Escapism 101

Sometimes life thoroughly sucks.

These are the times when the tried and true methods of escapism can come to the rescue. There is a lot trash talk surrounding the lacking virtues of escapism but I firmly believe that it has a time, place and purpose in this world. Just like disc jockeys. Still, you must be mindful as some forms of escapism (and disc jockeys) often lead to increased suckage.

AVOID:

*Drugs. Trust me.

*Alcohol. Trust David Hasselhoff.

*Random Sexual Partners. Trust Hugh Grant.

*Violence. It is a sweet, sweet release but tends to result in arrest.

PARTAKE IN:

*A New Hair Color.

*A Good Book

*Hot Chocolate

And, obviously...

*

D

A

M

O

N

I feel better already.

TOO MUCH!

Please stop. We don't deserve it and I think that we need a little more space between life lessons. This is too much to take. I used to think that wasn't something that existed but now I know I was very, very wrong. Please. Hurt me more. Take an arm or a leg or my ability to write or see or read or all of them. Just leave her alone. Let her have him back. I deserve decapitation before she deserves any of this. PLEASE!!!!!

Please stop.

I BELIEVE...

That family comes first. Always.

That your natural hair color is just a suggestion.

That a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle is healthiest... and that bacon is delicious.

That God loves me. Why else is there lemonade and carne asada and Ian Somerhalder's face?

People that don't read are less interesting to talk to.

Splashes of color make a much bigger impact than looking like a hot pink leopard from head to toe.

Purchasing cute shoes is the antidote for most boughts of the mini-blues.

Libraries are magical. Bookstores are nirvana.

That the characters in stories really do exist somewhere, especially the ones I love.

That loving too much is a sign of strength, even when it ends up hurting.

Life is too short to try and impress others. Just be who you are because you are impressive enough.

In filling up the shopping card at anthropologie.com even though I know I can't buy any of it. Yet.

In dreaming, whether you are 15, 29, or 72. Never, ever stop dreaming.

In revisiting priorities but never settling. Yes, there is a difference.

In climbing even when it seems easier to fall. You might not reach the top but you'll be much higher than those that have chosen the ground.

Finding the Last Sentence...

I am half dead with my evil kidneys so I am trying to get all my online stuff done before I go back upstairs to completely give up on life.

I have been thinking a lot about the writing process. I am, by nature, a very logical person. This might not ring true to those of you that know me but it is accurate. I love a good manual or guidebook. Organized steps toward any goal are always hoped for. I have bought books on how to do make-up, I have devoured texts on how to write a screenplay, and I could give you at least five different meals plans for five different lifestyles and give you reasons why each one is better than the next.

Unfortunately, life isn't really all that step-by-step friendly. This is where my crazy comes into play. I get so frustrated and disillusioned when things do not go the way that I think they should that I run away and start over. I am trying to resist that urge now but anyway... the reason that this plays into my writing process is as follows...

Everyone and their mother thinks they know that right way to write. I have read plenty of books on how to be an effective writer. I collect suggestions from successful authors that I admire (admiration is key to me - I couldn't care less how Nicholas Sparks writes a book) and I try to implement their suggestions into my schedule. This is a good place for anyone to start.

I have learned, however, that every single writer has a completely different process and to try and mold yourself into anyone else's style or system is counterproductive. My writing process is haphazard at best and I could definitely be more disciplined about when I sit and write it out. That might lead you to believe that I am not dedicated to my story or that I am just floundering from scene to scene. You would be very wrong. I don't like to start a project until I know it will be the best it can be and that is why I fail to start a lot of things. It is not a great personality trait, this perfectionist tendency, and it really makes things that should be easy quite difficult. But even if it takes a week or two for me to get to typing again, please rest assured, I know exactly where Remie is going to end up. It is so clear to me that I can see each character in my mind. I know the very last sentence.

I love the very last sentence.

I guess my point is that I am done trying to find the "right" way to accomplish things. I think that however you manage to accomplish your dreams is the right way. Just soldier on and find your last sentence.

Trading Spaces...

I am moving out of Steph and Justin's within the next four months and I have started looking around for a place to live. I am super unwilling to move into a rental house with lots of other girls. I refuse to even entertain the thought of sharing a room or living in campus housing. I don't have a problem with 18-22 year old girls, I just don't want to live with them. Sorry.

My DREAM is to find a nice house for rent, which sounds crazy but in this part of the world it is actually pretty easy to locate two or three bedroom houses, or basement apartments which are the same size as the upper level of the house, for under $900. My greediness would like two bedrooms so that I can have an office/library/guest room. Or for a sister or older niece to move into if they want. I don't feel the same about living with a 20 year old niece or sister. But I have found a couple of nice 1 bedroom rentals as well. As a matter of fact my very favorite place (at this moment) is technically a one bedroom but it has a smaller extra room with tons of built in shelving. It could be my home office and library! And it is only two blocks from Steph's house and a block from my new favorite restaurant. The library will still be in walking distance, as a matter of fact it would be closer! Plus free cable and internet.

I just feel too old to have to deal with roommates. Landlords are hard enough. I want to be in charge of how my house looks. I want to not worry about if the smells of my weird foods are annoying other people. I want the AC at 68 and I want to watch Say Yes to the Dress or The Vampire Diaries without being judged! Hey, I am 28 years old, I have a lot of health problems, and I just want a nice place to hide away, you know?

Anyway... that is the dream for now.

Manipulate Dink

Whenever I type in my url for this site it looks like manipulate dink to me instead of manipulated ink. Oh, well.

I had a good birthday yesterday. Lots of birthday wishes. This is was only my second birthday away from Tucson (the first time was my 24th birthday when I was up in Olympia visiting Bethy) so I was a little worried I would be bummed, especially being sick and all, but it was actually just right.

I failed at having a first draft done by August 23rd. I failed miserably. And, though it is really only valid for the past month or so, I totally blame the kidney infection. Everyone knows that a writer's kryptonite is a kidney infection. Keep up, people! I still love my story and I am still excited to see how Remie gets from point A to point B (and C, D, E, F... all the way back to A. Lots of plot twists in this tale).

I really, really, REALLY need to better about "working" on my first draft and on my articles. I am so lazy. I think I might start posting my favorite lines from what I have written each week in an effort to feel accountable. Might.

Also, the word might annoys me. It sounds like my-nt, at least when I pronounce it. What is that you say? There is a simple solution? Just stop pronouncing that way? Thanks a lot Catherine Obvious! (Ha, sadly, I go the phrase "Catherine Obvious" from a really dumb Nickolodeon show that i, embarrassingly, really like).

Its like when Mom says pellow instead of pillow or melk instead of milk. It is not like when my Gramma Nye says warsh instead of wash or when I say crick instead of creek. Those ones are too cool for school, my friends.

In fine, I need to write more.

Infected Organs...

I have a kidney infection.
It hurts.
I hate pain killers. They make me all loopy.
Great birthday week, eh?
Man, I whine A LOT.