under one heading, which means it totally counts as at <i>least </i>three. Plus, I'm a little preoccupied - leaving the country tomorrow, and all. But I wanted one last post before I left American soil, to really tie the blog together.<br />
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I played foosball before. I won't be able to do that again until January, and that's killing me. I'm sitting on my friend's dorm floor, surrounded by my luggage and distracted by my friends. I'm still thinking about starting a travel blog, but I still feel like people might think I'm a jerk for doing so. Or maybe someone will actually care. Or maybe I'll just post everything on Tumblr and try to remember to make more funny pictures to share.<br />
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I finally set up my Internet here on campus, but that's pointless, seeing as I'm going to the Netherlands. And the castle got struck by lightening recently. So Internet might not exist there, just as I feared. No Skype, no Twitter, no Facebook. And my phone won't work and I can't text a lot on my crappy European phone. Pretty much, I'll be so out of touch, it's insane.<br />
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But I'll try to keep writing and remembering, trying to find things to write about and talk about and send letters home about. And I'll just keep dreaming about foosball.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683363661775383474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-11250006704547626102011-09-13T22:17:00.000-07:002011-09-13T22:17:34.607-07:00Thoughts on Words Without Thought, Applications, ComparisionsIt's official! Katie and I are working on a writing vlog with three wonderful writers! We call ourselves <a href="http://tinyurl.com/wwthought">Words Without Thought</a>. Please give us a view!<br />
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We have a lot of fantastic topics planned for the future. If nothing else, at least comment with tips on how we can improve or any topic suggestions!<br />
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I'll be updating every Monday!<br />
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Wow, there are a lot of exclamation points in this section. But that's okay, because I'm excited that this project has become a reality. It really does feel great to know that some idea of mine has spawned results, hahaha. Although, not in some alien way; in a "I feel successful" way. Which is certainly helping my mood of stress. If at least something small is a success, then I don't feel as though I've completely failed.<br />
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Please give us a watch and let us know what you think!<br />
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So finally, Emerson's application is in. They released the supplement today, and I immediately filled it out. Okay, well, I had it 95% filled out, and then had to help my mom figure out our printer had finally kicked the bucket... by the time I returned, the supplement reset itself, so I had to rewrite my answers -- BUT! I did get the supplement submitted.<br />
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Now all my application needs - besides the Honors Program Essays and stuff - are my SAT scores. Which is what I'm far more nervous for. Well, okay, I'm super nervous about submitting this application too. But still, SAT scores. OMG. I suck at tests. Like, even if this is just a standardized test, I just... never do well on the math section. I could rock on the reading/writing/comprehension. But everywhere else, I'll just do terrible (it's happened in the past). It doesn't help that I'm super nervous for that, and just the thought of getting rejected. Of not being successful or getting out of this rut. I don't want my mom's life. And getting accepted to school is the fastest way for me to turn things around and actually not work in a dead-end job. Yeah $11 an hour is nice, but work can be infrequent at times, so it's nerve wracking knowing that sometimes the company will just decide to lay you off, no matter how fantastic of a worker you are.<br />
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So here's to hoping this will turn things around.<br />
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A coworker and I were talking today, mostly about how I'm not into the whole "dating" scene or "scoring" with anyone. I just enjoy being myself and being a nice person to everyone. Sure, I have a major crush on a coworker, but I don't act on it. I don't even realise when I flirt - let alone when someone is flirting in return.<br />
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But he made the comparison that I'm like Olive in <i>Easy A</i>. Apparently I'm an interesting person to talk to that isn't trying to get into someone's pants, or caring about sex appeal. I'm just talking to people that have shared interests, or fascinating opinions. Plus it doesn't help I'm a hopeless romantic that hopes for chivalry, and a John Hughes script for my life.<br />
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And sure, not all of my stories come out as pleasant with endings of "Happily Ever After," but I think because I'm grounded in reality to know that life doesn't work the way a fantasy or a fairytale does. Things don't follow a linear path and stay consistent in a utopian plot. Life has many, <i>many</i> bumps, hills, mountains and valleys to cross, rivers to forge, and hard work to apply.<br />
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So maybe in some ways I am like Olive. Besides my large amount of sarcasm, I have few friends that are girls, a major crush, and I just view life with some optimism, and a glimmer of hope for hopeless romantics like myself.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-74118279877701096952011-09-11T16:32:00.000-07:002011-09-11T16:32:34.240-07:00Thoughts on That MorningIt was another morning where I had to get ready for school. I'd been in the 6th grade for about a week. Like most mornings, I got up and wandered into my mom's room. We listened to the radio together, which was part of our normal routine. She got up to let the dog out, while I continued to hear the news.<br />
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But it was a particular piece of breaking news that caught my attention. A plane crash in New York City? How did that happen? I got up and turned on the television, which was showing the North tower smoking from near the top.<br />
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I'd always been fascinated with flight, so the advent of a plane crash in a major city was crazy. So I kept watching, hoping they would explain what was going on. Mom wandered downstairs, mostly to inquire what I wanted for breakfast. I was completely enthralled with the news, unable to keep my eyes away. She sat next to me and we watched what was going on. Our dog started to bark, so she jogged upstairs to let him in. It was then that the second plane crashed into the south tower on live television.<br />
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The idea that a jet liner full of people would just randomly crash into a skyscraper was preposterous. This wasn't just a crazy incident of wrong navigation or the plane losing control. Something was wrong.<br />
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Images continued to flash of people rushing away from the buildings while the first responders streamed towards the disaster. Everyone kept their eyes upward.<br />
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We moved upstairs to the living room television. My mom couldn't believe what was happening, and I was just as unsure this was all real.<br />
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The image I remember most about that morning, was seeing close-ups of the towers. People waving out the windows with shirts or whatever they could. There were people so desperate to not burn alive that they were willing to leap from those windows, having accepted their fate. It's a bitter calm to see those images, those videos taken of the victims that perished long before the buildings collapsed. They knew after leaving that building that it was over, yet there must have been a sense of freedom, and relief that they were going under their own terms; even if overall this was caused by a different force.<br />
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The one thing this country can unite about, is to never forget.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-89063149402718046852011-09-09T21:10:00.000-07:002011-09-09T21:10:49.122-07:00Thoughts on Flat Tires, Application Submissions, and SearchingThis entire past week has been quite a hassle. On Tuesday night, I went over to my Aunt's house to get some large manila envelopes from her - and then have my cousin take said envelopes to school with him to pass on to the school's counselor. At some point, I must have run over a nail, because by the time I drove home, my tire was completely flat.<br />
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Not that I knew to check or noticed anything different - a shame on my part. But for the rest of this week I've had my mom dropping me off at work. Meanwhile she's been trying to deal with getting me a new tire.<br />
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First big issue was that the tire couldn't be fixed. I managed to get the nail into the shoulder of the tire, which is basically irreparable. (Lesson learned - if you see a nail on the road, avoid it or make sure it pops your tire in the middle.) So after having taken the tire off and putting on the spare, I now had to purchase a new tire with the exact make and size mine was. Since my tires were brand new when we purchased the car, we weren't worried about buying a pair. They're all in really great shape otherwise.<br />
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My mom checked with a few different groups to see which would be the best price for getting a new tire. First the dealership where we bought the car, Les Schwab, and then Discount Tire Company. The dealer was expensive, so was Les Schwab. Not to mention they told us that the car had the wrong tires on it. Basically it was supposed to have 175s, but it has 185s on it. So that was a problem we will fix later. But for now, it's fine.<br />
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And then today, they took it to Discount to get a new tire on it. Go figure they sold the tire that we needed. So that totally sucks. But when mom and EH went to go get the same tire from Discount Tire in Bellevue, they returned with not a 14 but a 15. The workers there gave them the wrong size. They got thoroughly chewed out by the worker from the store we were at. They're bringing the tire by tomorrow morning, and all I have to do is drive over and get them to put on the one that is <i>supposed</i> to be on my car. For now it's fine with one tire from a different make - although it's not recommended for long periods of time - but for 24 hours, I should be alright.<br />
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At least now I know how to change a tire.<br />
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I promised I'd apply to college. And I have. My applications are submitted to Vassar and Emerson - the latter being the more important.<br />
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But after initially finishing the applications, it took me a few days to finally hit submit. I'm so nervous about rejection, that doing something like applying for college scares me. Yeah, it scares everybody, but I've already been rejected from a pretty major program before - the Japanese Government Full-Ride Scholarship - even though it seemed like I was the perfect applicant. <br />
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I know generally I act - at least around friends and family - like I'm super confident and I don't get nervous. But I do. Nothing scares me more than being rejected for something to further my learning. Writing rejection I get. Everyone has to improve and rework what they're submitting. With applications, I just feel like you can't keep trying in hope the result will be different every single time. I'm trying to be serious here and actually do something for myself.<br />
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So now that things are submitted... all that's left is the SAT (no, I didn't take that in high school like I should have) and waiting. I am so anxious, it's unbelievable.<br />
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Part of the above topic, is that if I want to apply for the Honors Program at Emerson, I need to submit an essay from my Junior or Senior year. Sure, I have plenty of those I can probably find. The difficult part comes in making sure that the essay actually is the proper length (4-8 pages) and has the <i>grade</i> on it. Unfortunately, my teachers believed in A) writing a grade on the physical assignment B) or they would have grade it on their computer and send it to us that way. So this doesn't make for an easy search.<br />
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But there's one specific project I know would be perfect for this requirement for the Honors App. It was in senior year during my Pre-College Writing Class. It's like a book report - except it's crazy long, and has four essays in it. The longest essay being a literary analysis of the book I chose to read.<br />
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Problem: I found the essay and all components still together for the actual project. What I can't find is the grading sheet.<br />
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So far I've found everything <i>else</i> about the project <i>but</i> the grading sheet. This is getting so frustrating. I'm more determined then ever to find this piece of graded paper.<br />
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After of course, I stop sneezing. Damn dust.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-84628616385462938242011-09-04T21:55:00.000-07:002011-09-04T21:55:16.863-07:00Thoughts on College, Crushes, and DrinkingI've been saying for the past few years that I'd go to college. Or that I'd get back to school and start at least working towards a degree. But every year, nothing would happen. And I do regret not getting involved in the whole application process for college in high school. Then again, it makes sense why I didn't.<br />
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College was never a high priority to my mom. She, to this day, thinks that a person should be able to learn a trade via an apprenticeship like she did. I've tried time and again to explain that things don't work like they did for her.<br />
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So after three years of working and struggling with what I wanted to do, it's finally time to take the plunge. Yeah, I'm late on this, but I have the drive and the perseverance to get me through to the end.<br />
<a name='more'></a>I've been stuck in a rut here at home for so long, that it's been driving me crazy. And it took a talk with my boss to get me to finally decide that I needed to get back to school by next fall. He told me earlier this week that they're cutting down on costs by not hiring as many people. Although we'll be getting busier by the first quarter of next year, I'm not up for the thought that I could get laid off and have a tough time finding work again. So with that prospect in mind, I decided that I <i>need</i> to get to school and actually have a life.<br />
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Giving advice on this blog about living and experiencing life also made me rethink what I was doing with my life. Because I should take my own advice if I realise I'm not following it.<br />
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So, my goal is to be moving into Emerson College in Fall 2012. I expect you all to keep me to that.<br />
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I was at a barbeque Saturday night. It was with some old coworkers and some new people I met at the party.<br />
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But what made this get together special was the crush I have at work is the one that asked if I was able to go. He had asked me last month if I could go to the last one, but I couldn't since I had our exchange students. So the instant he asked, I accepted.<br />
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It was a fun amount of long drives with "J" and "D." Although I have a major crush on "J." We drove all over to get to our destination. It was fun hanging out with them, and of course just being able to hang with people.<br />
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Best of all... I got a hug at the end of the night. ^_^<br />
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I'm so giddy, I can barely contain myself. *esplodes*<br />
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I've never quite understood why people like to drink. Perhaps it's that they want to forget, or get loose, or just feel a buzz. But I've never quite been a fan.<br />
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Yeah, I'll take a shot here or there after Ultimate Frisbee. But regular drinking is definitely out. So at the aforementioned barbeque, there were quite a few people drinking.<br />
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One of the things they had was a watermelon spodie. Basically, you take a watermelon, cut it open, scoop out the insides, seal it back together, and pour in a bunch of alcohol. Let it marinade for 24 hours, and you have yourself a rather crazy drink. It smells as terrible as it sounds. Or maybe, to me it did.<br />
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My rule with consumables is that if it doesn't smell good, I probably won't be having any.<br />
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And yes, that last sentence was worded carefully to make it <i>not</i> sound inappropriate.<br />
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Happy Labor Day weekend.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-25018817306565323022011-09-01T21:21:00.000-07:002011-09-01T21:21:53.711-07:00Thoughts on Loss, Packing Up, and Something Adorable<i>Note: The first [and second] topics can be depressing. Feel free to skip <strike>to the second topic o</strike>r straight to the bottom for adorable pandas.</i> <br />
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I've had quite a few friends and coworkers discover they're pregnant this year. It's a strange concept for me to grasp, I suppose.<br />
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I don't imagine myself in either circumstance until I'm in my late 20s. This is that time in your life when you should discover who you are, do something spontaneous, and just <i>live</i>.<br />
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But just living isn't the same when you've heard news that literally takes your breath away.<br />
<a name='more'></a>An old co-worker of mine lost his three-month-old son last week. He had pulled over to the side of the road to change a flat tire, when out of nowhere, a drunk driver smashed into the backside of his car. Able to get his wife out, they were unable to get out his son. Sadly, the baby passed away at the scene.<br />
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I remember watching the news that night, only seeing the accident and hearing pieces about it. But I was completely blindsided when I heard at work just who it was. It's heart wrenching to imagine young parents going through such an extreme loss. They will forever be traumatized by the simple fact that their son's life was cut short by an idiots mistake to drink and drive.<br />
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A week later, and I learn another friend - an online buddy - has lost her child prematurely. Whether it was genetics, or under development is still unseen. But it's the amount of happiness and joy a pregnancy, a child, and a future to hold on to, have on people. Six to ten weeks in a pregnancy is still a tough time to lose a baby. All the happiness, hormones, dreaming, hoping, yearning, excitement.... slips from your fingertips.<br />
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It's why people shouldn't just live. They should live for the ones that were <i>unable</i>. Live for those that didn't get to experience life. Make yours memorable and unforgettable. Because the next thing you know; it'll be gone.<br />
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Some days, I just wish I could pack up and leave for college. I wish I could have that experience of leaving home, moving to a new city, and learning about life. I want to leave the hum-drum of this rut and see the world as a college student. I'd like to study abroad, live in a dorm, and just be free of worrying about bills or work and the continuous circle that can be.<br />
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For once I'd like to be normal. For once I'd like to actually live like most people my age. For once I'd like people to take me seriously; to respect me as a person, a friend. For once, I wish people would see me for <i>me</i>, and not just my sarcastic, self-confident wall.<br />
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But instead I feel like I'm jogging on a treadmill, looking out the window at the runners outside. It's the same motion, just in place and without any real movement. <br />
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Adorable pandas! ENJOY!<br />
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Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-57943574621487786722011-09-01T19:19:00.000-07:002011-09-01T19:19:52.129-07:00Thoughts on Time, Homesickness, & 100 Posts!I know, I know; time is relative. But it feels like it's been quietly helping me along recently, giving me a few extra minutes where I need them and speeding along the process when I can't stand the boredom anymore. Work (knock on wood) seems to fly nowadays, whereas I would have died of exhaustion, frustration, and sleep deprivation at the beginning of the summer. Maybe it's because I'm down to the one, slightly less demanding job. Maybe it's because I'm more confident now at the pool. Maybe it's because I read a lot. Whatever the reason, thanks for the boost, time.<br />
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Time can slow down, too, and I'm equally as thankful for that. The minutes can take their sweet time passing into the wee hours and into a new day. I don't mind the quiet of the night, the cool breeze. I don't mind sitting down in the middle of the day to commit ideas to paper, realizing writing two and half pages took hardly any time at all. I like looking my goals in the face and saying, "That looks <i>easy</i>."<br />
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Time. It's a beautiful thing.<br />
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I've been in a good mood since yesterday. I'm not bouncing off the walls like I was, dancing to the Brady Bunch and finding awe-inspiring wonder in every one of life's twists and turns. But I've simply felt <i>light</i>, like no negativity can touch me. I simply won't allow it.<br />
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Which is why the negative emotions balled tight in the pit of my stomach really hit me so hard today. Earlier in the afternoon, I was making a quick lunch, when it suddenly hit me that...<i>I am leaving home in twelve days</i>. In two weeks, I will be in Amsterdam, and off on the biggest adventure of my life. It's what I've been dreaming of and planning for, for as long as I can remember. And I am excited beyond belief. I'm not so stressed (yet). I honestly feel prepared, ready to go, ready to face whatever Europe throws my way while I'm there.<br />
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So, why this feeling? I literally had a breakdown in the kitchen, suddenly sobbing and just feeling so unbearably lost. I tried to keep my head and rely on logic, and when I'd calmed down enough to think it through, I could only come up with one answer - I've over-stayed my welcome here at home. No one's kicking me out, but I've just gotten too used to it all. It was tedious, the routine of work, eat, sleep, with good times definitely thrown in throughout. But the tedium became comfort, familiarity. And I'm about to leave it all behind.<br />
<br />
It's early-onset homesickness. After spending all last summer happy and anxious to get away to school, I had this same feeling in the last few days leading up to departure. I know there's so much more waiting for me, out in the world. It's just going to be tough to get myself out there.<br />
<br />
--------------<br />
<br />
I can't believe it, but the day has come! Maybe the hundredth post is late in its arrival, but life gets in the way, even in the way of writing <i>about </i>life. But here we are, at last! And it is my great pleasure to mark this momentous occasion, Big Myth's 100th Post ♥Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683363661775383474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-91578918056285118932011-08-30T19:51:00.000-07:002011-08-31T06:31:19.746-07:00Thoughts on Hurricane Irene, Timothy, & the East EndA tree was uprooted on our block. We were thankful to find that as the largest catastrophe to greet us on Cambridge Drive when we arrived home from mandatory evacuation on Sunday afternoon.<br />
<br />
Sure, there were branches to clean up around the house and a den to reassemble, but we didn't flood, which is quite a miracle, and we didn't have any trees in our house, which was beautiful. Also, our cats don't hate us all that much for stuffing them in the traveling cage and hauling ass to Granny's in the city. Which can only be an act of God.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
But, the tree. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnECfi4OnehXq0a4fvhTCDWoQRx-8fzg9GVF8Pzswsp6GyfD2DsKoQS9_HhxuwO1Ztsih4qXBmpbq-OKmB2zhB5RhFQcFut35ojSL5l1hILcu0YJ0YM9pAgruPnx7qZkAEqvpyxejYb4/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnECfi4OnehXq0a4fvhTCDWoQRx-8fzg9GVF8Pzswsp6GyfD2DsKoQS9_HhxuwO1Ztsih4qXBmpbq-OKmB2zhB5RhFQcFut35ojSL5l1hILcu0YJ0YM9pAgruPnx7qZkAEqvpyxejYb4/s320/DSC_0041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">There he is.</span></div><br />
<br />
It took down power lines and knocked out power on the side street, though we were (thankfully) spared. It literally fell ten feet short of one of our neighbor's houses, the nice people whose granddaughter I used to babysit, and it was a sight to see.<br />
<br />
But the tree is now gone. We were expecting weeks of rotting wood and piling leaves, roots lifted heavenward and taking a chunk of that poor old woman's front yard with them. But men in Village garb appeared today, bearing chainsaws and waving in trucks, directed by their noble leader, Skip, from atop his trusty steed (bulldozer).<br />
<br />
I almost got run over. But at least the return to normalcy has begun.<br />
<br />
--------<br />
<br />
I went to the bank today - which was, for some odd reason, a day during which I had an extra pep in my step and a song in my heart - to make some deposits. There wasn't a line, so I got called up pretty quickly, and who should do the calling but Timothy, my favorite teller. I've been helped by him almost constantly over at least the last two years at this particular bank branch. He's sweet and friendly and he asked about how I'd fared the hurricane - everyone asks about the hurricane. But I feel like he's <i>always </i>the one helping me and he's <i>always </i>sweet and friendly and, if it were to happen to only me, he would somehow know and ask about how I'd fared the hurricane, anyway.<br />
<br />
I have a pretty ridiculous crush on Timothy the Bank Teller.<br />
<br />
So, that was in the morning, when I didn't have makeup on and I didn't really care what I looked like just yet. But I got a call that my Euros were in for my trip and I could come pick them up at the bank, so I went back this afternoon. I had plans later in the day, so now I was all prettied up. And Timothy wasn't helping me, but he noticed me immediately when I walked in, giving me a huge grin and a jaunty wave.<br />
<br />
I am pretty ridiculously in love with Timothy the Bank Teller.<br />
<br />
Please don't read this, Timothy.<br />
<br />
<b>--------</b><br />
<br />
I smelled the Pine Barrens tonight.<br />
<br />
It wasn't the first time I'd driven down Sunrise Highway, and certainly not the latest hour I've ever done it at, but after aimless driving, impromptu kar karaoke, and plenty of fresh air, it was nice to just forget about everything and <i>drive</i>. You could see a helluva lot of stars (more than you usually can on Long Island, anywhere) and there weren't many police officers to worry about speeding past.<br />
<br />
I had the windows cracked, just to keep the air moving, and the wind was crisp and cool and just too autumnal to ignore, as it has been the last few nights, and it was beautiful. There's such a sense of movement out there. And, while driving, a scent blew into the car with the night wind, sweet and like the air freshener I still have attached to one of the vents, even though it ran out of tropical mist (or whatever kept it smelling fresh) months ago.<br />
<br />
It was until we passed a sign proclaiming that we were in the New York Pine Barrens region that I could give the scent a name - evergreen. There was fall on the breeze and Christmas just underneath that pervading scent of wood fires and good, clean air. And it was peace. And it was beautiful. And I need to appreciate things like this more often.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683363661775383474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-63229753194269528412011-08-29T20:04:00.000-07:002011-08-29T20:04:02.429-07:00Thoughts on Riding the Bus, PAX 2011, and Chibi-Thulu<i>It certainly has been a few days since either myself or Katie posted some memoirs. With her being evacuated and me being in Seattle, we've definitely not had a lot of time on our hands. But fear not! While hanging in the press room waiting for it to close, I jotted some things down from Saturday. Hopefully I can read them and organise them into a post for you to enjoy!</i><br />
<br />
For the weekend, I took the bus into Seattle in the morning and back home each night. It's fairly simple, as long as you know which stop you need to listen for. Thankfully I wasn't the only one on the bus that needed that stop - and this time I could actually hear the driver call out the stops too.<br />
<br />
But for once, I was met with a strange happening. You see, I was waiting at the bus stop, about 20 minutes early because I wanted to be sure I was there on time. And this woman comes across the street and checks the schedule before inquiring about how much the bus fare is. I say $2.50, which was the amount I paid last summer. So I was pretty certain it hadn't changed. She shuffled through her wallet, trying to see if she had $2.50. When it didn't seem she did, she inquired about if I had change for a five. Unfortunately I only had enough for my fare for the morning and evening. But then an idea struck both of us. I give her my 2.50 and she uses her five for both of us. There, problem solved.<br />
<br />
Well, since we were now fare buddies, we got to talking about the reason she was wanting to take the bus and what brought her to town. She explained that her company's headquarters were located here, and she was flying back to Brussels, Belgium in the afternoon. Her jaunt into Seattle was for a few hours to see the city. She'd been unable to since she was mostly working indoors or sleeping from her jetlag. We finally got to talking about places she could go in a few hours; which brought up Pike Place Market - the Space Needle was too far, and the bus couldn't get her there.<br />
<br />
It's a great tourist location right near the water. It's an indoor farmers' market where the legendary Gum Wall, Market Street Theatre, the original Starbucks, and the Seattle Ghost tours are located. Definitely a great place to send her. Not to mention the Pike Place fish throwers. Yes. Fish throwing. You order fish, they throw it and get it wrapped up for you. Quite the sight to see.<br />
<br />
We get on the bus - after a bit of trouble with the fare machine - and take our seats. Several other stops are made along the way, and it's not too long before we've hit our last stop and are taking the express the rest of the way into downtown. A family of three just got on the bus, and with it being busy, there's limited seating for three. With the dad carrying his daughter, he takes a seat next to a guy. His wife lugging the stroller goes to take a seat across from him after he gestures for her to sit there, that way they're close. The man by the window realises this and politely gets up and switches seats with the wife so that the family is all sitting together - daughter in their lap.<br />
<br />
"Brussels" - as I've dubbed her since we didn't exchange names - smiled and whispered "That was sweet of him to do." And it's true. It was a very nice, polite gesture that sometimes you just don't see in this day and age. She and I talked for a time - as the main bridge was closed so we had to use an alternate route. But it wasn't long after the silence that we were both dozing from the gentle rocking of the bus.<br />
<br />
I kept my ears peeled for our stop, and got out with her. Together, we walked to the street she would need to get her straight to Pike Place. She thanked me, which it truly was no problem, and we bid farewell. I wished her a safe flight to Brussels and she wished me good luck and that she hoped I could get into publishing.<br />
<br />
Overall, it was a great bus trip. She was a cool woman to meet and talk to, while it was also nice to see that there is still some good in humanity.<br />
<a name='more'></a>--------------------<br />
<br />
PAX is the Penny Arcade Expo, which is for the fans, by the fans, of games. Board games, card games, tabletop, video games, and PC games. You name it, it's there. And I have to say, it's always a fun experience.<br />
<br />
There was plenty of cool swag - items you get from the various booths just for trying out their product (or they're just free giveaways for doing nothing).<br />
<br />
You can get shirts, cards, dice, hats, plushies, caffeinated drinks; you name it, I could probably find it there.<br />
<br />
The most fun I had this weekend, was working for my friend, Momgamer - her gamer tag. She writes for a website, and was also the Media Coordinator for PAX. I spent a great deal of time hanging out with her and her deputy. Since she was unable to leave the Press room, I volunteered to go around and take pictures for her live updates of anything awesome, and try out any games that I could. It was great having quests to find various cool items of swag, or random acts of awesome. Certainly the best part was when I was just hanging out in the press room and she told me to go find out what the swag was at a certain booth once I whispered a secret code. Much cool swag was attained that way. Including getting a double dose by performing a quick clothing change.<br />
<br />
Much rejoicing for the epic weekend.<br />
<br />
------------------<br />
<br />
One of the vendors at PAX is for Steve Jackson Games. He created <i>Munchkin</i>, along with several other card and dice games. Every year at PAX, he does a raffle once a day for a giant chibi-Cthulu. And yeah, that sounds weird, writing "Giant chibi-Cthulu," but when you look it up, Cthulu is gigantic; but this plushie is a giant version of the very small version he sells.<br />
<br />
I wrote my name on a card and folded it a few times. Figuring I wouldn't win much of anything, I slid my name in the fishbowl and disappeared for the remainder of the day. The drawing starts at around 5:30, so I wandered back just in time to watch some of the items being given away. Some were pretty cool, like a zombie flash drive, various games his company makes. And the grand prize, the chibi-thulu.<br />
<br />
Side note: There was strangely someone else there with my first name, which seriously threw me off. My first name is pretty uncommon unless you're German - and I'm not German. So it was a surprise to hear them shout my first name with a completely different last name. I was confused. And now back to your regular broadcast--<br />
<br />
Finally it was time to draw for the chibi-thulu. And rule states you must be present to win. You have to the count of three after you hear your name and claim your prize. Much to my surprise, the first draw was me. Let's just say it's <i>super</i> rare for me to win anything. For once I won a giant plushie of a god. Then it was quite the experience taking Cthulu home with me on the bus.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39jEWf0OMu8beY4b2zzorsKqS3_71jBsp6PO-cYUFb7BKSNBVNQiU_-8CbbFBU-857p0viB1dBwTFuRrSdzIXbqSfWbhn-YLNT0PvmI2eURBm-RwNu-6MZvhrFfvw9YN5Oeqp9RK3G3H_/s1600/IMG_1181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39jEWf0OMu8beY4b2zzorsKqS3_71jBsp6PO-cYUFb7BKSNBVNQiU_-8CbbFBU-857p0viB1dBwTFuRrSdzIXbqSfWbhn-YLNT0PvmI2eURBm-RwNu-6MZvhrFfvw9YN5Oeqp9RK3G3H_/s320/IMG_1181.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chibi-thulu chilling in a regular chair. Adorable and yet oh so deadly. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">See what I mean? This plushy is gargantuan.</span></div>Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-71072927050879182832011-08-23T22:19:00.000-07:002011-08-23T22:19:51.261-07:00Thoughts on Phone Replacements, Letters, and Barbeque SauceI wrote last week that I cracked the screen on my phone because it fell from my pocket.Well, now my replacement phone is here - thank you 22 month warranty coverage - and let's just say... it's larger then I expected.<br />
<br />
I had a HTC Aria, which was on the smaller side of all touch screen phones. But see, that was perfect for me. I'm a person of short stature, so I also have small hands. The Aria was just the right fight for texting and holding my phone in one hand and doing virtually everything that way.<br />
<br />
My new phone is ginormous. It's a Samsung Galaxy S, which is HUGE. Texting is certainly uncomfortable and the keyboard is set up a bit differently. So there's lots to get used to now.<br />
<br />
But I seriously miss my old phone....<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
------------------<br />
<br />
I love sending mail to people. I'm glad to know it can brighten someone's day.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, I'm also really terrible at sending out said letters. I could write a response the same day as having received one, but it will inevitably sit on my desk until I take it upstairs and get it in the mail.<br />
<br />
I'm glad you enjoyed your letter, Katie! Hopefully my next response to your postcards won't take so long!<br />
<br />
------------------<br />
<br />
I have a thing against barbeque sauce. Actually, in comparison to my dislike of eggs and sushi, this one is pretty reasonable. <br />
<br />
Growing up, we would attend two birthdays a year at my Uncle's house. Being a single dad of two wheelbound children - and not always that great of a cook - he would cook simple meals. So our meal always consisted of rice, salad, soda/water/juice/coffee and barbeque chicken. It was basically boiled chicken that was then placed on the grill and soaked in a lot of sauce. We had that same meal for ten years.<br />
<br />
Lately, it's been a nice variety; but until the past few years, it was the same boring thing.<br />
<br />
But I think besides eating it too much - or at least that feels like too much to me - I really don't like the taste or smell of things. I'm not fond of sweet sauces for meat. I like things to be salty and sour, like A1 steak sauce. That stuff is delicious; I would drink it if it didn't have such a high sodium content.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-84553935985205624732011-08-23T18:51:00.000-07:002011-08-23T18:51:01.454-07:00Thoughts on The End of the World, Unexpected Letters, & Billy JoelThe rainalypse, an East Coast earthquake, Hurricane Irene, thunderstorms, floods, tsunamis, snow, melting ice caps (that's still happening, right?).<br />
<br />
I try not to dwell on these kinds of things, but...<i>really?</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<i><a name='more'></a></i><br />
<b>--------</b><br />
<br />
So, in the midst of the quaking earth earlier this afternoon, I completely forgot to grab the mail before I ran off on my way to work, worrying about aftershocks and whether or not the pool would actually be open. I mean, shit went down at 1:51 and the mail-lady HAD JUST SHOWN UP. Shows the shoddy work we've had in this neck of the woods recently, since our other mailwoman left us for, I can only hope, greener pastures somewhere in the land of the United States Postal Service.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, the pool was open and I worked my full shift. I got home around eight, waited for the Chinese take-out, nommed, watched some more of Bela Talbot's Greatest Hits from <i>Supernatural </i>Season Three, and then, when my mom finally got home near nine, I realized, "Hey! No one got the mail today!" I had checked the box on my way out, so I knew there was <i>something </i>in there. I ran out and grabbed it, flipping through investment nonsense and junk mail and catalogues and flyers. And then, something with my name on it? Something...something from clear across the country?<br />
<br />
Thank you for your letter, Dom; it made my night. And I'll be writing back soon, with my European address! I'll send postcards! :]<br />
<br />
<b>--------</b><br />
<br />
I've just been listening to him a lot lately. And, just, I mean...GAH. I could not pick a single artist to better represent my homeland - not just Long Island, but all of New York State, for sure. I'm still on my Mumford kick, but Billy has been sneaking in there every once in awhile, and I just can't turn him away.<br />
<br />
Is that why he's been married so many times? (Oooh, BURN!) <-- I don't mean it, Mr. Joel! Please don't hate me!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683363661775383474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-53185816026587379582011-08-22T20:51:00.000-07:002011-08-22T20:51:36.111-07:00Thoughts on Walking the Town, Crawdads, and Age of The GeekWalking around my home town is actually a lot of fun. There's tons of little bakeries, eateries, and shops of all kinds that my friends and I discover and rediscover every time we wander.<br />
<br />
We grab a smoothie at Jamba, perhaps a snack at the nearby QFC, and then we're off to explore and see where random turns take us.<br />
<br />
The only unpleasant time to walk the town... is when it's hot. There's very little breeze - as we are located in a valley - there's plenty of tall buildings, and we're not near a large body of water to ease the heat.<br />
<br />
But walking down by the slough is always a nice refresher. Yeah, it's just a giant stream that floods a lot during the winter and gets super low during the summer. It's where I've taken a lot of my nature pictures on Facebook. Especially of the baby geese and ducks. <br />
<a name='more'></a> --------------------<br />
<br />
One thing I never knew about that the slough had, was crawdads. Basically they're crayfish. After watching what we counted to be about ten of them while we sat under the bridge in the shade from the heat, we came to a realisation.<br />
<br />
Crawdads move like cars. They can go forward; they can go backward. But can't bend in the middle and turn. It was rather amusing to see how they were hiding under their rocks, what looked to be like cleaning their little homes, and only moving forward and backward.<br />
<br />
Watching them reminded me of Animal Crossing, and how in one of my games, I have a crawfish in a tank in the middle of my living room.<br />
<br />
I'm sure if I liked crawfish or seafood in general, I'd enjoy the notion of perhaps eating them. But I don't, so they're safe from my hungry stomach. <br />
<br />
------------------<br />
<br />
My friend and I took notice that out of all the years of fandoms that have occurred in our lifetime, that this is the "Age of The Geek."<br />
<br />
And honestly, it makes sense. There's so many Marvel and DC films out now. Comic books are not just for horn-rimmed-glasses wearing kids and 40-year-old virgins that live in their mother's basements. But in fact, being a geek is <i>popular</i>.<br />
<br />
Celebrities are comfortable telling about how they video game a lot and that they like to read graphic novels. It's not longer a bad thing to be labeled as a geek. And I've noticed that the local news picks up some geekier stories - like the obsession of bacon like "Bacon Air"!!<br />
<br />
Boy, am I proud to always be a geek.Dominic Knighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13766268767089936023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-68643437623592952892011-08-22T19:21:00.000-07:002011-08-22T19:22:29.709-07:00Thoughts on Harry Potter (again), Inspiration, & Profile PicturesYep. Saw it again tonight. Third time's the charm, right? And I've been lucky enough to see it with completely different people each time. First was opening night, in a packed theater; second, with my dad; tonight, with three friends. It's just a different atmosphere each time, moving from excitement and the unknown, to a mix of knowing and resignation, to just sitting back, mouthing the lines along with the characters, and looking for whatever things you've read about online that were supposedly hidden in scenes. If you're a fan of the book, you knew what was going to happen going into the movie, of course. But it's always a shock to see what makes the cut and what gets ignored, what they leave in and what gets mere seconds of screen time.<br />
<br />
I noticed one of the wizard's chess pieces (the queen) in the Room of Requirement this time. What else have you found?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>--------</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
It happens at the most inopportune moments. You're waiting for a friend to pick you up, waiting to go out, sitting in the movie theater, in class without a laptop or scrap of paper, grocery shopping, right in the middle of a great book, during a dream in the middle of the night, while you're writing <i>another </i>inspired masterpiece. You can go days without anything, then BAM. Ideas galore. You just have to follow your instincts and write what works. Whatever calls to you, that's what you write first. Even if it means setting something on the back burner and working on a few different stories at once. Whatever works for you and your muse.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>--------</b></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><br />
</b></span></b><br />
It's difficult to find a decent one. And they <i>are </i>your first impression.<br />
<br />
Not too nerve-wracking, or anything.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683363661775383474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775528919175642032.post-79187507168325580412011-08-21T18:02:00.000-07:002011-08-21T18:03:32.093-07:00Thoughts on Fantasy, Cereal, & Why Can't I Ever Think of a Third?The genre; not the daydreams.<br />
<br />
I was obsessed with the fantasy genre for the majority of my childhood. Aside from the usual dalliances into young adult drama and <i>Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret</i> to get all the "answers" to my burning questions, I devoted myself entirely to talking animals and people with wings and creatures that spoke made-up languages. Ironically, I've never been able to finish a book in the <i>Lord of the Rings </i>trilogy - I only read <i>The Hobbit </i>in sixth grade, for fun. I remember doing some kind of kickass book jacket for it. I drew a dragon.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Anyway, Brian Jacques was my biggest influence, my idol, and my god (may he rest in peace). The <i>Redwall </i>series changed my life. I own fifteen of the books (I just counted - they're still on my bookshelf), after reading the original for summer reading one year in elementary school. I fell in love with Jacques' masterful descriptions, his attention to detail, his use of rodents to fight bloody battles and teach me lessons about friendship and love. They were <i>mice</i>, for Christ's sake, but they taught me more about emotions than anything else has since. Probably more about being a writer, too. I was inspired to imagine my own wildflower-infused drinks and berry-covered meat stews, plus the beginning of noticing shades of colors for frocks, ball gowns, wedding dresses, cloaks, and anything else I needed.<br />
<br />
In fact, aside from the countless stories rotting in the notebooks lost to my overflowing closet that liked to masquerade as "novels" until I was about ten years old, my first major foray into writing was going to be a fantasy novel of epic proportions. I teamed with a great friend and fellow writer to plot everything (seeing as the vague beginnings of all our plot ideas stemmed from her own original characters and settings), and every hangout, every sleepover, was devoted to sketching our larger-than-life map, plotting backstories and present-day lives and futures, discovering who would fall in love with who, who should die, who would be lost to the wilderness of our imagined lands. It was beautiful. It was a joy to just <i>create</i>, to have the freedom to name people, places, things. We had currency! We had mountains and palaces! We had love triangles and the lovelorn and the loveless. Beautiful.<br />
<br />
Not to mention the money that would have been in such a series as we had planned, what with the prequels, the sequels, the spin-offs and trilogies and growing family trees that would undoubtedly spawn fanfiction, movie deals, and cosplayers at all the best conventions.<br />
<br />
And, now, here I am. That book isn't finished; I don't know if it will ever be. The story lives, complete, in my mind, but has never been fully committed to paper. So, why the foray into the genre, into memories? Because I'm reading a book now that very much reminds me of <i>Redwall</i>, and all the hope and promise I saw in my own endeavors mere years ago. The freedom to create, the beauty of originality - it still exists. Maybe I'll return to my roots...someday.<br />
<br />
<b>--------</b><br />
<u><br />
</u><br />
Does anyone else find it weird that there's always the one piece of cereal that talks and grins and dresses up in silly costumes to convince hordes of hungry, breakfast-deprived children that they must nom upon the Cereal Overlord's brethren in order to pass their fourth grade history quiz? Would anyone else be bothered if Frosted Marco Polo strolled up to their morning bowl of sustenance and tried to convince them that eating his friends and family would be a <i>good </i>idea? Why can't you think of these answers on your own, kid? What kind of freakin' school do you go to, that evil sugary goodness needs to teach you all your history in the last fifteen minutes before you go skipping happily off to another day in history class?<br />
<br />
This post is in memory of all the non-sentient cereal lost to their constant struggle for continued existence at the hands of the animated imposters posing as their friends. You should be ashamed of yourselves, Frosted Mini Wheats. <i>Ashamed</i>.<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>--------</b></span></b><br />
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It's always a struggle to come up with a third idea for my <i>Big Myth </i>posts. Seriously, if I can make note of two interesting ideas during the day, why is one more proving so difficult? You'd think I'd start keeping a general list to keep a steady supply of ideas to build on, repeat, shuffle through, tweak, and rant about.<br />
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I don't, by the way. You're just getting me, every day, live and uncensored, unrestrained and full of emotion.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14683363661775383474noreply@blogger.com0