The Inner Conflict of a Self-Professed Bibliophile

There is nothing quite as thrilling nor as painful as purchasing books for the upcoming semester.

First, the exciting bit. I get immense satisfaction from the steady stream of packages containing bound volumes of knowledge. The books always look so smart lined up next to each other, making a proud display of their motley titles. Shall I line them up according to size? Color? Subject? My preferred look is "absent-minded professor style": no system, giving the row the pretty effect of a rainbow gone awry. Then comes the insurmountable pleasure of getting to actually read those books, and to share my wonder (or sometimes, lack thereof) with my fellow scholars. There is a special bond that arises from suffering through a text or sharing its joy. Finally, there comes the contentment of looking over the titles on the bookshelf knowing that I've read -- or sampled -- every last one. The process of ordering books is a promise of new experiences. Of course it's exciting!

Then comes the terrifying part. With every book comes this dreaded little thing called a price tag. Instead of seeing numbers, I see hours spent at work. "Ah, I see this one is going to cost an hour and a half. There's a closing shift... Early shift... Paid break..." I mean, I knew this day would come. I knew there would come a time where I would have to dip into the little horde of payroll checks I had stowed away in my cave of a savings account. Yet no amount of foreknowledge could prepare me for the emotions of this day. And I know that soon the trickle will turn into a rushing river of bills, bills, bills...

This double-edged sword of perfect joy and perfect fear practically cuts to the heart of me, especially while staring at the comparative prices of Amazon Marketplace. My passionate love affair with books is pitted against my practical side, the side that lends thrift stores their charm and transforms free grocery store samples into feasts. Used bookstores play to the different corners of my heart and like sirens lure me towards their own fatal rocks.

See me? "Good condition". Don't you like good condition? And I'm cheap, gloriously cheap! Never mind if my dust jacket is missing, I'm beautiful on the inside, that's what counts. That extra three dollars could go a long way towards buying you a pizza this semester..

My mouth waters. Did I mention I love food as well?


No, don't mind him! Choose me! "Acceptable condition". Who cares about a few annotations, anyway? Perhaps I'll turn out to be just like Harry Potter's potions book. I could be your Half-Blood Prince. I could instruct you in literary insights so grand your mind would ache! Besides, don't you love the idea of reading someone else's handwriting? Surely there's a story there!

Well, I do love the idea of finding some little treasures in the margins. But what if they're distracting? What if they have wretched penmanship and doodle caricatures of classmates in between paragraphs? I'm not sure I could stand that!


Over here! See me? I'm brand new, straight from Amazon. No surprises here. I'm strong and steady, predictable, familiar. I smell like fresh ink and possibility. No torn pages, highlighters, or pencil marks. Never mind if I cost a few cents extra. Since when did $1.99 ever break the bank? 

You do have a point. But how long until my collection of $1.99 splurges add up to a whole book-worth? In just over a month, I'll be attending social functions with the express purpose of picking up free food. I don't have change to spare! I'm on the brink of being a starving college student again! No longer will sandwiches be free and made with love. The tip will not be taken care of and there will not be half a dozen types of cereal to choose from at any given moment. What say you to that, oh leather bound temptress!?

 

Sigh. Being a Hermione Granger can be tough in this economic climate.

Images: one, two, three

Valentine's Day: The Enemy of Adventure

That vague sense of impending doom? Yeah, that's a sign that Valentine's Day is coming up. Never mind that St. Valentine(s) was a hardcore martyr(s)/saint(s) extraordinaire(s), look what happened after his/their death(s)! (Plural confusing you? Click here.) Someone, someone who deserves to be killed by a slew of Cupid's arrows, had the brilliant idea to commercialize his feast. Now there is an entire 24 hours dedicated to romance --- and some of us are on the outside looking in. 
* I have discovered that it is held that Chaucer of Canterbury Tales fame first associated V-day with love. However, it was not commercialized until centuries later.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, yours truly is perpetually single. It's actually pretty fun, when you think about it. I'm in that magical stage of my life where I am learning all about who I am. And you know what? I'm BRILLIANT! When things are meant to happen, they'll happen, so until then, I am going to celebrate my perpetual singleness with nut-free chocolate and decaffeinated Earl Grey. No pity parties for me!

Another thing that is lovely about being single is boys from books. You can enjoy them all, guilt-free. No commitment whatsoever. I can wax poetic about Mr. Knightley one moment, and be completely free to drool over Captain/Lord/Mr. Bradford the next. Boyfriends tie you down. Allow me to demonstrate. Back in my personal Dark Ages, a.k.a. my Jonas Brothers phase, I was hopelessly in love with Nicholas Jerry Jonas. (I just scared myself. How do I know his middle name? HOW DO I STILL REMEMBER THIS GUY'S MIDDLE NAME!?) Apparently my baby-sitter liked him too. (Yes, I was still young enough to have a baby-sitter. Awkward...) Well, she was in a relationship with some guy, don't really know who, and we were talking about boys. Because that's what young girls always talk about with their baby-sitters, right? Anyways, I asked her if she'd dump her boyfriend for Nick Jonas, you know, if Nick Jonas ever randomly showed up in a helicopter, got on one knee, and asked her to go out with him for burgers and milkshakes. (You'd have to be careful with the milkshakes because he has diabetes and you'd have to mind that he didn't overdo it on the sugar.) And you know what she said? NO. Middle school me could hardly believe it.

"But he's NICK JONAS!" I gaped.

My baby-sitter finished putting the last coat of nail polish on my nails (because I was also too young to paint my own nails with any success). "Yeah, but I like *insert boyfriend's nowadays ex-boyfriend's name here*. I wouldn't want to give that up." 

HOW CAN YOU RESIST THAT FACE?

Do you see what being in a relationship does to you? To quote The Princess and the Frog, "Hitchin' ties you down! You just wanna be free, hop from place to place!" We all saw what problems Rose Tyler's pseudo-relationship with Mickey caused when she was adventuring with the Doctor. See, I can't properly enjoy my fictional men if I'm dating! If Nick Jonas showed up in a helicopter, I would be taken. Relationships interfere with adventures. Tumnus asks you for tea, Hagrid tells you you're a wizard, the Doctor grabs your hand and whispers "run", Bilbo hands you the Ring, or a portal opens that can take you to any fictional world of your choosing. Your response? "Sorry, my boyfriend is waiting for me. We're supposed to be going out for texting and scones later. Later." ISN'T THAT UBER LAME!?

You can't go for texting and scones with the Doctor (or Rory) if you're in a relationship. Duh.

The more I think about it, the more I'd like to die a spinster. I could don a fabulous cap like Jane Austen did even though she technically wasn't a widow or spinster yet and I could spoil my nieces and nephews with sweets. Ah, yes. I think I shall die alone. Alone and free. Mmm, yes, I like that plan. Spinsterhood, here I come!

I like adventures, which is why I will end up an old maid.

 DISCLAIMER: This post is dripping with sarcasm and should not be taken literally. The authoress is, in fact, content with her marital status and simultaneously enjoys reading about grand adventures and gallant gentlemen. She does not, however, resent dating, nor does she have any intention of dying an old maid. Furthermore, the authoress extends her most sincere wishes for a happy Valentine's Day to all her readers.

Image Credits: first, second, third, fourth

Bedtime Stories

I may be a legal adult, but I love a good time bedtime story. Yet sometimes, reading a story for myself just won't cut it. There are some nights where all I want is for someone to sit on the end of my bed and read me a chapter or two of The Silver Chair, because I'm a hipster and even if everyone else hates it, it is probably my favorite Narnia book. Yet this never happens. Why? Because my sister is a BUM and doesn't love me, that's why! She says she has to "get some sleep" because she has "school tomorrow". Can't a girl get a bedtime story over here? There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes!

- The Fourth Doctor

May I also add that Tom Baker not only played the fourth Doctor, but Puddleglum, my favorite character from Narnia. My favorite character who also happens to be in The Silver Chair and gives the greatest speech of all time. I mean, I'm not condoning the BBC version of Narnia (it's wretched and will give you nightmares), but the epic is strong with this one.

Anyways, bedtime stories are important. A brief conversation with Emily has confirmed this. Reading to your children at night is priceless. It has developmental benefits, sure, but there is something so utterly magical about being read to as a child. It sets off a creative spark that is kindled throughout childhood and shows its greatest fruits in adulthood. Better yet is when someone weaves together a one-of-a-kind, one-night-only story made out of thin air!

Irony of ironies, it was my turn to tell my sister a bedtime story last night. The poor gal just got braces, and they have hardly been kind to her. Last night, her upper lip was all swollen and she was positively miserable. My dad and I shuffled her off to bed, and while we were laying in the dark, I asked in a small voice, "Do you want a bedtime story?" She gave the affirmative, and thus I began. Once upon, in a land far away, there was a prince...

It was brilliant, if I do say so myself. ("Oh, the cleverness of me!") I threw together this whole story about a selfish prince who was always scowling and had been lured into this tower by a dragon and now had his foot in his own chocolate birthday cake, and I was just getting to the big reveal about how the dragon was actually a cursed princess when my sister fell asleep. I was on the brink of completing the greatest bedtime story ever told, which was full of fantastic one-liners, and she fell asleep. I guess that was the point, but COME ON. I deserved an award for that one, or at least a bit of praise at the end. Tsk, tsk. Sisters. So ungrateful!

Now, I am going to go spoil myself with a few passages of Peter Pan. That unique combination of delightfully happy and unfathomably sad stuff ought to make my day a little more interesting, don't you think?

Ha! The stars are such spazzes!

Side note: Do you realize how many corny quotes from Peter Pan there are in Google Images? Most of them aren't even actually from the book. Clearly, no one realizes how truly depressing, dark, and twisted this novel is. *sigh* No one appreciates literature, not really... (False: Plenty of people do, it's just that sometimes people's sentimental preconceived notions of Peter Pan sadden me.) Operation Spread the Word About Words needs to start NOW.

Image credits: top

HD Love, Jimmies (plural), & the Like

5 Interesting Things You All Ought to Know

-1-

New year, new me, new blog.

 Look around. Isn't it colorful? I am currently working on improving the layout of the blog and making it more functional. I'll be rolling out some more minor changes which will hopefully make this blog easier to navigate. 

-2-

Heather Dixon loves me.

Me, and Marlene. Below is a screenshot to prove it. If you haven't read Heather Dixon's positively enchanting novel Entwined or clicked "follow" for her hysterical blog Story-Monster, I would highly recommend it. She can make me laugh (or swoon) even on the darkest and dreariest of days.

Fangirl captions added for your entertainment.

-3-

Downton is back, ladies n' gents.

While other viewers are trying to keep calm and carry on after Season 3, I am still suffering from post-Season 2 depression. Face it: Best season of Downton Abbey ever. I have professed my love for William and Branson and Downton Abbey before, so I will leave the gushing to my past self. I am looking forward to Season 4 viewing sessions with my family until I return to school. My sisters, mother, and I all make tea and watch it together, and my father inevitably asks for the details the next day. (He's secretly a fan. I just know it.) So far it's more of the same, but the promise of new characters should shake things up relatively soon.

 -4-

On top of Jimmy, there are jimmies!

There's Downton Abbey Jimmy, and then there are jimmies. As of tomorrow, I'll have both! I'm planning to bake some sprinkle-covered cookies over the course of the week, and for some reason the irony of back-to-back Jimmy-ness tickles my funny bone.

Durdurdur I'm Jimmy durdurdur.

-5-

 My sister loves Earl Grey. I repeat: SHE LOVES EARL GREY.

I watched my youngest sister acquire a taste for tea over the past few years, but we had sort of parted ways. She experimented with vanilla chai concoctions while I perfected the art of a perfectly steeped, stirred, and sweetened cup of E.G. She saw me having my "usual" this evening and asked for a sip. She brought the mug to her lips, took a tiny sip, looked me in the eye, smiled, and said, "That was delicious." I promptly made her her own cup and watched her skip off into boiled leaf juice bliss. I'm so proud, guys!!!

The tea was Iroh approved.

On the writing front... All this time off has given me some time to write, which has been glorious. Still in my fairy-tale phase. I may or may not have promised some of my friends at school some finished stories, so I have my work cut out for me. I only have two weeks before I have to head back! My sentiments on the subject look a little like this:

Okay, maybe not that dramatic, but I'm pretty happy right where I am. So there you have it: 5 things you ought to know. Until next time!

Image Credits: 2nd down, 3rd down, 4th down

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Monica's house, 

Not a creature was stirring, 'cept for Monica's mouse.

The words on her screen had been written with care,

In hopes that someday a full story would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While waiting to go Mass in new threads.

And mamma on the couch, and I in my lap,

Had just settled my PC while the others did nap.

When out on tumblr there arose such a clatter,

I saved every image to preserve this dear matter.

Away to a new window I opened like a flash,

Brought up my Pinterest and shouted, "HULK SMASH!"

... except not really, because as I mentioned earlier, everyone is asleep.

Here I am, waiting for Midnight Mass, and writing fairytales. I've successfully downed a cup of Earl Grey and a mug of coffee. I have scrolled through a bazillion pages of gorgeous Frozen concept art to fuel my aforementioned fairytale writing binge. I honestly just want some more writing time for Christmas. Is that too much to ask? Oh, and I want Eleven to stay forever.

Stay? Please? DAT FOG WATCH. DAT VELVET VEST. *dies inside*

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Home Again

Oh my stars, it's Christmas break.

^ Best Doctor Who Christmas special, like, EVER. Brilliant.

Break is just scrumptious. I can't really explain it. It's been a busy succession of tiny little moments that haven't been particularly Christmas-like in nature but I just know that I am on the brink of something magical and sacred and it's exhilarating, honestly. Plus, reading for fun. I'm rereading Mansfield Park. It's even better the second time around. It's as if the characters are all tugging on my sleeve and saying, "Remember me? You've only analyzed half of what I have to offer. Would you care to take a turn about the Room of Literary Bliss?" And then Edmund Bertram gets me enough paper to write a thousand letters back home and I save the most perfectly crisp page just for him and--- I digress.

So, one semester down, one dragon slayed.

OH MY GOOD HEAVENS, I just realized my family is watching Monsters U in the other room!

More posts to come. I promise.

WARNING!

I'm going to be at camp for the next week, and I won't be home most of the following week. You'll have to look elsewhere for your occasional literary and/or geeky fix.


I guess that means it's time to say goodbye, eh?

By the way, I am totally capable of making non-Doctor Who related references. For some reason they are simply the ones that first come to mind. Plus, the fandom makes the gifs and images so goshdarn accessible... You want something else!? *sigh* Fine.

Now stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Oh, what a beautiful morning!

If you really must know, I had the pleasure of seeing Ally, Marlene, and Athena from Charlie and Me over the weekend. As you can imagine, much silliness ensued. There may or may not have been light saber fights involved.

Anywho, Ally gave me a lovely idea! She told me she had gotten up early, made herself a cup of tea, and given herself some time to write. I decided to do the same. I gathered up my favorite Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati mug, the ingredients for a perfect cup of Earl Grey, as well as Ally's graduation gift to me. (This is my cue to gush about how AWESOME my present is.)

Ally got me some "unblockers", or "inspiration dice for writers and storytellers" by Palimpsestic. According to the tag, "these dice feature words and phrases torn directly from a used and abused 1962 copy of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen". Let me just tell you, these things are so cool. They're covered with all sorts of great, story-worthy words ("influence", "horrid man", "young ladies", "conjecture", "evening", etc.)! I tried rolling them all at once, then tried a single roll. I got the word "listen", and next thing I knew I was jotting down character and story ideas at light speed! If you want your own pair, go to http://palimpsestic.etsy.com. (No worries -- I didn't peek, Ally!)

Also, I found a webpage that said this at the top while searching for some background info for my writing.

• Is there a novel in every person?
• Are there stories that have never been told because they seemed unimportant?
• What is the value of the lives of people who will never be famous or have their biographies written?

 BIG QUESTIONS. Questions that maybe I'll answer some day.

So! Moral of the story: Writing in the morning is great, and it's even better with tea.

"Super-heated infusion of free-radicals and tannin, just the thing for healing the synapses..."

My mug. <3

Welcome, Summer

Ladies n' gents, I just graduated on Friday. *cue the fanfare* So much has happened that would be of interest to you readers out there. For example, I won the Great Expectations Award at valediction. My English teacher gave the most amazing speech, wherein I was compared to Austen heroines and presented with so much Pride & Prejudice merchandise I nearly imploded with joy. There was another Darcy encounter (see here and here). It will probably be the last. (Maybe there will be other Austen hero encounters in the future?) We had to sit next to each other for extended periods of time, and I attempted conversation, and... Well, it went something like this conversation, minus the sexual tension. It was just full of AWKWARD.

I also failed epically at defending Matt Smiths' portrayal of the Doctor within the same time frame. Eleven, I am sorry... so sorry.

The night after my graduation, I had this moment with my mom:

 

Since then, I've been alright. Lots of partying, eating, dancing, running around, swimming, being generally crazy. Summer is lovely, and I had forgotten just how wonderful it is. I've been going on my daily walks and making plenty of fun plans, and I'm even leaving for the beach tomorrow! Doesn't that sound like fun!? 

The beach is going to mean lots of writing time, as well as reading time, which I am looking forward to. I have no project to speak of. I intend to join my friend Ally over at Charlie and Me with her plans to having a Write Cleanse experience. Other than that, I'm winging it!

Please pardon my online absence; I've been veryvery busy and I had a lot to do, and I didn't have a minute to explain it all to you. I hope to have plenty of fresh, summery stories to share with you when I get back from vacation! Until then, enjoy the start of this magical season. Read at every chance you get. (In case you're wondering, I'm enjoying a borrowed copy of Percy Wynn: Or Making a Boy of Him.) My first summer recommendation for you all would have to be In the Kingdom of the Fairies: A Memoir of a Magical Summer and a Remarkable Friendship (find it here). My mother read it to my sisters and I when we were young and we devoured it.

I'll let you know when I'm back from vacation. There is a possibility of going to a used book/coffee/tea shop, so wish me luck!!!

Guess I'm not handsome enough to tempt him.

You may or may not remember this post, where I talked about an encounter with this guy who looks like Daniel Vincent Gordh (from "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries") and sort of acts like Darcy (although the question of Darcy-caliber-character remains unresolved).

I play good Darcy. Hehe.

Well, there was another encounter. It goes a little something like this...

So, I'm walking into my AP Exam, lookin' like a boss. I wore a dress and everything. Everyone else is wearing sweatpants and I'm all:

I'm gonna be one fly companion, ladies n' gents. I can't save the world unless I feel confident, and there is nothing like a dress to make me feel kick-butt. I'll probably have to pair it with sensible shoes, biker shorts, and wear 20 hair ties on my wrist, but I'll be ready to defeat evil across the galaxy.

ANYWAYS. I walk up to the door and said Darcy character is on the other side. He's just chilling with like 1 or 2 people, like usual. (*cough*BingleyandCaroline*cough*) So this is what I see in my brain:

And I walk in all like:

I'm heeeeeeeeeeeeere.

And he reaches over and pushes open the door. Not a full-out "I'm opening the door for you in a gentlemanly fashion", but it indicated knowledge of my existence and at least some degree of chivalry.

So after my exam, I go to Panera's with mah BFF and I'm all:

HE SORT OF HELD OPEN THE DOOR FOR ME!

Derp derp derp, we eat our food, I file it away in the cabinet titled "Monica Will Not Be Perpetually Single and Sometimes People Are Nice" folder.

Now, fast forward to my second AP Exam this morning.

This time, I wear sweatpants like everyone else cuz I overslept my alarm. First one there anyways. Guidance counselor shows up. She unlocks the door, I come inside, bunches of people arrive. Put my social skills of an agoraphobic lobster to work. Then, as I'm about to head back to the back room to stalk the other people, guidance counselor is all like:

"Can you hold open the door to let people in? Otherwise it stays locked."

Everyone deserts me, and I'm left standing there, waiting for the late kids, with the realization that the closest thing I've ever had to a Darcy moment was a fluke. He held the door because otherwise, me and the three people behind me wouldn't have been able to get in.

My initial reaction:

Followed by:

forever alone.

Oh well.

I'm posting this before the wifi gets me.

Did I mention I'm doing Camp NaNoWriMo this April?

I will be continuing my Irish novel that I started for the 100 for 100 Challenge. I am preparing for more historical inaccuracies, creative liberties, poorly fleshed out characters, spotty dialogue, all the usual marks of a crummy first draft! But you know what? I don't care. I'm going to be too busy watching British television!

Speaking of British television, can we talk Doctor Who for a minute? Because I'm pretty sure Clara Oswin Oswald is going to be blimey brilliant.

Fantastic start to the second half of the season. The only con is that I'm not the one doing the adventuring. My family doesn't understand how much I am in love with Eleven, and I don't think they ever will. But I swear, when she asks if he's protecting her, and he gives the affirmative... I die inside. I love it when guys are protective. Being the eldest sibling, you do a lot of protecting. I wouldn't mind someone else having my back for a change.

I can't wait to see what Camp NaNo and DW have in store for me. Summer is coming way too fast, so I'm going to try and enjoy every waking moment of this April. As this year winds down, I become keenly aware of the lack of TARDIS in my life. *sigh* Until that day, I'm stuck progressing at a normal rate, always too fast or too slow. Hopefully I can hit my 20,000 April word count goal before time runs out!

On a final note...

She cried during Chapter ELEVEN? And it's written by AMELIA WILLIAMS? MOFFAT.

(Brownie points for getting the post title.)

On Time

I would love to travel back in time. Traveling forward would be cool too, but back? I have a list of all the places in history that the Doctor and I are going to visit.

Yes, there is a legitimate, albeit mental, list.

This is actually a picture of me and the Doctor. I love wearing stripes, and mustard. I read every inch of the paper, religiously. I'm *almost* ginger in the sunlight (more of an Anne Shirley auburn, but I'll take what I can get). And some say I bear a resemblance to Amy Pond. Or rather, SHE bears a resemblance to ME. So this is actually a picture of us adventuring. Accept it.

However, I am currently lacking in the TARDIS department. I'm trying to be patient, but while the past isn't going anywhere, I'm not getting any older, and it can be very difficult to run down all those corridors at an advanced age. No matter. I love catching glimpses of the past, which is why my Google Docs account is a blimey beautiful thing.

Pretend it says "Google Docs" instead of "Police Box". Kay?

Some days, when that "inspiration train" I mentioned in a previous post is miles away, I like to leaf through my old stuff. It makes me smile, laugh, frown, blush, and think. I rediscover the best and uncover some of the worst. The best part is when I get caught up in my own story and think, "Wow! This is pretty awesome!" I'm not saying it happens often, but when it does, it's a pretty surreal experience.

I would just like to encourage everyone out there to save every last bit of writing they can. Will you regret writing some of it? You bet! I have these old notebooks from freshman year, full of snippits of a fantasy story I was attempting to write. The writing was horrid. I can only read tiny bits without turning twenty shades of scarlet. Do I regret keeping them? No! (Well, maybe a little. This sophomore kind of found my notebook and identified it... by my handwriting... OUCH.) Point is, old stories are a window to the past. Totally worth hanging onto.

In her book, Writing Magic, Gail Carson Levine writes:

"I used to think, long ago, that when I grew up, I'd remember what it felt like to be a child and that I'd always be able to get back to my child self. But I can't. When you become a teenager, you step onto a bridge. You may already be on it. The opposite shore is adulthood. Childhood lies behind. The bridge is made of wood. As you cross, it burns behind you. If you save what you write, you still won't be able to cross back to childhood. But you'll be able to see yourself in the lost country. You'll be able to wave at yourself across that wide river. Whether or not you continue to write, you will be glad to have the souvenirs of your earlier self."

So true. Unless, of course, you're Peter Pan. However, he has numerous other issues, including being mean and prideful. And that whole not wanting grow up thing? It really is his greatest pretend.
* Note: If you haven't read Peter Pan, you MUST. Let me know if you are: I will send you my condensed biography of the author, J.M. Barrie, so that you can understand how truly sad the story really is! Huzzah!

I love Thomas Kinkade Disney paintings. ^_^

While I go and try and suck some inspiration from my old musings, go compile a portfolio of your old work. It may help you in the future - or at least make your day a little brighter.

And please, if you don't know who the Doctor is or why I've posted a picture of an old fashioned police box, CLICK THIS LINK AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT.

*squee!*

My first tag! Ladies n' gentlemen, I have been tagged! Tagged, I tell you! It's so exciting.

I was tagged by Treskie of Occasional Randomness, who runs a super cute blog. Checking out her blog has revealed that I am not the only Whovian/Sherlockian/Fantom of the Opera (I totes just made that up)/lover of letters in this world! Her blog is an explosion of color and happiness. I'm so glad she tagged me, because scanning through her posts brought a smile to my face.

Now, I am faced with her challenge: answer ten of her questions about yours truly. I'm thrilled to have an opportunity to talk about myself. I like those opportunities too much for my own good. Dear Lord, teach me humility!

Rules

* Acknowledge the person who passed the award to you and provide their link.

* Include the award logo on your blog.

* Answer the ten questions posted below.

* Make up your own ten questions for the next people.

* Nominate blogs and link those you have especially enjoyed reading. The number you can select is up to you.

* Notify each individual that you have nominated them.

Now, unto the questions!

1. Do you like waffles?
Are you kidding! I love 'em! So much, it shouldn't be legal. Belgian waffles with whipped cream, powdered sugar, and fresh fruit? My downfall. Mmm-mmm!

2. What does the word, "DoooWEEEEOOOOO!" mean to you? 
It means that something magical and wonderful is about to happen. It means that I'm about to go on an adventure, and that I'm going to smile, laugh, and cry along the way. But sometimes, words can't express these feelings. Sometimes, I need an audio-visual. Would this help?

3. How tall are you?
Five foot, three and three quarter inches. The three quarter inches are essential. Practically every guy towers over me. It makes hugging interesting, considering how much I love hugging.

4. On a scale of one to ten, ten being the greatest, how much do you need coffee?
This question is actually quite difficult. See, I get caffeine headaches... but love coffee. And I've been craving a cup all evening. So seven on the "I want to drink it" scale, and zero on the "my body can handle it" scale.

5. Would you like a Hiddleston hug?
Yeah, sure. I'm not a Hiddleston fan (yet), but he seems pretty awesome, so sure!

6. On average, how many books a year do you read?
I honestly have no idea. You'd think it would be a ton, but I am super busy throughout the year, so I might get through anywhere from one to twenty in a month! It really depends on my mood and my schedule.

7. Who's your favorite musical artist?
That's a difficult question. Not counting bands (artist being singular)... I love A Fine Frenzy, Regina Spektor, and Sara Bareilles.

8. How do you feel about black and white movies?
Like I need to watch more of them.

9. Favorite type of food? (i.e. Italian, Chinese, American...)
Probably Italian. Did I mention we got an Olive Garden fifteen minutes away now? SCORE.

10. Can you count to five? ... In Swahili!?
No. But I can sing The Circle of Life in Swahili. At least, I'll be able to once my chorus practices some more.

I'm gonna be honest, I don't really have anyone to tag, except for my friends Ally, Marlene, and Athena at Charlie and Me. So I guess I will only be tagging them, collectively. ^_^

Since we're friends in "real life", this should make the questions interesting. I think I'll try and set the stage for y'all to see some of the reasons why I love them so much in real life! So, without further ado:

1. Genie appears! Three wishes! What are they?
2. Who would win, sharks or ghosts?*
3. If you could only wear one color with all of your neutrals for a year, what would you choose?
4. Zombie apocalypse! You're stuck with the last three characters you read, wrote, or saw. What are your chances of survival?
5. What would be your plan of action if you were in The Hunger Games?
6. What is the most unproductive thing you've done this week?
7. Can you recite or sing the alphabet backwards?
8. Fruity candy, or chocolate?
9. What do you do when you're stressed?
10. If you were stuck on an island with five fictitious characters, who would you choose to be stuck with and why? 

* This question was posed during my co-op. I think there would be a stalemate because they can't do much to each other physically. Or can they?

BREAKING NEWS!

I am on track for the 100-4-100 Challenge. I'm planning an update post so I can tell you about my progress. Just know that I am filling my daily quota and enjoying myself!  

Let the festivities commence!

Guess what, everyone!? I have off for Christmas break!

Sound the trumpets, ring the bells, burst out into spontaneous song! Nothing but Christmas spirit, New Year shenanigans, and other festive activities to come! Wondering what's on my agenda? I shall tell you!

1. Eat food. Not just any food, mind you. This morning, two giant muffin/scone/bagel/cookie baskets arrived from my favorite local restaurant. One of them was delivered by a classmate, and I was conveniently still moping around in my Disney princess pajamas, so naturally I stayed in the kitchen while my mom did all the talking. Regardless, our fridge is overflowing with baked goods. AND I CAN'T EAT ANY OF IT. I gave up dessert for Advent, and I am counting down the minutes until I can feast on scones and tea.
2.  Do homework. Yes, I have it. My AP Government teacher assigned us the biggest chapter of the year to do over break. Hoping to knock that one out ASAP...
3. Watch Downton re-runs (specifically, ones with William Mason in them). My mother and sister may be in love with Matthew Crawley, Tom Branson may be Dreamy McFly, but William is where it's at. I like to pretend Season 2 never happened, we're happily engaged, and I own a horse. Cuz he's good with horses and I always wanted a horse so therefore I should have a horse. Did I mention we're engaged?

I've been in love with him since he walked on camera for all of thirty seconds in the first episode. Even though my sisters tease him relentlessly, he's still #1.
4. Watch Emma. My friend Anna got it for my sister and I for Christmas. We opened it in my car, started screaming, and called Anna on the phone and left her a message of us screaming.
5. Celebrate Christmas, of course! That means attending Mass several times over, opening gifts, rocking out to Christmas carols, having my best friends' family over, and watching the Doctor Who Christmas special. Which leads us to 6...
6. Freak out over Doctor Who. New companion. New outfit. New theme song. New TARDIS. Should I go on?

8. Have a Happy New Year. We're visiting two different sets of cousins, which means an excursion to the beautiful Longwood Gardens followed by a murder mystery dinner theater. *sigh* Holidays are great.
7. WRITE! Most of my free time is merely an illusion, even during break, but that doesn't mean I'm not fitting in time to write! In fact, I'm planning a session for this evening. I do best just before bed... Too tired to criticize myself, my mind filled with the stuff of dreams. My best work comes after midnight.

How about you? Any plans for the break?

Welp, I'm beat.

I WON NANOWRIMO!

*applause*

I finished a day early, too. Now I just have to order my winner's T-shirt. My mum is letting me purchase one as a reward for my efforts. My best friend baked me a whole batch of brownies to celebrate my victory. (They were unbelievably chocolatey. It was insane.) My dear sister didn't even complain when I stayed up late on the 29th to just get the gosh darn thing over with. I've got an awesome team behind me, that's for sure.

If you're wondering why I haven't posted all month, I would think it's obvious. I've been NaNoing! That, or watching Doctor Who and Downton Abbey. Or doing homework. Basically, a cycle of stressing over NaNo, completing college apps, doing homework, and then de-stressing with some quality British television. And if anyone wants to talk Downton with me, I'd be happy to oblige. Next up is the Christmas episode, and I'm still upset over the last one. I mean... LAVINIA? WHY!? I hate writers. Oh wait, I am one. *blush*

Dude, check it.

 

You can see where life got crazy, and the insane sprint to the finish line over the last few days. Three days in a row, I came home, sat down at the computer, and did nothing but write for hours on end, taking short Facebook/food/run around the house breaks. It was intense. The writing was awful. But I DID IT. Huzzah for yours truly!

Now, for your reading pleasure, the best and worse of my 2012 NaNoWriMo novel, If and When.

Obviously, this is all copyright of yours truly. Anything plaguerized is ILLEGAL. Not that it's good enough to steal. *sigh* Forget it.

THE GOOD 

• "Try to look inconspicuous, she thought. She wished she could say the last word aloud. Inconspicuous. It tasted like chocolate; New words always did." 
• Why I like it: I used the image of words have flavor several times in the novel, and I thought it really worked well within the context of the book. Not to mention Anthony has chocolate brown eyes. Coincidence? I think NOT! 
•  Aubrey’s mouth clamped shut. Words, words! Her mouth opened up just enough to let one tumble out of her mouth.
      “Inquisitive.”
      Dimitri’s eyebrows managed to go up even higher. “Excuse me?”
      “Yes. I... I read. Books, I mean. I read books.” She gulped.
• Why I like it: I thought it was funny. You're allowed to disagree.
• Aubrey looked up and into the pale face of the sky and wondered what stars looked like. She had read so much about them… They were supposed to be bright, twinkling orbs of light. There were so many poems about them. If Aubrey remembered correctly, they were supposed to be romantic.
• Why I like it: In my story world, there are lots of factories. It occurred to me when Aubrey went outside with her friend, Anthony, that the pollution would block the sky... and the stars. Anyone who reads knows that stars come up a lot. The writing here wasn't splendirific or anything like that, but the concept was cool.

THE BAD

• Suddenly the shacks around them weren’t just unsightly, but eerily still.
• Why it stinks to high heaven: Sometimes my grammar faltered during the month. 

 

• The sky was a bruise, black and blue and bordering purple, while streaks of smog streaked across the sky like scars. 
• Why it stinks to high heaven: The concept? The sky is a combination of black, blue, and purple. Bruise! Dark clouds. Scars! Brilliant! Except... Ew, now everyone is thinking about wounds, oozing puss and nastiness. Gross.

More on NaNo later. Our football team made state play-offs for the first time in history, so I've got to get up bright and early to cheer my little heart out and play my xylophone like there ain't no tomorrow. Until then, I leave you with the most adorable thing ever. And before you ask, I didn't go looking for it. David Tennant is a pure coincidence. Although I'm certainly not complaining...

I mean, I could have played fish girl.

Soak up the adorbs. You're smiling. Admit it. No matter how cheesy that was, you're smiling. Don't hide it: EMBRACE THE SMILEY FACE. There you go. :)

* FOR AFTER YOU'VE WATCHED THE ABOVE VIDEO: Don't you love how the sign beneath the girls apartment is Juliet's Something-or-Other, and then the sign behind him switches to Romeo? Too. Cute.