Introducing...The Characters that Fill My Brain, Part 3: Dehmatthir

Hello there everyone! Well, it's about that time...time for another one of my character posts! :D (Honestly I think these are more helpful for me than they are interesting for you...it is really much more helpful than I thought it would be to get all my thoughts together in one place about these people.) Today I shall introduce you to a man named Dehmatthir (yes, I know it's weird. It's pronounced dem-AH-teer) and...well, yes. That's about it. 

Age: 

During the main trilogy (which is the only "era" of him we are dealing with, though I wrote a prequel about him too), he is in his mid-forties, I believe. 

Appearance/"Casting": 

Dehmatthir is a very grim, solid sort of man. He is tall, but not exceedingly over average height. He has dark brown/auburn (but mostly brown) hair that is usually long and unkempt, and a short beard that he really SHOULD take better care of. He is often dirty and sweaty, and values physical, manual labor--it takes his mind off other things. He hardly ever smiles (which I will explain), and always dresses practically, almost always with his sword at his side. I haven't found anyone who really looks like him...yet. But I'm sure there's someone...I mean, a dude with dark hair and a beard...and blue eyes...how hard can it be to find someone who looks like that? 

Family:

So, Dehmatthir was orphaned as an infant and taken in by an old wizard named Lanas. He has lived at the castle of Bdellith ever since, and the wizard sort of became his guardian and mentor. At the time of the trilogy, he has no family other than Lanas, and he can't even remember. He was, for several years, a captive of "the bad guy" and was rescued, brought back to his home, but still suffers some side effects, one of which is a bit of amnesia. So he really doesn't remember much. Did he ever know who his family was? He couldn't say. 

“What do you think about our plans, Dehmatthir?” 

            “They’re wonderful, except for the minor detail that we don’t know what one we will use, 

or as the case may be, which ones we will have to use.”  Dehmatthir said derisively.

Friends:  

Naturally, Lanas, the wizard, is his oldest friend, more of a father figure to him. He is also good friends with Darith, the king of Bdellith, as well as the captain of the Bdellith army. The three of them have always been friends, since childhood. Dehmatthir is not exactly a "friend" of Rhondin and Allyn, but he would secretly do anything for them. To Allyn, he is a strong (albeit sad) father figure, since she never had a dad, just her grandpa. To Rhondin he's more like an older brother or an uncle. 

“I’m not insane,” Dehmatthir said.  “I promise.  

And I will not do anything to harm you, 

cross my heart, hope to die and get run over by William Shakespeare driving a pickup truck 

wearing lederhosen and singing ‘Don’t Stop Believin’.”

            Allyn blinked.  “Wha—Shakespeare?  Who’s wearing lederhosen, him or the truck?”  

Skills (or Un-Skills): 

Dehmatthir is an insanely talented swordsman and, overall, a good fighter. He has honed his skills since childhood and, after the amnesia, that is all that he really remembered how to do. So he kept doing it. He's an excellent horseman, a great practical joker, and a decent cook. He's really bad at cleaning things or keeping things clean, though. He's also very sarcastic and can seem bitter, but never really means his friends any harm. He wouldn't hesitate to put himself in danger or even die for one of his friends' sake.

The wizard snorted.  “I,” he said, “have just been fighting practically all night, 

have not had any sleep at all, and been given numerous minor wounds.  I feel wonderful!"  

Fears:

Himself. He is always afraid that he will lose more of his memory; that he will wake up tomorrow and even what he does remember will be gone. He fears the death or injury of his friends, and he is terrified of bugs (especially bees, spiders, and centipedes). 

Oh, bother,” said Rhondin. 

            Dehmatthir continued dragging him along rather noisily, grumbling under his breath.   

He burst through the door to their room with a shout of, “ALLYN!”

            She yelped, startled, and jumped up as he approached, 

the prince protesting as his ear was yanked.  “What?”

            “Did you take any part in this?”

            “Well, Rhondin—OW!”  

Dehmatthir had grasped her ear as well, in his other hand, glaring down at both of them.

Loves (or Likes, I suppose): 

The healthy smell of sweat and dirt and good honest work. His sword in his hands and the comforting weight of it at his side. Black coffee. Pretty much any kind of food, but especially food cooked out in the wild over a fire. Moments when he forgets that he has lost his memory; when he is so distracted that he almost forgets his troubles. He loves to spend time with his friends, even though he might not seem like it. He also loves it when Allyn gets the better of Rhondin, and encourages her very much. 

Five words/phrases that describe this character's personality 

(to prevent me from rambling any more):

Strong, sarcastic, grim, angry, willing to sacrifice.

Songs that remind me of this character 

(for any reason, this does not mean that I necessarily support or agree with the musical group): 

In Layers--Steve Taylor and the Goliath Foil

King of Pain--The Police

Ghost in the Moon--Jars of Clay

Lazarus--Bellarive

And Lastly...a collage!

Introducing...The Characters that Fill My Brain, Part 2: Prince Rhondin

Can you believe it's October 22 already??? I can't...I mean, a few days ago (it seems) the school year was starting and now I have just finished up with my midterm exams! How is that even possible? 

Anyway. That's beside the point, but still a valid topic of conversation...but today's topic is the second part of my blog series about my books' main-ish characters! Today, I shall endeavor to introduce you to Prince Rhondin (if I can find him, he might have run off somewhere to find a snack).

Age: 

In the first book, the prince (I ALWAYS call him "the prince," so get used to it) is sixteen. At the very end of everything, I believe he is nineteen. He matures more in character than in age, though--at the beginning he is, I will admit, a rather bratty, entitled young man, but when certain *things* happen, over time, he gets much better. He would never dream of putting himself before his friends and his people in the end. 

Appearance/"Casting": 

"...short, unruly hair that looked like it couldn't decide 

whether it was dark blond or light brown, 

but was starting to tend more toward brown.  

He had gray-brown eyes that almost gave an air of innocence...

his jaw was angular and square, and he had a sort of pointy nose."

Of course that was in the very beginning when he was still quite young. He got taller over the three years of the trilogy, and yes, his hair finally decides to be brown. As far as "casting" goes, I have not found a single person on this earth that looks like Rhondin. 

Family:

Well, of course, his father is the king of their country, and his mother is the queen. He doesn't have any siblings, but he does have an uncle, the king's brother. Now, Rhondin's uncle is named Nevl, and he is actually the king of the northern half of their country. You see, the country (which is called Bdellith, which is an awful name but I love the place) was split peacefully into two portions, the north and the south, and each brother rules one half of the collective country, though they are essentially two different places. 

Rhondin nodded thoughtfully.  “Yeah, that sounds like Uncle Nevl.

  Be careful with him—if he ever offers you coffee, don’t.”

          “Don’t what?”

          “Just don’t.  You know, elephants and all.  It doesn’t go.”

          “Elephants?  Go where?” 

Friends: 

For one, Allyn, who was introduced in the last post.  They get along pretty well, at least, they do once they stop hating each other. They still nag at each other and really, really annoy each other quite often, and there's a lot of teasing, but they're still good friends. Rhondin doesn't have any siblings, so he enjoys having a friend who isn't intimidated by his position as a prince. He is also friends with his country's captain of the guard, who is sort of like an uncle to him, and several other soldiers or servants in the castle. Oh, and of course, how could I forget! He is also a good friend of a man named Dehmatthir (yes I know it's hard to pronounce: here: dem-AH-teer), who has been around for a long time (more on him next week though). They have a lot of fun. 

“You woke up!” yelled Rhondin.

          Dehmatthir raised an eyebrow at him.  

“Thank you for stating the blindingly obvious.”

Rhondin finally got up to join them, stuffing a piece of bread into his mouth as he went. 

He chewed and swallowed as quickly as possible, and then immediately hiccuped. "Aw, come on!" 

Dehmatthir and Allyn turned and looked at him.

"That's what you get," said Dehmatthir. 

They turned back to the window.

Skills (or Un-Skills): 

Rhondin is a pretty good swordsman, especially for his age. He's also a good rider, has a decent singing voice, is a great dancer, and is generally good with animals. He tends to be a little clumsy sometimes, and is horrible at keeping a straight face, but he's great at hiding, climbing, and generally is a very active person. He can't cook at all, but he's great at snitching snacks from the castle kitchen. He also isn't the greatest at small talk, but is always good at lifting people's spirits and lightening the mood of their situations. 

Fears:

Heights, or rather, falling from them. He's terrified of girls (well, to some extent...he would say that he's scared of "girly" girls), and even the smallest mention of anything romantic disgusts him (though maybe that's a "dislike" not a "fear"). He also has some fear of responsibility, growing up watching his father rule the kingdom--it's a huge responsibility that he's sure he'll never be ready for. 

Loves (or Likes, I suppose): 

Good food in abundance (particularly cookies and other sweets), lively music, a casual dance, teasing in good fun, his horse, laughing so hard that he can't breathe, the feeling of victory, not brushing his hair in the morning, sleeping in, knowing that his parents (particularly his father) are proud of him. 

Five words/phrases that describe this character's personality 

(to prevent me from rambling any more):

Loyal, cheerful, easygoing, brave, never gives up.

Songs that remind me of this character 

(for any reason, this does not mean that I necessarily support or agree with the musical group, and nor does it mean that the song is EXACTLY like my character, it may have several lines that are "right" or could just have the right "feel."): 

Jars of Clay--Boys (Lesson One)

For King and Country--Fix My Eyes

Coldplay--Every Teardrop is a Waterfall

The Afters--Moments Like This

And Lastly...a collage!

Introducing...The Characters that Fill My Brain, Part 1: Allyn

Well, it's been a while since I actually (*cough*) posted anything much aside from some poetry bits and that sort of thing. So, I decided that it is time to start something. I have been mulling about this post series idea for several weeks now and it's finally gonna happen, folks! I plan to have a series of weekly/bi-weekly posts about different main to semi-main characters in my books, just by way of "introductions" to these people, as well as a place for me to assemble my ideas of pictures, music, and other inspirations that I have for these characters. I'm not sure exactly how many of these posts there will be, but there will be probably 6 to 10...thereabouts.

Anyhoo, here we go, embarking on the first one!  (Total Side Note: at first, I was reluctant to do this because I was all like "But WhAT iF sOMeOne StEaLS mY IdEaS?" and then I realized: Uhhh, they won't. It's not like the whole world reads my blog after all. Plus, if anyone did, I have all the background info anyway, but that's beside the point.) Here we go! *All the pictures I use are taken from either Pinterest, Unsplash, or my own personal photos...see "disclaimer" page

The first character I would like to introduce to you is the main character of my trilogy, the first main character that I really wrote, and her name is Allyn Turner.

Since I am a very rambly person, I decided that I had better make categories of characteristics that I can fill in for everyone! 

Age: 

Allyn is 15 at the beginning of the trilogy, though she could be considered to be very "mature" in her behavior for being fifteen years old. She is 18 at the end of the trilogy, all grown up...*sniffs*

Appearance/"Casting": 

So originally Allyn was based off of my appearance, but that was back when I was, well, younger and her character was less developed. As I grew up, she grew less like me, I think, and, though of course she probably looks "similar," with curly brown hair and brown eyes, she doesn't look quite like me, not her face. I have not been able to find any real person who actually looks like how I envision Allyn (which is why I only use pictures that are from the back or almost-side). She is often either raising or furrowing her eyebrows, for whatever reason. She is of very average height and build...and is, I guess you could say, just your average sort of girl. 

Family:

Allyn was adopted by a single woman, a quirky chemistry professor, who wasn't married but decided, "Hey, who's to stop me from adopting a daughter?" She had always wanted a daughter, but had never married, so...there you go. Allyn's childhood was spent living with her mother, Elisabeth Turner, and with her grandfather, Thomas Turner, a widower who had only one child. The three of them live quite comfortably together, and they are happy--Allyn doesn't have any difficulty with the fact that she was adopted; in fact, she doesn't mind at all. Thomas and Elisabeth Turner--her grandpa and mother--are, in her eyes, just the same as a biological family would feel. 

Friends:  

In OUR world, which is where the Turners live, Allyn doesn't have any "particular friends." She has friends, acquaintances and such from school, people she gets along with well and enjoys their company, but it wasn't until the time that her first adventure happened that she began to have very good friends. Probably her best friend is Prince Rhondin (who I promise I will do a post about next), despite their...well, they banter a lot, but in the end they are such good friends that they would never dream of hurting each other.

Allyn held up a hand to high-five him. “At least we survived!”

            The prince stared blankly at her.  “Uh…what are you doing?”

            “In my world, when people are glad or win something, they do high-fives.  

You would just hit my hand, like it’s two people clapping instead of one.”

            “Oh.” Looking sheepish, he raised a hand and whacked hers nice and hard. 

Then he grinned.  “Hey, that’s fun!”

￣

“Oh, so you think it’s so funny, do you, Allyn?”  

Then he did a double take.  

“ALLYN?  WHAT—HOW—WHO—WHY—WHEN—

WHERE BY NEVL’S PANTS DID YOU COME FROM?”

“Hello Rhondin,” Allyn replied, grinning in satisfaction. 

Skills (or Un-Skills): 

Allyn is a pretty good archer, or at least, she is once she is trained...she has a good eye for shooting and depth perception, and is an excellent rider (on horseback) as well. She is also a strong swimmer and loves the water. She isn't a very good dancer, but she would like to learn, and, while she isn't the best at handling a sword, she can handle one in a pinch. She is also good with computers, but of course, on her adventures, there really aren't any computers...

Fears:

Strangers, being alone in dark corridors, getting lost, being stuck in a fight without help, Elisabeth worrying about her, her grandpa's health declining. 

Loves (or Likes, I suppose): 

Music! (She has an eclectic collection.) Horses. Comfortable, flexible clothing, Pop-tarts and any sort of pastry, strawberries, extra ponytail holders, archery, reading, waking up before her alarm sounds, the beach, small downtown streets, coffee with sugar and cream, and lots more...

Five words/phrases that describe this character's personality 

(to prevent me from rambling any more):

Loyal, adventurous, willing to try her best, curious, feels "at home" when she is with her loved ones, not at a physical place.

Songs that remind me of this character 

(for any reason, this does not mean that I necessarily support or agree with the musical group): 

Iona "Edge of the World"

Switchfoot "This is Home"

Charlie Peacock "Lie Down in the Grass"

The (old) Newsboys "Something Beautiful"

And Lastly...a collage!

2018 Tolkien Blog Party Tag!

Wow, I can't believe that it's almost the end of September already! It feels like just a week ago that it was September last time...ah well, that's beside the point. 

The point is that two days ago was September 22nd, which happens to be the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, which happens to be the start of the sixth annual Tolkien blog party, hosted by the lovely Hamlette at The Edge of the Precipice! This blog party includes a very fun tag, which I confess I thought I was too busy to do this year, but as I have been struck by a sudden cold and have no inclination to get up off the couch, it seemed like the perfect opportunity! :D I would definitely recommend participating...it's immense fun! So, without further ado, I shall stop wasting time and actually answer the questions! 

1.  What's your favorite Middle-earth story/book?

I think The Fellowship of the Ring. For some reason that one has always been my favorite, where there's still lots of lighthearted "hobbit talk" and the whole fellowship is together, as opposed to the other two books, where they are separated into a couple groups. Of course, The Hobbit is amazing too, because it just is and always will be--there's more chatty humor and witty banter, I think, in The Hobbit, which is always fun. 

2.  Do you have a favorite subplot?

I'm not sure if this technically counts as a subplot, but I love the whole section in the books where Frodo plans his move away from Hobbiton to Buckland. That whole part, basically from Frodo's departure at Bag End to the Fog on the Barrow-Downs, is really fun! It fleshes out the story and what exactly is going on, and I like how planned and precise all of the hobbits' events were...Frodo was moving to Buckland to avoid suspicion of "disappearing," and that whole section when the four hobbit join forces and continue together was great. Sadly, we missed that entire bit, along with Farmer Maggot, the old forest, and Tom Bombadil in the movies...

3.  What's your favorite theme in Tolkien's books?  (Can be in one specific story, or overall.)

I like how everyone is essential, in really all of his writings, especially the Middle-Earth ones. Every single character has a purpose and nobody is left out. Some serve more obvious purposes than others, but everyone contributes to the story and has some special way that they function as a person. Nobody is "extra" or put in just for comic relief.

4.  Do you have a favorite weapon from Middle-earth?

Sting all the way! 

5.  Would you like to be a hobbit?

Absolutely! I could eat like seven meals a day, be surrounded by my family and friends, and never have to bother putting shoes on to go outside! 

6.  Do you have a favorite romance/couple?

Hmm...although Tolkien never wrote about it in detail (or if he did, I don't know it...maybe he did, but I haven't heard so), I have always liked Elrond and the story of how his wife was almost killed by orcs (or some other foul beasts) and he wasn't able to heal her, so he sent her "into the west" for protection. I think that their story could be really nice if we got to see the whole thing. On a more down-to-earth level, though, Sam and Rosie are just so adorable! They're so happy together...and that makes me happy. 

7.  What's your favorite Middle-earth creature?  (Can be "real" or "imaginary.")

Hmm...I like horses a lot, but not just the regular old horses, the Shadowfax kind...oh, and Ents. I like the Ents, even though they are reeeeeeeaallllllyyyyyy sloooooowww sometimes. 

8.  What character do you look the most like?

Well. Hmmm...I guess, since I'm a girl and I have dark hair, I would have to say Arwen. However, you will most often find me making faces like Bilbo...

9.  Are there any books about Middle-earth or Professor Tolkien (but not written by him) you recommend?

Someone might have already said this one, but the Tolkien Dictionary by David Day is super helpful. It even tells us the names of the two blue wizards! 

10.  List up to ten of your favorite lines/quotations from the Middle-earth books and/or movies.

"Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!" 

-The Hobbit, Inside Information

"It was at that point that Bilbo stopped.  

Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did.  

The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it.  

He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, 

before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait."

-The Hobbit, Inside Information

Well, I guess that's about it! That was fun! Thank you, Hamlette, for hosting, and Happy Tolkien Week! :) 

I have no idea where this came from, but it's fitting...

Poetry Snippets/Stuff That Happens in Writing Class

Well, the first semester is under way! Here I am after the first full week of classes, still alive and kicking. I have my share of complaints, as I always do, but hey, things are MUCH better than they were last year! And I even somewhat enjoy my writing class (which I suppose is a good sign, since that's...my major). So, since I have been running out of ideas for posts, here are some snippets of poetry that we have been writing in class. It's not all mine, so forgive the cheesy, stupid bits...but the way it came together was cool, even if the actual poetry is lame-o.

If you've ever played Telestrations, we did something similar to that. Every student started off by describing a color they had seen recently, a striking color, and then passed the paper on. The next student added a line or two, inspired by the first bit. Then they folded over the top so that the third student would only see the second bit, and so forth. It was pretty cool, even though most of the poems ended up being rather strange. (As a side note, I did not take part in the writing of all of these, all credit due to my classmates.)

It was a very interesting and entertaining exercise...we didn't produce any of what you'd call actual art, but of course, we are just students, after all, and it was just an exercise to sort of get us comfortable writing in that setting. It was fun, anyway. I do apologize for the angsty, dramatic college student feel that some of these have...but it is quite fun to see how everyone's ideas fit together!

When the sun sets, 
The sky turns bright
Like golden chrysanthemums 
Finally bursting through their buds on a fall day.
A sun as huge as the sky, sending heatwaves below, 
Bringing misery to those who bask in its rays.

The glistening sun made it sparkle like the sea.

Moving as swift and confident as birds navigating through the sky.
A great river flowing fiercely through its environment.

It bursts its banks, sweeping along pebbles, plants, debris

Ravaging the earth and leaving black water in its wake.

A beautifully faint white dancing alone in the night

Like a young maiden beckoning to her suitor, twirling in a cotton dress of white. 

A tranquil snowbed with a glittering shine, 

Wind slinks on the snowbed, lifting the crystals

To shine with the stars.

The bright lone light of moonlight at midnight reflecting

Off of windows and trees, luminating the darkness around us. 

Delicate white moths darting around, striking a 

Contrast to the silent hour of midnight.

Yet there is no lamp, no flame, to guide them

As they fan out, filling the night, aimlessly fluttering from dark to dark.

As the world slumbers, they actively follow the moonlight,

The ball of fire which looms over the horizon, the enemy.

Flowers as red as if they'd been dipped in paint, 

As if they were made from a strawberry's skin, 

Like drops of blood upon snow, 

Petals danced in the wind before a gray sky.

My lips cracked and red continued to bloom, 

I tried to gain purchase on the snowy ground,

But only won small battles against the monolith of white.

It hurt but the beauty before me was hypnotizing. 

Bone--the white was like bone, 

Like the bones aching in my hands, my feet.

Everything ached, but the sharper pain

In my heart prevailed--I had to make it.

I would make it. 

Shining silver with a tarnished touch,

Antique, old but new,

Glossy and gray.

It shines like a star just fading away at dawn's peak.

Like a lantern, released by a child, 

To bring their wishes up to heaven.

A single candle flickered, lonely, 

And it's yellow light filled the empty room.

I sat at the red light as the electric blue Jeep drove by--

It made my black car look blacker than normal, 

As if my car was painted with a black hole, 

Swallowing all the light around it, pulling it in on itself.

My turn signals were blinking stars in a cloudless night sky,

Away from city noise and the blur of streetlights.

Only the stars remained in the darkness.

My head buzzed and my eyes cried,

And I shut everything from the blurs, the stars,

The lights that never, ever leave.

In the darkness, I could finally breathe.

And one last poem...this one was written solely by meself, but in an interesting way. We had three sheets of paper, each a torn-out page from different magazines. One page, I highlighted nouns, one verbs, and one adjectives, and then, from those words (though I added just a couple), we wrote some sort of poem. 

The culprit escaped, after murdering the dentist,

That medical swordsman who stabbed but lost.

Bullet points magnify a complex tattoo,

A toothbrush, a soft drink--evidence.

The remorseful actress has vanished, 

The nagging customer emerges to watch.

The culprit is on a bungee cord--he will not escape for long.

So that's what I've been doing...along with studying Shakespeare (I just finished the third act of King Lear and am enjoying it), studying French, and studying how to use Microsoft Excel! And of course the normal things that one does when one is not occupied with schoolwork. And, as much as I complain about summer being over (because, come on, that IS sad, you gotta admit), the promise of fall weather in the air is nice. It always smells better in the fall...what's with that? 

What are your opinions on poetry? 

Have you read Shakespeare? 

How is your end-of-summer going? 

Let me know in the comments! 

Suit Up

It's that time of year again, folks.

You can see it everywhere.

Sales on pencils, notebooks, glue, Crayola crayons, and bright, hideous yellow posterboard everywhere you turn.

Yes. The "back-to-school" season has begun. There are already Halloween decorations out in the stores, and I daresay that soon enough we'll be seeing the Thanksgiving and Christmas stock out early.

Now, if you're like me, you always hate this time of year and you sit around with an inner dialogue that goes something like this:

It's sad to admit, but I have never been the kind of person who "looks forward" to starting a new school year. Yeah, there is the nice smell of getting new books, the excitement of starting a year afresh, but it really does seem like a downer. This particular beginning of the semester has been a bit of a tricky time for me. You see, I had allllll my classes for this fall 2018 (which is September through December) semester lined up, I was signed up for everything and had my schedule finagled so that I only had to drive down to school twice a week, and then I got this email.  This terrible email. Evidently, there were not enough people signed up for my particular section of a class, so it was necessary for me to move that class to another time--a time during which another of my classes was scheduled.  And then it turned out that another of my classes had to be changed. So, to sum things up, I was not happy. It was a huge mess. It was only last week, I think, that everything was finally figured out. 

And you know what? It's actually better this way. Looking back, I realized "oh, I still only have to drive down twice a week, and instead of having 8 a.m. mornings, I have 10 a.m. mornings." Traffic will be better. I won't have to get up as early.  For all my griping and complaining, it worked out for the best. 

This brings me to my point (She has a point?) Yes, I have a point. You see, the education that I complain about, that I whine and moan and fuss about?  That education is a privilege that many people would sacrifice a great deal for. There are people in less privileged societies who would give just about anything they could give for a chance to get a good education, for the chance to learn and broaden the horizons of their future. And here I am, going to college "because I can," and I take it for granted.  I complain about it. I whine about it, I get inexcusably downtrodden by it. 

Sure, school can be hard and frustrating--VERY hard and VERY frustrating at times, and it has the capability to anger me, to drive me to tears quicker and easier than anything else on this earth--but at the same time, I should not lose sight of the fact that I have been given far more than I ever needed or deserved. I am comfortable, without many inconveniences, living at home, with my parents, and I am surrounded by wonderful people who love and care about me, people I love and care about. I'm going to a good, nationally-recognized university with very little cost to myself, just because I CAN, not because I have great dreams of being a doctor or a researcher, just because I can. It is a great privilege. And I should act like it is, not whine incessantly about every little inconvenience that I face. 

Now, I know that this is way easier said than done, and probably during my first week into classes I will find something to complain about. But are the things that I spend my time moping about really worth the emotional energy? Are they really? At the time, it always feels like they are. But when I look back and remember how much I have been given, that I have all that I need and far, far more, when I remember that the GOD of the UNIVERSE sent his only Son here to Earth in order to die a torturous, hideous death to save me from my sin? Kind of puts things into perspective, doesn't it? 

This year, I hope that I can keep that perspective in mind. I know that I will fail sometimes; fail miserably. But battles aren't won by lying down and accepting failure while I cry in the mud.  There might (there WILL) be times when it seems like everything is lost and all I can do is just sit there for a while, crying in the mud.  Let me tell you, it might hurt more than I expect, but in the end, just like my schedule, I know that everything will work out for the best, even if I don't understand it at the time. 

Keep fighting, soldiers. You get knocked down, look around you.  There are people around you to help you up. Don't go alone, stick close to your friends, to your family, to your Savior. Whatever happens, you'll make it through. Now let's stand up, make ready, and face this school year head-on. So suit up.

"She's Just About to Close Up the Library!" and Other Summer Happenings

Hello, everyone! Since it is summer, I am out of school, and, well, it's summer, you were bound to get a "lately" post. And here it is! I have tried to organize my ridiculous, rambling goings-on into several categories. I apologize in advance for an Extremely Dull post, but, hey...you kind of knew it was coming. :D So here we go! 

Lately, I have been...

Working:

When people ask where I see myself in ten years, I can now just show them this picture...:P 

Hence the title of this post, I have recently gotten a job at my local library, which, so far, I am really loving! It's a quiet, calm atmosphere (usually), I love books/movies, and I am learning so much about libraries in general. It's a small place, and the best part is that it's not working retail. I don't have to deal, at least for the most part, with all the angry customers, credit cards that don't work, and disgruntled holiday shoppers. So far I really like it, and I'm very happy there. I get to work in relative quiet and peace, with not too much to distract me from my job.  Oh, but I must share the worst library joke ever with you! When I'm going through the children's section, all the books have the first two letters of the author's last name on them (so, Dr. Seuss would be SE, Mo Willems WI, etc.).  When I get to the H section, I just can't help myself from grinning.  This section is the most hilarious section of the library, I think to myself as I read HAHAHAHAHAHEHEHEHEHEHIHIHIHIHOHOHOHO.  

Okay, I guess I deserve that head shake, Mr. Knightley. But still. You've got to admit it was a pretty good joke.

Going (on Vacation): 

Our family has gone on a couple short vacations this summer. Instead of our usual week-long Upper Peninsula visit, we went down to Kentucky, to visit Mammoth Caves, for several days. It was really lovely, and the caves were totally amazing. I left feeling, as a writer, so inspired--the caves got my imagination going, and I was blown away. 412 mapped miles underground in those caves. 412! It's really incredible. 

Historic graffiti in Mammoth Caves! 

We also went up north to the city of Tawas for a few days, visiting some relatives who were kind and generous enough to let us camp out in their yard. It was great to see them again, to spend time on the water (and get terribly sunburned, cough cough), to ride the speedboat and just relax for a few days. I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and I always love being up there.

A small waterfall at Iargo Springs near Tawas, MI

A butterfly on the shore of Lake Huron

And some corn...:D Just for fun

Watching (and some of these were slightly filtered on Clearplay; I have marked those with an asterisk, and, for the sake of brevity, rated the movies out of 5 stars--also these are all the things that I HAVE NOT seen before this summer): 

The Incredibles 2 (2018): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003): ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): ⭐⭐

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thor (2011): ⭐⭐⭐

The Avengers (2012): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Coco (2017): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (don't mind admitting that this made me sob like a baby...)

Lark Rise to Candleford, Seasons 1 and 2: ⭐⭐⭐...and a half... I would give it four...maybe. I have mixed feelings and I can't really rate it until I finish the series. 

Swallows and Amazons (2016): ⭐⭐ (I can't do half stars but I would only give it one and a half.) 

Reading: 

The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers: I am liking this so far, it has a Sherlock Holmes vibe, which is good...I haven't finished it, but so far I like it. 

I am helping proofread/advance read my cousin's book over email, and enjoying it! (She is also an authoress, and we have always sort of...inspired each other. Here is a link to her first published book!) We grew up together and there are so many things that we just understand each other about. So we have always proofread each others' writing, at least, most of it.

Listening (Disclaimer: Not all the bands whose songs I listen to are bands/artists that I support in any way, liking or listening to one song does not mean I like the rest of their music, or even that I interpret their songs the same way that they do, or even that I agree with everything in their songs.  Also, this isn't ALL the music that I listen to...these are just some of the most notable songs, the ones that have most been stuck in my head lately...):

U2: Beautiful Day, Seconds

Coldplay (their videos are super confusing--artsy and kind of weird...): Up & Up, Paradise, Sky Full of Stars, Everglow

The Police: King of Pain

Interstellar Soundtrack by Hans Zimmer
Burlap to Cashmere: The Other Country 

Writing: 

Working on the final edit and proofreading of the second book in my trilogy...my dad has been reading it aloud (ACK) to our family, which is both terrible and wonderful. Terrible, because it hurts me So Bad and is somewhat awkward to listen to, having your siblings criticize every single word, wonderful because I catch every little mistake that way. I'm hoping to get that book done and published at the latest by Christmas this year. 

Typing my sixth book, which is chronologically about fifteen years before the trilogy happens, and is the third prequel I wrote (yes, I realize that I did it like Star Wars, but I'M SORRY okay?)

Brainstorming and writing a book with my dear cousin, or trying to, at least.  We are co-authoring it, but I can't tell you much about it...because that's a secret. :D It's great fun, though!  

Does making collages and aesthetics count as "writing?" Because if so...I have been doing that. They're mostly heinous, because I can't find a good program to make them the way I want, but they work. Oh, that brings me to ask if anyone happens to know of a good, free program/software for making/editing photo collages and things? Because if you do, I shall be forever in your debt. :) 

Doing: 

Spending lots of time with my family and friends, playing games, playing backyard soccer with my cousins...eating tasty food and in general just resting and preparing myself for this next school year. Ya know, just bee-bopping around...(hee hee) and enjoying the time that I have left to sleep in.  I have had some very wonderful times with the people I know and I am always thankful for the great group of family/friends that I have. It has been a restful, pleasant summer so far, and, though I don't really *want* to go back to school, I know that it can't be avoided. But that's not for 22 days yet! I've still got time.  

Wow, I have really no good way to wrap this up, and that was really rather boring....anyhoo, since I don't have a good way to wrap up, I will just say... 

What have you been up to this summer? 

Have you ever visited Mammoth Caves or Tawas?

Do you like/dislike any of the movies, music, or books I mentioned?

Do you have a nice hat? 

Let me know in the comments!