Christmas

This year was the first year that we've had Christmas at home. Lizzie and Justin came to visit, and Mom bought fancy British cheese. (Stilton is gross. It tastes the way it smells.)

We went to the churches Dad pastors at on Christmas Eve. They weren't midnight services, which was really nice because the churches are about two hours away. :P

In the morning, Mom got a waffle iron, so made waffles. Lizzie and I got stockings for Mom and Dad.

I got pictures of everybody next to the Christmas tree.

Graphics

Here are some more graphics that I've made.

The Only Rock Music That Is Remotly Good

(Even though I'll listen to Ruth's music once a year or so. :P That's as much as I can.)

This is wrock. Wrock is wizarding rock. It's music that Harry Potter fans write and it all has something to do with the books and/or movies.

(This one didn't have an embedding code.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKtVKRL4NvI&feature=related

Great...

My characters have changed voices. Grrr. Now I've got to get them back to how they're supposed to be. Ack.

NaNo and Class Reports

Today's NaNo. I'll be almost all the way gone until December 1st. (Maybe 2nd. It depends how much sleep I need afterwards. :P )

I sent in an application to TPS's newspaper thing, which is called The Cracked Pot (TCP). Miss Evans, the senior editor, has assigned me to Class Reports. That means I have to find a teacher on TPS, and write about him or her and his or her classes. Yay!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCC7LuTQ_x0

Are the people there joking or are they REALLY trying to tell the kid that he's not normal because he's really good at spelling?

I'm The Very Model of a WriMo Individual

This is a song based off of "Modern Major General" from Pirates of Penzance. Errol of NaNoWriMo wrote it.

Here're the lyrics.

I am the Very Model of a Wrimo Individual
My writings they have varied from historical to fictional
To write a novel in a month some find it quite deplorable
I talk about my novel but my friends they find it borable.

When writing I prepare myself in matters that are practical
From scoping out locations, doing research on the factuals
And stocking up my room with snacks and food and sources of caffeine
My cellphone is turned off. I'm now in nanowrimo quarantine.

His cellphone is turned off. He's now in nanowrimo quarantine. (x4)

This year will be the year when my book wins me praises accolades
I'll travel all the stores my novel forefront on the book displays.
In short, my writings vary from historical to fictional
I am the Very Model of a Wrimo Individual

In short, his writings vary from historical to fictional
He is the Very Model of a Wrimo Individual

My mind a brim with metaphors my tongue can spit out similes
But when I put my pen to page my brain locks up and hand will freeze
The more I think, the more I'm stuck, the more and more I get upset
And then I go online cuz I cannot turn off the internet.

I search the forums to keep up on all the nanowrimo news
I find I'm stuck for hours. ^ Why am I so readily amused?
I go on chat in hopes that I can find someone to word war with
But they're absorbed with talking 'bout their drama and relationships.

But they're absorbed with talking 'bout their drama and relationships. (x4)

In fact, when I know what is meant by "Word War", "ML", "Plot bunnies"
And when it comes to writer's block there's none can beat my expertise
In short, my writings vary from historical to fictional
I am the Very Model of a Wrimo Individual

In short, his writings vary from historical to fictional
He is the Very Model of a Wrimo Individual

Technology's my weak point and I spend too much I must admit
I think I lost my outline, doesn't matter wasn't using it
I'll photoshop a calendar with writing goals I can achieve
And think of awesome book covers with bios for the inner sleeve.

I go to meetings, socials, writing sessions, any chance I get
We talk about our stress and all the words we haven't written yet
In short, I can imagine myself sitting, typing furiously
And one day I'll attend that fearful night of Writing Dangerously!

And one day he'll attend that fearful night of Writing Dangerously! (x4)

I'm very good with words, I know so many to regurgitate
But people think my only skill is how I can procrastinate
In short, my writings vary from historical to fictional
I am the Very Model of a Wrimo Individual

In short, his writings vary from historical to fictional
He is the Very Model of a Wrimo individual!

Books

I have way too many books...Well...There's a healthy amount in my room, but there's no more room for them. There are about forty books on the dresser. The library books live on my desk. There're three shelves. About twenty books and a million other things live there. I have a book case, which is completely filled with books and CD's. There's a shelf above my bed, which is also full of books. And, during the day time there are books on my bed. Those get transferred to the floor at night.

A reason for all the books is that if there's a series I like, I try to get the books. So all of the series ends up jostling for any available surface. Also, a lot of thick books. (Like Les Miserables or Lord of the Rings. And all of the Redwall books take up room.) (There's a box for the Harry Potter books along with the wand, and several other Harry Potter-related stuff under my bed...And probably a few books.)

Does anybody have any ideas on how to fit more books into the room?

Irish Tap Dancing

I don't think that even Mrs. Hay could get her students to be that good. (Those aren't her students, but Mrs. Hay is a really good dance teacher and so her students are really good.)

National Novel Writing Month (again)

NaNoWriMo is only 58 days, 15 hours, and 17 minutes away. Who wants to join the crazy challenge of writing, 50,000 words in a month?

A Pea in a Lung and Something Which Krys Made Up, Kelsey Stole, Kayla Stole, and Now I Stole

1. Favourite childhood book?
Dr. Suess or the Ralphie books.

2. What are you reading right now?
Last of the Mohicans, Bloody Jack, the Bible, and Western Civilization

3. What books do you have on request at the library?
Don't remember...I do have some, though.

4. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
In the President's Seceret Service, Stardust, Stalin's Drive To the West, a book on Hitler's Youth, a book on The War of the Roses, a book on the Fire of London, and a book on Hitler.

5. Do you have an e-reader?
Nope. I sometimes read books online, though.

6. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
Several at a time.

7. Can you read on the bus?
I probably could, but we never go on the bus. I did manage to on the subway, though. While standing up and not falling over.

8. Favourite place to read?
In my room with music blasting.

9. Do you ever dog-ear books?
Yes. Sometimes.

10. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
If they're school books, yes. Or history books.

11. What makes you love a book?
No idea.

13. Favourite genre?
History books and juvenile fiction and some YA, but not much, and science books and a LOT of fantasy and science fiction.

14. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
That they usually deserved it.

16. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
Twenty or so. (That's the limit. Sometimes I use Lizzie's card.)

17. How often have you returned a book to the library unread?
Yep.

18. Favourite fictional character?
No idea...

19. Favourite fictional villain?

No idea...

20. What books are you most likely to bring on vacation?
All of the ones I checked out from the library.

21. What's the longest you’ve gone without reading?
Probably before I could read, when I was below four. (Dad taught me to read pretty fast.)

22. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Anything badly written or that was not interesting.

23. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
My kitty.

24. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
LOTR or Harry Potter.

25. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Eragon, probably. The book is pretty good, but the movie messed the whole plot up.

26. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
Anything that I don't like.

27. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Nope.

28. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
Keep all books if possible.

---------------

A guy had a pea growing in his lung. Go to my sister's blog to see it.

Funny Thingymajigger

The following is true. It all happened on a South African airline called "Kulula"

On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you just sit where

you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced, "People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"

---o0o---

On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot
said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be
turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance
the appearance of your flight attendants."

----o0o---

On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your
belongings.. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's
something we'd like to have."

----o0o---

"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out
of this airplane."

---o0o---

"Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."

---o0o---

As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"

---o0o---

After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo , a
flight attendant on a flight announced, "Please take care when opening
the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as
shooting everything has shifted."

---o0o---

From a Kulula employee: " Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth .
To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and
pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't
know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public
unsupervised."

---o0o---

"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend
from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your
face. If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask
before assisting with theirs. If you are travelling with more than one
small child, pick your favourite."

---o0o---

Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but
we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember,
nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines."

----o0o---

"Your seats cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an
emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."

---o0o---

"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings.
Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight
attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.."

---o0o---

And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Kulula Airlines is
pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in
the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"

---o0o---

Heard on Kulula 255 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town : The
flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump
and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the
airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt."

---o0o---

Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town , on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"

---o0o---

Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing:
"We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."

---o0o---

An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered
his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which
required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers
exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline. He said
that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the
passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" The little old lady said,
"Did we land, or were we shot down?"

---o0o---

After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg , the attendant came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.."

---o0o---

Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank
you folks for flying with us today.. And, the next time you get the
insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal
tube, we hope you'll think of Kulula Airways."

---o0o---

Heard on a Kulula flight. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke,
the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing.. If you can light
'em, you can smoke 'em."

---o0o---

A plane was taking off from Durban Airport . After it reached a
comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking.
Welcome to Flight Number 293, non-stop from Durban to Cape Town , The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight.. Now sit back and relax... OH, MY GOODNESS!" Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!" A passenger then yelled, "That's nothing. You should see the back of mine!"

A Funny Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHkPJ1ACLrg

That was posted on NaNo. It's really funny. (Especially the end.)

Song #24

Song #24

That's a tune from "Pirates of Penzance." And they actual are singing the words. Very fast.

Song #23

Song #22

Song 22#

I wonder what Dr. Suess would think...

Song #21

Mom always plays that for her students. It's a pattersong that is VERY fun to sing at top speed.

Song #20

Song #19

And then they become best friends...

Song #18

This one just cracks me up. :P

Song #16 and #17

I forgot to post yesterday's for some reason. The first is yesterday's.

Song #15

"War" is now on Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/War-Kate-Kracklin/dp/1453633758/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278966293&sr=1-1

I checked just now to be sure.

Song #14

(Yes, that's Inego Montoya. How do you spell that name, anyway? I just killed it.)

Song #13

Song #12

A Funny Video and a List

Each Friday, the people at Author Culture have a funny thing on Fridays. (Click on the link to see today's.)

This is what I'd do if I was a famous writer.

I'd hide behind the bookshelves and eavesdrop on people looking around the bookstore or library.

Not sure what else other than that. Other than write some more.

Song #11

I'm a little late on this one, because my computer got the Blue Screen of Death and Dad spent all day fixing it. :P

Song #10

Song #9

Song #8

Song #7

(BTW, my finger has been un-stuck from the bandage and is currently covered with a band-aide.)

More Cuts And a Musical

We went to see "Annie" at the local outdoor theater. (Ruth is the one in braces, Helen is the other one, and Joanna is the shortest.) Ruth and Helen were extras and Joanna was an orphan.

Although...This was more along the lines of a chunk...Yeah...Mandolin slicers are dangerous.

Songs #5 and #6

I forgot to post yesterday's. Here it is. (The first one is the one from yesterday.)

Happy birthday, Lizzie!

Lizzie has officially left the world of teenagers. She's getting old.

Song #4

Song #3

This is actually a mix of songs...But oh well.

YAY!

https://www.createspace.com/3461634

Click on the link.

Song #2

Here it is!

I'm going to post a song each day. Here's today's.

Graphics

In Print!!

I'm almost officially published! Okay, so it's from a self-publishing place...BUT STILL!

No, it's not "Stone of Sorcery." I wasn't going to get it finished in time. So, I finished up a NaNo novel (called "War," for anybody interested).

I'd be bouncing off the walls if my stomach didn't hurt so much...Haha.

In Which I get Injured Many Times

I get injured VERY easily, I've decided.

Since preschool, I've gotten several scraped up knees and elbows, several cuts and bruises...Getting several toes and fingers smashed during ballet, almost getting a concussion on the ballet barr and the car door...

My finger after running the sewing machine needle through the edge of it (and bleeding a little AND bending the sewing machine needle).

After scraping my foot against the car door and scraping off a small amount of epidermis.

Then, there's an almost-faded-away scar from cutting my foot open when riding my scooter and trying to avoid hitting a dead squirrel (I hit a big tree root instead).

I also have bad knees. Which means that if I hurt them, they start aching, and pain medicine becomes my best friend. (Along with gallons of iced tea to make sure that my knee joints aren't dry.)

Write or Die by Dr Wicked

Write or Die by Dr Wicked

Very awesome. ;)

Graphics

Those are some graphics that I made recently. They were put together using Paint, and then edited with Gimp.

CreateSpace Writing

'Ts going pretty well. I added a progress report thingy to the blog, so you can look near the bottom of the side bar and see more there.

Ruth and Becka's Trip

Those were all of Ruth.

Those were all of Becka. (The last is my favorite. :P Brick makes a good background. We have plenty of it. ;) )

That was Lyla Mae. She's the only one of the R's without a Biblical name.

Ruth, Becka, and I.

Since we have massive trees in the park, Ruth decided that we should try hugging one. We couldn't quite reach all the way around. Almost, but not quite. We set the cameras onto the timer so that everybody could get in the picture.

Ruth and Becka

We went to the park, took off our shoes, got our feet burned on the fake grass, and swang a LOT. And made several trips to the water fountain, once with Lyla Mae.

Mom, Mrs. R, and Lyla Mae (who is the baby) all drove to the park. The rest of us walked.

Then, we went home, ate

Ruth, Becka, and their brothers and sister and parents came over for the first time yesterday.

Ruth and I have been friends since 2008. She went to the same online school as I did, and posted a novel that she and Nina were writing on the writing forum. (Here's a link to the novel, if anybody's wondering. http://wingsoffireseries.blogspot.com/ ) I asked Ruth to email me the whole story, and she did. We started chatting.

She got me to join the Storytellers a few months later. (The Storytellers is a group of more-or-less 14 people who write stories. Well...Mostly talking about other stuff...Well...We try to write. ;) )

Becka and I first met over the Storytellers chat thingy in 2009-ish.

After all that, we finally were able to meet each other.

Ruth, Becka, Josiah, Ezekiel, Caleb, Lyla Mae, Mr. R and Mrs. R all arrived at about 12:00.

Ruth got to the porch first. I was doing science cards upstairs and blasting music. Dad wanted to find out if Mom's mike actually DID block out almost all noise (apparently it does).

Mom bellowed up the stairs for me to come down. She had seen a big camper coming by a few times. Campers don't often drive past our house.

I had cleaned the kitchen, but forgotten to put away the cleaning supplies and so I fixed that. As soon as I was finished, Ruth knocked on the door.

Hug tackles ensued.

The rest of the family straggled in.

Dad was in classes until about 2:45.

When we came back from the park, he was out of all his classes for the day. Lyla kept looking at him like, "Who are you? You weren't here before."

Ruth and Becka and I all hid upstairs and took a large amount of pictures.

They left at about 5:00. :(

That was the first Storytellers meeting by people who don't live an hour away from each other or are related some how since Krys met Leah B (both of who aren't active any more).

(Insert good title here)

I keep forgetting to post the pictures on the blog, and they take forever to upload, and so I'll just keep taking them and won't post them.

I'm going to use the CreateSpace offer for Wrimos. (Even though the novel isn't a NaNo novel. Shhh. Don't tell on me!)

You can see that by clicking here. You have to scroll down to the second heading.

Script Frenzy

That's really great.

The 365 Picture Project

Here's today's (the first) and yesterday's (the second) photos.

The 365 Picture Project

Here's today's photo.

The 365 Picture Project

These are the photos from the 6th of April (last photo) to today's (first photo).

The 365 Picture Project

These are the photos from March 31st (the last one) to April 5th (the first one). The others will come up soon.