My Memorable Passage

So if you have read any of my other posts, you would know that my FAVORITE book series is the Trylle trilogy by Amanda Hocking. It is SO good. They pulled me in and there is SO much sass in this book that it's as if every other word is sass. However, despite all the sassy quotes I enjoy, I picked a quote that gave me some serious feels.

"Are you in love with him?"
"What?" I asked, and my heart dropped to my stomach. "Why would you..." I wanted to argue, but the strength had gone out of my words.
"He's in love with you." He lifted his head and looked up at me. "Do you know that?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered. I walked over to the bed, needing to do something to busy myself, so I pulled up the sheets. "Loki is merely-"
"I see your auras," Tove interrupted me, his voice firm but not angry. "His is silver, and yours is gold. And when you're around each other, you both get a pink halo. Just now you were both glowing bright pink, and your auras intertwined." 

I can't even begin to describe the feels that this passage gave me. Despite the fact that Tove and Wendy are supposed to marry, she has feelings (confused feelings) about Loki. She doesn't understand how she feels about him (because she hasn't realized it yet ;3), but Tove knows how Loki feels about Wendy.

I enjoyed this because Tove was very chill about Loki loving Wendy, because Tove and Wendy didn't actually LOVE each other. They were set up to be married because of their status and they were okay with it, because they are friends, nonetheless. It just made me so happy that Wendy is now aware of Loki's feelings for her because of Tove. Tove makes a great wing man, even though he sort of indifferent (like an acquaintance feeling almost) towards Loki. AH. ITS JUST SO CUTE. I SHIP WENDY AND LOKI. SO MUCH YES.

Writers as Readers

Q: When you read what do you need to be comfortable? (environment, snacks, lighting)

A: Reading is an activity I cherish very much, so it doesn't matter where I am or how loud it is or even the lighting. As long as I can see the pages of the book and be able to read them, everything is good for me. Reading is my escape. I can get lost in the words of the author and enveloped in the story. It's as if I am apart of the story, a bystander, watching the story play in my head as I read the words. I can read most anywhere, but I enjoy reading in my room, on a fairly nice [sunny] day, with a bottle of water. I like to open up my curtains on this kind of day and lay or sit on my bed or the floor and just dive in the story.

Q: What genres (types of writing) interest you? What specifically about this genre interests you? Why are you drawn to science fiction books, for example?

A: I would have to say my favorite genres are not limited to but include: fantasy, sci-fi/dystopian, romance, and mystery novels. I would say I enjoy fantasy and sci-fi/dystopian because they let you escape into a world that you would never imagine living in. Not that some of the worlds of sci-fi/dystopian novels couldn't happen. But the probability of it happening [at least while I'm on Earth], is slim, whilst the worlds and people of the fantasy novels are least likely to ever exist [not that I don't wish that they did- because that would be the cooliest]. Now onto romance and mystery. What girl doesn't enjoy a little romance in a story? Yes, it may give the girl unlikely relationship goals, but the relationships in most of the [fantasy, sci-fi/dystopian] novels I read are just the cutest [a little overdramatic, but nevertheless cute]. And who doesn't enjoy mystery? The suspense is where they get you, leaving you wondering: Who did it? How did this person(s) do it? Why did this person(s) do it? They really get you there, and you get so engulfed in the story because you want to know.

Q: What is one of your best memories connected with reading?

A: I don't like to think that I have one best memory connected with reading. Almost every book I've read I have enjoyed, so I always have really good memories with reading. If I had to pick one, I would have to pick my summer reading book for Liberty and Law Honors. [SURPRISE- Who would've thought that someone actually enjoyed a social studies summer reading book? NOT ME. But I did.] The book I read the summer before my Junior year for this class was Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin. At first I didn't enjoy it as much, since it is a LONG book. AND I DO MEAN LONG. But as I continued getting farther and farther into the novel, I began enjoying it. And even though I knew how it would end [since it's about his life], I cried. I had become so attached to Abe that I cried when they described his death. [It may sound stupid, but I don't know why. I had so MANY FEELS at the end of the novel.]

Q: What is your favorite book or series? Why is this your favorite?

A: Ooooh. Now this is a hard one. I really enjoy so many novels and book series that I don't like to pick favorites... BUT if I had to pick one, it would be the Trylle trilogy by Amanda Hocking. IT JUST SO AH. I can't even describe how happy it makes me. I actually shared this one in class, but as I am no good at public speaking, I probably made it sound really bad... IT'S REALLY GOOD THOUGH. It's about a girl named Wendy Everly. On her sixth or seventh birthday her mother tries to kill her and tells her she is not her daughter and is a monster. For this point on, Wendy sort of believes that she doesn't belong in her family. It isn't until 11 years when a young man named Finn, tells her she is a changeling and is here to take her back to her family and.... THAT SHE IS TRYLLE [code word for troll]. And no, not the troll you are thinking of right now. Not a "I WILL NOT LET YOU PASS" kind of troll. It's totally different. You'll just have to read it and find out now, won't you? (;
Trylle trilogy:

1. Switched
2. Torn 
3. Ascend

Q: Complete the one or more of the following sentences:

• When I finished reading ________, I was angry afterwards because....
• When I finished reading ________, I was sad because....
• When I finished reading ________, I was happy because...

A: When I finished reading Ascend, I was happy because it was the PERFECT ending. I HAD SO MANY FEELS. So many. I just can't quite describe how happy I was because I was just speechless upon finishing it, plus I don't want to spoil anything. But if you read all the books or have read them, you will know or already know how perfect the series is and how perfect the ending was. SO GOOD. SO WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE? GET OFF OF HERE AND GO READ IT, YA SILLY GOOSE.

Q: Do you think you'd ever write a book someday? Do you know what it would be about? How would you want to be described on the "About the Author" at the front of the book?

A: Now, I have thought about if I would ever write a book someday and the answer is probably yes. It would probably be a fantasy novel or science-fiction/dystopian novel since I read them the most and know more about them. On the "About the Author" part, I don't know what I would want on it. Probably a little synopsis about myself? Since the future is unknown, I don't know because I would want it to be about myself at the time I write and publish my novel. So for now, no idea. When I get a book written and have it in the works of being published, I will get back to you on that.

The Crack in the Wall

They keep me locked away

Never to see another day.

It always dark and cold,

except for the one ray of sunshine that burst through

the small crack in the wall.

It's warm and bright outside of here.

But they keep me away, 

saying it's not safe.

The crack in the wall is my ticket out.

I claw and try to dig my way out.

The crack is no longer there, 

just a big hole leading somewhere.

I peek out the hole,

curious about the outside.

Scared at first,

but now I can spread my wings,

and fly.

Dream Threads

It was always the same-- an old lady that likes to rhyme and tries to kill me. She chases me down the street as I keep going. I don't know why she's chasing me, but I know she is angry/ She keeps shouting, "THIS IS FUN! RUN, RUN, RUN! I WILL CHASE YOU TO THE SUN!" as she maniacally laughs. The old lady begins to speed up. At first I'm not worried, but then I look back and she is closer than I thought. For an old lady, she's fast. Her bright orange tracksuit is almost a blur at her current pace. Her shouting and laughter start to become TOO close. I begin sprinting even harder and as fast as my legs can take me. I don't look back again because I know she's still coming. But suddenly, a hole pops up in the ground and I jump in. I fall for what seems like awhile before I hit the bottom. For a second I see black and then I'm running again.

Thoughts on Maya Angelou

Q: Angelou says she doesn't even like to talk about her bad dreams because talking about them "gives them too much power." Do you think talking about bad dreams or bad news or other bad things (or feeding into the "drama" at school or in life) gives those bad things more power? When have you known this to happen?

A: I do believe that talking about bad dreams or news of any sort does give it some power. When you talk about these sorts of events, you tend to dwell on them and over-analyze them, essentially giving them power over your life. (So, what I'm saying is: Don't dwell on the little things, enjoy and take not of all the good things. :-D)
As for drama, I don't enjoy it (unless we are talking about the class). I tend to stray from anything that causes drama, since nothing good usually comes from it.
I tend to dwell on the little, bad things in my life from time to time, but most of the time I try to avoid doing this. However, a recent example would be this: I have been practicing driving since I don't have my license yet. I haven't been needing one until recently, and also as a high school senior, I should probably have one. Anyway, I was practicing driving and I didn't do as good as I hoped. There were a few things were I cut things to close or I wasn't close enough, etc. and when I got back home, I sat in my room, feeling a bit bummed, dwelling on it. However, after think about it and listening to some good music (IM5 ;]), I felt better and let it go.

Q: Angelou and many others suggest that dreams "tell the truth" about us. Do you think dreams reveal things about us that we may not realize or that others don't see? Can you recount a dream that revealed something about you that you were surprised, ashamed, terrified, etc. by?

A: I think that dreams reveal things about us that either we don't know or others don't. I had a dream once about the guy I like and in the dream, he had asked me out. Now I know what you're thinking: How did this reveal something about you? Don't worry, I'm getting to it. So we were "dating" in this dream and things were going well. But then out of the blue, he just "breaks up" with me and I was very confused. There was no obvious reason and I had no idea why. But its a dream. Who knows why? This dream tends to reveal my fear of rejection. I know most of the time you would think it would be a scenario involving asking someone out and then being rejected by said other person. But I don't know why it was the other way around for me. I honestly am still confused by it to this day, but I feel it is related to my fear of rejection. I don't know how to quite explain it in to terms that you could possibly understand, but it is related.

Q: Angelou quotes Nathaniel West as saying, "Easy reading is damned hard writing" and says that writing is "just hard work, you know?" Do you agree with this? What is easiest and hardest to you about writing? Is writing hard work?

A: I do agree with both of these quotes. I personally have writer's block for what seems like every time I want to write. However, I tend to have great ideas and awesome thoughts on stories I want to write or are currently writing. I have to say this would be the compromise I have with writing. In order to have great ideas for stories, it has to just be out of the blue. I also have to agree that writing is hard work. It itself is not hard, but it requires a lot of effort and time for a GREAT story. I mean to some people, it comes naturally. But I believe that most people struggle with writing and have to put in a great deal to get the great work that results from all their hard work.

Q: Angelou plays solitaire with a deck of card to occupy her "small mind" when she is trying to get focused to write. What things do you do to occupy your small mind in a positive way? What are your biggest distractions when you need to get something done?

A: When I am trying to occupy my small mind in a positive way, I tend to go listen to my music (which usually includes a lot of IM5- there's other artists in my music library too :-P). Music can clear my head and help me calm down and go to my "happy place". However, sometimes I can get lost in some of my music, and it can be a distraction. Most of my distractions are Twitter, my friends, and just the internet in general. Music can be my distraction but it usually is my positive thing to occupy my mind.

Q: Angelou says she is comfortable using six or seven languages, has spoken at one time or another as many as twelve, and has been a teacher in at least three. Are you comfortable using another language? Which languages would you like to be fluent in? Why those? Or do you think speaking English is good enough because you live in America and that's all we soul need to live here? Why?

A: Personally, I would have to say I am pretty comfortable speaking another language (Spanish). I would love to be fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, and Korean. I want to travel the world one day, and I would love to see Spain, France, Italy, and South Korea (even though I don't like seafood, which happens to be their main food source). I feel that if I would like to venture out in the world, I should learn the languages of the countries I would like to travel to. Knowing other languages, can help with language barriers and is somewhat essential to travel, so I think that just because we live in America, doesn't mean we should just know English. I think you should just learn another language of your liking, just because it's fun and good to have experience with another language, even if you plan to never leave the United States EVER.

Dreamer Mountain

'Twas a quiet night,
As she sat on the ash gray mountain.
Staring at the stars,
Her pocket full of dreams,
She wished upon the crystals in the sky.
The silver reflection of the stars shone on her face.
As the Japanese windflowers whispered her true desires.
She prayed and hoped these gems in the sky would grant her wishes.

The Mountain of Dreams

Color Palette:
Quiet White
Mountain Ash Gray
Pocket Full of White
Cut Crystal
Silver Celesta
Japanese Windflower
Jeweler's Lavender Gem

Sea Spray

Salty flavor invading your mouth
Even when your keep it closed.
A long, brown piece of

Seaweed wraps itself around your legs.
Playing in the crystal blue sea
Rays of sunshine give you unwanted sunburns.
A day filled with laughter and smiles, and
You hope for this day to come again.